Latest news with #German-based
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Merz's missile plans could escalate tensions with Russia
Friedrich Merz of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) addresses a news conference in Berlin. File picture: Annegret Hilse/Reuters Image: Annegret Hilse/Reuters German-based anti-war civil society organisation, the Schiller Institute, has made an impassioned plea to the country's new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to refrain from dragging Germany into a direct war with Russia. Renowned peace campaigner and founder of the Schiller Institute, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, made a call for sanity to prevail after Chancellor Merz announced that Germany would be financing Ukraine to the tune of more than $5 billion to produce long-range Taurus and other missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory. The Taurus missiles destined for Kyiv would be produced in the German town of Schrobenhausen in the district of Schrobenhausen in Bavaria under the complete supervision of Merz's administration. He added that Germany could go to the extent of producing the long-range Taurus missiles by itself and dispatch them to Ukraine for their use. The announcement, first made by Merz during the recent visit by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, has drawn sharp criticism inside Germany as well as Russia itself. Veteran Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, responding to Merz's announcement, was utterly blunt, saying: 'Germany is sliding down the same inclined plane on which it has already moved down to its collapse a couple of times in the last century. I hope that responsible politicians in that country will draw the right conclusion and stop the madness.' The move by Merz comes in the wake of a concerted effort by US President Donald Trump to broker a truce between Moscow and Kyiv. Only last week, both nations exchanged prisoners-of-war, 1 000 from either side, in a gesture viewed as the right move towards more productive direct talks between the two countries. The US-led efforts toward a peace deal have been met with heightened war-mongering, especially from the UK and France, the protagonists behind the much-mooted Coalition of the Willing military mobilisation aimed at deploying on Ukrainian soil to deter Russia's possible future offensive against Kyiv. Germany, under the new leadership of Merz, appears to be in sync with the UK and France in beating the drums of war against Russia. Swift responses from Moscow have been aimed towards crystal clear warnings towards Germany, the country that caused WWII from 1939-1945, while led by the notorious Adolf Hitler, until the Soviet army defeated Hitler to end the war. This week, a leading Russian military analyst also responded to Merz's plans to manufacture the Taurus long-range missiles for Ukraine by warning that the German manufacturing site, once identified, would be flattened 'with two Oreshnik missiles carrying 12 hypersonic blocks of non-nuclear warheads, so that Germany will no longer be able to build such cruise missiles in the next five to seven years. This will first be a non-nuclear strike.' Schiller Institute's founder Zepp-LaRouche added by saying: 'I'm sure that the citizens of Schrobenhausen will not be very happy to hear that because if they are hit by Oreshnik missiles — which cannot be stopped — that would forebode great horror not only for Schronbenhausen, but subsequently probably for all of Germany and Europe.' She further made an impassioned plea for international mobilisation to stop Chancellor Merz's administration from producing or sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. This, added the head of the Schiller Institute, will help to ensure that Germany does not 'slide down the same inclined plane' which had led to WWII 80 years ago. The greatest danger about the German-led escalation of the war 'could, this time, bring us all to the brink of a nuclear WWIII', Zepp-LaRouche said. Appeals by highly respected peace campaigners like Zepp-LaRouche deserve to be taken seriously and acted upon without delay. Their voices are voices of reason. They have lived long enough to recall Hitler causing a World War, during which tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people were killed. It is truly disturbing that at a sensitive time during which President Trump is attempting to stop a war that would never have started had he been in office, as he keeps saying, a few in Europe show a determination to keep the war going. They should never be allowed to succeed to a trigger an apocalypse for the rest of the human race, and humanity itself. Sectarian geopolitical interests with scant regard for the right to life have brought us to the current brink. Yet not all is lost. Washington needs to continue to pressure Kiev to ignore war-mongering calls, and focus on efforts geared toward the attainment of a permanent peace and the reconstruction of Ukraine that would not be used by NATO as a door-step that poses an existential threat to Russia. Had such concerns been addressed when Russia first raised them with NATO and the West, the Kremlin believes that there would never have been any reason to go on the offensive in Ukraine. On June 2, the next round of direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow will likely take place in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Until the world learns to give peace a chance, ruin will become our collective certainty. Voices such as that of the Schiller Institute are thus vital in international public discourse. The biggest hope one may have is that Trump and his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, could find a common middle ground on which they could bring in Ukraine, and the three could then reach an amicable resolution to a conflict the erstwhile Biden administration was too happy to shore up unconditionally. The ascension to the international stage of players such as Chancellor Merz should concern all the peace-loving German people and the international community at large. After the loss of so many lives, and destruction of infrastructure that continues unabated, the majority of the peace-loving leaders should rally behind all forms of endeavour to achieve peace and bring an end to the Ukraine war.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
Labuan book lovers in for treat with Doulos coming
Published on: Saturday, May 31, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 31, 2025 Text Size: The MV Doulos Hope, which is part of a longstanding maritime initiative by the German-based GBA Ships organisation, continues a legacy that began with its predecessor, the MV Logos Hope. - Credit: Facebook/Doulos Hope. LABUAN: MV Doulos Hope, home of an iconic floating book fair, will make Labuan its next port of call, docking at Labuan Port for a 23-day stay from July 7-29. The visit is part of the vessel's ongoing Southeast Asia voyage, following its recent stop in Magong, Taiwan, and ahead of its journey to Puerto Princesa in the Philippines. The MV Doulos Hope, operated by GBA Ships, is widely known for hosting one of the world's largest travelling book fairs at sea. Onboard, visitors can browse thousands of titles ranging from children's literature and academic works to world literature, all offered at affordable prices. The unique cultural attraction aims to promote literacy, education and cross-cultural understanding through its global tour. Labuan Port operator Megah Port Management Sdn Bhd confirmed the vessel's arrival, with its Managing Director Datuk Seri Patrick Tiong saying the extended port call is expected to bring positive economic and tourism spillovers to the island. Advertisement According to the agent handling the ship's visit, bookings are required for the public to come onboard, and due to limited capacity, visitors are encouraged to book online in advance, and safety protocols and scheduled entry slots will be enforced to manage crowd flow. The MV Doulos Hope, which is part of a longstanding maritime initiative by the German-based GBA Ships organisation, continues a legacy that began with its predecessor, the MV Logos Hope. The ship's mission is to serve communities through knowledge, help and hope – offering not just books, but also cultural performances, interactive exhibits and engagement activities with local communities. Labuan and Kota Kinabalu (Aug 20 - Sept 10) will be the only Malaysian stops for the vessel in 2025, making this a rare opportunity for book lovers, families, educators and tourists alike. Further details on booking procedures and the full schedule of onboard activities will be released in early June through its agent's platforms.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Haribo recalls sweets in Netherlands after cannabis found
Representative AI image On Thursday, the German-based candymaker Haribo recalled its Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets in the Netherlands after cannabis was found in at least three bags containing the product. The recall only applies to 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) bags sold in the Netherlands. Haribo has asked customers to return Happy Cola F!ZZ candies with a best-before date (BBD) of January 2026 and the product code L341-4002307906 for a refund. Despite the low number of products found to contain cannabis, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) said Haribo had issued a complete batch recall as a precaution. "There are bags in circulation with sweets that can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed," NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad said. "The police reported this to the NVWA after several people, both children and adults, became ill after eating the cola bottles," Ahyad said. "Do not eat the sweets," Ahyad added. Haribo working with Dutch authorities Haribo said it was actively working with authorities to find out how the cannabis made its way into the company's products. "The safety of our consumers is our highest priority, and Haribo takes this incident very seriously," Haribo's vice president of marketing, Patrick Tax, told the AFP news agency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo "This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts around the contamination," Tax said. The internationally renowned sweets manufacturer has been producing its cola bottles since 1965, promising that "every bottle conceals a little adventure of its own."
DW
4 days ago
- Health
- DW
Haribo recalls sweets in Netherlands after cannabis found – DW – 05/29/2025
Candymaker Haribo has issued a product recall in the Netherlands after cannabis was found in a batch of its Happy Cola gummies. Authorities are seeking to determine how the cannabis got into the product. On Thursday, the German-based candymaker Haribo recalled its Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets in the Netherlands after cannabis was found in at least three bags containing the product. The recall only applies to 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) bags sold in the Netherlands. Haribo has asked customers to return Happy Cola F!ZZ candies with a best-before date (BBD) of January 2026 and the product code L341-4002307906 for a refund. Despite the low number of products found to contain cannabis, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) said Haribo had issued a complete batch recall as a precaution. "There are bags in circulation with sweets that can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed," NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad said. "The police reported this to the NVWA after several people, both children and adults, became ill after eating the cola bottles," Ahyad said. "Do not eat the sweets," Ahyad added. Haribo working with Dutch authorities Haribo said it was actively working with authorities to find out how the cannabis made its way into the company's products. "The safety of our consumers is our highest priority, and Haribo takes this incident very seriously," Haribo's vice president of marketing, Patrick Tax, told the AFP news agency. "This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts around the contamination," Tax said. The internationally renown sweets manufacturer has been producing its cola bottles since 1965, promising that "every bottle conceals a little adventure of its own." Edited by: Zac Crellin
DW
4 days ago
- Health
- DW
Haribo recalls cannabis-laden 'Happy Cola' candies – DW – 05/29/2025
Candy maker Haribo has issued a product recall in the Netherlands after cannabis was found in a batch of its Happy Cola gummies. Authorities are seeking to determine how the contraband got into the product. German-based candy maker Haribo on Thursday recalled its Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets in the Netherlands after cannabis was found in at least three bags containing the product. The recall only applies to 1 kilo (2.2 lb.) bags sold in the Netherlands. Haribo has asked customers to return Happy Cola F!ZZ candies with a best-before date (BBD) of January 2026 and the product code L341-4002307906 for a refund. Despite the low number of products found to contain cannabis, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) said Haribo had issued a complete batch recall as a precaution. "There are bags in circulation with sweets that can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed," said NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad. "The police reported this to the NVWA after several people, both children and adults, became ill after eating the cola bottles," said Ahyad, who added, "do not eat the sweets." Haribo working with Dutch authorities Haribo said it is actively working with authorities to find out how the contraband made its way into the company's products. "The safety of our consumers is our highest priority and Haribo takes this incident very seriously," Haribo's vice president of marketing, Patrick Tax, told the AFP news agency. "This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts around the contamination." The internationally renown sweets manufacturer has been producing its cola bottles since 1965, promising that "every bottle conceals a little adventure of its own." Edited by: Zac Crellin
