
Germany's Merz: want to keep Schengen area but cannot be abused

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The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Lithuania charges three with defacing anti-Soviet monument
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -A Lithuanian prosecutor said on Wednesday he had charged three people with defacing a monument to an anti-Soviet resistance leader in January 2024, and that Russian intelligence was the main organiser behind the act. Prosecutor Rimas Bradunas told a press conference two of the three charged are dual Estonian-Russian citizens, while one is a Russian citizen. When asked at the press conference about any involvement of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency in the act, Bradunas said: "That was the main organizer, without doubt, yes". Two of the three detained were arrested in Estonia and handed over to Lithuania, he said. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas, writing by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Anna Ringstrom)


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Australia says it cancelled Kanye West's visa over 'Heil Hitler' song
FILE PHOTO: Rapper Kanye West makes a point as he holds his first rally in support of his presidential bid in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. July 19, 2020. REUTERS/Randall Hill/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -Kanye West, also known as Ye, has had his Australian visa cancelled after he released 'Heil Hitler', a song promoting Nazism, the country's home affairs minister said on Wednesday. The U.S. rapper released the song that praised the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler across social media and music streaming platforms in May this year. The song came a few months after West made a string of antisemitic posts on X, which included comments such as "I love Hitler" and "I'm a Nazi". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said that while previous offensive comments made by West had not affected his visa status, officials 'looked at it again' after the song's release. 'It was a lower level (visa) and the officials still looked at the law and said you're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don't need that in Australia," he told national broadcaster ABC on Wednesday. "We have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry." Burke added that West had family in Australia and had been a longtime visitor prior to the visa cancellation. The singer married his wife Bianca Censori, an Australian architect, in December 2022. Burke's office declined to comment on the exact date of the visa cancellation. West's management did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside U.S. business hours. In October 2024, U.S. conservative influencer Candace Owens was also barred from entry into Australia. Burke said 'Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else'. (Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry)


The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
German government not planning to take stake in TKMS, reports Handelsblatt
DUESSELDORF: The new German government has no plans currently to take a stake in Thyssenkrupp's defence division TKMS, the business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. According to the report, the chancellery as well as the ministries involved have agreed not to push for state involvement at this time, something Thyssenkrupp's labour leaders have called for. A spokesperson for Thyssenkrupp said the company was engaged in constructive discussions with the government, 'but we do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of these discussions'. Thyssenkrupp has said in the past that government participation was no precondition for any divestment of TKMS and that a planned spin-off of the business - expected to take place by the end of the year - would go ahead regardless. Chairman Siegfried Russwurm said last month that talks about the government participating to safeguard Germany's national interest were unnecessary given that Berlin is either a customer or must approve equipment sales to other countries. Germany's economy and defence ministries did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. The government will instead seek a 'security agreement' to ensure that national defence and jobs are not at risk from the spin-off, which would involve regular consultations, Handelsblatt reported. The agreement would also include a right of first refusal for the government if a strategic investor wanted to buy into TKMS, though that is not expected, the paper said. Thyssenkrupp shareholders will vote on the plan to spin off a 49% stake in TKMS at an extraordinary general meeting on August 8. TKMS, which makes submarines and frigates as well as sensor and mine-hunting technology, has been benefiting from a broader surge in defence stocks, boosted by higher military spending in Europe amid fears of dwindling U.S. support.