By , BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel in planning a “lockdown light” that will focus on closing bars, restaurants and public events to slow a second wave of COVID-19 infections in Germany, Bild newspaper reported on Monday.Slideshow Shops will stay open, with some restrictions, under the plan and schools will keep operating, apart from in areas with particularly high numbers of cases, the mass-selling daily reported.A government spokesman neither confirmed nor denied the report and said no final decisions had been made.Infections have almost doubled in the past week in Germany...…By , BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel in planning a “lockdown light” that will focus on closing bars, restaurants and public events to slow a second wave of COVID-19 infections in Germany, Bild newspaper reported on Monday.Slideshow Shops will stay open, with some restrictions, under the plan and schools will keep operating, apart from in areas with particularly high numbers of cases, the mass-selling daily reported.A government spokesman neither confirmed nor denied the report and said no final decisions had been made.Infections have almost doubled in the past week in Germany...WW…

By , The largest German corporate rescue since the coronavirus crisis struck will see the government get a 20% stake, which could rise to 25% plus one share in the event of a takeover attempt, as it seeks to protect thousands of jobs.Lufthansa has been locked in talks with Berlin for weeks over aid it needs to survive an expected protracted travel slump, with the airline wrangling over how much control to yield in return for financial support.Germany’s Finance and Economy Ministries said on Monday that Lufthansa, whose shares closed up 7.5% at 8.64 euros, had been operationally healthy and...…By , The largest German corporate rescue since the coronavirus crisis struck will see the government get a 20% stake, which could rise to 25% plus one share in the event of a takeover attempt, as it seeks to protect thousands of jobs.Lufthansa has been locked in talks with Berlin for weeks over aid it needs to survive an expected protracted travel slump, with the airline wrangling over how much control to yield in return for financial support.Germany’s Finance and Economy Ministries said on Monday that Lufthansa, whose shares closed up 7.5% at 8.64 euros, had been operationally healthy and...WW…

By , , PRAGUE (Reuters) - With theatres closed and work prospects dim, Czech actor Tomas Novotny put his stage career on hold and trained to become a gravedigger.The coronavirus reshaping Europe’s labour markets has spurred workers like Novotny to seek new career paths as old jobs disappear or remain beset with uncertainty about any return to normal.Not all changes are as dramatic as that of the 36-year-old actor but his is an early illustration of a shift that will require people to take on new skills to compete.“I’m glad for this opportunity,” Novotny told Reuters at a training site in...…By , , PRAGUE (Reuters) - With theatres closed and work prospects dim, Czech actor Tomas Novotny put his stage career on hold and trained to become a gravedigger.The coronavirus reshaping Europe’s labour markets has spurred workers like Novotny to seek new career paths as old jobs disappear or remain beset with uncertainty about any return to normal.Not all changes are as dramatic as that of the 36-year-old actor but his is an early illustration of a shift that will require people to take on new skills to compete.“I’m glad for this opportunity,” Novotny told Reuters at a training site in...WW…

By , “We have made clear at every stage that we want to settle this long-running issue,” EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference after an online meeting of EU trade ministers on Monday.“Regrettably, despite our best efforts (and) due to lack of progress on the U.S. side, we can confirm that the European Union will later today exercise our rights and impose counter-measures awarded to us by the WTO in respect to Boeing.”From Tuesday, the EU will impose tariffs of 15% on U.S. exports of planes and parts and of 25% on a range products including tobacco, nuts, fruit...…By , “We have made clear at every stage that we want to settle this long-running issue,” EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference after an online meeting of EU trade ministers on Monday.“Regrettably, despite our best efforts (and) due to lack of progress on the U.S. side, we can confirm that the European Union will later today exercise our rights and impose counter-measures awarded to us by the WTO in respect to Boeing.”From Tuesday, the EU will impose tariffs of 15% on U.S. exports of planes and parts and of 25% on a range products including tobacco, nuts, fruit...WW…

By BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany expects the European Union to impose new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny with an internationally banned nerve agent, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Saturday.Slideshow Navalny emerged from a coma in early September after suddenly falling ill during a flight in Siberia on Aug. 20 and later being airlifted to Berlin for treatment. German doctors say he was poisoned with Novichok, a Russian nerve agent.Germany, France and other Western countries have demanded an explanation from the Kremlin for Navalny’s illness....…By BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany expects the European Union to impose new sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny with an internationally banned nerve agent, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Saturday.Slideshow Navalny emerged from a coma in early September after suddenly falling ill during a flight in Siberia on Aug. 20 and later being airlifted to Berlin for treatment. German doctors say he was poisoned with Novichok, a Russian nerve agent.Germany, France and other Western countries have demanded an explanation from the Kremlin for Navalny’s illness....WW…

By , BERLIN (Reuters) - A coronavirus-induced plunge in German exports and a fiscal U-turn by Chancellor Angela Merkel as she seeks to cement her place in history are accelerating a long demanded rebalancing of Europe’s largest economy.For years, Germany’s huge trade surpluses and its hesitancy to stimulate domestic demand with substantial infrastructure spending have frustrated international organizations and European allies who argue Berlin could do more at home to support growth elsewhere.The trade surplus has also been used by U.S. President Donald Trump to underline his America First...…By , BERLIN (Reuters) - A coronavirus-induced plunge in German exports and a fiscal U-turn by Chancellor Angela Merkel as she seeks to cement her place in history are accelerating a long demanded rebalancing of Europe’s largest economy.For years, Germany’s huge trade surpluses and its hesitancy to stimulate domestic demand with substantial infrastructure spending have frustrated international organizations and European allies who argue Berlin could do more at home to support growth elsewhere.The trade surplus has also been used by U.S. President Donald Trump to underline his America First...WW…