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| German Media Watch | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 21 2018, 08:21 AM (42 Views) | |
| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:21 AM Post #1 |
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| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:22 AM Post #2 |
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The Future of Chinese Aircraft in Europe Remains Uncertain![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | December 2017 -- In June of this year the Chinese premier Li Keqiang has called on Germany to help with China's push towards securing type certification for its in-development C919 narrowbody from the European Aviation Safety Agency. This was reported by state-owned media Xinhua, during Li's official visit to Berlin where he met with German chancellor Angela Merkel. Comac applied for type certification of the C919 with EASA last year via the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Last month, the manufacturer disclosed that EASA has started work on the C919 approval, having visited its Shanghai facility to examine the manufacturing process. German representatives from the EASA have recently told Deutsche Welle that the process "is still continuing" but that there have been some safety concerns that need to be looked into further. The C919 took its first flight on 5 May, more than seven years after the programme was first launched. Comac has so far secured commitments for 570 of the type, although largely from Chinese airlines and leasing companies. The manufacturer's approach to EASA shows it ambition for the jet to not be constrained by China's borders. It also confirms Comac's break away from seeking the co-operation of the US Federal Aviation Administration, which has yet to certify the ARJ21 regional jet despite years spent shadowing the CAAC. The ARJ21 regional jet continues to lack EASA certification as well, again linked to safety concerns according to EASA officials. "We are unable to currently approve the ARJ21 certification" said one of the German employees of EASA. The first passenger jet built in China, the Comac ARJ-21 made its first commercial flight with launch customer Chengdu Airlines, from Chengdu in central China to Shanghai, a two-hour flight that went reportedly without a hitch, with 70 passengers on the 90-seat twinjet. However European authorities continue to have serious concerns over certifying the aircraft to fly in European airspace. Almost a decade behind schedule, the ARJ-21 is a sales flop compared to Western jets of similar size. The Brazilian-made Embraer E-Jet family has won around 1,500 orders; Canada's Bombardier CRJ planes got more than 800. Both seat up to 100 people on journeys typically limited to a couple hours' flight, a category commonly known as "regional jets." Granted, the ARJ-21 has a list price estimated at around $30 million, way cheaper than similar Western jets. But it's also heavier, which means it burns more fuel. And Comac is an unproven entity; the only thing airlines outside of China really know about it is that it's taken a long time to put its first jet into the hands of its first customer; itself a subsidiary of Comac. The ARJ-21 does not have a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration or from its European equivalent saying that it's fit to carry passengers commercially, and so it can fly only in China and some countries that recognize Chinese certification. China is now betting hard on the C919, another Comac product roughly twice the size of the ARJ-21 in terms of passengers carried, meant to compete directly with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, the most widely sold passenger jets in history. But the C919 has yet to receive European or American certifications as well. The German government, which was asked to lobby on behalf of the Chinese firm back in June, has not yet responded to the Chinese request. It is possible that a German delegation may visit Comac in coming months to see for themselves what they are being asked to support; though this is unconfirmed. Source
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| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:23 AM Post #3 |
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German Court Rules 'Auschwitz's Bookkeeper' is Fit to Serve Prison Term![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | January 2018 -- A German court has rejected an appeal by an ex-Auschwitz guard against serving his prison term. The 96-year-old, known as "Auschwitz's bookkeeper," was convicted in 2015 as an accessory to the murders of 300,000 people. The Celle state court in northern Germany ruled on Wednesday that Oskar Gröning was in good enough health to serve out his four years in prison, though did not say when he might be jailed. German prosecutors said a court doctor had determined that Gröning was able to serve his sentence, on the condition he received appropriate nursing and medical care while in detention. "Based on expert opinion, the superior regional court finds that the convicted individual is fit to serve out the term despite his advanced age," the court said in its ruling. Imprisoning Gröning would not violate his fundamental rights, the court ruled. Gröning had been living at home despite the July 2015 conviction. Over 1 million people – mostly Jews – were murdered at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in German-occupied Polish territory. Of the camp's 6,500 SS personnel who survived the war, fewer than 50 were ever convicted. Gröning's lawyer Hans Holtermann told the German press agency DPA there were measures that could be taken to stop his client from having to serve a sentence. This might include filing a complaint with the Constitutional Court, he said. Gröning had cited old age in his appeal against his sentence, which was handed down by the district court of Lüneberg in the German state of Lower Saxony. His conviction was then upheld by a federal court in 2016. The ex-SS sergeant was convicted in 2015 for his role overseeing the collection of prisoners' belongings and sending valuables and cash to Berlin. He also on several occasions performed "ramp duty," processing deportees as they arrived by rail in cattle cars. At the age of 21, Gröning volunteered to join the elite Waffen-SS before transferring in 1942 to work at Auschwitz. A bank clerk in pre-war Germany, Gröning said at his trial he felt a "moral guilt" for serving at Auschwitz but had not been personally involved in mass murder. Gröning had previously been cleared by German authorities after lengthy criminal investigations going back to the 1970s. But a case was reopened against him as the legal basis for prosecuting former Nazis changed in 2011 with Germany's landmark conviction of former death camp guard John Demjanjuk. Demjanjuk was the first person to be convicted in Germany even though authorities could not directly tie him to any specific Nazi killings, on the basis that his administrative work meant that he must have been aware of deceased prisoners' fates. Source
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| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:24 AM Post #4 |
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Grosse Koalition Returning to Berlin?![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | March 2018 -- Calls have been strong for a united German government following the outcome of the followup elections held last month. "The politicking and intrigue has gone far enough. Germany needs a government, and it needs one that will be able to work as one cohesive force." Initially, on the night of the followup election, Martin Schultz told press officers that "the SDP is not going to just stand down. If Merkel wants a coalition she must come to us and come to us with fair terms." However, as the days went on pressure on the SDP continued to build up. Finally it was announced that Martin Schultz had agreed to meet with Angela Merkel in "actual, substantial, negotiations between the two [Parties] to discuss the continuation of their long tradition of cooperation." While many local and regional leaders applauded the decision, there were some in the SDP that strongly opposed the meeting and possibility of a "Grosse Koalition". The youth office in the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party in central Berlin – known as Willy Brandt Haus, after the late SPD chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize winner – was not a happy place in the week before Germany's followup federal election. With its bright colours, funky furniture and airy ceilings, the office seemed the perfect spot for a postelection celebration. But there will likely be no wild party after the polls close on Sunday. That's because every poll says that chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will win the election by a wide margin. And every poll says she will handily win the most votes among 18- to 24-year-olds. They are the coveted youth vote – every federal election brings in roughly three-million new voters. Sitting in the virtually empty office, Leonard Von Galen, the SPD's international youth secretary, and Benjamin Koester, the youth arm's press officer, knew that it was pretty much game over. The most recent polls found that 57 per cent of first-time voters prefer Ms. Merkel as chancellor, compared to a mere 21 per cent for SPD Leader Martin Schulz, the former president of the European Union. But that didnt mean that the SDP Youth Wing would be giving up on what they considered a dream. They made very clear that they did not support the decision to reopen talks with the CDU/CSU over a renewed "Grand Coalition". "We have views that do not, and cannot, reconcile, with that of Merkel's party" Leonard Von Galen told Deutsche Welle. But many in Germany have called the Youth Wing along with the leader of the SDP: Martin Schultz, "modern radicals, out of touch with reality in some of their ambition." For one Martin Schultz has announced his with to see a United States of Europe by 2025: something that domestic and international scholars and governments have scoffed at. "The pressure on the SDP is mounting. They have been losing these votes in both the first and second Federal Elections this term because of their radical opinions of the future of Europe, the future of Germany, and their own futures; as well as their arrogance" said Philip Schickendantz, a resident of Munich and a staunch CDU supporter for this election. "I used to vote SDP, but I saw that after the mess they made of the last formation of government I could not do it again. If they are going to remain an important body in this country, and counter the nationalists in the AfD, they need to learn that compromise is necessary." Meanwhile, Martin Schultz and Angela Merkel announced confidence in the formation of a new "Grand Coalition" between the two leading parties. If this is the case it is likely that Martin Schulz will succeed his predecessor, Sigmar Gabriel, as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany. Sigmar Gabriel announced that this was expected and welcomed, and that he had been a proponent of cooperation between the two parties for some time. His plans, if he is asked to step down, he says is to take a break from Politics until at least the next election. Source
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| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:25 AM Post #5 |
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An End to Germany's Political Crisis: CDU/SDP Form Coalition Government![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | March 2018-- Chancellor Angela Merkel stood side by side with the new Vice Chancellor of Germany, Martin Schulz, as they announced the successful formation of a German government after months of deadlock and the need for another election held in February of this year. "Tonight we are glad to announce the formation of the next Federal government of German: a grand coalition of those who wish to work closely together in the future of Germany and the European community" Chancellor Merkel said as Vice Chancellor Schulz smiled and nodding in agreement behind her. Negotiations between the CDU/CSU and SDP started shortly after the outcome of the renewed election held in February: with pressure from the President and public being clear to end the stalemate. "Some compromises have been made on both sides" the Chancellor elaborated this evening. The two sides have had similar, if varying, views of many different issues facing Germany today. For one the SDP has agreed to back away from their Middle-Class Tax Plan in return to ensure the CDU would throw its support behind additional childcare, housing, and infrastructure spending and assistance. In addition both parties agreed to renew negotiations with Russia regarding Ukraine and to develop a joint plan of action depending on the outcome of those negotiations. In the matter of Defense, Merkel's CDU has made clear they intend to continue to move Germany towards a leading role in NATO, and as a result does still plan an increase of the defense budget to 2% as well as a modest expansion of the Bundeswehr. But in line with their wish for cooperation with their coalition partner there will also be studies into possibly expanding developmental aid beyond what is currently being provided. These were but a couple of issues brought up at negotiations between the two parties: and while the coalition is formed both sides have confirmed there are still some areas of concern between both of their views. Vice Chancellor Schulz told Deutsche Welle that "There are some things we simply cannot agree on. But in order to serve our nation and our people we have agreed to agree to disagree on certain aspects." It is likely that this will lead to some internal tensions in the future; but both sides are confident they will be able to overcome such difficulties. Rumors of a renewed mission in Afghanistan were brought up during the press conference. Both German leaders said that the situation in Afghanistan is "under review" and that a decision would be made that would take into account the safety of German soldiers, Germany's obligation to its NATO allies, and Germany's obligations to global peace and security. Source
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| Jos1311 | Jan 21 2018, 08:27 AM Post #6 |
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The Bundeswehr: Future Defense in Europe![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | April 2018 -- With the arrival of a relatively new government, notably with the arrival of Martin Schulz as Vice Chancellor, the annual meeting of the Ministry of Defense, commanders of each branch of the Bundeswehr, and the Chancellors office became a much more interesting affair. Angela Merkel along Ursula von der Leyen; Minister of Defense; where determined to discuss the topic of further German responsibility in the defense of Europe and within the NATO alliance as a whole. Angela Merkel has taken the words of former President Trump to heart, and has said on multiple occasions that Germany must "come together" and form a strong center of European participation in NATO. "Germany is historically the military center of Europe. The Holy Roman Empire, and the Prussian State, have shown this many times. Imperial Germany showed it once again" said Professor Rheiner Halbert of Ludwig-Maximilian University. "We, the German people, have always taken the safety of our people, our lands, and our allies very seriously. Europe faces many threats: from terrorism to a resurgent Russia: we must be ready to defend our allies and to defend ourselves." This appears to also be the thought of Angela Merkel, who championed increased spending and increased participation of Germany's various military branches in NATO exercises. "We do not" she said "want to become the only foundation in European NATO. We are a pillar of support and will remain to be that. Each and every country in Europe must contribute to ensure the defense of the continent." Merkels position has had some opposition in their coalition with the SDP. Vice Chancellor Martin Schulz was opposed to major increases in German military spending and also wished to discuss rapprochement with Russia. The meeting between the leaders of the German Armed Forces and the leaders of the leading coalition in Germany intended to solve these issues, and in many ways was able to do so. Plans to even further reduce the maintenance of the Tornado aircraft in the Luftwaffe was accepted by both Merkel and the Vice Chancellor; bringing the expected new fleet of upgraded Tornado's down from 85 to 70; including all variants. Additionally Merkel has apparently compromised with Schulz: Schulz not opposing planned increased in the military budget in return for a renewed dialog with Moscow in various areas: including Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Global Cooperation, and Economics. We have also seen Schulz back off in areas of defense including the Afghani deployment, and increased participation of Germany in NATO and other exercises. One of the major decisions was to approve the deployment of a naval vessel to the RIMPAC 2018 exercises being hosted by the United States. The exercise includes NATO and non-NATO security partners around the world including China; and this will be the first year Germany has joined the naval component: previously contributing a battalion of marines (Seebataillon). The future of the defense of Germany and Europe looks to be a major topic of Merkel's new term, though many also expect many compromises made with the SDP to bring more domestic and economic problems to the country. Martin Schulz's plan for a "United States of Europe by 2025" plan however has become one of the largest casulties of the SDP's coalition with Merkel. Merkel has stated that "While a totally united Europe is something all of us can hope for, it is not something one can expect to happen in this sort of timeline." Source
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| Jos1311 | Jan 24 2018, 02:23 AM Post #7 |
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German Navy returns Baden-Wurttemberg class to builder![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | December 2018 -- The Baden-Wurttenberg class has been somewhat controversial from the start. Critics had already discussed the ship's odd mission and design features, and reports about some of the troubling post-delivery issues with the lead ship in the class quickly serviced in the media as well. These problems included a persistent list to starboard and the fact that the ship is dramatically overweight, which would limit its performance, increase its cost of operation, and most importantly, negatively impact the Deutsche Marine's ability to add future upgrades to the somewhat sparsely outfitted vessel. As a result of these ongoing issues the German Navy has officially declined to commission the vessel and will be returning it to Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The decision to do so was based on a number of "software and hardware defects" according to media reports. The noted software deficiencies are of particular importance because these destroyer-sized vessels will supposedly be operated by a crew of just 120-130 sailors, just half that of the much smaller Bremen class frigates they replace, continuously for months at a time. On top of that, the design's reliability is paramount as the four ships in the class are supposed to deploy far from German shores for up to two years at a time. According to several sources, this is the first time the German Navy has returned a ship to a shipbuilder after delivery. After the several attempts by the builder to correct the issues with the lead ship of the class, the Baden-Wurttenberg, has now officially be handed back to the Blohm+Voss shipyard. Complicating things further is the fact that the fourth and final F125 frigate, the Rheinland-Pfalz, was already christened in the Spring of 2017. Because of the concurrent construction and testing procurement strategy, the remaining three vessels are likely to suffer from at least some of the same issues as the lead ship in the class, however the exact extent of the issues is as of yet not known. According to the newspaper Kieler Nachrichten, the Baden-Württemberg class experienced problems with its radar, electronics and the flameproof coating on its fuel tanks. During its sea trials, the lead ship was also found to list slightly to its starboard side, although this has been resolved in the three other vessels. Despite the delays experienced by the Baden-Württemberg, the consortium delivering the F-125 project expects to hand over the second additional frigate; the ‘Nordrhein-Westfalen,’ next month, while the two remaining frigates; the ‘Sachsen-Anhalt’ and the ‘Rheinland-Pfalz,’ will be delivered on schedule. “The Nordrhein-Westfalen has successfully completed its ship-related technical trials. Currently the combat system is being tested, which, according to most sources is the only matter that can postpone the delivery of the second vessel. Thyssenkrupp responded to the news of the returning Baden-Württemberg by stating, that it has been in consultations with the German government and that it will be addressing the problems in order for the vessel to be handed over to the German navy to commence its service life. |
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| Jos1311 | Jan 30 2018, 01:35 PM Post #8 |
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Germany sells excess Leopard 2 tanks to South Africa, while upgrading its own fleet![]() Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany | January 2019 -- The South African Ministry of Defence (MoD) will acquire second-hand Leopard 2A5 main battle tanks (MBTs) from Germany, the German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen has revealed. In a letter to the German Parliament’s Lower House, Ursula von der Leyen noted that the contract is likely to be signed next week during the visit of South African defence minister, Carl Haglund, to Germany. The contract will cover supply of a total of 70 Leopard 2A5 tanks, as well as associated training materials, spare parts, special tools, training ammunition and personnel training. Developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the 60t Leopard 2A5 is considered one of the more advanced variants of the Leopard 2 MBT, featuring a wedge-shaped, spaced add-on armour to the turret front and the frontal area of the sides and an air-conditioning system. The tank was introduced into German service in 1998. The tanks will come from German stocks and will be refurbished before being provided to South Africa during 2019. The contract allegedly is worth in excess of $200 million US dollar and will also come with an extensive training package, with German Army and KMW specialist flying to South Africa and assist in the training of South African crews and maintenance personnel. Defence minister Ursula von der Leyen also revealed that the German Army over the coming years will also start with the upgrading of its own Leopard 2 fleet to the 2A7V standard. The Leopard 2A7V is the latest version of the Leopard 2A7, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and unveiled at Eurosatory 2016. The 2A7V is an “Urban Operations” evolution of the 2A7, derived from an earlier Peace Support Operations prototype. The “V” stands for “improved” in German, and inadvertently mimics the designation of the first German-designed tank to ever see combat, the World War I–era A7V. The new tank has reinforced belly armor for protection against IEDs and mines, and can fit dual-layer modular composite armor plates tailored to counter different kinds of threats. These plates can reportedly be fitted all around the tank. The 2A7V will have a remote weapon station allowing the crew to fire the turret-mounted machine gun remotely without exposing themselves to enemy fire. This FLW-200 system can mount either a 7.62- or 12.7-millimeter machine gun, or even a forty-millimeter automatic grenade launcher. The tank's main gun can now program its high-explosive shells to airburst above enemy troops hiding behind cover, or delay them to explode after penetrating the side of a building. The new A7V vehicles may also receive new L55A1 guns with 20 percent higher firing pressure than the base model, giving the shells greater range and penetration against enemy armor. Finally the 2A7V features additional infrared cameras and upgraded sights for better situational awareness, support for attaching dozer blades and mine-clearing plows, and new external telephones to allow friendly infantry to communicate with the tank crew. All of these upgrades enhance the tank’s ability to fight opponents in dense urban terrain. While not immediately equipped with an active protection system (APS), it was also revealed that the German Army will acquire an unspecified number of what has been called the world's most advanced APS, the APS-Gen 3. These systems will allegedly be added to the tanks in the coming years, providing them with an APS that poses far less of a threat to friendly troops. The German Army is to receive a total of 320 Leopard 2A7V in the coming years. |
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