German court allows Tesla to partially clear forest for a new factory
A view of the Tesla Gigafactory construction site in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
A German court on Friday ruled in favour of Elon Musk’s Tesla to partially clear forested land to build a manufacturing site near Berlin.
Earlier, environmentalists had criticised the company’s plans to clear the forest, claiming that the move could endanger hibernating reptiles in the area.
Activists had gone to court in the eastern city of Frankfurt an der Oder to prevent the company from clearing the land.
When the case was being studied by a regional court, the razing plans remained at halt. The Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court on Friday said that it would ban the razing of forested area by Tesla in the regions of the site, giving a nod to activists
The court added that further stoppage of razing could not be justified. Tesla has not addressed the ruling so far.
)
Africa is splitting, and a lot sooner than estimated, giving way to a new ocean
)
Indian activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan's post brings focus on ‘conflict of interest’ appointments of ex-govt officials at Reliance, Adani groups
)
Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House over ‘FAKE NEWS’
)
Shivakumar attends 79th Kalyana Karnataka Utsav in Kalaburagi
)
A first in 100 years: New cat species discovered in Bolivia is incredibly tiny
)
Hong Kong extends newborn cash support scheme by three years
)
Pentagon revives mandatory testosterone testing for male troops aged 30 and above
)
Ukraine plans record $109 bn defence spending, nearly two thirds of budget amid Russia war
)
Three labourers killed as DU student loses control of his car, rams into them on Dwarka Expressway
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Abhishek Sharma to Sahil Chauhan, 5 batters with fastest T20I hundreds
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC T20I rankings
)
Drone strikes cooling tower at Russia's Kursk Nuclear Plant, IAEA confirms
)
Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Portugal squad for Nations League under new coach
)
India ‘deeply concerned’ as Houthi strikes hit Saudi civilian & energy sites
)
The Verdict | When precision fails: US commits war crime in Minab school strike, UN finds
)
How did an Australian river with 500 crocodiles pass the Olympic test? Here's how
)
UNGA 2026 theme explained: What does ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all’ mean?
)
'Gangsta' crab shoves knife blade at man and his dog in Florida - Watch
)
US F-16 fighter jet crashes in Michigan during training mission, pilot ejects safely
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (September 18, 2026): Lust Stories 3, You+Me, Best of the Best- 8 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Trump 2.0: Dark days ahead for America’s ‘imperial presidency’
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 Indian batters with fastest T20I centuries
)
‘Will go to any extent’: Pakistan vows to defend Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
)
India seeks to build a full semiconductor supply chain
)
Laura Wolvaardt sets new world record for most WT20I runs in a year
)
'He will always be ahead': India coach Gambhir says Sooryavanshi won't walk into team ahead of Samson
)
Xi-Trump summit may boost military links
)
Former India player Diana Edulji wants Smriti Mandhana to replace Harman as skipper at the earliest
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Which country has the most F-35s outside America?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in the latest ICC T20I Rankings
)
Who is Khalilur Rahman? All you need to know about 81st UN General Assembly President
)
Godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton gives US lawmakers a one-year warning on AI
)
FACT CHECK: Why did PM Modi ask Xi ‘is it okay’ at BRICS Summit? New video reveals...
)
North Korea's last nuclear test in 2017 set off 1,399 earthquakes over 8 years, each stronger than previous
Essential workers
In a first, Tesla factory workers based in California will be counted as 'essential workers' and will be exempted fromnew coronavirus restrictions in the state.
The decision has been taken as the state is inching towards new coronavirus restrictions, which will be initiated from this weekend. The authorities let the Tesla workers be exempted as earlier Elon Musk had argued that manufacturing is listed as an essential workforce.
"The limited stay-at-home order does not apply to employees deemed essential workers — manufacturing is listed as an essential workforce," said California's Department of Public Health, specifying in particular transport products and equipment.
The exemption has been granted on the condition that Musk's factories will ensure all necessary health guidelines and will make sure the employees are provided all the basic precautions and facilities needed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.