Germany edition

Thomas_de_maizière

The following articles have been tagged with "Thomas_de_maizière":

US to withdraw more than 11,000 troops

National: 17 Feb 12
The United States vowed Thursday to retain close military ties to its European allies after unveiling plans to withdraw more than 11,000 troops from Germany and Italy as part of a strategic shift to Asia. READ »

Canada wants military base in Germany

National: 15 Feb 12
Canada plans to set up a military base in Germany under a deal that will allow the expanding Canadian military to increase its global reach. READ »

De Maizière urges more military might in Europe

National: 4 Feb 12
German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière said Europe should not fear a renewed US focus on Asia and must increasingly look after its own backyard militarily, in remarks made during the 48th annual Munich Security Conference. READ »

Ramstein to host NATO missile shield command

National: 2 Feb 12
NATO will locate the command centre for its missile shield at the US airbase Ramstein in Germany, a base spokesman confirmed on Thursday. READ »

Afghanistan troop withdrawl to begin in Jan

National: 17 Dec 11
The withdrawl of German troops from Afghanistan will not take place before Christmas and won’t be accompanied by a celebration, according to German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière. READ »

Berlin hails 'turning point' in Afghan war

National: 15 Dec 11
During a Bundestag debate on the German army’s future mission in Afghanistan Thursday, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said a planned draw-down of troops heralded a “turning point” in the ten-year NATO-led war in Afghanistan. READ »

Germany backs peace talks with the Taliban

National: 27 Nov 11
Germany's foreign and defence ministers called Sunday for the Taliban to be included in Afghanistan peace talks, ahead of a major international conference for the war-ravaged country next month. READ »

Afghanistan to see German troop drawdown

National: 11 Nov 11
The German government plans to reduce the number of Bundeswehr soldiers deployed in Afghanistan by 1,000 in the coming year, according to a letter sent to Bundestag parliamentarians by the Foreign and Defence ministries. READ »

Big cuts in store for Bundeswehr

National: 26 Oct 11
The German government announced the biggest cuts in its military since the end of World War Two on Wednesday, closing or significantly scaling down more than 100 of its 400 bases and cutting 15,000 soldiering jobs. READ »

Dresden's Military History Museum gets Libeskind revamp

Society: 13 Oct 11
The Military History Museum in Dresden reopens this week after being completely revamped by star US architect Daniel Libeskind. Erin Huggins assesses the exhibition after the building’s stark transformation. READ »

De Maizière worried about army quitters

National: 26 Sep 11
German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière said Sunday he wants to find out why so many volunteers are leaving the army during training. Over 20 percent have quit training since the Bundeswehr became an all-volunteer force in July. READ »

100 Germans involved in NATO Libya mission

National: 10 Sep 11
More than 100 German soldiers took part in NATO’s Libya operation, 10 times more than previously thought, the government has admitted. READ »

Defence officials split over troops for Libya

National: 26 Aug 11
Defence Ministry officials gave conflicting views Friday about whether Germany will need to take part in a peacekeeping mission to stabilize Libya after fighting ends. There was also rare German praise for the NATO effort against Qaddafi. READ »

Media roundup: Libya after Qaddafi

Analysis & Opinion: 23 Aug 11
As the end of Libyan despot Muammar Qaddafi's reign nears, commentators in The Local’s media roundup examine what’s next for the North African country and the impact of Germany’s decision to break with its NATO allies. READ »

Westerwelle plays down engagement in Libya

National: 23 Aug 11
Although Germany is eager to help Libya after the ousting of dictator Muammar Qaddafi, discussion of any potential engagement in the North African country is premature, said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Monday evening. READ »

Berlin mulls troops for post-Qaddafi Libya

National: 22 Aug 11
As the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi teetered on the brink Monday, German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière said Bundeswehr troops could soon help secure the peace in the North African nation. READ »

Greens MP says involvement in NATO Libya mission illegal

National: 19 Aug 11
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière has dismissed criticism from the opposition Green party that the indirect participation of German soldiers in NATO attacks on Libya needed parliamentary approval. READ »

De Maizière promises to equip soldiers better

National: 17 Jul 11
Reacting to a parliamentary report that German soldiers in Afghanistan are being endangered by a shortage of equipment, Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière promised that problems would be addressed immediately. READ »

Arms deals raise human rights questions

National: 14 Jul 11
Arms deals with Saudi Arabia and Angola have sparked outrage in Germany and highlighted the country's emergence as the world's third-largest weapons exporter. But is Berlin guilty of hypocrisy or just poor political judgement? READ »

De Maizière rejects Saudi tank deal criticism

National: 9 Jul 11
The German government has yet to confirm a controversial tank deal with Saudi Arabia, but Berlin is on the defensive, with Chancellor Merkel and Defence Minister de Maizière emphasising the Arab kingdom's "stabilising" role. READ »

Only half of Germans want tax cuts

Business & Money: 8 Jul 11
In a sign of Germans’ financial priorities, just half of voters favour tax cuts right now and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble – a noted tax cut sceptic – has rocketed to become the most popular politician in the country. READ »

Bundeswehr begins new era as conscription ends

National: 4 Jul 11
Germany’s armed forces has officially ended conscription, heralding a new era for the now all-volunteer Bundeswehr. READ »

Germany to supply bombs for Libya mission

National: 28 Jun 11
Germany will supply bombs and weapons technology to NATO for the military intervention into Libya despite its stated opposition to the mission, according to a media report. READ »

Berlin rules out intervention in Syria

Politics: 20 Jun 11
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière has ruled out participation by Germany in any NATO operation in Syria to stop a bloody crackdown on protesters. READ »

Afghan intel reportedly failed to warn of attack

National: 16 Jun 11
The German army can no longer trust the Afghan intelligence services, fearing that they are deliberately withholding information about imminent attacks, according to newly leaked Defence Ministry documents. READ »

Berlin open to Libyan peacekeeping role

National: 9 Jun 11
Germany has so far refused pressure from its NATO allies to join the militarily mission against Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, but Berlin said Thursday it might send troops to the North African country after he's been deposed. READ »

Germany in 2011: Economic giant, political dwarf

Analysis & Opinion: 31 May 11
Consigned to minor role at last week’s G8 summit, the economic power Germany is in danger of being sidelined politically, argues Gerd Appenzeller from Der Tagesspiegel. READ »

Bundeswehr soldier killed in Afghanistan

National: 25 May 11
A Bundeswehr soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday when roadside bomb exploded near his Fuchs armoured personnel carrier, injuring a second German soldier and an Afghan translator. READ »

De Maizière says Germany must pull its weight abroad militarily

National: 19 May 11
German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière Thursday said his country should be prepared to pull its weight militarily abroad, taking part in international operations even when Berlin's interests are not directly at stake. READ »

Defence reform slashes troop numbers

National: 18 May 11
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière Wednesday outlined a broad reform of the German armed forces that will see troop levels slashed from 250,000 to some 185,000 in a bid to improve efficiency. READ »

Defence Ministry warns cuts could ruin forces

National: 22 Apr 11
An internal Defence Ministry report is warning that planned savings programmes for Germany’s armed forces would make them ineffective, while a soldiers’ representative said the plans would castrate the services. READ »

Reichstag dome reopening for tourists after terror alert

National: 8 Apr 11
One of Berlin’s most popular tourist attractions, the dome at the Reichstag parliamentary building, will be reopened to tourists on April 21 after being closed due to security concerns for the last several months. READ »

Boring Steinmeier charms his way back into Germany's heart

Politics: 8 Apr 11
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the owlish Social Democrat deemed too boring to be chancellor when he ran against Angela Merkel in 2009, is now the most popular politician in the country, a poll revealed Friday. READ »

German media roundup: A seismic shift for Merkel's coalition?

Analysis & Opinion: 28 Mar 11
With the Greens emerging as the winners of two state elections, has there been a seismic shift in Germany’s political landscape? Newspapers in The Local’s media roundup sift through the wreckage Chancellor Merkel’s coalition. READ »

De Maizière makes first trip to Afghanistan

Politics: 26 Mar 11
Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière visited German soldiers in Afghanistan on Saturday for the first time since he took office a few weeks ago. READ »

Westerwelle mulled 'No' to Libya UN resolution

Politics: 24 Mar 11
The German government is fending off embarrassing claims that Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle nearly caused a diplomatic disaster by directly opposing the UN vote for a “no-fly zone” in Libya. READ »

German warships won't enforce Libyan embargo

National: 23 Mar 11
German warships will not participate in a NATO operation in the Mediterranean to enforce a UN-mandated arms embargo on Libya. But Berlin said Wednesday it will increase its Afghanistan deployment to free up NATO forces. READ »

Booming economy seen shrinking deficit in coming years

Business & Money: 14 Mar 11
Thanks to the booming economy and shrinking unemployment, Germany’s deficit for 2012 will likely be much lower than initially feared, sinking to €31.5 billion, according to government sources. READ »

Guttenberg requests Deep Purple send-off

Politics: 10 Mar 11
Former Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg plans to leave office with characteristic flair on Thursday. The aristocratic rock fan has requested Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” be played at his military send-off. READ »

The rime of the ancient minister

Analysis & Opinion: 9 Mar 11
Can Thomas de Maizière, Germany’s new defence minister, break the curse hanging over his job? Roger Boyes, correspondent for British daily The Times, takes aim at a ministerial albatross. READ »

FDP's Lindner compares Bavaria's CSU with Islam

Politics: 9 Mar 11
Bavaria’s conservative Christian Social Democrats are no strangers to anti-Islam sentiment, but a recent remarks by Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich has inspired a political rival to suggest that his party needed to integrate as well. READ »

New defence minister to review army reform

National: 5 Mar 11
The resignation of former Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has left confusion in the German government over his proposed army reform, with his successor announcing a review of the situation. READ »

Interior Minister Friedrich reignites Islam debate

Politics: 4 Mar 11
Germany’s new Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich reignited a bitter debate over Islam this week after he said the religion did not “belong” in the country, prompting calls for him to give up charge of the government's Islam conference. READ »

De Maizière to become defence minister

Politics: 2 Mar 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reshuffled her cabinet on Wednesday, making Thomas de Maizière defence minister following Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg's resignation. Hans-Peter Friedrich will take over the Interior Ministry. READ »

US Army targeted interior minister with 'psy-ops'

National: 25 Feb 11
The US Army has reportedly ordered “psychological operations” against foreign officials, including German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière, in order to influence policy in Afghanistan. READ »

Amnesty: Germany must take Libyan refugees

National: 24 Feb 11
The head of Amnesty International Germany, in an interview published on Thursday, has called on Berlin to be ready to accept Libyan asylum seekers fleeing the crisis-hit country. READ »

Berlin to scale back anti-terrorism police

National: 1 Feb 11
The strengthened police presence at German transport hubs and public buildings owing to terrorism fears will be scaled back, Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said Tuesday. READ »

Germany stands by Schengen veto

Politics: 20 Jan 11
Germany said Thursday it would continue to oppose Romania and Bulgaria joining Europe's visa-free Schengen zone until the two countries had eliminated concerns about endemic corruption. READ »

No end to terror alert in sight, minister says

National: 11 Jan 11
Some two months after declaring a heightened terrorism alert, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said Tuesday he still couldn’t give an all-clear signal. READ »

Plea made for increasing Iraqi asylum quotas

Politics: 8 Jan 11
Germany should increase the number of Iraqi refugees it offers a safe haven tenfold, according to Berlin Interior Minister Ehrhard Körting in an appeal to his federal counterpart Thomas de Maizière. READ »

Terrorism threat remains high, CSU warns

National: 30 Dec 10
The threat of terrorist attacks in German cities remains acute six weeks after authorities warned of an imminent danger, and tight security measures must remain in place, the Christian Social Union party has said. READ »

Holidays a high season for Islamist recruitment

Society: 27 Dec 10
Suspected Islamic extremists are reportedly being closely monitored during the holidays, which German intelligence authorities consider to be a high season for Islamist recruitment. READ »

Chinese hackers target government computers

Science & Technology: 27 Dec 10
The number of cyber-attacks on German government computers has risen dramatically in 2010 and authorities suspect Chinese government hackers are behind the assault, the media reported Monday. READ »

Review finds security holes at Reichstag

National: 27 Dec 10
Security at the Reichstag in Berlin is set to be tightened after an inventory showed that nearly 23,000 people including tradespeople, interns and lobbyists have virtually unfettered access to the building. READ »

Berlin blocks Bulgaria, Romania from Schengen

Politics: 21 Dec 10
France and Germany decided Tuesday to block Bulgaria and Romania from joining Europe's borderless 25-nation Schengen area next year, a move denounced by the Romanian president as discriminatory. READ »

SPD calls for varying terror-threat levels

National: 19 Dec 10
The Social Democratic Party's security spokesman Thomas Oppermann has called for the introduction of varying terror-threat levels as in other western countries. More variation means the public is less numb to the threat, he said. READ »

Islamist groups raided in three German cities

National: 14 Dec 10
German authorities on Tuesday mounted raids against two Islamist groups suspected of seeking to overthrow the government and establish a religious state, the Interior Ministry said. READ »

Federal police merger faces growing opposition

National: 14 Dec 10
The recently announced decision to merge Germany’s federal police forces is encountering a growing chorus of opposition. Lower Saxony’s interior minister said Tuesday that the country's states would block the reorganization. READ »

Federal police forces set to merge

National: 9 Dec 10
After 60 years of fragmented nationwide law enforcement, the two branches of Germany's federal police are set to be brought under one roof. READ »

No new signs of looming terror attack, Berlin interior minister says

National: 8 Dec 10
Three weeks after Germany went on high alert over terrorism fears, Berlin's state interior minister, Ehrhart Körting, acknowledged Wednesday there were no fresh indications of planned attacks. READ »

Germany plans increased web privacy protection

Science & Technology: 1 Dec 10
Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière on Wednesday announced plans to introduce sweeping new measures to protect the personal data of internet users. READ »

Most Germans unruffled by terrorism alerts

National: 1 Dec 10
Despite dire warnings by authorities and the heavy police presence at train stations, airports and tourist sites, the overwhelming majority of Germans have greeted the latest terrorism alert with a shrug, a poll on Wednesday found. READ »

Conservatives call on Muslims to report radicals in their midst

Politics: 25 Nov 10
As police brace themselves for a possible terrorist attack, the ruling conservatives have called on Germany’s Muslim community to root out extremists at mosques and report them to authorities. READ »

Terrorism suspects arrested in Germany

National: 23 Nov 10
Terrorism suspects were arrested in Germany on Tuesday as part of a Europe-wide swoop that netted a total of 10 alleged Islamic extremists in three countries. READ »

Police call for military help in terror alert

National: 23 Nov 10
The latest terror alert in Germany has sparked a debate over the country’s security structure, with law enforcement calling for help from the military to protect citizens, media reports said Tuesday. READ »

Reichstag dome closed amid terrorism fears

Society: 22 Nov 10
Police have closed the dome and roof terrace of Berlin’s Reichstag in a dramatic security clampdown following reports that Islamists were planning a Mumbai-style attack on the building. READ »

Reports warn of attack on Reichstag

National: 20 Nov 10
Reports are flying through the German media that al-Qaida has sent armed terrorists to Germany to storm the Reichstag, take hostages and kill as many people as possible in a Mumbai-style attack. READ »

Namibia 'bomb' was only a security test

National: 19 Nov 10
A suspected bomb intercepted in Namibia that was to be put on a Munich-bound charter plane was only a US-made dummy used to test security checks, Germany's interior minister said Friday. READ »

German media roundup: Alert but not hysterical

Analysis & Opinion: 18 Nov 10
Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière has warned of imminent terrorist attacks in Germany. His task was delicate, but newspapers in The Local’s media roundup on Thursday praised his approach, saying he had avoided hysteria. READ »

Suspected bomb meant for Munich-bound flight

National: 18 Nov 10
Namibian police have hindered a possible terrorist attack on a flight from Windhoek to Munich, federal police said Thursday. A suspected explosive device was found in a piece of luggage discovered as the LTU flight was being loaded. READ »

Terror warning sparks surveillance debate

Society: 18 Nov 10
The latest terrorism warning prompted fresh calls on Thursday for tougher laws to monitor the electronic communications of suspected radicals as well as a debate about Germany’s readiness for attacks. READ »

De Maizière warns of imminent terror attacks

National: 17 Nov 10
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière on Wednesday warned the government had indications Islamists were planning terrorist attacks in Germany later this month. READ »

Politician demands more police in Muslim areas

Society: 17 Nov 10
Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Uwe Schünemann on Wednesday said more police were needed in predominately Muslim districts in Germany and Islamists should be banned from using mobile phones and computers to fight terrorism. READ »

Merkel denies cabinet reshuffle report

Politics: 12 Nov 10
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday denied a media report claiming that she had plans to reshuffle her cabinet following the rumoured resignation of Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. READ »

Berlin mulls security 'black list' for airports

National: 6 Nov 10
The German government is considering a "black list" for airports that do not meet security standards, according to a Saturday report – a move Berlin hopes will boost cargo controls following two parcel bomb incidents in recent weeks. READ »

Women's equality stronger in former east, study finds

National: 5 Nov 10
People in the former East German states have more progressive views of working mothers than their counterparts in the west, and eastern women are more likely to juggle work and family successfully, a study has found. READ »

Berlin demands security crackdown on cargo

National: 3 Nov 10
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called for tighter security measures for international cargo shipments and postal services, one day after an explosive package was discovered in the Chancellery’s mailroom. READ »

New ID card introduced in Germany

Society: 31 Oct 10
Germany will introduce a new ID card on Monday that includes a chip containing a photo and personal data. Critics say the chip is too easily hacked. READ »

Germany stops freight planes from Yemen

National: 31 Oct 10
Germany will no longer accept air freight from Yemen, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced late Saturday after parcel bombs posted in that country were found on US-bound cargo flights. READ »

Immigration about skills, not faith, minister says

National: 19 Oct 10
Recognition of foreigners’ professional credentials could be a key to promoting integration, Education Minister Annette Schavan said Tuesday, as she pushed a plan to attract 300,000 skilled migrants. READ »

Hospitalised Schäuble counters job rumours

Politics: 10 Oct 10
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble will be back at work by the end of the month, his office has confirmed, while doubts increase over whether he can continue in his post after repeated stays in hospital. READ »

Germany criticises terrorism travel warnings

National: 6 Oct 10
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere hit out Wednesday at travel warnings for visitors to Europe issued because of the risk of al-Qaida attacks, saying such tactics helped "terrorists" spread fear. READ »

Drone strike kills key militant planning European attacks

National: 6 Oct 10
A United States drone strike in Pakistan has killed the key militant being groomed to lead attacks against Germany and other European countries, British media reported Wednesday. READ »

German terrorists pose serious threat, police union leader warns

National: 5 Oct 10
Germany’s police union leader Konrad Freiberg said Tuesday that he was taking this week’s terrorist attack warnings very seriously, explaining that the number of Islamists receiving training in Afghanistan and Pakistan has spiked recently. READ »

US drone kills German Islamists in Pakistan

National: 4 Oct 10
A US drone strike has killed eight militants, including five Germans, in Pakistan's anarchic tribal belt where Western intelligence has traced an alleged plot to attack an array of targets in Europe. READ »

Berlin warns against 'alarmist' terror threats

National: 4 Oct 10
Islamist extremists are reportedly plotting attacks against Berlin's TV tower and a hotel next to the Brandenburg Gate, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere warned Monday against being "alarmist" about the threat of terrorist attacks. READ »

Finance Minister to spend four weeks working from clinic bed

Politics: 28 Sep 10
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble will be admitted to the hospital for the second time this year but will carry on with his official duties from there, his ministry announced on Tuesday. READ »

'Naked' body scanner unveiled at Hamburg Airport

National: 27 Sep 10
A six-month test run of the controversial ‘naked’ body scanner began at the Hamburg Airport on Monday. While the Interior Minister hailed the security measure as “a victory for safety,” concerns about passenger privacy continue. READ »

Turkey asks Germany to stop harbouring Kurdish rebels

National: 24 Sep 10
Turkey's Interior Minister Besir Atalay Friday called on Germany to crack down on separatist Kurdish rebels on its territory, handing his German colleague intelligence on activities Ankara wants curbed. READ »

Germany lauds economic 'miracle' of reunification

National: 22 Sep 10
Germany's interior minister said Wednesday the country should be proud of what it had achieved since reunification 20 years ago, dubbing the progress of the former communist east an "economic miracle." READ »

De Maizière calls for more tolerance towards immigrants

National: 20 Sep 10
Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière on Monday said German society needed to be more tolerant and accepting of immigrants. Meanwhile SPD boss Sigmar Gabriel suggested getting tough with foreigners unwilling to integrate. READ »

Masses opting out of Google Street View

Science & Technology: 19 Sep 10
Google is facing fierce opposition to its Street View service in Germany with hundreds of thousands opting out, Der Spiegel news weekly reported in its latest issue. READ »

Ex-Gitmo inmates arrive

National: 16 Sep 10
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Thursday two former inmates at the US prison camp in Guantanamo have arrived in Germany after spending nearly nine years in the terrorist detention centre. READ »

Von der Leyen blasts hard line on immigrants

Politics: 8 Sep 10
As Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen rejected calls to slash welfare payments to unemployed immigrants who don’t send their children to day care, the government on Wednesday pledged to improve its integration efforts. READ »

De Maizière suggests 'digital eraser' for online privacy

Science & Technology: 7 Sep 10
Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière wants to give Germans the right to a “digital eraser” to delete personal online content, he said on Tuesday. He hopes to add the idea to a new data protection law set for completion this autumn. READ »

Germany marks 20 years since reunification treaty

Politics: 31 Aug 10
Germany on Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of its reunification treaty amid recriminations that the former West Germany swallowed the communist East. READ »

New government ID cards easily hacked

Science & Technology: 24 Aug 10
The sensitive personal information found on the new German identification cards with data chips scheduled for nationwide introduction this November can be easily hacked, according to testing done by a TV news show. READ »

Cabinet to consider tougher Street View rules

National: 18 Aug 10
Coalition politicians are demanding Google be forced to gather residents’ consent to have their homes photographed for Street View rather than wait for them to object, as cabinet prepared Wednesday to discuss changes to the law. READ »

Brandenburg floods still at high warning level

National: 10 Aug 10
Floodwaters in the eastern state of Brandenburg slowly began to recede overnight, but the authorities remained on high alert on Tuesday morning. READ »

Government ministers warned not to use BlackBerrys and iPhones

Science & Technology: 9 Aug 10
The German government said Monday ministers and senior civil servants have been told not to use iPhone and BlackBerry mobile devices as the interior minister warned a "dramatic" rise in cyber attacks. READ »

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