HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday welcomed an agreement reached between the European Union and Mexico on Saturday on a new free trade deal, saying it would benefit Mexico, Europe and Germany. “The technical work should take place quickly now but it’s really good news for Europe, for Germany and for Mexico,” Merkel said at the opening ceremony of the Hanover trade fair which was also attended by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. (Writing by Michelle Martin; editing by David Evans) … [Read more...] about Merkel says EU-Mexico trade deal is good for Mexico, Europe and Germany
Germany
Germany’s Social Democrats choose first ever female chair to revamp party
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) elected Andrea Nahles as their first ever female chairwoman on Sunday, hoping she can reinvigorate the country’s oldest party after it suffered heavy losses in September’s election. The 154-year-old SPD, junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s governing coalition, picked Nahles after former leader Martin Schulz resigned from the position given that his election campaign earned the party its worst result since 1933. (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Victoria Bryan) … [Read more...] about Germany’s Social Democrats choose first ever female chair to revamp party
Pliskova and Kvitova give Czechs commanding lead over Germany
(Reuters) – Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova won their opening singles matches to give Czech Republic a commanding 2-0 lead in their Fed Cup semi-final against Germany in Stuttgart on Saturday. Kvitova powered past German number one Julia Goerges 6-3 6-2 before Pliskova produced a sublime display to record a 7-5 6-3 victory over Angelique Kerber. Pliskova, who had lost in her previous three encounters with Kerber, fired 15 aces and faced no break points as she subdued the home fans in Stuttgart. “No one expected it,” Pliskova said after the German failed to win a set on day one. Kvitova recorded her 29th Fed Cup victory on the back of a strong serve and a string of blistering groundstrokes. World number 11 Goerges was stronger in the opening exchanges and raced to a 3-1 lead in the first set before Kvitova rediscovered her rhythm to level things up. The 28-year-old Czech claimed nine of the last 11 games and dropped just two points on her serve to seal the victory … [Read more...] about Pliskova and Kvitova give Czechs commanding lead over Germany
Neo-Nazis hold rock festival in eastern Germany on Hitler’s birthday
OSTRITZ, Germany (Reuters) – Several hundred neo-Nazis have gathered in eastern Germany for a far-right rock festival that started on Friday, Adolf Hitler’s birthday, while many local residents took a stance against them by attending a festival for peace. The far-right “Schild und Schwert” (“Shield and Sword”) festival is being held in the Polish border town of Ostritz from April 20 to April 21. Hitler was born in Austria on April 20, 1889. Far-right merchandise, including T-Shirts with the slogan “I (heart) HTLR” were on sale at the event, as were toy tanks. One sign read “Aryan brotherhood” and a poster from the far-right National Democratic Party protested against the influx of more than a million migrants to Germany since mid-2015 with the slogan: “Nursery schools instead of asylum camps”. Police officers were out in force, carrying out checks on roads near the festival and the train station. They said they had … [Read more...] about Neo-Nazis hold rock festival in eastern Germany on Hitler’s birthday
Smyths Toys to take over Toys R Us stores in Germany
Updated 5:24 am, Saturday, April 21, 2018 Photo: Julio Cortez, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 FILE- This Jan. 24, 2018, file photo shows a person walking near the entrance to a Toys R Us store, in Wayne, N.J. Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holding has placed a bid of $300 million to buy Toys R Us’s Canadian operations in bankruptcy. According to court papers filed late Thursday, April 19, 2018, the bidder is taking on a role of a “stalking horse” in a court-approved auction set for Monday in New York. That means it could be outbid in the auction if other buyers come in with a higher offer. The bid from Fairfax surpassed the $215 million offer that Isaac Larian, the CEO of privately held toy company MGA Entertainment, made last week. less FILE- This Jan. 24, 2018, file photo shows a person walking near the entrance to a Toys R Us store, in Wayne, N.J. Canada’s … [Read more...] about Smyths Toys to take over Toys R Us stores in Germany