German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reacts during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on September 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday (September 6, 2024) that a military approach alone was not the solution to Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“The past weekend has dramatically demonstrated that a purely military approach is no solution to the situation in Gaza,” she told reporters after meeting with her Israeli counterpart Israel Katz in the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

Ms. Baerbock was referring to the recovery of six more dead hostages announced on Sunday.

Their deaths have ramped up domestic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seal a deal with Hamas for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal, though the two sides have traded blame over stalled talks this week.

Ms. Baerbock on Friday called for “a ceasefire now” and also spoke out against hawkish statements by Israeli officials about the West Bank, where the army on August 28 launched a raid in multiple cities that has left at least 36 dead.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, said in a post on X on Friday that he had asked Netanyahu to make the defeat of Hamas “and other terrorist organisations” in the West Bank one of the aims of the war in Gaza.

“When members of the Israeli government themselves call for the same approach in the West Bank as in Gaza, that is precisely what acutely endangers Israel’s security,” Ms. Baerbock said.

Her comments came one day after German police shot dead a man who opened fire on them in what they treated as a foiled “terrorist attack” on Munich’s Israeli consulate on the anniversary of the 1972 Olympic Games killings.

Ms. Baerbock said she had “expressed my deepest and full solidarity” with Katz.

“This is a terrible situation. This is a terrible moment for us, especially on the very anniversary of Munich 1972,” she said.

Two east German states have begun casting votes today, with the far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) poised to win a state election for the first time. AfD’s win would mark the first time a far-right party has the most seats in a German state parliament in nearly a century.

The ongoing foreign policy issues, including Russia’s war with Ukraine, are playing a role in the state elections of Thuringia and Saxony. 

Opinion polls have indicated that the AfD is ahead in Thuringia and a close second in Saxony. Another party, the far-left BSW, is also getting a strong upstart, the opinion polls showed.

The elections come just over a week after three people were stabbed to death in a suspected Islamist attack in the city of Solingen, sparking anti-immigration sentiment in Germany.

“Our freedoms are being increasingly restricted because people are being allowed into the country who don’t fit in,” the AfD’s leader in Thuringia, Bjoern Hoecke, said, as per Reuters.

Both AfD and BSW, which are critical of the European Union and have an anti-immigration stance, have a stronghold in the former Communist-run East Germany. The two parties have also voiced criticism for the current government in Germany and the military aid it gives to Ukraine.

In both states, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, Social Democrats, are polling at around 6 per cent, while their coalition partners, the Greens and the liberal FDP, lag further behind.

Rise of the far-right

AfD was created in 2013 as an anti-euro group before it became an anti-immigration party. 

In the European Union Parliament elections that took place in June, the party scored a record 15.9 per cent overall.

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was created in January this year after she quit Die Linke. Like AfD, Ms Wagenknecht and her party have a supportive stance towards Russia. BSW garnered around 6 per cent of the German vote in June’s EU Parliament elections. The party is expected to win up to 12-20 per cent in today’s polling, potentially putting it in a kingmaker position in both states. 

“I especially like her stance on the Ukraine war, we can’t simply keep delivering weapons,” BSW supporter Carola Gustavus said as per Reuters. “One has to negotiate even with the worst opponent,” she added.

Solingen, Germany:

German police said Sunday that a Syrian man has given himself up and confessed to killing three people and wounding eight others in a knife rampage at a street festival.

The random attack as thousands of people gathered on Friday night in the western city of Solingen has stunned Germany.

Two men aged 56 and 67 and a 56-year-old woman were killed, officials said. Four of the wounded remained in a serious condition. All of the victims were stabbed in the neck, according to police.

Police said in a statement that the suspect was a 26-year-old Syrian who had “given himself up to authorities… and declared himself responsible for the attack”.

Officers arrested a suspect in a raid at a hostel for asylum seekers on Saturday, not far from the scene of the attack, a police spokesman told AFP.

Police have evidence linking the man to the knife attacks, according to North Rhine-Westphalia state interior minister Herbert Reul. Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into charges of “participating in a terrorist organisation”, a spokesman said.

According to the Bild and Spiegel newspapers, the suspect arrived in Germany in December 2022 and had a protected immigration status often given to those fleeing war-torn Syria.

He was not known to the security services as an extremist, the newspapers reported.

Teen arrested 

Police have also arrested a 15-year-old suspected of failing to report a criminal act. Witnesses allegedly saw the teen discussing the attack, said Markus Caspers, prosecutor of Duesseldorf, just west of Solingen.

The attack took place as thousands of people gathered for the first night of a “Festival of Diversity”, part of a series of events to mark Solingen’s 650th anniversary. The whole festival has now been cancelled.

Germany has been on high alert for extremist attacks since the Gaza war erupted on October 7 with the Hamas attacks on Israel.

German street festivals and markets have previously been hit.

A truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in 2016 killed 12 people. In May, a police officer was killed and five people were wounded in a knife attack at a far-right rally in Mannheim, with an Islamist motive suspected.

The jihadist Islamic State group’s Amaq propaganda arm said “the perpetrator of the attack on a gathering of Christians” in Solingen “was a soldier of the Islamic State”.

IS said the attack was carried out as “revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere”, in an apparent reference to the Gaza conflict.

The claim could not be immediately verified, though German officials had said “a terrorist motive cannot be excluded”.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had warned this month that Germany was in “the firing line” of Islamist groups.

National and local leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said the country had been “deeply shocked” by the deaths in Solingen, a city of 160,000 people.

Witness Lars Breitzke told the Solinger Tageblatt newspaper he was near the attack, close to the main stage, and “understood from the expression on the singer’s face that something was wrong”.

“And then, a metre away from me, a person fell,” said Breitzke, who at first thought it was someone who had had too much to drink. 

When he turned around, he saw other people on the ground in pools of blood.

During a visit to the site of the tragedy Faeser called for the country to “remain united” as she denounced “those who want to stir up hatred”. 

“Let us not be divided,” she said.

Scholz’s centre-left coalition faces regional elections next week in the east of the country, where the far-right AfD is leading in polls.

Germany took in more than a million asylum seekers in 2015-2016 at the height of Europe’s migrant crisis.

The influx was deeply divisive in Germany and fuelled the popularity of the AfD.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Berlin:

Several people were killed on Friday night when a man knifed passers-by at random at a festival in the western German city of Solingen, newspaper Bild reported.

Bild said the event occurred around 9:45 p.m. (1945 GMT) and that at least three people were dead and multiple people were wounded.

Witnesses said the perpetrator was at large, the paper added.

The local newspaper Solingen Tageblatt reported on its website that the attack occurred at a festival to honour the town’s 650 years.

Local police said they were not yet able to comment.

Local news reports said the stabbings occurred at the Fronhof, a market square in the town where live bands were playing.

Solingen is in North Rhine-Westphalia state, Germany’s most populous and bordering the Netherlands.

Fatal stabbings and shootings in Germany are relatively uncommon.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman died after being stabbed in the German city of Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration.

There was a stabbing attack on a train in 2021, injuring several.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner, announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday at the age of 38. Bayern Munich veteran Neuer played 124 matches for Germany, captaining his country 61 times. His final appearance came in the quarter-final loss to eventual champions Spain at Euro 2024. Neuer wrote on social media that although he was tempted to play until the 2026 World Cup, he was “convinced that now is the right time to take this step”.

He shone at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was named as the tournament’s best goalkeeper as Germany won the trophy for the fourth time.

Known as the archetypal ‘sweeper-keeper’ of the modern era, Neuer revolutionised the position, often venturing far from his penalty box to snuff out attacks while possessing skills with his feet usually reserved for outfield players.

Neuer revealed he had made the announcement after discussions with his family, as well as a comprehensive conversation with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Wednesday morning.

He said he planned to “concentrate fully” on playing for Bayern, with whom he has won two Champions Leagues and 11 Bundesliga titles.

This season’s Champions League final will take place at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Neuer broke his leg in a skiing accident in December 2022 and only returned to the Germany squad just ahead of Euro 2024 on home soil, reclaiming his role as first choice.

He was criticised before Euro 2024 after a series of mistakes at club and international level, but impressed at the tournament.

“It was a great time which shaped me and of which I am very proud,” he said.

“Winning the World Cup title in 2014 and the special atmosphere during the European Championship at home this year are highlights for which I am extremely grateful.

“It was an honour for me to be captain of our national team until 2023. I loved wearing the Germany jersey.”

From 2010 until 2016, Neuer and Germany made it to the final four of every major tournament.

After disappointing group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and a last-16 elimination by England at Euro 2020, Germany won their first knockout match in eight years at Euro 2024.

Neuer follows fellow 2014 World Cup winners Thomas Mueller and Toni Kroos, who both played at Euro 2024, into international retirement.

On Monday, current Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan, who missed the 2014 World Cup campaign through injury, also announced he had played his last game at international level.

A product of the Schalke academy in his home town of Gelsenkirchen, Neuer made his international debut in 2009 and has more caps than any other Germany goalkeeper.

Germany won 81 of the 124 matches Neuer played, and he kept 51 clean sheets.

The retirement clears the way for long-time back-up Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona, who is expected to take over from the Bayern captain as Germany’s number one.

Ilkay Gundogan in action at Euro 2024.© AFP

A Ferris wheel caught fire at a German summer music festival and injured at least thirty people, including four police officers, as per a report in the New York Post. The incident took place in a gondola at the Highfield Festival at Stormthaler Lake, at around 9.13 pm. The fire began in one lower tub and quickly spread to another, scaring the people on the ride.

Videos captured from the festival showed the Ferris wheel spinning despite the two gondolas being turned into fireballs. Further, thick, black smoke was also seen in the night sky with several people screaming.

Ferris wheel gondolas went up in flames yesterday at the Highfield Festival on the outskirts of Leipzig, Germany.

At least 30 people, including police officials have been injured according to reports from the region. pic.twitter.com/nMMfmxc4Pl

— The Secret Firefighter UK (@TheSecretFF999) August 18, 2024

The conductors stopped the ride and reversed it so that the burning vehicle was positioned close to the top of the wheel. The video showed how powerful the fire was-it blazed white at its centre.

According to the outlet, the 30 people who were treated for injuries sustained mild cases of smoke inhalation. However, two were seriously injured.

German rapper Ski Aggu was on stage when the blaze started and was also instructed to carry on with his performance despite the accident. “I was just told through my earpiece that I should not end the show under any circumstances,” the rapper said on his Instagram. He said he was told to continue performing to avoid “mass panic.”

Further, the two gondolas were successfully tipped upside down by firefighters to stop the fire from spreading. “We currently know that there are over 30 injured people, including four injured police officers, but all of them are probably slightly injured,” police spokeswoman Josephin Sader told the tabloid BILD.

The fire has been put out, leaving the two gondolas destroyed. According to the organisers, a technical issue with the Ferris wheel was the reason for the fire.
 

India men’s hockey team after losing their semi-final defeat to Germany at Paris Olympics 2024.© AFP

India vs Germany LIVE Score, Men’s Hockey, Paris Olympics 2024© AFP

India vs Germany, Men’s Hockey Semi-Final Paris Olympics 2024, Live Streaming: Indian men’s hockey team to face Germany in the semi-final match at Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday. Harmanpreet Singh and co will be playing this match without their key defender Amit Rohidas, who has been given one-match suspension. India are one win away from a second consecutive medal at the Olympics. Earlier on Sunday, India defeated Great Britain 4-2 in the shoot-outs and entered the semis. In the quarterfinal, Harmanpreet converted a penalty corner in the 22nd minute before Lee Morton equalised for Great Britain five minutes later. While the match ended 1-1 at full-time, India advanced to the semi-finals after winning the shoot-out 4-2.

When will the India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match take place?

The India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match will take place on Tuesday, August 6 (IST)

Where will the India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match take place?

The India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match will take place at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, France.

What time will the India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match take place?

The India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match will start at 10:30 PM IST onwards.

Which TV channels will telecast the India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match?

The India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match will be telecast live on the Sports 18 Network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match?

The India vs Germany, Olympics 2024 Men’s Hockey semi-final match will be streamed live on the JioCinema app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)