Friedrich Merz along with his Belgian colleague Bart De Wever cautioned that taking control of frozen Russian central bank funds to support Ukraine might create a risky legal example, or may actually violate the law. Follow LFHCK.ID for updates.

The Belgian prime minister, Bart De Wever, made an impression on the German media group with his linguistic abilities during his trip on Tuesday, delivering extended remarks in German along with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.

He cautioned against taking control of Russian assets held within the Euroclear banking system located in Belgium, stating that such action would be legally contentious and might encourage other nations to remove their financial resources from Europe.

Having a background in corporate law, Merz also expressed a comparable warning regarding this matter. Approximately 200 billion euros in assets have been blocked since the invasion of Ukraine, with the interest income being used to support Kiev, although the principal amount remains unaffected.

In the meantime, a court in Frankfurt determined that Apple deceived customers by advertising certain of its watches as “carbon neutral.”

Keep an eye out for the newest updates and insights regarding various topics related to

Germany

from Tuesday, August 26.

Germany and Belgium caution against taking control of frozen Russian funds

German politician Friedrich Merz and Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever jointly expressed opposition to freezing Russian central bank funds in Europe at a news briefing held in Berlin on Tuesday.

Over 200 billion euros worth of assets from the Russian Central Bank are stored with the Euroclear based in Belgium.

These monies remain blocked due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, with the interest earnings directed towards supporting Ukraine; however, European nations have not gone as far as taking control of these assets, despite calls from Kyiv for such action.

I am aware that some governments aspire to take control of this money,” De Wever said to journalists, addressing them in German. “However, I want to caution against such actions; it is not as straightforward from a legal perspective.

De Wever stated that should governments disregard the immunity provided to Russian central bank assets in this case, it could result in other nations withdrawing their investments from the EU out of concern that they were no longer secure.

Having a background in corporate law, Merz conveyed a comparable warning.

I observe the effects on financial markets, should someone attempt to take over central bank assets in such a manner,” he stated. “In this respect, I agree with the worries expressed by the Prime Minister of Belgium regarding this issue, particularly because the Belgian government would be responsible—as the base of Euroclear—if these funds were illegally accessed.

Report: Respite for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Waiting for German Visas

German news outlets state that part of a group consisting of approximately 2,000 Afghans who escaped the Taliban and anticipated obtaining entry permits into Germany may soon depart from Pakistan.

The government in Berlin had resisted their entry in recent months, saying it wanted to review all past cases individually — even those approved by the previous federal government — before granting people entry.

But amid

numerous legal disputes against this action

where claimants stated the government had already entered into a legally enforceable commitment, newspaper

die Welt

Both the private and public broadcaster ARD state that an unknown quantity of applicants will be granted authorization to travel to Germany.

It remains uncertain how many will be allowed to enter, nor is it known when they will depart, according to ARD, which stated they would travel through commercial flights from Dubai and Istanbul “in the next few days.”

The German government ministry based in Berlin may have been at risk of being fined by local courts due to failure to comply with regulations.

Germany had a significant role in the NATO operation in Afghanistan, providing the second-highest number of soldiers following the United States as the Taliban lost control.

After the Western forces left during the night and the Taliban quickly regained control in 2021, discussions arose about ways to assist Afghans who had supported German soldiers, non-governmental organizations, or other groups, as their safety could now be threatened.

After assuming his position following the elections earlier this year, newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt advocated for security screenings of every person entering the country.

This month, the German authorities stated that many individuals waiting for visas were sent back to Afghanistan by Pakistan.

Germans reduced their consumption of fish even though prices remained stable.

The intake of fish in Germany has kept decreasing despite stable pricing, as indicated by initial figures from the Fish Information Center (FIZ) based in Hamburg.

Per capita consumption decreased from 13.4 to 12.8 kilograms (approximately 29.5 to 28.2 pounds) in 2024 compared to the previous year. The Ministry of Agriculture reported an even smaller amount of 12.1 kilograms.

The managing director of FIZ, Stefan Meyer, stated that the discrepancy resulted from a specific factor in late 2023, during which producers accumulated whitefish like Alaskan pollock and included it in the 2024 figures.

The average price of fish stayed at €12.10 ($14.10) per kilogram, same as in 2023. Smoking made fish the priciest option, whereas canning resulted in the lowest cost.

Firefighters from Hamburg extinguished the primary fire at the harbor area

Over 20 hours following a significant fire at Hamburg’s harbor, authorities reported on Tuesday that emergency services have put out the biggest flames at the location.

Approximately 120 fire personnel are still present at the location, with lingering areas requiring further suppression and an ongoing danger of explosions due to gas tanks.

Six individuals sustained injuries during the fire, which broke out on Monday afternoon in the Veddel area. One person remains in critical condition, while another has suffered severe wounds. Three members of the firefighting team are also listed among those harmed. Additionally, flying fragments hit a motorist traveling on the adjacent A1 highway.

Authorities stated that the fire began when a flaming vehicle was present inside a storage facility, causing explosive ruptures of compressed gas tanks that launched several hundred meters away, igniting additional blazes in the surrounding area.

During the height of the fire, approximately 320 emergency responders were sent to the scene.

A German court prohibits Apple from using “carbon neutral” advertisements for its wristwatch
A German judge has prohibited Apple from promoting its timepiece with claims of being carbon neutral
The legal authority in Germany has stopped Apple from advertising its wearable device as environmentally friendly
Apple faces restrictions on promotional material highlighting its watch as carbon-neutral in Germany
Legal action taken against Apple over use of ‘carbon neutral’ marketing for smartwatch product in Germany

The US technology company Apple has lost the ability to promote its Apple Watch as “carbon dioxide neutral” in Germany following a decision by a Frankfurt court stating that the firm deceived customers.

The judges determined that Apple’s assertion that the device was its “first carbon dioxide neutral product” breached competition laws, supporting the environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). This decision is subject to appeal.

Apple highlighted a reforestation initiative in Paraguay as a way to counterbalance carbon emissions, yet the court mentioned that 75% of the rented land lacks security past 2029. “The long-term sustainability of the forest project remains uncertain,” the statement stated.

DUH celebrated the ruling, referring to it as a victory over misleading environmental claims. “The proposed sequestration of CO2 within commercially grown eucalyptus forests lasts only for a short period, the legal assurances regarding long-term commitments are inadequate, and the environmental soundness of single-species regions cannot be assured,” stated Jürgen Resch, director of DUH, who further noted that monotonous planting initiatives fail to maintain ecological balance.

Merz opposes acknowledging a Palestinian state during discussions in Berlin

Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany will not align with allies like Canada and France in granting recognition to a Palestinian state.

We won’t participate in this initiative,” Merz said during a joint press briefing with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Berlin. “We believe the requirements for official acknowledgment are not met in any respect right now.

Germany believes that acknowledgment must occur only as part of the concluding phase in a two-state framework, allowing both Israelis and Palestinians to coexist harmoniously.

In July, Carney stated that Canada will acknowledge Palestine during the UN General Assembly meeting in September. French President Emmanuel Macron has also promised similar support, whereas Britain has warned Israel that recognition may follow unless specific requirements are fulfilled. Carney mentioned that this choice stems from an increasingly bleak perspective regarding a two-state settlement.

Over fifty percent of Germans currently back the recognition of a Palestinian state,

a recent poll showed

.

Germany and Canada reach agreement regarding essential mineral resources

On Tuesday, Germany and Canada announced their intention to enhance collaboration regarding the extraction of essential minerals, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed an agreement in Berlin.

“This marks a positive move in enhancing our economic foundations,” Merz stated following the discussions. Carney highlighted Canada’s significant reserves of lithium and rare earth elements, referring to them as a crucial resource.

This follows Beijing implementing export restrictions in April on seven rare earth elements, heightening worries about China’s control over essential materials used in electric motors and laptop devices.

Germany’s interior minister supports border return operations, calling them “very efficient”

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described border pushbacks as “a highly effective method,” according to the news magazine

Stern

Over 10,000 immigrants have been denied entry since May 8, with approximately 550 individuals requesting refugee status.

He mentioned that over 30,000 individuals have been intercepted at Germany’s frontiers since border controls began in September 2024. “The volume of unauthorized immigrants has subsequently decreased by half due to all our actions,” Dobrindt stated, noting that Germany now ranks as the third most popular destination within the European Union.

In response to a judicial decision declaring mandatory repatriation of refugees illegal, Dobrindt stated that political systems should retain their ability to evolve. “When citizens in a democracy perceive no avenues for change, it opens the door for extremist groups,” he remarked. The right-wing Bavarian official emphasized that his decisions comply with both European and national laws.

Fifty-one thousand five hundred positions eliminated from Germany’s automotive sector – according to a report

A recent study indicates that Germany’s manufacturing labor force has been decreasing amid the continuing financial crisis.

The study revealed that the automotive industry has eliminated approximately 51,500 positions in just one year—nearly 7% of its total employees. According to EY, no other field has experienced such significant job reductions.

In total, industrial employment reached 5.42 million as of the end of June, reflecting a decrease of 114,000 jobs, or 2.1%, when compared to the previous year. From 2019 onward, the industry has lost approximately 245,000 job openings. Industrial income dropped by 2.1% during the second quarter, indicating the eighth consecutive period of reduction.

Automobile producers are experiencing declining sales, rivalry from Chinese companies, and the expensive transition toward electric vehicles. According to EY’s Jan Brorhilker, decreasing demand within China, U.S. tariffs implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency, and struggling European markets are compelling German carmakers and their vendors to reduce operations.

Numerous other industries are facing challenges as well. Manufacturers of machinery have cut approximately 17,000 positions, whereas the metal manufacturing sector has seen a loss of 12,000 jobs. The chemical and pharmaceutical fields experienced relatively fewer impacts.

Prominent companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Bosch, Continental, ZF, and Porsche have initiated measures aimed at reducing expenses. Brorhilker cautioned that this pattern will persist, impacting junior engineers significantly, and mentioned that joblessness among new graduates may increase—something Germany hasn’t experienced for many years.

Donation drive increases for American man injured in Dresden tram attack

Support has been flooding in for a 20-year-old American citizen who was hurt in a stabbing incident on a tram in Dresden, with over $40,000 (€34,400) collected by early Tuesday to help pay for his medical expenses.

Authorities stated that the individual suffered facial lacerations during an incident on Saturday evening when he intervened to prevent two men from harassing women. He remains hospitalized, although his wounds are not considered critical.

A victim who is a certified paramedic and emergency responder currently deals with an extended healing process, both physically, mentally, and economically, as stated on the GoFundMe campaign created by his brother’s partner.

Law enforcement officials arrested a 21-year-old man from Syria regarding the incident, yet authorities decided to let him go, stating he wasn’t the one who carried out the attack.

Apple’s “carbon neutral” watch advertisements to be judged by German court

A German court will determine if the American technology company Apple deceived customers by promoting certain of its smartwatches as “carbon neutral.”

Starting from 2023, Apple has promoted three watch models in Germany, featuring a label stating that the majority of emissions were prevented during manufacturing and shipping, with the remaining ones compensated via environmental initiatives.

The Environmental Action Germany (DUH) has disputed these statements as untrue and submitted a demand for cessation. Should this be approved by the Frankfurt District Court, Apple might have to stop running the advertisements.

During a June session, the court expressed skepticism regarding Apple’s claims following the company’s admission that just 25% of the land for a reforestation initiative in Paraguay was permanently acquired, with certain areas rented up until 2029. The judges noted that customers would anticipate commitments extending through at least 2045 or 2050.

Merz will invite Canada’s Carney and Belgium’s De Wever to Berlin

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is engaging in discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Berlin, as Ottawa aims to strengthen relations with Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariff conflict.

Discussions with Carney will aim at strengthening mutual relations along with foreign and economic policies. Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day.

The chancellor will also meet with Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever during a visit focused on mutual collaboration, matters related to Europe, and global security. De Wever and Merz are scheduled to update journalists at 1:30 p.m.

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag

from the LFHCK.IDnewsroom based in Bonn.

You’re joining us as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares for an active diplomatic schedule. He will be holding discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney regarding trade, international relations, and economic connections. In the afternoon, Merz will receive Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever during his initial official visit.

In the meantime, a court in Frankfurt will determine if the American technology company Apple deceived consumers by promoting certain of its watches as “carbon neutral.”

Keep an eye out for further updates during the day!