A German passenger jet with 87 people on board including one of Germany's most senior politicians, Social Democrat Party chairman Franz Müntefering, made an emergency landing at Stuttgart airport on Monday because its undercarriage couldn't be fully lowered. No one was seriously hurt.
The Fokker 100 jet was operated by Contact Air, a partner of German national carrier Lufthansa. Its 82 passengers and a crew of five were evacuated through emergency slides after the plane landed on a foam carpet. Five passengers suffered from shock and one female flight attendant was taken to hospital for observation.
"It was a serious, a very serious situation," said Müntefering, 69, who is due to speak at an election campaign rally in Stuttgart later on Monday. The SPD shares power with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and Müntefering as party chairman has a key role in campaigning ahead of the Sept. 27 election.
"We spent a long time circling, then tried the approach and then had to make an emergency landing," Müntefering. "Everyone in the plane was very disciplined. We owe our thanks to the pilot who put in a masterful performance and to his crew who handled the situation professionally."
Showing posts with label germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label germany. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Merkel defends German mission in Afghanistan
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday defended Germany's military mission in Afghanistan, but also expressed regret for innocent victims, if there were any, in last week's German-ordered air strike on two hijacked fuel tankers.
Merkel made the remarks during a speech to parliament in response to an acknowledgement by the NATO-led force in Kabul that the Sept. 4 air strike called in by German commanders and carried out by a U.S. warplane may have killed civilians.
Merkel rejected opposition calls for a troop pullout after the strike, which prompted criticism at home and abroad because of the possibility that civilians were killed in the attack.
"The mission in Afghanistan is our reaction to terror, the consequences of not acting will affect us just as much as the consequences of acting," Merkel said.
Local media reported that last week that the air strike targeted two tanker trucks seized by Taliban militants near the northern Afghan town of Kunduz.
An initial assessment led by U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, NATO's commander in Afghanistan, "concluded that civilians had been killed or injured," NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.
Merkel, addressing parliament before Sept. 27 elections, promised German support for a thorough investigation of the attack.
"We will not gloss over anything, but we will not accept any premature condemnation," she said. "I refuse to tolerate that, either from Germany or from abroad."
Merkel made the remarks during a speech to parliament in response to an acknowledgement by the NATO-led force in Kabul that the Sept. 4 air strike called in by German commanders and carried out by a U.S. warplane may have killed civilians.
Merkel rejected opposition calls for a troop pullout after the strike, which prompted criticism at home and abroad because of the possibility that civilians were killed in the attack.
"The mission in Afghanistan is our reaction to terror, the consequences of not acting will affect us just as much as the consequences of acting," Merkel said.
Local media reported that last week that the air strike targeted two tanker trucks seized by Taliban militants near the northern Afghan town of Kunduz.
An initial assessment led by U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, NATO's commander in Afghanistan, "concluded that civilians had been killed or injured," NATO's International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.
Merkel, addressing parliament before Sept. 27 elections, promised German support for a thorough investigation of the attack.
"We will not gloss over anything, but we will not accept any premature condemnation," she said. "I refuse to tolerate that, either from Germany or from abroad."
Thursday, 3 September 2009
German company invents the ultimate portaloo.
When you gotta go, you gotta go and the good news for women is now you can...anywhere, anytime.
A German company has come up with the first pocket urinal that fits in a woman's handbag and can be used whenever she is caught short. The company says its 'Ladybag' will put an end to wasting time in toilet queues.
The mobile lavatory consists of a plastic bag fitted with absorbent polymers that turn urine into a gel. The German designed loo which is disguised as a leaf - albeit a rather weird one - has handy graphic instructions printed on the bottom.
Inventor, Eva Tinter, told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine: 'It can be used in cars, or to avoid dirty toilets or at open-air festivals when you don't want to queue. You can just nip round the back of the toilet and use this.'
Incredibly the company has already sold 20,000 through chemists and the internet since its launch last October. 'We've had orders from all over the world. Every glove compartment should have one.' said Ms Tinter. The German Ladybag follows hot on the heels of the rather more masculine sounding 'Roadbag' for men. Launched in 2007 sales now top 200,000 a year.
A German company has come up with the first pocket urinal that fits in a woman's handbag and can be used whenever she is caught short. The company says its 'Ladybag' will put an end to wasting time in toilet queues.
The mobile lavatory consists of a plastic bag fitted with absorbent polymers that turn urine into a gel. The German designed loo which is disguised as a leaf - albeit a rather weird one - has handy graphic instructions printed on the bottom.
Inventor, Eva Tinter, told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine: 'It can be used in cars, or to avoid dirty toilets or at open-air festivals when you don't want to queue. You can just nip round the back of the toilet and use this.'
Incredibly the company has already sold 20,000 through chemists and the internet since its launch last October. 'We've had orders from all over the world. Every glove compartment should have one.' said Ms Tinter. The German Ladybag follows hot on the heels of the rather more masculine sounding 'Roadbag' for men. Launched in 2007 sales now top 200,000 a year.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Lucio leaves Bayern Munich for Internazionale
The Brazil captain, Lucio, has agreed to join Internazionale after five years at Bayern Munich, the German club announced today. Lucio, whose contract with Bayern ran until 2010, will sign a three-year deal with the Italian champions.
“The Brazil captain agreed to end the contract running until 30 June 2010,” said Bayern, who did not reveal the financial side of the agreement. “The 31-year-old defender moves with immediate effect to the Italian champions Inter where he will sign a three-year deal.”
Lucio, who was to rejoin Bayern today after his Confederations Cup participation with Brazil, signed for the Germans in 2004 after a stint with Bayer Leverkusen. Part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning side, he quickly established himself as a rock in Bayern’s defence, helping them clinch the Bundesliga and cup double in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
“The Brazil captain agreed to end the contract running until 30 June 2010,” said Bayern, who did not reveal the financial side of the agreement. “The 31-year-old defender moves with immediate effect to the Italian champions Inter where he will sign a three-year deal.”
Lucio, who was to rejoin Bayern today after his Confederations Cup participation with Brazil, signed for the Germans in 2004 after a stint with Bayer Leverkusen. Part of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning side, he quickly established himself as a rock in Bayern’s defence, helping them clinch the Bundesliga and cup double in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
Friday, 15 May 2009
German Motorsport - The Nürburgring
The Nürburgring, simply known as “The Ring” by enthusiasts, is a motorsport race track in Nürburg, Germany. It was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel, which is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Cologne, and 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Frankfurt. Nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart, it is widely considered the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding purpose-built race track in the world.
Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 kilometres (17.563 miles) long Gesamtstrecke (”Whole Course”), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km (14.173 mi) Nordschleife (”Northern Loop”), and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife (”Southern Loop”). There also was a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife (”Finish Loop”) or better known as Betonschleife, around the pit area.
Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the Nordschleife is still in use.
In the early 1920s, races called ADAC Eifelrennen were held on public roads in the Eifel mountains. This soon was considered impractical and dangerous. In order to provide work and lure tourists into the area, the construction of a dedicated race track was proposed, following the examples of Italy’s Monza and Berlin’s AVUS, yet with a completely different character. The layout of the circuit in the mountains was similar to the Targa Florio, one of the most important motor races at that time. The original Nürburgring was meant to be a showcase for German automotive engineering and racing talent, and was built with both purposes in mind. Construction of the track, designed by the Eichler Architekturbüro from Ravensburg (led by Architect Gustav Eichler), began in September 1925.
The track was completed in spring of 1927, and the ADAC Eifelrennen races were continued there. The first World Cycling Championship race took place on 1927-06-19, and the first German Grand Prix a month later. In addition, the track was opened to the public in the evenings and at weekends, as a one-way toll road. The Gesamtstrecke consisted of 174 bends (prior to 1971 changes), and was 8 to 9 metres (26 to 30 ft) in width on average.
In 1939 the full Ring was used for the last time in major racing events, as future Grands Prix would be held only on the Nordschleife. Motorcycles and minor races mainly used the shorter and safer Südschleife. Many memorable pre-war races took place at the circuit, featuring the talents of early Ringmeister (Ringmasters) such as Rudolf Caracciola, Tazio Nuvolari and Bernd Rosemeyer.
Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 kilometres (17.563 miles) long Gesamtstrecke (”Whole Course”), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km (14.173 mi) Nordschleife (”Northern Loop”), and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife (”Southern Loop”). There also was a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife (”Finish Loop”) or better known as Betonschleife, around the pit area.
Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the Nordschleife is still in use.
In the early 1920s, races called ADAC Eifelrennen were held on public roads in the Eifel mountains. This soon was considered impractical and dangerous. In order to provide work and lure tourists into the area, the construction of a dedicated race track was proposed, following the examples of Italy’s Monza and Berlin’s AVUS, yet with a completely different character. The layout of the circuit in the mountains was similar to the Targa Florio, one of the most important motor races at that time. The original Nürburgring was meant to be a showcase for German automotive engineering and racing talent, and was built with both purposes in mind. Construction of the track, designed by the Eichler Architekturbüro from Ravensburg (led by Architect Gustav Eichler), began in September 1925.
The track was completed in spring of 1927, and the ADAC Eifelrennen races were continued there. The first World Cycling Championship race took place on 1927-06-19, and the first German Grand Prix a month later. In addition, the track was opened to the public in the evenings and at weekends, as a one-way toll road. The Gesamtstrecke consisted of 174 bends (prior to 1971 changes), and was 8 to 9 metres (26 to 30 ft) in width on average.
In 1939 the full Ring was used for the last time in major racing events, as future Grands Prix would be held only on the Nordschleife. Motorcycles and minor races mainly used the shorter and safer Südschleife. Many memorable pre-war races took place at the circuit, featuring the talents of early Ringmeister (Ringmasters) such as Rudolf Caracciola, Tazio Nuvolari and Bernd Rosemeyer.
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