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☆ Assaults on German Politicians Raise Election-Year Worries
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A spate of attacks on German officials and politicians has brought fresh worries over political violence and a breakdown of civility ahead of several critical elections this year, including in three states where the far-right Alternative for Germany party could make significant gains. In the latest attack, on Friday evening, four people assaulted a prominent Social Democratic politician who was hanging campaign posters in Dresden, leaving him with a broken cheekbone and eye socket that required emergency surgery. The official, Matthias Ecke, is running for re-election to the European Parliament. That evening a Green Party campaigner, whose name has not been released, was attacked in the same residential neighborhood, by what the police believe was the same group of people. A day earlier, on Thursday, Rolf Fliss, the deputy mayor of the city of Essen, 300 miles west, was punched in the face by a group of men with whom he had been having what he initially characterized as a “friendly exchange.”The violent attack on Mr. Ecke drew a sharp response from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, himself a Social Democrat, in Berlin on Saturday.

Persons: Matthias Ecke, Rolf Fliss, Ecke, Chancellor Olaf Scholz Organizations: Social Democratic, Green Party, Social Democrat Locations: Germany, Dresden, Essen, Berlin

☆ German basketball team mourns the death of 17-year-old Ukrainian player killed in alleged stabbing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —German basketball team ART Giants Düsseldorf is mourning the death of 17-year-old Ukrainian player Volodymyr Yermakov, who left Ukraine in 2023 to escape the war with Russia, following an alleged stabbing on Saturday. “The two groups of people initially clashed verbally on a public bus on the way to Oberhausen city centre,” the police statement said. Two Ukrainian male youths, aged 17 and 18 years old, from Düsseldorf suffered life-threatening injuries. “To escape the war in his native country, he moved to Düsseldorf in July 2023, where he had found his new home. We wish him a speedy recovery!”The team said Yermakov was an “integral part” of its junior basketball league team and had been called up to the Ukrainian Under-18 national team, even occasionally playing with the club’s first team.

Persons: Volodymyr Yermakov, “, Brandt, Düsseldorf, Volodymyr, Yermakov’s, Artem Kozachenko, Yermakov Organizations: CNN, German, Giants, Saturday . Police, Platz, Police, ” ART Giants, ART Giants, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, German, Essen, Oberhausen, Ukrainian, Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf

☆ Germany’s far-right AfD face mounting protests over plan to deport migrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Protests of up to 30,000 people have already taken place in cities including Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen and Cologne. Demonstrators gathered outside the capital’s redbrick town hall on Wednesday holding placards reading “Nazis out” and chanting slogans against far-right AfD politician Björn Höcke. The gathering of AfD members, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists took place at a lakeside hotel outside the city of Potsdam on November 25. The AfD told CNN that the two “separated with mutual agreement.”However, the idea of a “mass deportation plan” was openly supported by one AfD representative in the state of Brandenberg. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/picture alliance/dpa/Getty ImagesAsked whether he thought the protests would encourage people to stop voting for the AfD, Abaci was hopeful.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Annalena Baerbock, Olaf Scholz, Sebastian Christoph Gollnow, Correctiv, ”, Alice Weidel, Roland Hartwig –, René Springer, Christian Dürr, Rika von Gierke, “, ” “, ’, It’s, ” Kazin, ” Chancellor Scholz, Baerbock, Abaci, Scholz, Robert Habeck, Stern, –, Nadine Schmidt, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Berlin CNN, Potsdam Sunday, CNN, Free Democrats Party, ” Locations: Germany, Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen, Cologne, Potsdam, Brandenberg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Nazi, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, London

☆ Benko's complex web at Signa - from Chrysler building to Berlin landmark
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

SIGNA PRIME/PROPERTY PORTFOLIOAccording to Signa, Prime is the group's largest company in its real estate division, valued at around 20.4 billion euros ($22.23 billion). Since 2019 Signa Holding has also been a co-owner of New York's iconic Chrysler Building. TRADING/RETAIL COMPANIESBenko has bundled his trading interests under the divisions Signa Retail and Signa Premium. In Switzerland, Benko's trading investments are bundled into Signa Retail Selection AG, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. In 2018, Signa Holding bought around 24% stake in Austrian daily newspapers "Krone" and "Kurier" from Funke media group.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Rene Benko, Ernst Tanner, Hans Peter Haselsteiner, Torsten Toeller, Arthur Eugster, SIGNA, Signa, Otto Wagner, Benko's, Klaus, Michael Kuehne, Kuehne, Hamburg's, Chirathivat, Benko, Frasers, Kaufhof, Karstadt, Galeria, Alexandra Schwarz, Goerlich, Mattias Inverardi, Victoria Farr, Emma, Rachel More, Elisa Martinuzzi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Signa, REUTERS, Chrysler, Bank Austria, Femina, Chrysler Building, . Central Group, Globus, Selfridges, Central Group, Funke, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, New, Britain's Selfridges, Innsbruck, Swiss, Vienna, Hamburg, KaDeWe, Oberpollinger, Munich, Vienna's, Tyrol, Essen, Duesseldorf, London, Switzerland

The upheaval at Documenta is just one example of how Europe’s art world is being torn by debates about Israel and Gaza, as some institutions have moved to postpone the shows of artists who have criticized Israel. Documenta was initially staged in 1955 as the first large-scale exhibition in West Germany of the art of the European avant-garde. It was a direct response to the Degenerate Art Show, the denunciatory exhibition of modern art staged by the Nazis in Munich in 1937. Although the mural was taken down, it set off a monthslong debate in Germany’s art world about antisemitism, Palestinian activism and Germany’s relationship to formerly colonized countries. Hoskote said Documenta was one of the art world’s greatest events, partly because it had always been a forum for new ideas.

Persons: Documenta’s, — Simon Njami, Gong Yan, Kathrin, Inés Rodríguez, —, ”, Bracha Lichtenberg Ettinger, Ranjit Hoskote, Anaïs Duplan, Ai Weiwei, ” Ai, Ai, Galerie Max Hetzler, Lisson’s, Claudia Roth, Documenta, Hoskote Organizations: Venice Biennale, Folkwang, Israel, Art Newspaper, Galerie Max, Berlin, Die Locations: Israel, Kassel, Germany, Gaza, Venice, India, Essen, Haitian, United States, B.D.S, London, Lisson, New York, Paris, West Germany, Munich, Nazi, Indonesia

☆ 'Difficult to accept': Prominent Russian hardliner admits its navy couldn't defend itself from Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia recently relocated much of its Black Sea Fleet after it got battered by Ukrainian attacks. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian hardline pro-war account conceded that the Black Sea Fleet couldn't defend itself from Ukraine and had to pull back. "Even though it's difficult to accept, the Black Sea Fleet cannot fully ensure its security now," Rybar wrote. In an intelligence briefing on Monday, the UK's Ministry of Defence said the threats of further Ukrainian attacks likely caused Russia to relocate its operations.

Persons: —, Rybar, Makarov, Admiral Essen Organizations: Service, Fleet, NATO, Telegram, UK's Ministry of Defence, Russia's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Sevastopol, Crimea, Novorossiysk, Feodosia

☆ Crimea: Satellite imagery indicates Russia moving navy ships to other ports after Sevastopol attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Tim Lister Anna Chernova Gianluca Mezzofiore. Maria Kostenko Paul Murphy | Tim Lister | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

As many as a dozen ships, including frigates, landing ships and submarines now appear to be moored further east at Novorossiysk, imagery from the past few weeks showed. the home port of the Black Sea Fleet. BlackSkyThe ISW noted that satellite imagery taken on October 2 shows four Russian landing ships and one Kilo-class submarine remaining in Sevastopol. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, said Thursday that the Black Sea Fleet was “constantly dispersing its ships. They are guarding this facility from the north and from the south.”Even so, Pletenchuk said, “I would not write off the Black Sea Fleet.

Persons: Makarov, Admiral Essen, Dmytro Pletenchuk, ” Pletenchuk, Pletenchuk, “, ”, Aslan Bzhania, ” Bzhania Organizations: CNN, Black, Technologies, Fleet, Ukrainian Navy, Border Guard Service, Sea Fleet, Russian Navy, Reuters Locations: Russia, Sevastopol, Crimea, Moscow, Georgia, Novorossiysk, Feodosia, Technologies Ukraine, Ukraine, Azov, Russian, BlackSky, ”, Abkhazia, Ochamchira

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP) — A proposed wind energy project off New Jersey would be among the farthest from land on the East Coast, the New York-based development company said Monday. Wind power developers have struggled to make progress, however, due to supply chain issues, higher interest rates, and a failure so far to garner enough tax credits from the federal government. Orsted, the Danish wind energy company, would build its first project about 13 to 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City and Ocean City. “Offshore wind development makes no sense from either an environmental or economic standpoint,” he said. It is pursuing another offshore wind project in New York about 50 miles south of Jones Beach.

Persons: —, Damian Bednarz, ”, “, Bednarz, Orsted, Robin Shaffer, ___, Wayne Parry Organizations: Energy, Associated Press, Community, Grid, Office, New, New Jersey Wind, Corio, Twitter Locations: N.J, New Jersey, East Coast, New York, Seaside, East, Chicago, Long, Essen, Germany, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Coast NJ, Paulsboro, Jones Beach, Houston, Boston, London, www.twitter.com

It follows Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the loss of Moscow's cheap natural gas — an unprecedented shock to Germany’s energy-intensive industries, long the manufacturing powerhouse of Europe. The loss of cheap Russian natural gas needed to power factories “painfully damaged the business model of the German economy,” Kullmann told The Associated Press. One hotly debated solution: a government-funded cap on industrial electricity prices to get the economy through the renewable energy transition. However, squabbling among the coalition government over the energy price cap and a law barring new gas furnaces has exasperated business leaders. “The perception of Germany's underlying strength may also have contributed to the misguided decisions to exit nuclear energy, ban fracking for natural gas and bet on ample natural gas supplies from Russia,” he said.

Persons: “, Christian Kullmann, Kullmann, ” Kullmann, Evonik, Robert Habeck, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Angela Merkel, —, Biden, Scholz, Evonik's Kullmann, Gerhard Schroeder, Holger Schmieding, ”, ” Schmieding, Schmieding Organizations: Jobs, International Monetary Fund, European Union, Evonik Industries, Associated Press, Greens Party, Social Democrat, Free Democrats, Companies, Schott AG, ” Locations: ESSEN, Germany, Ukraine, Europe, Europe's, Essen, Russia, Moscow, China, Bavarian, U.S, Lafayette , Indiana, Brussels, Berlin, Chile, Qatar, ” Germany, Berenberg

☆ Ukraine's sea drones can damage Russian warships even if they don't directly hit them, Ukrainian spy chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine reported an attack by drones on two warships in the southwestern part of the Black Sea. Ukraine's spy chief says that even if the drones are blown up near the ship, they can cause damage. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine claimed on Thursday that it had also used sea drones to carry out a successful attack on two Russian warships in the southwestern part of the Black Sea. Ukraine has frequently utilized sea drones in its fight against Putin's forces. The country recently used an experimental sea drone to target a Russian missile ship off the coast of occupied Crimea, Ukrainian sources claimed.

Persons: Ukraine's, Radio Svoboda, Kyrylo Budanov, Essen, Vasily Bykov, Dmitry Rogachev, Pavel Derzhavin, Sergey Kotov, Ukrainska Organizations: Service, Radio, Ukraine's Strategic Communications Directorate, Fleet, Ukrainska Pravda, Technology, Putin's, The Security Service Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Sevastopol Bay, Russia, Russian, Crimea

They come as New Jersey continues to grow as a hub of opposition to offshore wind projects from residents' groups and their political allies, mostly Republicans. The state's Democratic governor and Democratic-controlled Legislature want to make the state the East Coast leader in offshore wind energy. “Our goal is to bring offshore wind energy monitoring activities into this partnership. Opponents of offshore wind blame the deaths of 70 whales along the East Coast since December on offshore wind site preparation work. Earlier this week, Republicans in the state Senate called for a moratorium on all offshore wind projects.

Persons: Doug Perkins, “, ”, Jon Hare, Perkins, David Shanker, ” Shanker, Wayne Parry Organizations: CITY, Democratic, East Coast, Grid Ventures, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, Atlantic City, National Marine Fisheries Service, Right Whales Coalition, Twitter Locations: N.J, New Jersey, Essen, Germany, New York, Long, , New York, Denmark, Ocean City, Atlantic, East Coast, American, Orsted, www.twitter.com

☆ The Russians painted elaborate camouflage on their warships in Crimea to try to confuse Ukraine's maritime drones, but that didn't stop Ukraine from decimating 2 vessels and setting the Sevastopol por
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

They even painted some ships with camouflage stripes, hoping it would confuse drone sensors. But the latest Ukrainian missile attack on a shipyard in Sevastopol damaged two ships anyway. The Russian Black Sea Fleet's base in Sevastopol, a city in Russia-controlled Crimea, was attacked by missiles in the early hours of Wednesday. It is unclear if the two vessels hit in Wednesday's attack had the camouflage stripes painted on them. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's plans to strike Sevastopol and the Russian Navy's fleet have been a long time coming.

Persons: Essen, —, Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson, Musk Organizations: Service, London's Royal United Services Institute, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Elon Locations: Sevastopol, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Crimea, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Ukraine's hi-tech naval attack drones have paralyzed Russia's Black Sea Fleet, spy chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kyrylo Budanov said the maritime attack drones had successfully paralyzed Russia's Black Sea fleet. AdvertisementAdvertisementBudanov noted one occasion when a sea drone had been destroyed as it approached Russia's Admiral Essen frigate in Sevastopol Bay. "Russia's equipment is from the 20th Century, ours is from the 21st"Russian Navy vessels near the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea on February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Alexey PavlishakUkraine proved the threat offered by its sea drones earlier this month when it attacked a major Russian naval base in the Black Sea. "As the result of the attack, the Russian ship has received serious damage and is not able to fulfill its duties."

Persons: Ukraine's, Kyrylo Budanov, Russia's, Admiral, Radio Svoboda, Budanov, Russia's Admiral Essen, Alexey Pavlishak, Anton Gerashchenko Organizations: Russia, Service, Fleet, Russian, REUTERS, TNT, CNN Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Sevastopol Bay, Sevastopol, Crimea, Alexey Pavlishak Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian

[1/2] A police officer on a Segway patrols Sweden's parliament Riksdagen as the terror threat level in Sweden is raised to four on a five-point scale, in Stockholm, Sweden, August 17, 2023. There has been widespread condemnation from many parts of the Muslim world, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging severe punishment for those responsible and saying Sweden was in battle mode against the Muslim world. "Sweden has gone from being considered a legitimate target for terrorist attacks to being considered a prioritised target," SAPO head Charlotte von Essen told a news conference. MILITARY ALERTThe Swedish armed forces also said they were raising the terrorism threat level for operations. Britain and the United States have warned nationals against going to Sweden due to possible terrorist attacks amid protests there and in neighbouring Denmark over the Koran burnings.

Persons: Riksdagen, Fredrik Sandberg, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Charlotte von Essen, von Essen, Simon Johnson, Johan Ahlander Terje Solsvik, Louise Rasmussen, Niklas Pollard, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: TT, Agency, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Iranian, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Sweden, Stockholm, Rights STOCKHOLM, Denmark, Swedish, Britain, United States, Uzbek

STOCKHOLM, July 27 (Reuters) - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is "extremely worried" about the consequences if more demonstrations go ahead in which the Koran is desecrated, he said on Thursday, amid growing Muslim anger at a series of attacks on Islam's holy book. Kristersson told Swedish news agency TT that further requests had been filed with police for permission to hold protests where desecration of the Koran was again planned. Sweden's embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set ablaze on July 20 by protesters angered by a planned Koran burning. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson addresses the media ahead of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11, 2023. Members of Sweden Democrats, the biggest party on the right, have repeatedly warned about the "Islamization" of Swedish society and called for immigrants to adopt "Swedish" values.

Persons: Ulf Kristersson, Kristersson, Charlotte von Essen, Ints, Tobias Billstrom, Billstrom, Johan Ahlander, Simon Johnson, Terje Solsvik, William Maclean Organizations: Atlantic Treaty Organization, TT, Swedish, NATO, REUTERS, United Nations, of Islamic, Sweden Democrats, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine, Sweden's, Baghdad, Vilnius, Lithuania, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon

☆ Russia is painting dark stripes on its warships to make them look smaller and confuse Ukrainian drones, says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia is painting some of its warships with camouflage stripes, an open-source analyst said. The ship might also appear smaller thanks to the dark paint against the water. In his own analysis, Sutton noted how dark the water often appears in such imagery, making it an effective camouflage for dark paint. The use of naval camouflage would be an interesting return for a tactic more associated with World War 1 and World War 2. The British navy pioneered the use of "dazzle" stripes and patterns in World War 1, as seen below on the USS Minneapolis, which were intended to confuse onlookers as to the speed and direction of vessels.

Persons: —, Sutton, KCHF.ru, Ivan Golubets, Sidharth, Kaushal, It's, Bismarck Organizations: Service, London's Royal United Services Institute, Russian Ministry of Defense, USS, Getty Locations: Russia, Russian, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Soviet, British, USS Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Hampton Roads , Virginia, USA, German

☆ German magazine apologizes to Schumacher family over A.I. interview, sacks editor
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The publishers of a German magazine that ran an 'interview' with Michael Schumacher generated by artificial intelligence have sacked the editor and apologized to the Formula One great's family. His family said this week that they were planning legal action against weekly magazine Die Aktuelle, owned by the Essen-based Funke media group. "Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today." The latest edition of Die Aktuelle ran a front cover with a picture of a smiling Schumacher and the headline promising 'Michael Schumacher, the first interview'. "We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.

☆ German magazine fires editor over AI 'interview' with Michael Schumacher
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Mercedes Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany stands inside his team garage during the first practice session of the Japanese F1 Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit October 5, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-HoonApril 22 (Reuters) - The publishers of a German magazine that ran an 'interview' with Michael Schumacher generated by artificial intelligence have sacked the editor and apologised to the Formula One great's family. His family said this week that they were planning legal action against weekly magazine Die Aktuelle, owned by the Essen-based Funke media group. The latest edition of Die Aktuelle ran a front cover with a picture of a smiling Schumacher and the headline promising 'Michael Schumacher, the first interview'. "We're trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does.

☆ The creator of the Catan board game has died
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Klaus Teuber, creator of the blockbuster board game Catan, has passed away. “It is with profound sadness that we at Catan Studio acknowledge the passing of Klaus Teuber, legendary game designer and creator of the beloved board game Catan,” the game publisher’s said in a statement posted to Facebook and other social media platforms Tuesday. Catan, originally called Settlers of Catan, came out in 1995. “With sales nearing 25 million copies worldwide, Settlers of Catan is becoming the most popular board game since Risk and Monopoly,” according to the Atlantic. “Thank you Klaus for the joy you have brought to my life through the brilliant game of Catan,” another wrote.

☆ This startup wants to replace oil and gas with Co2 and hydrogen captured from the air. Check out the 11-slide pitch deck Greenlyte Carbon Technologies used to raise $3.5 million.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Greenlyte Carbon Technologies wants to replace oil and gas with Co2 and hydrogen captured from the air. The direct air capture startup just raised a $3.5 million round co-led by N26 investor Earlybird. The team behind Greenlyte Carbon Technologies pass old coal towers every day on their way to the company's office in Essen, Germany's historical industrial center. Greenlyte Carbon Technologies' device can be turned on and off, meaning it will work well with intermittent renewables like solar and wind, he added. Greenlyte Carbon Technologies will use the cash to build out its team to 15 by summer and continue developing its tech.

☆ Exclusive: Hydrogen firm Thyssenkrupp Nucera says IRA spurring U.S. interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Christoph Steitz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Thyssenkrupp Nucera held talks about several potential green hydrogen projects "with very concrete timelines" during a trip to the United States last week, Chief Executive Werner Ponikwar said in an interview. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, is seen as key to decarbonising industry and so meeting climate targets. "We are gaining a new growth market," Ponikwar said. Ponikwar expects the U.S. hydrogen market to grow to a mid double-digit gigawatt (GW) amount by the end of the decade, from just a few hundred megawatts currently. While the IRA supports hydrogen production, it does not require makers of hydrogen equipment to produce locally, unlike other renewable technologies where that's a condition to qualify for credits.

[1/5] An employee prepares online grocery orders in the storage area of Czech online grocer Rohlik Group in Prague, Czech Republic February 1, 2023. HUGE GROWTH POTENTIAL Rohlik, founded in 2014, leads the Czech market by mainly targeting customers in big cities through its string of distribution warehouses. "Competition is still mainly driven by stationary retail but a small number of online grocery players are gearing up in each market to become leading e-grocery platforms." KOSIK TURNS EASTAs Rohlik bets on Germany, Kosik is looking eastward, entering the Slovak market and expanding in Bulgaria. CEO Ivan Utesil said the company would also seek to cut into Czech market share by capitalising on its tie-in with German wholesaler Metro (B4B.DE) in some regional areas.

Concerns of an impending recession in the U.S., coupled with the war in Ukraine, have caused prices for steel to fall and customers to empty their inventories. That has impacted Thyssenkrupp's materials trading division, where profits tanked by 91%. "There is limited visibility in respect of future economic developments," Chief Financial Officer Klaus Keysberg said in a statement. Adjusted earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, came in at 254 million euros ($272 million) in the October-December period, while sales remained stable at 9.02 billion euros, the company said. ($1 = 0.9328 euros)Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Tom Kaeckenhoff; Editing by Sandra Maler, Miranda Murray and Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Danish Crown says Chinese pork demand subdued, set to cut 550 jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese pork demand is weak despite relaxation of the country's COVID policies as many people continue to avoid restaurants, said Jais Valeur, the head of Europe's biggest pork producer. "Right now I don't see any signs that Chinese imports are on the rise," Valeur told Reuters in an interview, adding that the Chinese market would probably normalize within six months. Slow Chinese demand has a knock-on effect on the European market. The outbreak of African swine fever in some European countries, including Germany, prompted producers in Spain to boost output aimed at the Chinese market. "All that meat is now flooding the European market, where consumers are now coping with inflation and are worried about the future," Valeur said.

☆ Germany's Steag renames large part of business ahead of sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Jan 3 (Reuters) - German utility Steag, which has put itself up for sale, is changing the name of a large part of its business to Iqony in the course of a planned split-up, according to a website for the new company. Around 2,300 employees will work for Iqony, whose portfolio includes solar, wind, geothermal and hydrogen projects, said the websiteThe coal-fired power plants, including large sites in Duisburg and Saarland, will not be included in the new company, according to the WAZ newspaper, which initially reported the name change. Steag, which employs 5,700 staff, is owned by KSBG, where six municipal utilities in Germany's industrial Ruhr region have bundled their stakes. They are Duisburg, Dortmund, Bochum, Essen, Oberhausen and Dinslaken. Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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