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☆ A man deliberately got 217 Covid shots. Here’s what happened
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Mira Cheng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The man, who is not named in the correspondence in compliance with German privacy rules, reported receiving 217 Covid shots between June 2021 and November 2023. Raising suspicionsAccording to his immunization history, the man got his first Covid vaccine in June 2021. The adaptive immune system is the subsection of the immune system that learns to recognize and respond to specific pathogens when you encounter them throughout your life, Miller said. Last week, the CDC updated its guidance to recommend an additional dose of the current Covid vaccine for people 65 and older. Less than a quarter of adults and only 13% of children in the US have gotten the most recently recommended Covid vaccine, according to CDC data.

Persons: hypervaccination ”, ”, Emily Happy Miller, ” Miller, “, Dr, Kilian Schober, Friedrich, hypervaccination, ” Schober, Schober, Miller, Hypervaccination, that’s, Johnson, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Alexander University Erlangen, Red Cross, RTL, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson, Sanofi, CNN Health, Centers for Disease Control, CDC Locations: Magdeburg, Nürnberg, Saxony, Dresden, Eilenburg, United States

☆ German industrial projects in steel, chips, batteries at risk from court ruling -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Steel coils are waiting for delivery at the storage and distribution facility of German steel maker ThyssenKrupp in Duisburg, Germany, November 16, 2023. That put numerous projects in key areas for Germany's industrial competitiveness at risk, the sources, who declined to be named, warned. In the steel industry, businesses planned to invest 6 billion euros ($6.54 billion) in decarbonised steel production, directly and indirectly employing around 20,000 people. Investments in microelectronics were bundled into the KTF, totalling 31 projects relying on an estimated 4 billion euros in government funding. Numerous projects along the battery supply chain were submitted as outlines for funding applications, the sources said, with an investment volume of around 20 billion euros.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Markus Wacket, Victoria Waldersee, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Transformation, Investments, RIC, Infineon, Intel, Thomson Locations: Duisburg, Germany, Dresden, Magdeburg

AfD members sit in voting booths on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. Thursday's vote in Thuringia's parliament, when the far right, the conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats combined to push through a tax cut against the wishes of the left-wing coalition, is the latest sign of change. But, highlighting the dilemma, the regional CDU leader Mario Voigt said such a course of action would effectively deprive him of the right to oppose. The party's regional leader, Bjorn Hoecke, is currently on trial for hate speech after uttering a slogan that stems from a Nazi chant. "We democrats have to stop the finger-pointing, sit down together and find a position that lives up to that responsibility."

Persons: Annegret, Germany's, Bodo Ramelow, Mario Voigt, Bjorn Hoecke, Stephan Kramer, Daniel Guenther, Thomas Escritt, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, CDU, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Thomson Locations: Germany, Magdeburg, Rights ERFURT, Thuringia's, Thuringian, Sonneberg, Saxony, Anhalt, Thuringia, East Germany, West Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Schlweswig, Holstein

☆ Thousands protest against Germany's far-right AfD party
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MAGDEBURG, Germany, July 29 (Reuters) - Thousands took to the streets to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Friday and Saturday as the party held a convention to choose its candidates for European parliamentary elections next year. Polling at 22% behind the opposition conservatives, the AfD denies it is a Nazi party. [1/5]People gather on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. Germany's main opposition leader Friedrich Merz was on Monday forced to row back from comments suggesting he could work with the AfD at a local level. Vocal among the protesters in Magdeburg were "Grannies against the far-right" calling for an end to racism and far-right politics.

Persons: Alice Weidel, Friedrich Merz, Merz, Maria Martinez, Oliver Denzer, Alvise Armellini, Giles Elgood Organizations: Protesters, Nazi, Analysts, Repubblica, REUTERS, Christian Democrats, CDU, Vocal, Thomson Locations: MAGDEBURG, Germany, Magdeburg

☆ Germany earmarks 20 billion euros for chip industry in coming years
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, July 25 (Reuters) - Germany plans to invest around 20 billion euros ($22.15 billion) in the semiconductor industry in the coming years, the economy ministry said on Tuesday, amid growing alarm over supply chain fragility and dependence on South Korea and Taiwan for chips. The money will be drawn from the Climate and Transformation Fund from 2024 onwards, the ministry said, adding that it could only give funding for individual projects after European Commission approval. It said Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC (2330.TW) expressed interest in investing in a semiconductor production facility in Germany and that the ministry was in close contact with the company over an investment decision. Last month, Berlin agreed subsidies worth nearly 10 billion euros with the U.S. chipmaker Intel to build two facilities in the eastern city of Magdeburg. ($1 = 0.9029 euros)Reporting by Riham Alkousaa, Editing by Friederike HeineOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: TW, Riham Alkousaa, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: Transformation, U.S, Intel, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Berlin, Magdeburg

☆ Germany's Scholz hints at more chip investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I know of other plans by German companies and many others," Scholz told the Bundestag lower house of parliament after listing recent projects announced by chipmakers Intel (INTC.O) and Infineon (IFXGn.DE). He vowed that Germany's efforts would help companies become less dependent on semiconductor supplies from other regions, days after China announced restrictions on two metals used in high-speed computer chips. "Many people around the world have understood that we have to become resilient, and that there are certain industries that should necessarily be located here in Europe and in Germany," Scholz said. Intel announced plans last month to spend more than 30 billion euros ($33 billion) on developing two chip-making plants in the central city of Magdeburg. "It's an impressive signal that so many German and international companies are choosing Germany for the expansion of their semiconductor production," Scholz told the Bundestag.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Taiwan's TSMC, Tesla, Matthias Williams, Sarah Marsh, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Emma Rumney Organizations: chipmakers Intel, Infineon, Union, Intel, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Europe, China, Moscow, Magdeburg, Berlin

In the face of an unprecedented semiconductor shortage, Europe is offering billions of euros in subsidies to reduce its dependence on Asia. In return, Intel is committing big sums and with Germany already bagging a 30 billion euro investment, Poland decided to crash the party. Poland initially impressed Intel executives with the speed in which it responded to queries and addressed concerns, Intel said. "When we began the process, we hadn't considered Poland," Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger told Reuters. But when Intel announced its European investments in March 2022, Germany was awarded a major factory in Magdeburg while Intel told Poland it would only expand its existing facility in Gdansk.

Persons: chipmaker, hadn't, Pat Gelsinger, Gelsinger, Marcin Fabianowicz, Fabianowicz, Sroda Slaska Adam Ruciński, TSMC, Jakub Mazur, Karol Badohal, Supantha Mukherjee, Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Wroclaw, Intel, Reuters, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Industrial Development Agency, PepsiCo, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, Thomson Locations: WROCLAW, Poland, STOCKHOLM, Europe, Asia, Germany, U.S, Wroclaw, Polish, Magdeburg, Gdansk, Sroda Slaska, Wrocław, Taiwan, Stockholm

☆ Germany to offer aid only to strategic sectors after Intel subsidy -minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 21 (Reuters) - Germany will promote specific projects in strategic industries after agreeing subsidies worth nearly 10 billion euros with Intel this week as the U.S. chipmaker said it would invest $33 billion in Germany, a minister said on Wednesday. "There will be no funding for everyone, but only for selected projects," said Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens party which shares power with Scholz's Social Democrats and the FDP Free Democrats. "They will be everywhere in future," he said at an event in Berlin, adding that the Intel subsidies were therefore an investment in economic security. Other sectors being closely watched by the government included medicine, telecommunications, energy, logistics and transport, food and security services, he said. The economy ministry said earlier that the European Commission has yet to approve Berlin's subsidy plans for Intel.

Persons: chipmaker, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Habeck, Christian Kraemer, Madeline Chambers, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Intel, Greens, Scholz's Social Democrats, FDP Free Democrats, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Magdeburg, Berlin

Berlin has agreed subsidies worth nearly 10 billion euros with the U.S. chipmaker, a person familiar with the matter said, more than the 6.8 billion euros it had initially offered Intel to build two leading-edge facilities in the eastern city. "Today's agreement is an important step for Germany as a high-tech production location – and for our resilience," Scholz said after Monday's signing. Globally, semiconductor manufacturing is expected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030, expanding from $600 billion in 2021, according to McKinsey. Initially, Intel wanted to invest 17 billion euros in the Magdeburg plant, an amount that has nearly doubled to more than 30 billion. About 7,000 construction jobs will be created in the first expansion, plus around 3,000 high-tech jobs at Intel and tens of thousands of jobs across industry, the U.S. chipmaker said.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Pat Gelsinger, Scholz, Israel, Dado Ruvic, Robert Hermann, Taiwan's TSMC, Tesla, Robert Habeck, chipmaker, Gelsinger, Maria Martinez, Riham, Christoph Steitz, Rachel More, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton, Catherine Evans Organizations: Intel, Intel Intel, Germany's, U.S, AMD, Nvidia, Samsung, Union, McKinsey, REUTERS, Germany Trade, Invest, Reuters, Germany, Thomson Locations: Germany, Frankfurt BERLIN, STOCKHOLM, Magdeburg, Europe, Berlin, Saxony, Anhalt, EU, chipmaking, Poland, United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Frankfurt, U.S, Ireland, France, Asia

The deal in Germany would be Intel's third big investment in four days, following a $4.6 billion chip plant in Poland and a $25 billion factory in Israel. Intel plans to invest around 30 billion euros in the Magdeburg plant, the person said. Scholz said on Monday that his government was working on investment projects that would make Germany one of the world's leading locations for semiconductor production. Frankfurt-listed Intel shares were 0.7% lower at 1137 GMT. ($1 = 0.9150 euros)Writing by Christoph Steitz; editing by Rachel More, Jason Neely and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pat Gelsinger, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Taiwan's TSMC, Tesla, Gelsinger, Christoph Steitz, Rachel More, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Intel, U.S, AMD, Nvidia, Samsung, EU, Reuters, Germany, Thomson Locations: Germany, Frankfurt BERLIN, STOCKHOLM, Magdeburg, chipmaking, Poland, Israel, United States, Europe, Berlin, South Korea, Taiwan, Frankfurt, Ireland, France, Asia

☆ Germany in intensive talks with Intel on chip plant, economy ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) - Germany is in intensive talks with Intel (INTC.O) on plans to set up a new chip-making complex on its soil, the economy ministry said on Friday, without commenting on how much state funding the company was set to receive for the project. "The goal of the government is clear: We want to strengthen Germany as a location for microelectronics. This is highly important for transformation and technological sovereignty, and for this reason we are conducting intensive talks," a ministry spokesperson said. She did not say how much the company would receive in state subsidies for the site in the central German city of Magdeburg. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger on Monday, according to a government spokesperson.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Pat Gelsinger, Handelsblatt, Rachel More, Miranda Murray Organizations: Intel, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, German, Magdeburg, U.S

☆ Intel near deal on 9.9 bln euro German government subsidy, Handelsblatt says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) and the German government are close to an agreement for the chipmaker to receive 9.9 billion euros ($10.83 billion) in subsidies, up from a previously agreed 6.8 billion, Handelsblatt reported on Thursday, citing government sources. Final negotiations will take place this weekend, the newspaper reported, with Intel Chief Executive Pat Geisinger and government representatives to sign an agreement in Berlin on Monday. Intel and the economy ministry were not immediately available for comment outside working hours. The additional funds are to come from a budget under the responsibility of the economy minister, who campaigned heavily for the extra subsidies in the face of resistance from Finance Minister Christian Lindner, according to Handelsblatt. Intel, which announced last year it had picked the central German city of Magdeburg for a new chip-making complex, had raised its demand for subsidies to around 10 billion euros citing higher energy and construction costs.

Persons: Handelsblatt, Pat Geisinger, Christian Lindner, Victoria Waldersee, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Intel, Finance, Thomson Locations: Berlin, German, Magdeburg

☆ Germany refusing Intel's additional demand for subsidies for chip plant, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 11 (Reuters) - Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner is refusing Intel's (INTC.O) demands for higher subsidies for a 17-billion-euro ($18-billion) chip plant, saying the country could not afford it, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. "There is no more money available in the budget," the newspaper quoted Lindner as saying in an interview. The company was due to receive 6.8 billion euros in government support for its fabrication plant in Germany. However, due to higher energy and construction costs, it is now demanding about 10 billion euros, the newspaper reported. ($1 = 0.9305 euros)Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christian Lindner, Lindner, Taiwan's TSMC, Anirudh, Michael Perry, William Mallard Organizations: Germany's Finance, Financial Times, Intel, Thomson Locations: Germany, German, Magdeburg, Europe, Ireland, Italy, France, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ EU's von der Leyen hails Infineon factory as chip production milestone for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DRESDEN, Germany May 2 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday hailed the construction of a new factory by Germany's Infineon (IFXGn.DE) a milestone in mass chip production as Europe tries to capture a larger slice of the strategic industry. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of Infineon's factory in the German city of Dresden, von der Leyen said it was a step in Europe's goal of doubling its share of global chip production to 20% by 2030 by quadrupling its current capacity. But she warned that Europe was still too dependent for raw materials on individual suppliers, citing in particular that China has a 76% share of producing the silicon metals needed in chip production. This is why it is vital that we in Europe strengthen the supply chains of our most important goods and technologies," von der Leyen said in a speech. Infineon expects production at the 5-billion-euro semiconductor plant, the largest investment in the company's history, to start in 2026.

☆ Germany may restrict export of chip chemicals to China - Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 27 (Reuters) - Germany may limit the export of chemicals to China that are used to manufacture semiconductors as part of the government's efforts to reduce its economic exposure to the Asian economic superpower, Bloomberg news reported on Thursday. It would be the latest in steps under consideration by Germany as it reassesses ties with China. Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) and BASF (BASFn.DE), two German chemicals majors who could be affected by the export curbs if implemented, declined comment. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck had in March suggested that Berlin could impose export restrictions to China to prevent Germany from losing its technological edge. "Export controls with regard to technology must be constantly checked, constantly expanded and constantly updated," a government spokesperson added at the time.

☆ Intel wants $5 bln more in German subsidies for chip plant - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 7 (Reuters) - Intel Corp (INTC.O) is seeking an additional 4 billion to 5 billion euros ($5.28 billion) in subsidies from the German government to build a chip manufacturing complex in the country, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The initial spending was then estimated to total 33 billion euros, including 17 billion euros in Germany. However, Bloomberg News reported Intel now expects to spend 30 billion euros on its project in Germany. Intel was expecting roughly 40% of its Germany project to be subsidized, under the EU's Chips Act, but is now also open to other sources of government aid including tax breaks or energy subsidies, the report added. The expansion in Ireland and France, meanwhile, remains largely on track, the people told Bloomberg News.

☆ Factbox: Chipmakers' plans for factories in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Under the European Chips Act, the European Commission earmarked early last year a total of 15 billion euros ($16 billion) for public and private semiconductor projects by 2030. Below are some of the chipmakers' plans for factories in Europe, in alphabetical order:Infineon (IFXGn.DE):The maker of chips used in cars and data won approval to begin work on a 5 billion euro semiconductor plant in the German city of Dresden, it said on Feb. 16. Intel (INTC.O):In March 2022, Intel picked the German city of Magdeburg as the site for its new mega chip manufacturing complex, a key part of its $88 billion investment drive across Europe. STMicroelectronics (STM.BN):The Franco-Italian company said in October it plans to build a 730 million euro silicon carbide wafer plant in Italy. It also announced plans in July to build a semiconductor factory in France in partnership with GlobalFoundries (GFS.O).

☆ Intel wants 10 bln euros of government funding for plant in Germany -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) has provided the German economy ministry with a new calculation for a planned chip factory in the city of Magdeburg that considers almost 10 billion euros ($10.74 billion) of government funding to be necessary, business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. An Intel spokesperson declined to comment on the figure in Handelsblatt but was quoted as saying the group was "working very closely with government partners to close the critical cost gap". The company explains that its new demand, which exceeds the already approved funds of 6.8 billion euros ($7.3 billion), was necessary due to higher energy costs and that it would like to use a more advanced technology in the plant than initially planned, Handelsblatt said. ($1 = 0.9308 euros)Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; editing by Matthias WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wolfspeed plans multi-billion dollar chip factory in Germany, Handelsblatt reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, Jan 21 (Reuters) - U.S. power chip maker Wolfspeed Inc (WOLF.N) is planning to build a factory in Germany for more than 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion), Handelsblatt reported on Saturday. The German auto supplier ZF will hold a minority stake, the the business newspaper said, citing unidentified sources familiar with the project. Production should begin in four years at the site in the small southwest German state of Saarland, the report added. A spokesperson for the economics ministry of Saarland declined to comment. ZF declined to comment.

☆ Wolfspeed plans multi-billion dollar chip factory in Germany - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HALF MOON BAY, Calif/FRANKFURT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. chip giant Intel Corp (INTC.O) is committed to building its chip fabrication plant, or fab, in Magdeburg, Germany and is working out funding details with the government, according to Chief Global Operations Officer Keyvan Esfarjani. “We are committed to making the Magdeburg project successful,” Esfarjani told Reuters on the sidelines of Industry Strategy Symposium, a chip conference by Semi last week in Half Moon Bay, California. When asked about Intel's investment, Germany's economy ministry's spokesperson told Reuters the government was in "constant exchange with Intel and the European Commission" about the project. In March Intel announced Magdeburg as the site for its new mega chip manufacturing complex, a key part of its $88 billion investment drive across Europe. Last week Italy's government also reiterated that it was determined to secure and investment by Intel.

☆ Intel delaying German factory start, wants more subsidies, Volksstimme reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

But the newspaper said that surging energy and raw materials prices had upset the U.S. company's original calculations. Where Intel had originally budgeted for costs of 17 billion euros ($18 billion), prices were now closer to 20 billion euros, the paper said. "Geopolitical challenges have grown and demand for semiconductors has fallen," Intel spokesperson Benjamin Barteder was quoted by the paper as saying. The company added that it was discussing with the government how a funding "gap" could be bridged, the newspaper said. We are working with partners in the government to push the project forward," the newspaper quoted Intel as saying.

The Intel Corporation logo is seen at a temporary office during the World Economic Forum 2022 (WEF) in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland May 25, 2022. A spokesperson for Intel did not comment as negotiations are ongoing and confidential. Among other reasons, the site is well connected with Germany and in particular with the city of Magdeburg, where Intel will build two factories, one of the sources added. Intel and the government had also initially considered sites in the Lombardy, Apulia and Sicily regions. The sources declined to provide further details, but Reuters has previously reported that Rome is ready to fund as much as 40% of Intel's total investment in Italy.

The Intel Corporation logo is seen at a temporary office during the World Economic Forum 2022 (WEF) in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland May 25, 2022. Intel's investment in Italy is part of a wider plan announced by the U.S. chipmaker last March to invest as much as 80 billion euros ($77.5 billion) over the next decade in building capacity across Europe. A spokesperson for Intel did not comment as negotiations are ongoing and confidential. Intel and the government had also initially considered sites in the Lombardy, Apulia and Sicily regions. The sources declined to provide further details, but Reuters has previously reported that Rome is ready to fund as much as 40% of Intel's total investment in Italy.

☆ Volkswagen shares up slightly on Porsche's $70.1 billion to $75.1 billion valuation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Volkswagen shares rose slightly on Monday after the carmaker said it was targeting a valuation of up to 75 billion euros ($74.84 billion) for sportscar brand Porsche, in potentially Europe's third biggest IPO ever. The valuation announced on Sunday of 70 billion-75 billion euros is slightly below some investors' estimates of up to 85 billion euros, but still far outstrips the valuation of other German carmakers like BMW's 49 billion euros or Mercedes-Benz' 61 billion. It also comes close to Volkswagen's own market capitalisation of 88 billion euros. The carmaker saw its shares rise 3% in premarket trade. By 0914 GMT they were only slightly higher at 145.6 euros, from 145.46 at Friday's close, but bucked a drop in European shares.

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