Latest news with #Berlin
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Teen, 15, on trial over ISIS suicide plot to bomb Taylor Swift concert causing UK shows to be axed
A TEEN has gone on trial over an IS suicide plot to bomb a Taylor Swift concert that led to three of the pop star's shows being axed and tighter security at her UK dates. The lad, 15, named as Mohammad A, is accused of translating bomb instructions from Arabic and sending them to the alleged mastermind. 2 2 Austrian Beran A, 19, allegedly planned a suicide blast at an Eras tour gig in Vienna last August. German-educated Syrian Mohammad A was nicked on the day the gigs were axed after his name was found in Beran A's contacts, it was said. Shake it Off singer Taylor later said she felt a 'tremendous amount of guilt' and 'new sense of fear' over threats faced by her fans. Berlin's Superior Court of Justice agreed to a trial behind closed doors. Berlin's Superior Court of Justice agreed with his defence lawyers' request for a private trial due to his age and 'heated press coverage' of the case. Prosecutors say the teen started following Islamic State ideology in 2024 - and pledged loyalty to the terror group in a text. They have also said the main suspect in Austria, Beran A, was still under investigation. After the alleged plot emerged, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were accused of pressing police into giving Taylor, 35, a blue-light escort for her gigs in the capital. The London Mayor was among Labour figures who bagged freebies to her sell-out shows which took place amid heightened security.
Al Mayadeen
8 hours ago
- Business
- Al Mayadeen
Diplomatic efforts to solve Ukraine conflict are 'exhausted' says Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine have been "exhausted," reaffirming Berlin's commitment to supporting Kiev militarily. "We will continue to support Ukraine, despite the resistance of the left-wing parties and pro-Russian right factions here in parliament. We will continue this support. I want to tell you something even more clearly: the means of diplomacy have been exhausted," Merz said during a speech in parliament. On another note, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed "cautious optimism" over the possibility of reaching a trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, emphasizing the importance of the deal for Germany's export-driven economy. Speaking before the Bundestag, Merz noted that intensive negotiations are ongoing between the European Commission and the US government. 'I remain cautiously optimistic that we may reach a deal with the US in the coming days, or by month's end at the latest,' he said. 'This is, first of all, in the interests of our export-oriented economy.' Merz also confirmed his direct involvement in the talks and stressed the need for unity among European partners. 'Our goal is to reach a trade agreement with the United States as soon as possible, ensuring minimal customs duties for transatlantic trade,' he stated. 'Achieving this goal is not easy, given the current demands of the American government. But we will succeed only through close coordination with European partners and neighbors.' The statement comes as the US under President Donald Trump recently extended a temporary suspension of increased tariffs until August 1. Initially announced in April, the 10% base tariff was meant to apply universally, but over 75 countries opted to enter negotiations, prompting the US to delay harsher measures. Several nations, including Japan and South Korea, have been notified that higher rates may still be imposed next month. On May 26, Merz claimed that the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and now Germany had lifted restrictions on the range of weapons provided to Ukraine, enabling Kiev to strike targets inside Russian territory. However, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), later contradicted Merz's remarks, stating that Berlin had not changed its position on arms deliveries. Following Merz's statements, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that any strike on Russian territory using Germany's Taurus missiles would be interpreted as Berlin's direct involvement in the conflict on Kiev's side. Despite Merz's emphasis on military strength, Russia and Ukraine have continued efforts toward negotiation. In June, Merz reportedly told former US President Donald Trump in a closed-door meeting that the conflict could only be resolved through a "show of force." Nonetheless, two rounds of direct talks between Moscow and Kiev took place in Istanbul, resulting in a prisoner exchange. Moscow also returned the bodies of deceased Ukrainian servicemen to Kiev. Both sides exchanged draft memoranda focused on conflict resolution. On July 1, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that terms of the negotiations were still being coordinated. Later, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Moscow was prepared for a third round of talks Since February 2022, Germany has become the largest European supporter of Ukraine and second globally, only to the United States, with total assistance now valued at nearly €48 billion. This support spans military aid, financial packages, humanitarian relief, refugee hosting, and reconstruction planning. Germany's military assistance totals €15.6 billion, including Leopard tanks, IRIS-T and Patriot systems, and more than 1,900 tactical drones. Over 450,000 artillery shells have been delivered, with further long-range weapons scheduled for deployment by 2026. In financial terms, Berlin has provided €17.4 billion through bilateral grants and IMF-based support. Humanitarian and energy relief reach €2.2 billion, while €12.4 billion has been allocated for the integration of over 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees. Germany co-hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2024) and pledged €1.3 billion toward rebuilding infrastructure. It also helped steer G7 financial aid packages, totaling nearly $69 billion over two years. Additionally, Germany has led EU sanctions enforcement and backed Ukraine's path toward EU membership.
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Critical Role Announces Five Dates For Echoes Of Exandria World Tour
Founding Critical Role members (l-r upper row) Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, Marisha Ray, Matthew ... More Mercer, (lower row) Liam O'Brien, Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson and Travis Willingham are going on a world tour in 2026. Critical Role announced a slate of five global live shows for 2026 today. The Echoes of Exandria tour will bring brand-new Exandrian one-shots to fans in Atlanta, Berlin, Edinburgh, London, and Dallas between May and December. Each live show will feature unique staging, surprise guests, and merch drops, with Beacon members enjoying early access to tickets through the platform's exclusive pre-sale starting Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Critical Role's tenth anniversary has seen the company celebrate its past while also looking forward to the future. This year the crew took the show on the road to Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Indianapolis, New York. The upcoming Indianapolis show takes place during Gen Con. The release of Daggerheart has been a success with physical copies becoming hard to find shortly after hitting stores. The game has been praised for integrating indie role playing game concepts with a solid D&D style framework. A fresh restock is due in the fall. What began as a roleplaying game among friends has grown into one of the industry's foremost independent entertainment leaders, dedicated to imagination, community, and collaborative worldbuilding. Now the show includes a decade of immersive programming, critically-acclaimed animation, best selling games, and sold-out live events as part of its portfolio. Rather than slow down, the team is channeling that momentum into 2026 and inviting Critters to experience Exandria together, in person, on stages built for epic tales. 'It is truly a gift and a privilege to have the opportunity to travel all over the world to bring Critical Role to our far-reaching community of nerds,' said Marisha Ray, Co-founder and Creative Director at Critical Role. 'In many ways, this adventure is just the beginning!' Produced in partnership with AEG, each live show is a unique story, woven into the world of Exandria and brought to life by founding cast members Matthew Mercer, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel, Laura Bailey, and Liam O'Brien. Matt Mercer will be the Game Master for the first four shows, while Travis Willingham will take on the seat and the power of the GM for the first time in Dallas. In addition to regular tickets, Fan Experience tickets will be available for all shows except Edinburgh, which provides attendees early entry, watch the 45-minute preshow, and have access to the best seats in the house. 'We are so thrilled to be working with Critical Role again to bring their live shows to the world in 2026,' said Eliza-Jane Oliver, Promoter at AEG Presents. 'We will be visiting some new and familiar cities in the Echoes of Exandria tour, including the first ever show in Germany at the Uber Arena in Berlin, the iconic arena in The O2 in London, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, and two new exciting stops in the US, Atlanta and Dallas. I can't wait for Critters all over the world to be able to experience Critical Role live in some of the greatest venues in the world.' 2026 Critical Role Tour Information For more information on these and any other special events, visit the Critical Role events website.
Vogue
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Tyla Revives the Pantless Trend in Microscopic Jorts
The pantless trend has largely fizzled out… or so we thought. Yesterday, Tyla made a bid to bring back the controversial look. The singer arrived in Berlin dressed in a cream bodysuit with a plunging neckline, which she wore tucked into a pair of impossibly tiny high-waisted denim shorts. There was also no need to XYZ. Tyla left her light wash hotpants unzipped, the waistband folded over to expose the gathering on her bodysuit. As if the shorts weren't making a statement enough on their own, she added multiple loud accessories. Over her shoulders, Tyla wore a leather Zoraide Polidori jacket in vibrant primary colors. She also rubber-stamped another controversial trend: the gladiator sandal, donning a heeled pair from Alaïa.
Al Arabiya
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Alleged Danish spy for Iran handed over to Germany after spying on Jewish targets
Denmark has extradited to Germany a man accused of spying on Jewish institutions in Berlin on behalf of Iran, German prosecutors said Tuesday. Germany's Federal Court of Justice formally ordered the Danish national's detention on Tuesday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The suspect, identified only as Ali S., was extradited to Germany on Monday, nearly three weeks after his arrest in the Danish city of Aarhus, the office said. Prosecutors allege that Ali S. in June gathered intelligence on three Jewish sites in Berlin, possibly in preparation for future attacks. Suspected of acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence, Ali S. could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His arrest followed intelligence provided by Germany's domestic security agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office was also involved in the investigation. News magazine Der Spiegel and public broadcaster ARD reported that the suspect is 53, has Afghan roots and might have been acting on behalf of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. They also reported that he had monitored the headquarters of the German-Israeli Society. Germany's foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador on July 1 following the man's arrest.
