Latest news with #Hannover
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
German bank restricts ex-chancellor's account over sanctions fears
A German bank has imposed restrictions on an account belonging to former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder due to concerns that some payments could be linked to Russia, Bild reported on Sunday. The reported freeze came despite Schroeder not being listed under any sanctions. Sparkasse Hannover, the longtime local bank of the ex-German leader, has frozen incoming transfers linked to his business ties with Russia, according to the article. The restrictions reportedly apply to nearly half a million euros annually that Schroeder is said to receive from his position on the board of Nord Stream 2, a pipeline project owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom. The pipeline, which was intended to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany, was completed in 2021 but never entered service due to EU sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. In 2022, it was severely damaged in a sabotage Moscow believes was orchestrated by Western intelligence services. In a letter to Schroeder, Sparkasse Hannover reportedly cited fears of violating international financial restrictions, particularly those imposed by the US on Russian energy entities. The funds were allegedly routed via a Gazprombank account in Luxembourg but have been returned since Sparkasse's internal review raised concerns about potential exposure to secondary US bank declined to discuss individual accounts When asked for comment by Bild. Despite the freeze, Schroeder remains unsanctioned by the EU, UK, or US. However, according to Bild, the bank's move to halt certain transfers came shortly after Hanover Mayor Belit Onay, a member of the Green Party and a public critic of Schroeder, took over as chairman of the Sparkasse board. Onay had previously advocated for stripping Schroeder of his honorary citizenship, calling his continued business ties with Russia incompatible with the city's values. Schroeder served as German chancellor from 1998 to 2005, forging close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his tenure. After leaving office, he took on senior roles in several Russian energy companies. After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Schroeder faced growing political pressure due to his perceived ties with Russia. In 2022, the German parliament stripped him of his government-funded office, and attempts were made within his own SPD party to expel him – though ultimately unsuccessful. Schroeder has blasted Western policymakers over underestimating the dangers of the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, while warning it should respect Russia's historical security interests. According to Bild, the ex-chancellor still views Nord Stream as a positive for Germany, citing the need for cheap and sustainable energy supplies.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Man rescued after being trapped for 90 minutes under a train armrest while looking for his Airpod
A man had to be rescued by no less than 11 firefighters after he got trapped under a train armrest while searching for his Airpod. The traveller was stuck for 90 minutes before the emergency services sawed off the armrest so he could get free. He had been rummaging between the seat and the train's side panel but his arm swelled up and became jammed in the gap on Friday evening. A luggage rack and a seat also had to be hacked away with a heavy hydraulic rescue device to liberate the man - who has not been named. Much to the amusement of other passengers, firefighters had to put up a screen so that curious travellers on the German regional train could not take photos of the unfortunately wedged-in man. The train was held at the platform at Lehrte station near Hannover, Lower Saxony, for more than an hour before the was then rescued beneath the seat. The other passengers had to get replacement services to continue their journey to Brunswick, Bild reported. Police were also in attendance while the platform had been cordoned off. Emergency services were on standby and treated the man once he became free. This is not the first time someone has had to be broken free after getting stuck on a train. In 2019, an 11-year-old boy had to be rescued by firefighters after he got his head stuck under a seat on a high-speed train in south-east China. The unfortunate incident happened on New Year's Day on the G636 train travelling to Shangrao, Jiangxi province, when the boy crawled under the seat in front of him to pick up a water bottle. However, his head got wedged in the gap between the floor and the seat, leaving him trapped for about 30 minutes. The boy got trapped at about noon, when the train was travelling from Yingtan North station to Shangrao station. Staff members on the train immediately alerted emergency services to stand by at the next station. Footage of the incident shows the embarrassed boy sprawled on the train floor, unable to move as rescuers boarded the train to his aid. 'The boy was trying to retrieve his water bottle but got trapped under the seat,' a spokesperson for the Shangrao Fire Department told reporters, adding that rescuers freed the child in two minutes. Thanks to the firefighters' swift efforts, the train was not delayed and departed Shangrao station on time. The boy was unhurt, according to The Paper. According to the report, the boy was travelling with his family, who were on their way back home to Wuyuan county after celebrating New Year's in Nanchang city, about two hours away by train.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic ‘in the stands to watch' Dutch-based sharp shooter who's available for FREE but there's major competition
Could he be coming to Parkhead this summer? WANTED MAN Celtic 'in the stands to watch' Dutch-based sharp shooter who's available for FREE but there's major competition Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Brighton star turned Dutch TV pundit Hans Kraay has confirmed that Celtic were watching Telstar top scorer Youssef El Kachati this week. But he reckons the Hoops will have to battle it out with Hannover and Schalke to land the hitman, who has played for Morocco Under 23s. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati plays during against Den Bosch Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will attempt to upgrade his squad Credit: Reuters Former Sparta Rotterdam ace El Kachati netted his 19th goal of the season in Telstar's play-off win against Den Bosch on Friday night. And Kraay - who also played for NAC Breda and De Graafschap and went on to become a manager before moving into TV punditry - underlined how much competition Celtic would have to face to sign the player. He said: "Celtic were in the stands to watch Youssef El Kachati. "I know that for sure. "He has been in contact with Hannover and he has been in contact with Schalke too. "He has a lot of interest from other clubs too, including ones in the Eredivisie. "He can take his pick at the end of the season. "I think he wants to go abroad." The Parkhead men seem likely to sanction major squad changes yet again as Brendan Rodgers aims to fend off a likely enhanced challenge from across the city at Rangers. While Rodgers is well served up front with the likes of Adam Idah and standout Daizen Maeda, the club went down the Dutch route as they snapped up Georgios Giakoumakis and they could do so again. Celtic Title Party Aftermath: Nine arrested as street party descends into total chaos There's been speculation over the likes of Reo Hatate and Arne Engels as potential big money departures - while Greg Taylor has yet to agree a new deal. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
France 24
23-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
'No chance': Bielefeld embrace underdog tag in German Cup final
Bielefeld won promotion to the second division earlier in May. They are just the fourth club in German Cup history to reach the final from the third division. Of the 81 times the competition has been played since it was created, only once has a side from outside the top flight lifted the trophy: second-division Hannover in 1992. "Like in the games before, we have no chance. And we have to take advantage of that," Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat told reporters on Thursday. Bielefeld beat four top-flight sides on their way to the showpiece event, including defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals. Their opponents Stuttgart have endured two relegations in the past decade but are among the traditional giants in Germany, winning five league titles and three German Cups. "We don't just want to have a nice day here, a nice holiday," Kniat said. "We also want to win the game and then grab hold of that beautiful trophy." Around 100,000 Arminia fans are expected in Berlin, around a third of Bielefeld's total population and well over the allocation of 20,000 tickets per team. "I don't think anyone in Bielefeld has turned up to work for the past week," Kniat said. "You see people who have been fans of the club for 50 or 60 years. They're ready for the greatest day of their lives. They filled their tanks and went on their way." Bielefeld's American captain Mael Corboz, born and raised in Alabama, said his side were given a special send-off by fans and local media before making the trip on Friday. "Their message was push hard on the gas, stick together, and with a lot of courage you'll make it. And we get that courage from our fans too." Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness said Bielefeld's league status would not be relevant on the pitch on Saturday. "I understand the narrative but it's irrelevant for me. We're not playing against a third-division side, we're taking on the cup finalists. "They've knocked out four Bundesliga sides so it doesn't matter to us which league they're from." The coach spent the better part of a decade with Hertha Berlin's reserve team during his playing career and was thrilled to be taking part in the festivities in the German capital for the first time.
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers ‘probably can't afford' to pay off forgotten £3m star – so he may have a future after all, says Kris Boyd
Will the new manager give him a chance? STAYING PUT? Rangers 'probably can't afford' to pay off forgotten £3m star – so he may have a future after all, says Kris Boyd Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT promises to be a summer of change at Ibrox with new owners, a new manager and new players. But could some stars remain at the club despite looking like they were on the road out? Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Rabbi Matondo scored his first international goal for Wales this year Credit: Reuters 2 But his future with Rangers remains uncertain Credit: Kenny Ramsay The current Rangers squad is in need of an overhaul and already several players have departed upon the expiration of their contracts. Cyriel Dessers has been linked with a move abroad and there could also be serious interest in Nicolas Raskin as the summer progresses. However, certain fringe players are on hefty deals and they could prove problematic to move on. That's the view of former Rangers star and SunSport columnist Kris Boyd. One such example is Rabbi Matondo. The Welsh winger spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover. He has struggled to make a consistent impact in Scotland since his £3m arrival from Schakle in 2022. And despite an impressive start to life at Hannover his season petered out with a whimper. And Boyd thinks he could prove difficult to shift off the wage bill for Gers. He told Top Rated Bingo Sites: "The thing is you never know because he is under contract and it is easy to say their time is up and they have to move on but when you are under contract, the club probably can't afford to pay it off. Kris Boyd says Rangers players were in SHOCK that 'ghost goal' against Hibs wasn't given "I'm not just talking about Rabbi Matondo, but there's others in the same boat. "There'll be a new manager coming in, so you just never know what way they are going to play. "We've seen in other seasons that Rabbi Matondo can be a threat and cause teams problems. "He has struggled to do it on a consistent basis and that may be one of the reasons Rangers have been inconsistent because a lot of their players have been inconsistent. "Some of them have found levels for some weeks but then disappeared in other weeks. "Rabbi Matondo has been out on loan, and it hasn't worked for him." Boyd added: "I'm sure Rangers would have hoped for him to go out on loan and recoup some of the money they paid for him, but it is not to be. "We've seen it before when players go out on loan and think 'that's it, it's done and we are going to move on' but with everything changing at Ibrox in the summer, he might come back and produce the goods. "If he is going to do that then he will have to do a lot more than what he has produced in recent seasons." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
