Berlin is taking reports of a plot to assassinate the chief executive of arms manufacturer Rheinmetall very seriously and will not be cowed by Russian intimidation, the German government said on Friday.

Berlin is taking reports of a plot to assassinate the chief executive of arms manufacturer Rheinmetall very seriously and will not be cowed by Russian intimidation, the German government said on Friday. A source familiar with the situation confirmed reporting by CNN and others that US intelligence officials warned the German authorities this year that Russia was plotting to assassinate Armin Papperger, the head of Europe’s biggest weapons producer, which has produced artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine. A US official, without confirming the report, said there has been an increased Russian efforts to conduct subversive or sabotage activities throughout Europe in the last five or six months. These activities seemed to be targeting buildings, facilities, companies, and people involved in the supply of weapons to Ukraine, the official said. The Rheinmetall plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defence industry executives across Europe supporting Ukraine's war effort, CNN reported. German security services were able to protect Papperger after Washington informed Germany, it said. "We will not allow ourselves to be intimidated by Russia and will continue to do everything we can to prevent Russian threats in Germany," Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said. Also read: Watch | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's eye-roll as Biden arrives late to NATO summit goes viral One of the world's biggest producers of artillery and tank shells, Rheinmetall has not directly confirmed the reports but said "necessary measures are always taken" for security, in regular consultation with security authorities. The Kremlin denied the reports as fake, based on anonymous sources, and said they could not be taken seriously. In Washington, the White House declined to comment, but Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for its National Security Council, said "Russia’s intensifying campaign of subversion is something that we are taking extremely seriously and have been intently focused on over the past few months." She said the US has been discussing the issue with NATO allies, who met for a summit in Washington this week. "We are actively working together to expose and disrupt these activities," she said. "We have also been clear that Russia's actions will not deter allies from continuing to support Ukraine." German defence group Hensoldt, which produces radar technology for the IRIS-T air defence system used in Ukraine, said it was reassessing safety measures. The weapons division for Diehl, the German company that manufactures the IRIS-T and also produces ammunition, said it was monitoring the situation closely and would adapt its security measures if necessary. BAE Systems has "very rigorous security in place, which is kept under constant review" a spokesperson said, declining to comment further. In April the German authorities arrested two German-Russian nationals on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on US military facilities, in an attempt to undermine military support for Ukraine. Germany also accuses Russia of the murder of an exiled Chechen-Georgian dissident in Berlin's Tiergarten park in broad daylight in 2019. The assassin, Vadim Krasikov, is serving a life sentence, and the court ruled that Russia was responsible for state terrorism. "The Tiergarten murder already showed that Russia does not shy away from assassination attempts here either. We take reports of further murder plans very seriously," said Justice Minister Marco Buschmann. "Our security forces are well positioned. Russia wants to weaken us, but it will not succeed: we are capable of defending ourselves." The Washington Post this week, citing Kremlin documents obtained by a European intelligence service, said Russia was making extensive efforts to find recruits for sabotage attacks. The documents show that in July 2023, Kremlin political strategists studied the Facebook profiles of more than 1,200 people they believed were workers at two major German plants — Aurubis and BASF in Ludwigshafen — to identify employees who could be manipulated into stirring unrest, the report said. The Kremlin said the allegations of Russian sabotage activity were "no more than a stoking of Russophobic hysteria", the report said. Rheinmetall's company value and Papperger's public profile have surged with a defence spending boom after the Russian invasion. Papperger has repeatedly advocated for more arms deliveries to Ukraine and urged the German government to increase defence spending in order to finance them. In May 2023, it said it had set up a joint venture with Ukrainian state-owned conglomerate Ukroboronprom to build and repair tanks in Ukraine. Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of current President Vladimir Putin, said Russia would retaliate by hitting any facility Rheinmetall set up in Ukraine. Papperger is accompanied by security guards whenever he appears. Questions over his personal safety were already in focus this year when his garden house was set on fire by what tabloid newspaper Bild said were far-left activists. Speaking to reporters in May about the incident, Papperger said he was grateful he was being guarded by security personnel. "There are probably some people in the world who don't like what I do. In that respect, the Federal Republic of Germany is making sure that I am safe. I am grateful for that too," he told reporters at the time. "Thank God I wasn't there," he said of the attack on his garden house. "There are just a lot of crazy people in the world. The use of violence is something that I cannot accept. I am working with all my strength to ensure that we can defend ourselves against people who use violence. Some people don't like that." The Financial Times in a report said the levels of protection for Papperger were now similar to those for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The vice-chair of the parliamentary intelligence oversight committee, conservative lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter, warned of possible further Russian attacks in Germany. The foiled assassination attempt on Papperger should "not obscure the fact that Russia has other targets in its sights and is using espionage, sabotage and targeted killings," Kiesewetter told Handelsblatt. "It is not for nothing that Russia was designated a terrorist state by a German court." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Russian assassination plot claims against Rheinmetall CEO dismissed by Kremlin as ‘fake news’

On Friday (July 13) a team of scientists, historians, and imaging experts will set off to the Titanic to create the most detailed photographic record of the disaster to date.

As reported by the BBC, they will utilise advanced technology to study the surface of the famous liner to gain new insights into its sinking.

This will be the first commercial expedition to the Titanic since the OceanGate tragedy last year, where five men perished while attempting to visit the wreck in a submersible.

In the following days, there will be a joint memorial ceremony at sea for them as well as the 1,500 passengers and crew who died on the Titanic in 1912. The current mission is being led by the American&nbsp;firm that holds sole salvage rights and has recovered over 5,500 artefacts from the wreck.

But according to Atlanta, Georgia-based RMS Titanic Inc, this most recent visit is only a reconnaissance trip. Two robotic vehicles will descend to the ocean below to take millions of high-resolution images and create a 3D model of all the wreckage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-campaign-faces-90m-setback-as-major-donors-freeze-funds-post-debate-740344">Biden's campaign faces $90 million setback as major donors freeze funds after debate against Trump</a>

The logistics ship Dino Chouest will serve as the base for operations in the North Atlantic. It will remain above the wreck site, situated 3,800 metres&nbsp;(12,500 feet) underwater, for 20 days, provided the weather is favourable.

Paul-Henri ("PH") Nargeolet, who was tragically among the five fatalities in the OceanGate submarine incident, was intended to lead the expedition and was the director of research for RMS Titanic Inc.

Even though the site of the wreckage has been the subject of several studies since it was discovered in 1985, there is no map that could be considered definitive so far.

Two six-tonne remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) will conduct the expedition. One will have ultra-high-definition optical cameras and a special lighting system, while the other will carry a sensor package with a lidar scanner.

The team of researchers will survey a 1.3 kilometre by 0.97 km section of the seafloor.

This marks RMS Titanic Inc's ninth visit to the wreck site. The company has faced controversy recently for its intention to recover part of the Marconi radio equipment that sent distress calls during the sinking.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Friday (July 13) a team of scientists, historians, and imaging experts will set off to the Titanic to create the most detailed photographic record of the disaster to date.

On Friday (July 13) a team of scientists, historians, and imaging experts will set off to the Titanic to create the most detailed photographic record of the disaster to date. As reported by the BBC, they will utilise advanced technology to study the surface of the famous liner to gain new insights into its sinking. This will be the first commercial expedition to the Titanic since the OceanGate tragedy last year, where five men perished while attempting to visit the wreck in a submersible. In the following days, there will be a joint memorial ceremony at sea for them as well as the 1,500 passengers and crew who died on the Titanic in 1912. The current mission is being led by the American firm that holds sole salvage rights and has recovered over 5,500 artefacts from the wreck. But according to Atlanta, Georgia-based RMS Titanic Inc, this most recent visit is only a reconnaissance trip. Two robotic vehicles will descend to the ocean below to take millions of high-resolution images and create a 3D model of all the wreckage. Also read: Biden's campaign faces $90 million setback as major donors freeze funds after debate against Trump The logistics ship Dino Chouest will serve as the base for operations in the North Atlantic. It will remain above the wreck site, situated 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) underwater, for 20 days, provided the weather is favourable. Paul-Henri ("PH") Nargeolet, who was tragically among the five fatalities in the OceanGate submarine incident, was intended to lead the expedition and was the director of research for RMS Titanic Inc. Even though the site of the wreckage has been the subject of several studies since it was discovered in 1985, there is no map that could be considered definitive so far. Two six-tonne remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) will conduct the expedition. One will have ultra-high-definition optical cameras and a special lighting system, while the other will carry a sensor package with a lidar scanner. The team of researchers will survey a 1.3 kilometre by 0.97 km section of the seafloor. This marks RMS Titanic Inc's ninth visit to the wreck site. The company has faced controversy recently for its intention to recover part of the Marconi radio equipment that sent distress calls during the sinking. (With inputs from agencies)

First expedition to Titanic since OceanGate tragedy to capture the ill-fated ship wreckage in unseen detail

Media reports citing sources said several significant Democratic donors have informed Future Forward, the biggest super PAC of supporters of the United States President Joe Biden that pledges totalling about $90 million are now on hold if the incumbent remains the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.&nbsp;

According to a New York Times report, some eight-figure pledges are among the frozen funds. This comes after Biden's poor debate performance against his rival and predecessor Donald Trump.

A group donor shared that Future Forward had approached them and their friends several times since the debate, asking for money, but they had been “holding off.”

The two people briefed on the frozen pledges declined to say which individual donors were pulling back promised checks, which were estimated to total around or above $90 million.&nbsp;

A second source close to the group told the NYT that the super PAC has been delaying big strategic choices until it has a clear idea of who would be at the top of the ticket.

The financial freeze coincides with the conversation among some of Biden's advisors about how to convince the president to withdraw from the race.

According to reports, Biden's campaign has been quietly testing Vice President Kamala Harris' chances against Trump. The number of congressional Democrats urging the incumbent president to stand down is rising.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-italian-pm-giorgia-melonis-eye-roll-as-biden-arrives-late-to-nato-summit-goes-viral-740260">Watch | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's eye-roll as Biden arrives late to NATO summit goes viral</a>

The possible shortage of super PAC funds also coincides with the campaign preparing for a challenging July fundraising period, as key donors question Biden's chances of winning in November.

Future Forward, designated by Biden's campaign as its primary super PAC for the 2024 race, has already reserved $250 million in TV and digital ads starting after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) next month.

Following the debate, a leaked poll from an organisation closely associated with Future Forward revealed that the super PAC had evaluated the likability of potential Biden alternatives, including Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

President Biden has had a worse overall favorability rating than all the others, according to the poll.

<h2>Hakeem Jeffries withholds support for Biden after press conference:&nbsp;Reports</h2>

House&nbsp;Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries&nbsp;reportedly declined to give&nbsp;Biden his support when they met after the president's press conference Thursday (Jul 11)&nbsp;night, according to CNN.

According to CNN, Jeffries "bluntly" expressed the opinions of his caucus during the discussion, though it's unclear if Biden requested his support.

(With inputs from agencies)

Media reports citing sources said several significant Democratic donors have informed Future Forward, the biggest super PAC of supporters of the United States President Joe Biden that pledges totalling about $90 million are now on hold if the incumbent remains the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Media reports citing sources said several significant Democratic donors have informed Future Forward, the biggest super PAC of supporters of the United States President Joe Biden that pledges totalling about $90 million are now on hold if the incumbent remains the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. According to a New York Times report, some eight-figure pledges are among the frozen funds. This comes after Biden's poor debate performance against his rival and predecessor Donald Trump. A group donor shared that Future Forward had approached them and their friends several times since the debate, asking for money, but they had been “holding off.” The two people briefed on the frozen pledges declined to say which individual donors were pulling back promised checks, which were estimated to total around or above $90 million. A second source close to the group told the NYT that the super PAC has been delaying big strategic choices until it has a clear idea of who would be at the top of the ticket. The financial freeze coincides with the conversation among some of Biden's advisors about how to convince the president to withdraw from the race. According to reports, Biden's campaign has been quietly testing Vice President Kamala Harris' chances against Trump. The number of congressional Democrats urging the incumbent president to stand down is rising. Also read: Watch | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's eye-roll as Biden arrives late to NATO summit goes viral The possible shortage of super PAC funds also coincides with the campaign preparing for a challenging July fundraising period, as key donors question Biden's chances of winning in November. Future Forward, designated by Biden's campaign as its primary super PAC for the 2024 race, has already reserved $250 million in TV and digital ads starting after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) next month. Following the debate, a leaked poll from an organisation closely associated with Future Forward revealed that the super PAC had evaluated the likability of potential Biden alternatives, including Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. President Biden has had a worse overall favorability rating than all the others, according to the poll. Hakeem Jeffries withholds support for Biden after press conference: Reports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly declined to give Biden his support when they met after the president's press conference Thursday (Jul 11) night, according to CNN. According to CNN, Jeffries "bluntly" expressed the opinions of his caucus during the discussion, though it's unclear if Biden requested his support. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden's campaign faces $90 million setback as major donors freeze funds after debate against Trump

A landslide swept two buses carrying an estimated 63 passengers on the Madan-Ashrit Highway in Central Nepal into the Trishuli River. Search operation is underway. Incessant rain is hampering efforts to search for the missing buses.

Nepal: Massive landslide in Central Nepal sweeps two buses, rescue operations underway

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrapped up NATO's 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington. At the summit, allies decided to further strengthen deterrence and defence they decided to bolster long-term support to Ukraine and deepen Global Partnerships.

NATO allies pledge more support to Ukraine | Will not support NATO becoming anti-China bloc: Hungary

As NATO leaders gathered in Washington the long-anticipated transfer of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine has finally begun. As the war in Ukraine enters into a new phase the introduction of the F-16 fighter jets has sparked intense debate amongst many military strategists. Some have hailed it as a potential Game Changer now others are cautioning against the overestimating of its impact.

Russia-Ukraine war: Will F-16 fighter jets boost Ukraine's push against Russia?

Headlines of the hour: - Gallant: Probe Netanyahu for October 7 - Biden vows to finish the job - Biden's slip-up saga continues - NATO allies divided over Ukraine - Gallant: Probe Netanyahu for Oct 7 - Albania: Protesters hurl petrol bombs - US MIlitary destroys Houthi vessels - Nepal PM to take vote of confidence - Boeing warns of further delays

Boeing warns of further delays | Gallant: Probe Netanyahu for October 7 | WION Headlines

In a landmark decision...Apple has agreed to open its tap-and-go mobile payments system to competitors in Europe... Following eu antitrust regulators' scrutiny over alleged anti-competitive practices. Watch this report to know more on the details.

European app developers can now integrate tap-and-go payments in Apple

The new British government aims to achieve the fastest sustained economic growth among G7 nations by the next election. This target hinges on leading the G7 in per-capita GDP growth for two consecutive years, a first for the UK according to OECD data.

UK aims for top G7 per-capita GDP growth by next election

The election result in UK was a solid embarrassment for Rishi Sunak who had to leave 10 Downing Street and the Tories suffered a humiliating defeat and Keir Starmer is the new prime minister. Here's what else happened- As per Humanists UK, the UK has elected the most openly nonreligious House of Commons in history. Let's get to the details!

Gravitas: UK elected most openly non-religious House of Commons in history

#Gravitas: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calls for a state inquiry into the failures that led to the October 7th attack, placing more scrutiny on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Watch in for more details!

Gravitas: Israel coalition cracks up, Netanyahu in more trouble

According to research, China has roughly twice as much wind and solar power under development as the rest of the world combined.

China is building 180 GW of utility-scale solar power and 159 GW of wind power, according to research released on Thursday (Jul 11) by NGO Global Energy Monitor (GEM). This raises the total amount of wind and solar power under development to 339GW;&nbsp;far more than the 40GW under construction in the United States.

Only solar farms that feed directly into the grid and have a capacity of 20 MW or more were examined by the researchers. Given that over 40 per cent&nbsp;of China's solar capacity is made up of small-scale solar farms, the country's overall solar power output might be significantly greater.

The results highlight Beijing's dominant position in the world's production of renewable energy at a time when Washington's&nbsp;concerns about Chinese overcapacity and dumping, notably in the solar sector, are growing.

With significant support from the government, China has seen a growth in renewable energy in recent years.

China’s President&nbsp;Xi Jinping has emphasised the need for “new quality productive forces,” a term that indicates a desire to shift Beijing’s economy toward innovation and technology. The promotion of green manufacturing is one of the "new quality productive forces," according to Xi.

The GEM experts discovered that, in the three years between March 2023 and March 2024, China installed more solar than the entire globe did for 2023. The country is expected to surpass the government's plan by six years, with 1,200 GW of installed wind and solar power by the end of 2024.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chinese-company-keeps-employee-in-dark-room-for-four-days-without-electricity-or-phone-to-make-him-resign-740286">Chinese company keeps employee in 'dark room' for four days without electricity or phone to make him resign</a>

“The unabated wave of construction guarantees that China will continue leading in wind and solar installation shortly, far ahead of the rest of the world,” the report said.

Analysts have warned that for China to meet its objective of reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 18 per cent&nbsp;— a critical step towards cutting emissions — even more renewable power would be needed. Carbon intensity measures the grams of carbon dioxide&nbsp;released per kilowatt hour of electricity produced.

China’s power grid still heavily depends on coal, which officials consider essential to address the intermittency of renewable energy. Additionally, officials often view the coal industry as a reliable means to boost local GDP figures, even though clean energy sectors are now the primary driver of China’s economic growth, contributing to 40 per cent&nbsp;of GDP expansion in 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

According to research, China has roughly twice as much wind and solar power under development as the rest of the world combined. China is building 180 GW of utility-scale solar power and 159 GW of wind power, according to research released on Thursday (Jul 11) by NGO Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

According to research, China has roughly twice as much wind and solar power under development as the rest of the world combined. China is building 180 GW of utility-scale solar power and 159 GW of wind power, according to research released on Thursday (Jul 11) by NGO Global Energy Monitor (GEM). This raises the total amount of wind and solar power under development to 339GW; far more than the 40GW under construction in the United States. Only solar farms that feed directly into the grid and have a capacity of 20 MW or more were examined by the researchers. Given that over 40 per cent of China's solar capacity is made up of small-scale solar farms, the country's overall solar power output might be significantly greater. The results highlight Beijing's dominant position in the world's production of renewable energy at a time when Washington's concerns about Chinese overcapacity and dumping, notably in the solar sector, are growing. With significant support from the government, China has seen a growth in renewable energy in recent years. China’s President Xi Jinping has emphasised the need for “new quality productive forces,” a term that indicates a desire to shift Beijing’s economy toward innovation and technology. The promotion of green manufacturing is one of the "new quality productive forces," according to Xi. The GEM experts discovered that, in the three years between March 2023 and March 2024, China installed more solar than the entire globe did for 2023. The country is expected to surpass the government's plan by six years, with 1,200 GW of installed wind and solar power by the end of 2024. Also read: Chinese company keeps employee in 'dark room' for four days without electricity or phone to make him resign “The unabated wave of construction guarantees that China will continue leading in wind and solar installation shortly, far ahead of the rest of the world,” the report said. Analysts have warned that for China to meet its objective of reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 18 per cent — a critical step towards cutting emissions — even more renewable power would be needed. Carbon intensity measures the grams of carbon dioxide released per kilowatt hour of electricity produced. China’s power grid still heavily depends on coal, which officials consider essential to address the intermittency of renewable energy. Additionally, officials often view the coal industry as a reliable means to boost local GDP figures, even though clean energy sectors are now the primary driver of China’s economic growth, contributing to 40 per cent of GDP expansion in 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

China leads the charge: Beijing develops two-thirds of global wind and solar projects

#Gravitas | The U.S. Coast Guard says that four Chinese military vessels were spotted near Alaska's Aleutian islands on July 10. Is China trying to widen the conflict with the U.S.? What else explains the spotting of Chinese military ships inside the U.S.' exclusive economic zone?

China Widens War Zone Against America | Chinese Warships Spotted Near Alaska

#Gravitas: South Korea has developed a cutting-edge laser weapon to counter North Korean drones, becoming the first nation to operationalize this advanced technology.

South Korea Unveils Advanced "Star Wars" Anti-Drone Laser

The private credit market in the United States, traditionally focused on mid-sized companies, has experienced phenomenal growth. Assets under management for the top 4 private lenders reached $1.3 trillion in 2024.

Lack of transparency in private credit creates regulatory challenges

US President Joe Biden had a series of verbal slip-ups alongside the NATO Summit in Washington which is an unwanted development for the 81-year-old who has been trying to move past concerns that he's too old to run for reelection. Watch in for more details!

Gravitas: World leaders come out in US President Biden's support after his gaffes

#Gravitas | In U.S., the rich are freezing themselves with the hopes of waking up years later when doctors can stop aging and dodge death.

Gravitas: The Rich in U.S. Are Freezing Themselves to Stay Wealthy Forever

President Joe Biden has closed the NATO Summit in Washington earlier today. With the year solo press conference, the momental event comes as the President is looking against to defend against continuos calls for him to step down.

Biden's slip-ups at NATO Summit: World leaders come out in support after his gaffes

US Elections: President Biden's twin Gaffes fan more speculations about acuity

Donald Trump's courtroom saga continues, in the latest twist the former US President's legal team is trying to use court observation in one case to overturn the ruling in another. Watch in for more details!

US: Trump seeks to overturn Hush Money conviction

Polestar is going to give us a sneak peek of a next-gen performance car - the Polestar Concept BST. It is based on the O2 concept from 2022 and will go into production as the Polestar 6 convertible. This new take on the sports car amps up the performance look with wider wheel arches, a mean front end, 22-inch wheels, a BST livery over silver paint, and a massive rear wing. The BST variant might offer up to 1,000bhp and dip under three seconds for the 0-100km/h time.

Polestar Concept BST is a convertible, high-performance EV | WION Drive

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost support from two major alliance partners earlier this week. He is now all set to seek a vote of confidence from the house of representatives on July 12. This will be Prachanda's fifth vote of confidence in 20 months since he took office. Will Dahal's government survive?

Nepal: Prachanda falling short of required 138-seat majority

Iran's President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian is keen to revive the nuclear deal with the West. What are the red lines that he won't cross? Watch.

Iran | Masoud Pezeshkian: Reformist hope or conservative trap? | The West Asia Post

On a patch of sand in Gaza's Khan Younis, Palestinian girls showcase their boxing skills to fight for a better future.

Palestinian girls throw punches | The West Asia Post

world-news

World News, News on World News, stories on World News, articles on World News, World News stories at Wion, World News news, World News latest news

world news