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The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
The silver jubilee of a strategic partnership
This month, India and Germany celebrate 25 years of strategic partnership. It is a partnership that has steadily evolved and is well equipped to take on the challenges of today's world. Germany's 'Focus on India' strategy outlines our vision for the future of the bilateral partnership. The new German Coalition Treaty, as well as early phone calls between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar speak a clear language — we will continue to build on this partnership, and to closely coordinate with our Indian partners. Our ties are multifaceted, but essentially stand on four pillars — peace, prosperity, people and the future of our planet. A shared vision Peace and stability are fundamental prerequisites for the development of our countries. India and Germany share a vision of a peaceful, stable and rules-based world. At the core of our trusted political relationship is a unique format: The Intergovernmental Government Consultations build a strong bridge between our government that solidifies and channels our ties in a comprehensive, productive and purposeful way. An area that has particularly thrived over the last years is our cooperation in the defence sector. I remember vividly standing on the hot tarmac at the Sulur Air Force station (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) during the Tarang Shakti Exercise (2024), witnessing the incredible air show of Indian and German pilots whizzing through the air with great skill, coordination and teamwork. These joint military exercises and port calls by the German Navy anchor the Indo-Pacific in the German geostrategic mental map. In the future, we can expect closer strategic cooperation, and closer ties between our defence industries. Prosperity means more than just economic growth. In a more comprehensive sense, it allows our people to flourish, to find meaningful jobs, and to provide their families with the means for a better future. Around 2,000 German companies are active in India, and they create more than 750,000 jobs for Indians. One of my most memorable moments in Delhi was visiting the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail. These are high-tech trains on great infrastructure, operated by young, talented Indians in the uniforms of Deutsche Bahn, our national railway company, which runs the operations in Delhi. A growing number of Indian companies are also present in Germany, increasingly integrated into our high-tech supply lines. In times of unprecedented global trade disruptions, these closely integrated supply lines testify to the trust that we place in each other. And this could be just the beginning, as a free trade agreement between India and the European Union — two of the global economic powerhouses — becomes tangible. Science and technology are another part of the prosperity equation. We do ambitious research together, and you will find Indian researchers in our top scientific institutions. With tech cooperation, we can transform environmental challenges into business cases. People-to-people ties People fill our strategic partnership with life and stories. A growing number of Indians now call Germany their home. Over 50,000 Indians study in our country — by now the largest group of foreign students at German universities. Some of them spend a few years in Germany, get their first jobs, gain technical experience, earn good money. Many of them then return to India to build their families there. Some Indians also stay in Germany and see their children grow up in our country. Either way, they deepen and enrich our ties. Many young Indians showcase their life in Germany online. I have met many of them in person and listened to their stories. I am always impressed by this uniquely Indian ability to make a new place a home. I see young Indians adapting, thriving, and making their contribution to German society and economy. Germany offers many opportunities to young, ambitious and gifted Indians, but more doors will open to those who learn German. I witness a great interest in our language all across India and we will have to explore new ways together to match well-equipped German teachers with every interested Indian. The second hurdle is in getting more Germans to study and to work in India. We need more people who understand the story of India, more people who speak one of the many fascinating languages of India, and more people who settle down there to set up shop. Any investment in the younger German and Indian generations will be an investment in the people that will propel our strategic partnership to new heights in the next 25 years. Green development Our partnership on the challenges and the future of our planet is one of the most important one: Planet earth is our common ecological lifeline, it future-proofs our livelihoods. In 2022, Germany committed €10 billion in preferential loans and grants for India, over a span of 10 years. This is what we call the Indo-German Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP). We cooperate with our Indian friends on a large scale on renewables, on biodiversity and on smart city projects. In addition to that, private sector cooperation in this area is also noteworthy. Recently, I visited renewable energy projects in Gujarat, whose scale and ambition are just astonishing — solar panels and windmills in all directions. The rotor blades of the wind turbines are partly produced by a German company — with our technology, we want to be a part of India's energy transition, and of the fast-paced economy of this country. I have had the privilege of serving in India twice — between 2007 and 2010 — and as Ambassador since 2022. In these years, India has developed in the most impressive way. And so has our strategic partnership. Looking back at what we have achieved together fills me with a sense of accomplishment, and with great optimism for what is yet to come. Philipp Ackerman is the German Ambassador to India
Saba Yemen
25-05-2025
- Business
- Saba Yemen
Construction of six frigates postponed until 2030
Berlin - (Saba): German media reported, citing sources, that the completion of six F126-class frigates for the German Navy has been postponed until at least 2030. The German Navy ordered the first four frigates in 2020, and two more in June 2024, from Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval, for a total value of approximately €9 billion ($10.23 billion). The first ships were scheduled to enter service in 2028. A report published by a German newspaper indicated that informed sources are currently working on a 2030 start date. According to the report, the Dutch company is dissatisfied with the terms of the contract, which stipulate that at least 70% of the order must be completed in German shipyards. However, the report stated that representatives of the German Navy and the shipbuilding company were unwilling to publicly comment on the difficulties that arose or set new precise dates for construction completion. Damen Naval announced a delay in the delivery of the first ship, and the contracting company is currently working on a revised and reliable comprehensive project plan with its subcontractors, according to the German Arms, Information Technology and Applications Authority of the German Army, according to the report. According to data published on the German Army website, the German Navy currently has 11 frigates, four of which belong to the F123 class and were launched between 1994 and 1996. They were supposed to be replaced by the new F126 class frigates after 2028, according to the German newspaper. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities investigate suspected sabotage of German Navy
Authorities are investigating a possible case of sabotage of a German Navy warship. A "possible security-relevant incident" has been identified at the naval arsenal in the north-western port city of Wilhelmshaven, a spokesman for the Operational Command Centre in Berlin said on Friday. "The frigate Hessen is currently there, undergoing scheduled maintenance," the spokesman said, without providing further details. The investigative association comprising regional public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Süddeutsche Zeitung broadsheet reported earlier Friday that the investigation concerns the contamination of the frigate's drinking water system. They reported that there is a suspicion that attempts may have been made to contaminate the frigate's drinking water system with dozens of litres of waste oil. The circumstances of the incident are currently being examined by military and civilian investigative authorities. Soldiers requested the involvement of the military and civilian police on Thursday evening after approximately 50 litres of waste oil were discovered in the flushing system of a civilian contractor's suction truck, which resulted in a malfunction, dpa has learnt. Recently, there have been at least two concrete cases of suspected sabotage of ships. Investigations are under way regarding the corvette Emden, which is still under construction, as well as a separate incident in which cable harnesses were cut on a minehunter.
Russia Today
12-02-2025
- Russia Today
Germany probes warship ‘sabotage'
Germany has launched an investigation into potential sabotage involving a newly commissioned warship after several dozen kilograms of metal shavings were discovered in its engine system, local media reported on Tuesday. The issue with the corvette-class Emden was reportedly discovered during an inspection at a shipyard in Hamburg last month shortly before its first departure, according to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung and the broadcasters NDR and WDR. The 89-meter-long warship, intended for deployment in the Baltic Sea, had not yet been delivered to the German Navy when the metal shavings were discovered. This could have caused significant damage to the vessel if not detected in time, the report said. The German Navy has commissioned a total of five corvette-class ships, including the Emden, which is set to be used for maritime surveillance. READ MORE: NATO nation clears Russian-crewed ship in sabotage probe A shipyard spokesperson told the media that the Emden recently completed 'a successful sea trial,' but declined to comment further. The incident is now under investigation by the Hamburg regional prosecutor's office and the local criminal police. While the report did not provide evidence linking Moscow to the incident, it claimed that Germany, along with other NATO countries, suspects Russia could be behind covert actions targeting the West. The article cited a recent police investigation into drone sightings over a northern German air base where Ukrainian forces are trained, claiming the incident is part of a growing trend of drones being spotted over military and industrial sites in Germany. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, German Navy Chief Jan Christian Kaack refrained from commenting on the sabotage allegations regarding the Emden, but stated that several German warships had previously sustained damage due to acts of sabotage. 'Our assessment: We are being tested,' he said, without specifying who the Navy suspects to be responsible for these acts. 'The growing threat from Russia is more pressing at the beginning of 2025 than it was two years ago,' Kaack said. 'Experts and intelligence services agree that Russia will be in a position to seek conflict with NATO from 2029 onwards,' he added. READ MORE: NATO steps up patrols in Baltic Sea Russia has denied having any intention of attacking NATO states, with President Vladimir Putin describing warnings about Russian aggression as 'nonsense' aimed at alarming citizens and increasing defense budgets in the West. The warship case follows a string of incidents involving damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, with speculation that Russia could have played a role. Western officials have refrained, however, from making direct accusations. Moscow has dismissed allegations of its involvement as 'absurd.' Meanwhile, NATO has increased its Baltic Sea presence and stepped up patrols in the region on the pretext of an alleged Russian threat and protecting undersea infrastructure. The Baltic Sea – a strategic area for Russian naval operations and energy exports – became, as Moscow put it, an 'internal lake of NATO' after Finland and Sweden joined the alliance, which left Russia controlling only a small portion of the coastline.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US dodged a bird flu pandemic in 1957 thanks to eggs and luck. Can we do it again?
The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. In recent months, Americans looking for eggs have faced empty shelves in their grocery stores. The escalating threat of avian flu has forced farmers to kill millions of chickens to prevent its spread. Nearly 70 years ago, Maurice Hilleman, an expert in influenza, also worried about finding eggs. Hilleman, however, needed eggs not for his breakfast, but to make the vaccines that were key to stopping a potential influenza pandemic. Hilleman was born a year after the notorious 1918 influenza pandemic swept the world, killing 20 million to 100 million people. By 1957, when Hilleman began worrying about the egg supply, scientists had a significantly more sophisticated understanding of influenza than they had previously. This knowledge led them to fear that a pandemic similar to that of 1918 could easily erupt, killing millions again. As a historian of medicine, I have always been fascinated by the key moments that halt an epidemic. Studying these moments provides some insight into how and why one outbreak may become a deadly pandemic, while another does not. Influenza is one of the most unpredictable of diseases. Each year, the virus mutates slightly in a process called antigenic drift. The greater the mutation, the less likely that your immune system will recognize and fight back against the disease. Every now and then, the virus changes dramatically in a process called antigenic shift. When this occurs, people become even less immune, and the likelihood of disease spread dramatically increases. Hilleman knew that it was just a matter of time before the influenza virus shifted and caused a pandemic similar to the one in 1918. Exactly when that shift would occur was anyone's guess. READ MORE: Norovirus, aka the winter vomiting bug, is on the rise – an infectious disease expert explains the best ways to stay safe In April 1957, Hilleman opened his newspaper and saw an article about 'glassy-eyed' patients overwhelming clinics in Hong Kong. The article was just eight sentences long. But Hilleman needed only the four words of the headline to become alarmed: 'Hong Kong Battling Influenza.' Within a month of learning about Hong Kong's influenza epidemic, Hilleman had requested, obtained and tested a sample of the virus from colleagues in Asia. By May, Hilleman and his colleagues knew that Americans lacked immunity against this new version of the virus. A potential pandemic loomed. The U.S. prioritized vaccinating military personnel over the public in 1957. Here, members of a West German Navy vessel hand over a jar of vaccine to the U.S. transport ship General Patch for 134 people sick with flu. Henry Brueggemann/AP Photo During the 1920s and 1930s, the American government had poured millions of dollars into influenza research. By 1944, scientists not only understood that influenza was caused by a shape-shifting virus – something they had not known in 1918 – but they had also developed a vaccine. Antigenic drift rendered this vaccine ineffective in the 1946 flu season. Unlike the polio or smallpox vaccine, which could be administered once for lifelong protection, the influenza vaccine needed to be continually updated to be effective against an ever-changing virus. READ MORE: Some viruses prefer mosquitoes to humans – why people get sick anyway However, Americans were not accustomed to the idea of signing up for a yearly flu shot. In fact, they were not accustomed to signing up for a flu shot, period. After seeing the devastating impact of the 1918 pandemic on the nation's soldiers and sailors, officials prioritized protecting the military from influenza. During and after World War II, the government used the influenza vaccine for the military, not the general public. In the spring of 1957, the government called for vaccine manufacturers to accelerate production of a new influenza vaccine for all Americans. Traditionally, farmers have often culled roosters and unwanted chickens to keep their costs low. Hilleman, however, asked farmers to not cull their roosters, because vaccine manufacturers would need a huge supply of eggs to produce the vaccine before the virus fully hit the United States. But in early June, the virus was already circulating in the U.S. The good news was that the new virus was not the killer its 1918 predecessor had been. READ MORE: Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry Hoping to create an 'alert but not an alarmed public,' Surgeon General Leroy Burney and other experts discussed influenza and the need for vaccination in a widely distributed television show. The government also created short public service announcements and worked with local health organizations to encourage vaccination. A 1957 film informing Americans how the U.S. was responding to an influenza rates were, however, only 'moderate' – not because Americans saw vaccination as problematic, but because they did not see influenza as a threat. Nearly 40 years had dulled memories of the 1918 pandemic, while the development of antibiotics had lessened the threat of the deadly pneumonia that can accompany influenza. If death and devastation defined the 1918 pandemic, luck defined the 1957 pandemic. It was luck that Hilleman saw an article about rising rates of influenza in Asia in the popular press. It was luck that Hilleman made an early call to increase production of fertilized eggs. And it was luck that the 1957 virus did not mirror its 1918 relative's ability to kill. Recognizing that they had dodged a bullet in 1957, public health experts intensified their monitoring of the influenza virus during the 1960s. They also worked to improve influenza vaccines and to promote yearly vaccination. Multiple factors, such as the development of the polio vaccine as well as a growing recognition of the role vaccines played in controlling diseases, shaped the creation of an immunization-focused bureaucracy in the federal government during the 1960s. READ MORE: Bird flu cases surging in UK but risk to humans remains low Inoculating eggs with live virus was the first step to producing a vaccine. AP PhotoOver the past 60 years, the influenza virus has continued to drift and shift. In 1968, a shift once again caused a pandemic. In 1976 and 2009, concerns that the virus had shifted led to fears that a new pandemic loomed. But Americans were lucky once again. Today, few Americans remember the 1957 pandemic – the one that sputtered out before it did real damage. Yet that event left a lasting legacy in how public health experts think about and plan for future outbreaks. Assuming that the U.S. uses the medical and public health advances at its disposal, Americans are now more prepared for an influenza pandemic than our ancestors were in 1918 and in 1957. But the virus's unpredictability makes it impossible to know even today how it will mutate and when a pandemic will emerge.
