Latest news with #Koblenz
Al Arabiya
04-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
Authorities to attempt to reopen Mosel river in Germany to shipping
Attempts will be made on Friday and over the weekend to reopen the river Mosel in west Germany on a limited scale to inland waterways freight shipping after an accident with a vessel damaged a lock, navigation authorities said on Friday. Shipping was stopped on the river, an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France, after an accident involving a passenger vessel on Wednesday damaged a lock at Sankt Aldegund between Koblenz and Trier. Attempts are now starting to see if the lock can still be used for vessel transits on a limited scale after an initial assessment of damage, said a spokesperson for river navigation authority GDWS. The first test transits through the lock could be made over the weekend. If this is not feasible, attempts are planned to reopen the lock with temporary water control barriers. But this would be a slower process than using the damaged lock, possibly with each ship needing around an hour to transit the lock. About 50 inland waterways freighters are currently stranded on the river, called the Moselle in France. First efforts will be concentrated on enabling the stranded ships to pass through the lock to reach their destinations. But the aim is to allow normal sailings to resume, the spokesperson said. It is still not possible to say when the lock can be fully repaired. A similar lock accident on the Mosel in December that halted shipping led futures exchange operator Euronext to suspend physical delivery to river ports in eastern France for its rapeseed futures.
Arab News
03-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Freight shipping on Mosel river in Germany blocked after accident
The river, known as the Moselle in France, is an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and FranceVessels cannot pass the Sankt Aldegund lock in either direction, the spokesperson saidHAMBURG: Freight shipping on the river Mosel in west Germany has been blocked to shipping after an accident involving a passenger ship that damaged a lock, authorities said on river, known as the Moselle in France, is an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France. Transit was halted after an accident on Wednesday damaged a lock at Sankt Aldegund between Koblenz and Trier, a police spokesperson cannot pass the Sankt Aldegund lock in either direction, the spokesperson experts on Thursday were examining the lock, and it is not yet possible to comment on the level of damage or say how long the impact on shipping will last, river navigation authority WSA federal transport minister Patrick Schnieder said in a statement he will visit the accident site later on Thursday.'I will do everything in my power to ensure that the lock can resume operations as soon as possible,' Schnieder river was closed to inland waterways shipping in December after an accident that damaged a lock at Mueden, south of Koblenz, and only reopened in February after lengthy indications are that the lock's concrete structure and drive mechanism were not damaged in the accident, WSA head Eric Oehlmann said in a are currently assessing whether it is possible to resume limited lock operations for the waiting vessels to pass, he said.'If not, we will find another solution, for example, through emergency locks with temporary water control barriers, which have already proven effective,' Oehlmann said.A temporary lock was successful in allowing ships to transit during the winter disruption.'Despite the accident, there is determination that shipping on the Moselle will not come to a complete standstill," Oehlmann said.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
British teenager who took life was radicalized by U.S. neo-Nazis, inquest says
Confiscated items, a "Mein Kampf" book, a metal head of Adolf Hitler and a flag with swastika are displayed at a press conference in Koblenz, Western Germany, Tuesday March 13, 2012. (AP Photo/dapd/ Torsten Silz) LONDON — Warning: This story contains topics dealing with mental distress and suicide. A British teenage girl, who had said she wanted to blow up a synagogue and became fixated with Adolf Hitler, had been sucked into far-right extremism by two American neo-Nazis, a British coroner said on Monday. Rhianan Rudd, who was 16, took her own life in May 2022 at a children's home having been investigated by police and Britain's domestic security service MI5 over extremist views. Two years earlier, Rudd's mother had referred her daughter to the counter-radicalisation scheme, Prevent. She is believed to be the youngest girl to be charged with terrorism offenses in Britain after she was arrested when 14, though the case against her was later dropped. At an inquest into her death, the Chief Coroner of England and Wales Alexia Durran said she had been initially radicalized by her mother's former partner, a U.S. neo-Nazi who had convictions for violence. She was further drawn into extremism by U.S. white supremacist Chris Cook, who was jailed in 2023 for terrorism over plans to attack power grids, Durran also said. Rudd, who had autism, became obsessed with fascism, even carving a swastika into her forehead, and had downloaded material about making bombs and 3D guns, Durran said. Durran concluded that both Mallaburn and Cook were each 'a significant radicalizing influence on Rhianan' who had 'played a material role in introducing and encouraging Rhianan's interest in extreme right-wing materials.' Learning from pain Rudd's mother Emily Carter said she believed that the police and MI5's prolonged investigation had played a role in her daughter's death. 'Whilst nothing can ever bring Rhianan back, I urge all the authorities that came into contact with her to learn from what happened so that no other family has to experience the pain we have endured,' Carter said in a statement. The charges against Rudd were not dropped until August 2021, four months after social workers believed she might have been a victim of sexual exploitation. However, giving her ruling at Chesterfield Coroners' Court in central England, Durran rejected the argument that the state had played a role in her death, saying it had been appropriate to investigate and prosecute her. 'I am satisfied that the missed opportunities that occurred in this case were not systemic,' she said. British authorities have become very concerned about the online radicalisation of young people. MI5's Director General Ken McCallum said last year that 13 per cent of all those they were investigating were under 18, a threefold increase in the last three years. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service offered condolences to Rudd's family. 'This is a tragic case,' added Nick Price, CPS director of legal services. We do not prosecute young or vulnerable people lightly. Terrorism offenses are extremely serious, and these are decisions our specialist prosecutors take great care over." Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne.
Hospitality Net
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Four Points Flex by Sheraton Expands in Germany with New Opening in Koblenz
The Chocolate on the Pillow Group (COTP) has opened the Four Points Flex by Sheraton Koblenz, marking the second hotel of the brand in Germany. This launch is part of a rebranding strategy that will see six hotels transition to the Four Points Flex by Sheraton identity by early 2026. Comprehensive renovation and repositioning Formerly the GHOTEL hotel & living Koblenz, the property underwent extensive redesign and modernization. This transformation extends beyond a simple name change, encompassing guest rooms, public areas, and digital infrastructure upgrades. The new interior concept integrates the brand's DNA with the local identity, combining functionality, contemporary design, and user-friendly comfort. Digitalization to enhance operations and guest experience A key focus of the redevelopment was digital integration. New front- and back-office systems aim to streamline operations, ease team workload, and enhance guest experience through smart, intuitive services. This supports an efficient hotel operation grounded in effective management and guest service. Ongoing brand expansion Koblenz is the second of six planned hotels undergoing this rebranding initiative, with Bochum already relaunched under the Four Points Flex brand. Further locations are expected to open under this concept by early 2026. The brand aims to establish a flexible, midscale product that balances strong economic performance with distinct design and service standards. Hotel website
