Latest news with #EastGerman
DW
an hour ago
- Politics
- DW
Eastern Germany in western hands – DW – 07/30/2025
Even 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there's still an imbalance between eastern and western Germany. Many executive positions in the former East are still held by people from the former West Germany. What are the reasons for this? Since the fall of the Wall, the former East Germany has undergone an unprecedented transformation, in which immigrants from former West Germany still play a significant role. Often, they arrived as young people, networked and rose to leadership positions. From here, they shaped and continue to shape eastern Germany today. According to figures published by the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany in September 2024, more than 3 decades after reunification, only around 12 per cent of the leadership elite in eastern Germany were actually born there. The documentary ponders the reasons for this – and its consequences. Does it go some way to explaining the widespread rejection of the democratic system and the great popularity of the far-right AfD party in eastern Germany? The fact is that immediately after the fall of the Wall, West Germans were urgently needed - for example in the judiciary. Many East German lawyers didn't make the grade. Iris Goerke-Berzau came to Saxony-Anhalt from West Germany in the 1990s and helped to rebuild the judiciary. She has stayed to this day. When it came to the economy in the new federal states, the rebuilding process also relied on skills of West Germans like Ludwig Koehne. The Oxford graduate came to the former East Germany in 1992 and worked for the Treuhandanstalt, a government agency set up to privatize East German state-owned enterprises. When the agency was dissolved in 1994, he took over a railway crane manufacturer in Leipzig and turned it into the global market leader in its sector. Koehne says this economic salvage operation wouldn't have been possible without western knowledge and capital. Angela Merkel and Joachim Gauck are prominent exceptions – former East Germans who have excelled in their field. Another is 45-year-old Manja Kliese, who heads the crisis response center at the Federal Foreign Office. 'Many East Germans wouldn't even dare to apply for careers like mine,' she says. Eastern Germans are also underrepresented in senior positions at the Federal Foreign Office. 'We have a huge democracy problem,' says Kliese, 'when people in the East have been controlled by others for decades.' This is another reason why people feel very distant from elite groups and are more likely to support right-wing extremists, she says. But still, she encourages other eastern Germans to get involved -- and better represent their part of the country.
DW
21-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Eastern Germany in Western Hands – DW – 07/21/2025
Even 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there's still an imbalance between eastern and western Germany. Many executive positions in the former East are still held by people from the former West Germany. What are the reasons for this? Since the fall of the Wall, the former East Germanyhas undergone an unprecedented transformation, in which immigrants from former West Germany still play a significant role. Often, they arrived as young people, networked and rose to leadership positions. From here, they shaped and continue to shape eastern Germany today. According to figures published by the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Germany in September 2024, more than 3 decades after reunification, only around 12 per cent of the leadership elite in eastern Germany were actually born there. The documentary ponders the reasons for this - and its consequences. Does it go some way to explaining the widespread rejection of the democratic system and the great popularity of the far-right AfD party in eastern Germany? The fact is that immediately after the fall of the Wall, West Germans were urgently needed - for example in the judiciary. Many East German lawyers didn't make the grade. Iris Goerke-Berzau came to Saxony-Anhalt from West Germany in the 1990s and helped to rebuild the judiciary. She has stayed to this day. When it came to the economy in the new federal states, the rebuilding process also relied on skills of West Germans like Ludwig Koehne. The Oxford graduate came to the former East Germany in 1992 and worked for the Treuhandanstalt, a government agency set up to privatize East German state-owned enterprises. When the agency was dissolved in 1994, he took over a railway crane manufacturer in Leipzig and turned it into the global market leader in its sector. Koehne says this economic salvage operation wouldn't have been possible without western knowledge and capital. Angela Merkel and Joachim Gauck are prominent exceptions - former East Germans who have excelled in their field. Another is 45-year-old Manja Kliese, who heads the crisis response center at the Federal Foreign Office. "Many East Germans wouldn't even dare to apply for careers like mine,' she says. Eastern Germans are also underrepresented in senior positions at the Federal Foreign Office. "We have a huge democracy problem,' says Kliese, "when people in the East have been controlled by others for decades.' This is another reason why people feel very distant from elite groups and are more likely to support right-wing extremists, she says. But still, she encourages other eastern Germans to get involved -- and better represent their part of the country. Broadcasting Hours: DW English THU 31.07.2025 – 01:15 UTC THU 31.07.2025 – 04:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 09:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 16:15 UTC FRI 01.08.2025 – 21:15 UTC SAT 02.08.2025 – 19:15 UTC SUN 03.08.2025 – 02:15 UTC MON 04.08.2025 – 12:15 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
The Wire
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Wire
100 Years of DEKRA: Safety in a Changing World
Expert Organization Celebrates Centennial STUTTGART, Germany, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 30, 2025, DEKRA celebrated its 100th anniversary – with a clear focus on the future. What began in 1925 with voluntary vehicle inspections is now a global expert organization for safety, sustainability, and digital trust. On its centennial, DEKRA reaffirms its commitment to tackling the major challenges of our time – in line with its anniversary motto: "Securing the Future." DEKRA was founded on June 30, 1925, in Berlin as the "Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein" (German Motor Vehicle Inspection Association) – at a time when the automobile was beginning to reshape the world. Its mission: voluntary technical inspections to bring safety to a new era of mobility. A century later, this initiative has evolved into a global expert organization with 48,000 employees in around 60 countries – all pursuing one clear goal: enabling safety and trust in a changing world. What began in 1925 with vehicle inspections has grown into a comprehensive portfolio across mobility, industry, environment, and digital technologies. DEKRA tests both physical and digital products, processes, and systems. "Safety is not static – it evolves with the world we live in," says CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. "Our task is to help shape key areas of transformation – mobility, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability – with expertise, responsibility, and foresight." Shaping Germany – Expanding Globally DEKRA's history is marked by constant progress. When periodic vehicle inspections became mandatory in Germany in 1951, DEKRA played a key role in their implementation. The 1960s and 1970s brought a focus on education and research, including the founding of DEKRA Akademie (1974), the Research and Development department (1968), and Accident Research (1978) – the latter with the aim of learning from data. After German reunification, DEKRA took over responsibilities from the former East German vehicle authority and built a comprehensive inspection network in the new federal states. Shortly thereafter, the company entered international markets, including France, Spain, China, and the United States. Since then, DEKRA has pursued a globally focused strategy – while maintaining strong roots in its home market of Germany. Read full version: About DEKRA For 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of improving road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has grown to become the world's largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, as a global partner, the company supports its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to drive safety and sustainability forward — fully aligned with DEKRA's anniversary motto, "Securing the Future." In 2024, DEKRA generated revenue of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees are providing qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. DEKRA holds a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of the world's most sustainable companies. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Korea Herald
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
100 Years of DEKRA: Safety in a Changing World
Expert Organization Celebrates Centennial STUTTGART, Germany, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 30, 2025, DEKRA celebrated its 100th anniversary – with a clear focus on the future. What began in 1925 with voluntary vehicle inspections is now a global expert organization for safety, sustainability, and digital trust. On its centennial, DEKRA reaffirms its commitment to tackling the major challenges of our time – in line with its anniversary motto: "Securing the Future." DEKRA was founded on June 30, 1925, in Berlin as the "Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein" (German Motor Vehicle Inspection Association) – at a time when the automobile was beginning to reshape the world. Its mission: voluntary technical inspections to bring safety to a new era of mobility. A century later, this initiative has evolved into a global expert organization with 48,000 employees in around 60 countries – all pursuing one clear goal: enabling safety and trust in a changing world. What began in 1925 with vehicle inspections has grown into a comprehensive portfolio across mobility, industry, environment, and digital technologies. DEKRA tests both physical and digital products, processes, and systems. "Safety is not static – it evolves with the world we live in," says CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. "Our task is to help shape key areas of transformation – mobility, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability – with expertise, responsibility, and foresight." Shaping Germany – Expanding Globally DEKRA's history is marked by constant progress. When periodic vehicle inspections became mandatory in Germany in 1951, DEKRA played a key role in their implementation. The 1960s and 1970s brought a focus on education and research, including the founding of DEKRA Akademie (1974), the Research and Development department (1968), and Accident Research (1978) – the latter with the aim of learning from data. After German reunification, DEKRA took over responsibilities from the former East German vehicle authority and built a comprehensive inspection network in the new federal states. Shortly thereafter, the company entered international markets, including France, Spain, China, and the United States. Since then, DEKRA has pursued a globally focused strategy – while maintaining strong roots in its home market of Germany. New Fields – Same Mission: Safety in Transition Starting in the mid-2000s, DEKRA systematically expanded its competencies in industrial inspection, infrastructure, and environmental technologies – with the founding of DEKRA Industrial GmbH as a major milestone. In 2017, the acquisition of the Lausitzring racetrack in Brandenburg, Germany, marked an important step toward future mobility. Together with the neighboring DEKRA Technology Center, it now forms Europe's largest independent test center for automated and connected driving – a symbol of mobility transformation and the safe, responsible implementation of new technologies. Today, DEKRA's scope ranges from AI validation and cybersecurity to hydrogen safety and sustainability certifications. The common thread remains: building trust where transformation happens. Testing Expertise for Tomorrow's World "Digitalization, connected systems, and artificial intelligence are increasingly shaping our everyday lives – at home, on the road, and in the workplace. To fully harness their potential and drive innovation, we must understand their risks and manage them effectively. Only then can we truly trust them," says Petra Finke, Chief Digitalization Officer at DEKRA. "Safety is the foundation for that trust. That's why we've developed an integrated testing approach that combines functional safety, cybersecurity, and AI validation." DEKRA bundles these services under the term Digital Trust Services. This means the organization doesn't just assess whether software or systems function properly and pose no danger to users – it also examines whether they are resilient against cyberattacks, transparent in their decision-making logic, and ethically sound in their use of AI. "At DEKRA, we view digitalization not only from a technical angle but also strategically – as a driver for more efficient processes, intelligently connected data, and new, trustworthy services, both internally and externally," Finke adds. Global Growth with Focus – People at the Center DEKRA is also expanding its geographical footprint in future-relevant markets. "We are making targeted investments in regions where transformation is tangible – in Asia, North America, and Europe," says Peter Laursen, Chief Operating Officer for DEKRA's global regions. "These are the places where new technologies, new industries, and new safety requirements are emerging. And we want to help shape that future – not just respond to it." At the same time, DEKRA's operational backbone – such as vehicle inspection, industrial inspection, product testing, and audits – remains central. "These are our core services, where we also see great growth potential," Laursen continues. However, sustainable growth in new markets requires more than technology – it needs people who understand and drive change. "The future is not decided by technology alone – but by people who use it responsibly," emphasizes Chief Financial Officer and Head of Human Resources Wolfgang Linsenmaier. "That's why we are consistently investing in employee development, strengthening leadership, and fostering digital skills at all levels." DEKRA is also modernizing internal structures – with clearer career paths, more efficient systems, and a globally connected HR approach. The goal: a learning, values-based organization with strong customer focus. UNICEF Partnership: Securing Water Means Securing the Future As part of its centennial, DEKRA is also breaking new ground in social responsibility – through a partnership with UNICEF for the Water Security for All initiative. Together, the two organizations are implementing programs to provide access to clean drinking water in regions highly affected by climate change – including solar-powered water pumps, technical training centers, and modern groundwater treatment. "Water is essential for life – and increasingly scarce," says CEO Zurkiewicz. "Our partnership with UNICEF demonstrates what 'Securing the Future' means to us: the future begins with responsibility – for products and systems, but above all, for people." The centennial is being celebrated in Berlin, DEKRA's founding location, with partners from business, politics, and society. About DEKRA For 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of improving road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has grown to become the world's largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, as a global partner, the company supports its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to drive safety and sustainability forward—fully aligned with DEKRA's anniversary motto, "Securing the Future." In 2024, DEKRA generated revenue of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees are providing qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. DEKRA holds a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of the world's most sustainable companies.
Kuwait Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Cold War-era match completed 65 years later
LURGAN: A European football tie cancelled due to Cold War-era tensions was finally completed in Northern Ireland on Saturday, 65 years on from its original schedule in 1960. Glenavon FC hosted FC Erzgebirge Aue — known as Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt during the communist era — in Lurgan, 25 miles (40 kilometres) west of Belfast. Over 1,000 away fans traveled from Germany to cheer on the visitors, who were East German champions in 1960. The original tie was scrapped after both teams — on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe after World War II — were denied entry visas during a period of heightened political tension. 'Those were hard times, governments weren't talking, no-one was let in or out,' John Duggan, 91, who played for Glenavon in 1960, told AFP in Lurgan before the game. Duggan was part of a powerful Glenavon side which was crowned 1959-60 Irish League champions, granting qualification for the European Cup. But despite Europe's governing body UEFA allowing the home and away legs to take place in neutral countries, Glenavon withdrew from the competition due to lack of funds. Saturday's unique match, organized as a pre-season friendly after fans from both teams got in touch to probe the idea of fulfilling the long-forgotten fixture, ended in a 2-0 win for the German side. The game followed a 'first-leg' of the rematch last year in Aue – 185 miles (300 kilometres) south of Berlin - which was won 5-0 by the Germans. The completion of the tie was 'a missing chapter for both club's histories, it's great to finally get it played,' Adam Carson, lifelong Glenavon fan and the club's supporter liaison officer, told AFP. 'Politics paused it, but football endured,' said Carson, who originally hatched the idea. When Glenavon qualified for European competition in 2014 Carson noticed that there was a European Cup game in 1960 that was never played and 'put a couple of tweets' about it, he said. The idea was that 'wouldn't it be great to go across to Germany and actually play this game 60 years later,' he said. Carson's messages on social media were spotted by counterparts at the German side - who currently play in the third division of the Bundesliga - and a bond between the two clubs was forged. FC Erzgebirge Aue fan and its volunteer press official Max Richter, who first contacted Carson about a link-up, said that 'today we close this little gap in our history and play this game which never happened. 'The years when we were champions were in the 1950s and '60s, our club was big then, for all our fans that love the history of our club it was very important to be here,' he told AFP. Robert Turkington, a Glenavon fan who was born in 1948 and has followed them since the 1950s 'when we were a great side', remembers the original game's cancellation. 'I was only a kid but I remember people were disappointed, today is just brilliant to see,' he told AFP with a beaming smile. Glenavon fan Gareth Bridges, who went to the first leg in Germany, said that 'a real camaraderie has developed between both sets of supporters. 'Hopefully it is something that can develop between the two clubs into the future as well,' the 39-year-old told AFP. — AFP
