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Japan Today
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
German border police's expulsion of asylum seekers unlawful, court rules
By Kirsti Knolle Germany has acted unlawfully by turning away asylum seekers at the border, a Berlin court ruled on Monday, citing a case in which border police expelled three Somalis who tried to enter the country from Poland. The two men and a woman were sent back to Poland from a train station in the eastern city of Frankfurt an der Oder on Germany's eastern border on the grounds that they had sought to enter from a safe third country, a court statement said. The ruling could challenge the tougher migration stance by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative-led coalition, which was elected in February promising a crackdown that has caused concern in neighboring countries. It is the first such case since Merz was elected, RBB media said, citing a court spokesperson. The court was not immediately available for further comment. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended the expulsions, saying he would provide the court with justifications for banning entry. "You can see how dysfunctional the whole asylum system is. The numbers are too high. We are sticking to our practice," he told reporters. The court called the rejection of the applicants "unlawful" in a statement, explaining that their asylum application should have been processed by Germany under the European Union's so-called Dublin rules that determine which country is responsible for processing an asylum application. "However, the applicants could not demand to enter the Federal Republic of Germany beyond the border crossing," it added, saying that the application could be processed at or near the border. Migration is among German voters' biggest concerns and a backlash against an influx of new arrivals has contributed to a rise in the popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which came second in a federal election in February. It is a profound shift since Germany's "Refugees Welcome" culture during Europe's migrant crisis in 2015 under Merz's conservative predecessor, Angela Merkel. Merz's government issued an order in May to reject undocumented migrants, including asylum seekers, at Germany's borders. GREENS' CRITICISM Monday's ruling was seized on by the Greens party, now in opposition, which said it vindicated their stance that Merz's migration crackdown was unworkable. "This is a severe defeat for the federal government and should serve as a warning to abide by the law in the future and not knowingly exceed its own powers for populist purposes," Greens lawmaker Irene Mihalic told the Rheinische Post newspaper. "The border blockades were a rejection of the European Dublin system and have offended our European neighbors." Dobrindt said last week he hoped the EU can reach a bloc-wide agreement allowing for failed asylum seekers who cannot go home to be sent to safe countries near their original homelands. Karl Kopp, managing director of pro-immigration advocacy group Pro Asyl, told the Rheinische Post that Dobrindt's "unlawful practice of national unilateral action in asylum policy" should end and that the three Somalis should to be allowed to re-enter Germany. The European Commission, the EU's executive body, proposed a scheme last month that would let member states reject asylum applications by migrants who passed through a "safe" third country on their way to the bloc. The proposals, criticized by rights groups, have yet to be adopted by national governments or the European Parliament. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
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Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
SC upholds ICICI Securities delisting, dismisses plea over valuation
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition by investor Manu Rishi Gupta, upholding the delisting of ICICI Securities and clearing the way for its full merger with ICICI Bank. Gupta had challenged the share valuation process, claiming that the reverse book building (RBB) method could have secured a better price for shareholders, according to The Economic Times. ICICI Securities was officially delisted in March 2024, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of its promoter, ICICI Bank. The move was part of a broader merger scheme that had already received shareholder approval. Allegations of an 'opaque and rushed' process Gupta's counsel argued that the delisting was conducted in an 'opaque and rushed manner' and called the entire exercise 'shocking". He questioned the fairness of the valuation, saying shareholders might have received a better deal through the RBB process. In response, ICICI Securities' legal team told the court that Gupta had continued to trade shares of ICICI Securities—including as recently as August 2024—undermining his claims of unfair treatment. Shareholder backing and tribunal oversight The delisting had strong shareholder backing, with nearly 72 per cent of votes cast in favour of the merger scheme. This came after a National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) directive in February 2024, which mandated a shareholder meeting to approve the plan. The meeting saw participation from 161 equity shareholders and authorised representatives, who voted to support the merger.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
A naked female dwarf Nazi, a lesbian orgy and explicit sex acts: Director whose last show left audience members needing medical attention shocks Germany with new play
The creator of a divisive body horror opera that left audience members needing medical attention has brought out a new production featuring sex acts, blood and an actress with dwarfism playing a naked Nazi doctor. Choreographer Florentina Holzinger, 39, is famous across the German-speaking world for her radical works, which usually feature nudity, dangerous stunts, unsimulated sex and physical violence. She staged Sancta in October last year, describing the show as a 'feminist mass' and angering Christians with its provocative depictions of Jesus and the Pope and naked nuns roller-skating. Now the controversial choreographer has produced her new play, 'A Year Without Summer', which once again, is not for the faint hearted. 'In my new show, I portray monsters from medical history,' Holzinger explained to German news outlet RBB. 'Who are the people who exercise control over the female body? What is happening in the service of scientific and medical progress?' The play tackles issues including cosmetic surgery, anti-ageing and living conditions in nursing homes, and features an all-female cast, many of whom are aged between 65 and 90. It opens with a dance which turns into an orgy between the women, with a giant female torso inflated and performers tumbling out of its vagina in a wild display, according to BILD. Actress Saioa Alvarez - who in Sancta portrayed the Pope on a spinning robotic arm - is said to outrageously portray a naked Josef Mengele, the Nazi regime's 'Angel of Death' who conducted depraved experiments on his victims. A trigger warning for audiences cautions that the play includes explicit sexual acts, blood and bodily fluids, and self-harm. At one point, a dancer is seen having stitches removed with tweezers from a fresh wound on her leg, out of which a miniature baby figurine is pulled out - a metaphor for 'the birth of a musical'. As well as singing and dancing, performers are said to bathe in slime inside a glass box, interact with robot dogs and have their skin pierced. The play ends with a woman receiving what is described in huge letters projected on the stage as 'the ultimate facelift'. Fish hooks are said to be driven through her eyebrows and cheeks, distorting her facial features. The performance was reportedly met with applause from the Berlin audience. The show is meant to be set in 1816 - the year that became known as the Year Without a Summer due to unusually low temperatures in the northern hemisphere following the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia. It was also the year that Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of Frankenstein while holidaying on the banks of Lake Geneva - with the creation of the monster a theme of the play. 'We found it interesting to explore the year 1816 because it shows how environmental events have a profound influence on art and literature,' Holzinger said. 'Especially now, we found it interesting to also address the fear of nature.' The play's description states that Holzinger's 'spectacular and physically intense pieces, she incorporates references from the history of performance and dance and relates them to other disciplines such as kickboxing, artistry, striptease and circus. 'Her works consciously play with the shifting boundaries between high and pop culture and are always feminist manifestos. 'She critically examines the representation of femininity and reflects on body discipline and gender images in dance.' Her previous show Sancta was met with protests when it was staged in Stuttgart, with security personnel needed to guard the performances. A total of 18 audience members at two shows in the city required treatment for nausea and shock, according to German media. Holzinger subsequently suggested that those attending should have known what they were getting themselves in for, telling objectors: 'If you don't want to see it, don't come. 'The performance expressly refers to explicit content,' she went on, seemingly referring to the many trigger warnings on the show's website. She added defiantly: 'Anyone who can't stand depictions of violence shouldn't go to a show that draws inspiration from the Catholic Church.' The show was met with outcry from Church figures in Austria when it was performed at the Vienna Festival last June. Archbishop of Salzburg Franz Lackner said the work went beyond the boundaries of free artistic expression by 'seriously offending believers' religious feelings and convictions.' But as well as sparking outrage, it also received glowing reviews, with one critic writing: 'A scandal? No, joy. Overwhelming joy. 'Holzinger is directing a musical theatre [production] for the first time, and the result is so clever, so funny, so incredibly well put together that you are truly astonished.' A Year Without Summer has also had a positive reception from some, with critics from Germany daily paper Spiegel calling the performance 'fantastic, touching array of images.' A critic from Berliner Morgenpost wrote that Holzinger 'once again demonstrates why she is one of the superstars of the arts.' The upcoming performances of A Year Without Summer are all but sold out, with only a handful of tickets remaining and new dates expected to be announced.
DW
19-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
The Complicated Matter of Deportation – DW – 05/19/2025
More than 200,000 people are legally required to leave the country, yet only a small fraction is deported. The reasons are complex and varied. Some individuals evade authorities, while others cannot be deported because their countries of origin refuse to accept them, or necessary documents are missing. In countries like Syria and Afghanistan, ongoing conflict and instability often make deportations impossible. Reporter Olaf Sundermeyer spent months with a team working for the Central Aliens' Authority of the State of Brandenburg. Image: RBB His documentary shows how the justice system, the police, and regional authorities get in each other's way. Bureaucratic inefficiencies delay decisions, while activists intervene to stop deportations. The documentary follows two particularly complex cases involving a Chechen and a Syrian citizen with criminal records. The authorities have decided that both men should be deported, but numerous legal and procedural obstacles stand in the way. Image: RBB Despite systemic shortcomings there are compelling legal and humanitarian reasons why many individuals are allowed to remain in Germany. Health issues, family ties, and constitutional protections often prevent deportations. In countries affected by war or widespread violence, removals are generally suspended. It is a complex and intricate system. Most voters struggle to grasp its full scope, and many politicians fail to adequately explain why they cannot fulfill their campaign promises. Broadcasting Hours: DW English MON 19.05.2025 – 18:30 UTC MON 19.05.2025 – 23:30 UTC TUE 20.05.2025 – 03:30 UTC TUE 20.05.2025 – 09:15 UTC TUE 20.05.2025 – 12:15 UTC TUE 20.05.2025 – 16:15 UTC TUE 20.05.2025 – 21:15 UTC WED 21.05.2025 – 07:30 UTC WED 21.05.2025 – 10:30 UTC WED 21.05.2025 – 17:30 UTC Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8 London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3 San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4
The Independent
29-04-2025
- The Independent
Two teenagers killed train surfing after hitting signal bridge
Two teenage boys died in a train accident in Berlin after they hit a signal bridge while 'train surfing'. The 17-year-old and 18-year-old, who have not yet been named, were joyriding on the roof of the S1 train around 5:20am on Sunday when they collided with a steel structure, according to police. The train was travelling at approximately 60 kilometres per hour between the stops Schlachtensee and Wannsee when the fatal incident occurred. No further details have been released by the police regarding the incident. According to German media outlet BILD, the local fire department was notified of an incident at 5:24am, and one of the teenagers died upon impact while the other died moments later. Witnesses said that the 17-year-old's gym membership card was found at the scene, as well as some of his clothes. Deutsche Bahn spokesperson Michael Klein issued a warning to German media outlet RBB on Sunday, stating that trains are not playgrounds and appealed for people to refrain from such activities. Train surfing has gained popularity among young people in recent years, largely due to the rise of thrill-seeker content on social media. Berlin's transport authorities previously condemned S-Bahn surfing in 2019 when it had become a craze on YouTube, calling it 'suicidal'. And a teenage girl was killed and another was injured after being run over by a train while subway surfing in New York in October last year. The two girls were on top of a southbound train at the 111th Street station in Corona, a neighborhood of Queens, when they fell onto the tracks, in between the cars, and were struck. Police said that one girl, around 13 or 14, was declared dead at the scene while the other, 12, was left severely injured, the MTA New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said.
