logo
Germany's Lower Saxony state premier to stand down in May, several media report

Germany's Lower Saxony state premier to stand down in May, several media report

Reuters01-04-2025

BERLIN, April 1 (Reuters) - Veteran German Social Democrat (SPD) Stephan Weil will stand down as premier of the state of Lower Saxony in May after 12 years in office, several German media, including local broadcaster NDR, reported on Tuesday.
The state of Lower Saxony owns 11.8% of shares in Volkswagen and has 20% voting rights. The state has a big influence on the company due to a special law which effectively gives it a blocking minority.
The plans come as the SPD are in talks with Friedrich Merz's conservatives to form a coalition on the national level. Elections in the state are due in autumn 2027.
A spokesperson for Weil, 66 years old, had no immediate comment.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Elon Musk has PTSD & made a MISTAKE by helping Trump, his dad claims as he reveals verdict on what caused explosive feud
Elon Musk has PTSD & made a MISTAKE by helping Trump, his dad claims as he reveals verdict on what caused explosive feud

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Elon Musk has PTSD & made a MISTAKE by helping Trump, his dad claims as he reveals verdict on what caused explosive feud

ELON Musk has "White House PTSD" and thinks he made a mistake by helping Trump get reelected, his dad has claimed. Errol Musk, 79, made the explosive remarks in Moscow, where he's set to appear at a Kremlin-backed forum organised by Putin's inner circle. Advertisement 9 Errol Musk claims his son Elon has 'PTSD from the White House' Credit: East2West 9 Musk Snr also believes the Tesla boss regrets helping Trump get reelected Credit: Reuters 9 Errol is currently in Moscow to appear at a Kremlin-backed forum Credit: East2West 9 Elon reportedly donated $288 million to Trump's 2024 campaign Credit: AFP It comes just days after his billionaire son's high-profile alliance with the US President imploded in a fierce online feud. The world's richest man — who reportedly donated $288 million to Trump's 2024 campaign and briefly served as a White House aide — has now turned on the president over his sweeping tax and spending bill. Elon even claimed on X that Trump was tied to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, though the post was later deleted and the White House dismissed the allegation outright. Their bromance is now beyond repair. Advertisement On Sunday, Trump confirmed to NBC that he has no interest in making amends: 'I would assume so, yeah,' he said when asked if their relationship was over. 'I have no intention of speaking to him.' Now, the Tesla and SpaceX boss is said to be grappling with regret and fatigue from his turbulent stint in Washington. Musk Snr told Putin-controlled media: 'So at the moment, Elon is inclined to say that he's made a mistake.' 'Trump will prevail. He's the president, he was elected as the president. Advertisement 'Elon made a mistake, I think, but he's tired, he's stressed. He added: 'Five months of continuous stress, continuous, continuous stress, stress, stress. Trump crushes 'peace talk' hopes with Musk as he insists Elon has 'lost his mind' and 'vows to get rid of his Tesla' 'And then in the end, it's just him and Trump left… They still don't know what to do, so they fight with each other until they can come to normal conditions.' The South African businessman likened the split to a "marriage going wrong" and suggested his son was out of depth in the brutal political arena. Advertisement He told Russian outlet Izvestia: 'It happens in marriages, it happens in partnerships, it happens a lot . 'And people have to understand that at the moment, Elon is having second thoughts... 'He's not a great politician, he is still learning, he's a great tech innovator and so forth. 'But his politics is, as I've said before, is a swimming pool with no bottom, it's a swimming pool with no sides. Advertisement 'When you're in a swimming pool of politics, you've got to really know where to go. 'And he [Elon] doesn't realise that.' 9 Errol made the explosive claims on Putin-controlled media in Russia Credit: East2West 9 He said his son had a very stressful five months Credit: East2West Advertisement Errol added that Elon had been trying to "get everything right" with a recent bill, but clashed with Trump over what he saw as excessive Democratic spending concessions. 'But unfortunately, he doesn't realise that in order to get their votes in the Senate and the Congress, Trump has to do that,' he said. 'They are the only two people left in the arena… and they took to each other, which is understandable.' Errol's comments were made to Tsargrad TV — owned by Konstantin Malofeev, a businessman with alleged links to Russian military intelligence. Advertisement He praised Moscow, saying: 'Whoever designed this city is a true genius. These majestic buildings remind me of Ancient Rome.' He also dismissed Western portrayals of the Russian capital as 'nonsense.' 9 Trump and Musk's bromance fell through in a spectacular public feud online Credit: AFP 9 The feud erupted over Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which proposed stripping billions in government subsidies from Tesla Credit: AP Advertisement Errol will speak at the Future Forum 2050, organised by Malofeev and Putin ideologist and 'philosopher' Alexander Dugin. Meanwhile, Russia appears eager to capitalize on Musk's estrangement from the US political elite. Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev cheekily offered to mediate peace talks between 'D and E' — Trump and Elon— 'for a reasonable fee and to accept Starlink shares as payment.' Another Kremlin loyalist, ex-space chief Dmitry Rogozin, publicly offered Musk asylum. Advertisement 'You are respected in Russia. If you encounter insurmountable problems in the US, come to us and become one of us,' Rogozin wrote. Russia would offer him 'reliable comrades and complete freedom of technical creativity'.

Putin plotting to blitz Ukraine with ‘vicious & unrelenting' revenge strike in days after Op Spiderweb, US insiders warn
Putin plotting to blitz Ukraine with ‘vicious & unrelenting' revenge strike in days after Op Spiderweb, US insiders warn

Scottish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Putin plotting to blitz Ukraine with ‘vicious & unrelenting' revenge strike in days after Op Spiderweb, US insiders warn

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VLADIMIR Putin is preparing a "huge, vicious and unrelenting" revenge assault on Ukraine just days after Operation Spiderweb, U.S. and Western officials have warned. Insiders said the Kremlin's full-scale retaliation for last week's stunning drone blitz on four key Russian airbases hasn't yet materialized - but it is coming very soon. 12 Western officials have warned that Vladimir Putin is plotting a major revenge assault on Ukraine Credit: AFP 12 Fire and smoke rise from the site where a Russian missile struck a residential area in Kharkiv on Saturday Credit: AP 12 Officials say the strikes could also aim symbolic Ukrainian targets 12 Footage of Operation Spiderweb showed Russian planes left burning on the runway The revenge strike will be "asymmetrical" and likely to feature a mix of drones and missiles aimed at symbolic Ukrainian targets - not just military assets, one U.S. official told Reuters. Another said the operation could begin within days. A senior Western diplomat added: "It will be huge, vicious and unrelenting. "But the Ukrainians are brave people." On Friday, Russia unleashed a fierce missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, killing at least six and injuring over 80, but American officials say this may only be the beginning. Russia's Defense Ministry called it a response to "terrorist acts" by Ukraine - but insiders say the real retaliation is still being assembled behind the scenes. U.S. officials believe the SBU — Ukraine's security service — may be directly targeted in the revenge strike. Carnegie Endowment analyst Michael Kofman told Reuters: "Most likely, they will attempt to retaliate against (SBU) headquarters, or other regional intelligence administration buildings. "In general, Russia's ability to substantially escalate strikes from what they are already doing — and attempting to do over the past month — is quite constrained." Putin plotting 'final killer offensive' to WIN Ukraine war despite Russian losses nearing 1 MILLION 12 PUTIN'S $7bn HUMILIATION The looming storm follows Operation Spiderweb - Ukraine's most daring covert strike yet. It was led personally by spy chief Vasyl Malyuk under the direct orders of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Over 117 kamikaze drones were launched from hidden mobile units disguised as everyday cargo trucks, slipped undetected into Russian territory. New footage released on Saturday by Ukraine's SBU shows an FPV drone lifting off from a lorry rooftop before smashing directly into a Russian bomber at the Belaya airfield. The strikes hit four strategic bases - Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo — torching aircraft capable of launching nuclear warheads. Ukrainian officials say 41 planes were destroyed or damaged. U.S. intelligence puts the figure closer to 20, with at least 10 completely destroyed - still a staggering blow to Russia's long-range bomber fleet. The $7billion damage, inflicted with zero boots on the ground, has left the Kremlin tyrant furious and determined to reassert its military dominance. 12 The SBU released new footage of the covert operation on Saturday Credit: Twitter 12 It showed a drone lifting off from what appears to be a transport vehicle before targeting Putin's bomber planes 'IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY' President Donald Trump revealed this week that he spoke directly with Putin on Wednesday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Russian despot told him "he will have to respond" to the drone attack. Speaking to reporters later, Trump added: "It's probably not going to be pretty. I don't like it. "I said: 'Don't do it. You shouldn't do it. You should stop it.' "But, again, there's a lot of hatred." Meanwhile, Russia's propaganda machine is framing the war as existential. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared Friday: "This is about the future of our children, of our country." 12 A view of destruction following the two-hour Russian attack on Kharkiv on Saturday Credit: Getty 12 A man stands amid rubble in destroyed house at residential district after Russian shelling in Kharkiv Credit: Getty BLITZ ALREADY UNDERWAY? While officials say the major strike is still to come, Ukraine is already reeling from a brutal few days of missile and drone attacks. On Friday, 400 drones and 45 missiles rained down on cities across the country. In Kyiv, explosions lit up the night sky near the Mother Ukraine monument. A fire tore through the 11th floor of a residential block in Solomyanskyi, and emergency crews rushed to save civilians trapped inside. Overnight into Saturday, Kharkiv suffered Russia's largest airstrike yet, killing three - including a baby and a 14-year-old girl - and wounding 21. 'We have a lot of damage,' Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov said. At least 18 apartment buildings and 13 homes were hit, with more strikes reported in Donetsk, Dnipro, Ternopil, and Odesa. Ukraine's Air Force said it shot down 174 out of 206 drones and nine missiles overnight. 12 Smoke billowing from a fire burning in a building after an airstrike in Kharkiv on Saturday Credit: EPA 12 Explosion is seen after Russian air strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday SUMMER OFFENSIVE BREWING Western analysts say Mad Vlad is not just seeking revenge - but a breakthrough. Reports from Ukrainian intelligence suggest up to 125,000 troops are massing near the Sumy and Kharkiv frontiers, with fears of a three-pronged summer assault to finally break the deadlock. The offensive is expected to focus on Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk in the Donbas - with plans to encircle key cities rather than slug it out street by street. Military analyst Konrad Muzyka told The Telegraph Russia's tactics have evolved: "We have seen the Russians shift to focused, small-unit attacks, often of just three to five men. "Company-size assaults of 50 to 100 men hardly ever happen anymore." But Ukraine, armed with drones and Western weapons, isn't backing down. Zelensky warned this week: "Even after all of Russia's horrific attacks, he is reportedly preparing yet more so-called 'responses.' "With every new strike, with every delay of diplomacy, Russia is giving the finger to the entire world."

Liverpool's hopeful deadline to seal Florian Wirtz deal after making third bid
Liverpool's hopeful deadline to seal Florian Wirtz deal after making third bid

Daily Mirror

timea day ago

  • Daily Mirror

Liverpool's hopeful deadline to seal Florian Wirtz deal after making third bid

Liverpool believe they can wrap up a deal for Florian Wirtz sooner rather than later after submitting a third bid to Bayer Leverkusen for the German playmaker - who will cost a British record fee Liverpool hope to complete a deal for Florian Wirtz within days despite submitting another offer that is below Bayer Leverkusen 's valuation of the playmaker. This is the third bid made by the Premier League side. It is their highest yet with the package coming in at £113million - £100m of which is up front before the extras are paid as add ons. However the Bundesliga club have maintained they want £126m before they consider letting Wirtz seek pastures new. ‌ Despite the disparity between the two figures Sporting director Richard Hughes, who is leading negotiations, is hopeful a deal can be reached in the coming days. The first part of this summer's transfer window closes on June 10 before opening back up shortly after. ‌ The 22-year-old star has made it clear to his club that he wants to move to Anfield after Manchester City opted out of the race for his signature. Bayern Munich were also keen but they've been usurped in the pecking order by the Premier League champions. Personal terms won't be an issue once a fee is agreed and the player is waiting for the green light to head to Liverpool for a medical next week after Germany face France in the Nations League third-place play-off on Sunday. Liverpool have already negotiated with Leverkusen once this summer, signing Jeremie Frimpong. The Dutchman has moved to Anfield as Trent Alexander-Arnold's replacement but his £30m switch was made easier by a release clause in his contract. Wirtz has no such clause and that has led to the back and forth between the two clubs. Liverpool will have to break the British transfer record if they do want to sign the playmaker, who is regarded as a generational talent with the Reds confident he can have an instant impact. club chief Fernando Carro previously said they "would never let Wirtz leave" for less than their valuation. Arne Slot endured a quiet summer when he first arrived at Anfield, working with the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp. But after landing the title he's wasted no time in pursuing new recruits as the Reds look to build on this year's success. ‌ Germany legend Rudi Voller - who left his role as sporting director of Bayer Leverkusen in 2022 after 17 years - has given insight into the discussions and claimed that the German club would make Liverpool wait on a deal, despite their hopes to wrap it up soon. "It's no secret that he'd like to go to Liverpool. I know the clubs are negotiating with each other. It's often the case that it takes a while until an agreement is finally reached. Of course, in the end, you have the feeling it will go through. Florian Wirtz has proven that he is a very, very valuable player. Not only for Bayer Leverkusen but also for the national team. That's why he costs a few euros more." As well as Frimpong and Wirtz Liverpool are also looking to complete a deal for Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez. The Hungarian impressed for the the Cherries and is one of several players who could earn move elsewhere. He is valued at £40m.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store