Germanys population

FRANKFURT: Germany's 750 billion euro (US$834 billion) package to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Europe's largest economy will last for about two months, an independent economics think tank told a German newspaper group. "In the short term, we are in a kind of war economy in which the state plays a bigger role in coordinating the economy than normally," Reint Gropp, head of the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland. If Germany's lockdown lasts beyond two months, another rescue package would be needed and could stretch the country's finances to an extent that would result in unprecedented budget deficits, he said. READ: Germany unleashes biggest post-war aid package against virus Several economic think tanks and politicians have said that Germany needs to make sure its shutdown does not cripple the economy, but Chancellor Angela Merkel and several of her ministers spoke out at the weekend against a quick … [Read more...] about Germany’s coronavirus support will last two months: Think tank

BERLIN: Up to 70 per cent of the population is likely to be infected with the coronavirus that is currently spreading around the world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday (Mar 11), adding that since there was currently no cure, the focus had to be on slowing its spread. "When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, then 60 to 70 per cent of the population will be infected," she told a news conference in Berlin. READ: German hospital creates drive-through for COVID-19 tests READ: Germany says coronavirus cases top 1,000 "The process has to be focused on not overburdening the health system by slowing the virus' spread ... It's about winning time." Merkel spoke after mass-selling daily Bild lambasted her for her handling of what it called "the corona chaos": "No appearances, no speech, no leadership in the crisis," it wrote. Health Minister Jens Spahn has led the response, and said earlier that sealing Germany's … [Read more...] about Most people in Germany will get COVID-19, aim is to slow its spread: Merkel

BERLIN: Two World War II-era bombs were made safe in the western German city of Dortmund after around 14,000 people were evacuated, the city said on Sunday (Jan 12). Officials there warning on Saturday that unexploded bombs dropped by Allied forces during the war might be buried in four sites in a heavily populated part of the city centre. Workers had detected anomalies during construction work, they announced on the city's official Twitter. Two unexploded bombs weighing 250 kilogrammes (550 pounds) each, one British and the other American, were found and made safe. Searches for another two suspected bombs turned up nothing. The precautions included the evacuation of two hospitals and the interruption of rail traffic. The discovery of World War II bombs is not uncommon in Germany. Last September a 250-kilo bomb was made safe in Hanover, with 15,000 people evacuated. And in Frankfurt, in 2017, some 65,000 people were evacuated when a 1.4 tonne bomb was found, the … [Read more...] about Two WWII bombs made safe in Germany

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Tuesday said it had filed a criminal complaint against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Germany's federal public prosecutor's office. The complaint pertains to his role in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the detention of other media professionals. The complaint, filed on Monday at one of the country's top courts in Karlsruhe, accuses bin Salman of crimes against humanity, additionally for the arbitrary detention of 34 journalists. Thirty-three of the journalists listed in the 500-page document are still currently in detention, including blogger Raif Badawi, the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals. Watch video 02:27 Share US fails to sanction MBS Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3q5Gy US fails to sanction Saudi prince for Khashoggi murder … [Read more...] about RSF files criminal complaint against Saudi crown prince in Germany

BERLIN: The city of Jena in eastern Germany has decided to make people wear face masks when shopping or travelling by public transport, stepping up efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus and becoming the first city in the country to introduce the measure. For the last two weeks, states around Germany have closed schools, restaurants, bars and banned public gatherings as they try to tackle the outbreak but the number of cases and deaths is still rising fast. Jena, which has 119 cases of the coronavirus and an overall population of about 110,000, decided to follow Austria which on Monday (Mar 31) said it was requiring shoppers to wear basic face masks in supermarkets. "In a week's time, wearing mouth and nose protection in shops in Jena, on public transport and buildings with public traffic will be compulsory," Jena town hall said in a statement. Given shortages of face masks, the town in the state of Thuringia said towels or scarves wrapped over peoples' mouths and … [Read more...] about German city introduces face masks for shoppers as COVID-19 cases rise