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WEATHER

Goose carnage as fog engulfs Germany

A flock of wild geese were among the victims of the thick fog that engulfed Germany on Thursday - and more chilly mist is on its way, weather service DWD reported.

Goose carnage as fog engulfs Germany
Photo: DPA

The birds apparently lost their way amidst the impenetrable mist. Confused and disorientated, they landed in droves on the roads and motorways around Berlin, according to reports in Die Welt.

Large numbers of them were subsequently run over and killed, and motorists are still being advised to drive especially cautiously on Friday.

In Saxony-Anhalt, around 80 vehicles were involved in a large motorway pile-up on the road between Querfurt and Eisleben, where poor visibility and slippery roads meant that drivers skidded out of control on the treacherous ice.

Many collided, others hit the crash barriers. One man was killed, and around 40 injured.

Click here for The Local’s weather forecast

The fog and mist hit the country on Thursday morning, and has been thickening since then – meaning that drivers should remain vigilant.

By Friday the fog is expected to be overwhelming in large parts of the country, and the temperature will remain at a nippy 0 to 5 degrees.

Only the Alpine areas are likely to see some sun, as a southern wind could blow away some of the dense cloud coverage over the course of the day. These fortunate regions could see temperatures climb as high as 14 degrees.

And the fog is likely to descend again on Friday night, and is not set to clear on Saturday. The day will be misty and dull, and with thick clouds hanging over the country, the sun will have little chance of penetrating.

Northern areas could see a little dissipation, but the respite will be brief, as these areas should be engulfed by nightfall too. With temperatures still hovering around zero, it’s also going to remain chilly.

Light drizzle could set in by Sunday morning, especially in the north-west and west. In less densely foggy areas, temperatures will drop back down to minus five degrees. Elsewhere it is likely to remain dull and grey, with minimal sun.

By Sunday night the weather may have softened a little, with the hard temperatures and extreme fog giving way to a brighter spells in parts of the south and east – though elsewhere will remain murky and bleak.

The Local/pmw

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BERLIN

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Farmers in Germany launched fresh protests in Berlin on Friday to call for the government to support agriculture, resulting in disruption across the city.

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Berlin police said there were “considerable traffic disruptions” across the city and the outskirts and especially around Straße des 17. Juni, the government district and the Bundesrat .

Since Thursday morning, Straße des 17. Juni and other streets around the government district in Berlin-Tiergarten have been closed. There will also be closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz through Friday.

A planned rally is due to take place from 12 noon to 5pm on Friday with tractors and lorries around Platz des 18. März, near Brandenburg Gate. 

The action is being held to protest the government’s agricultural policies.

It comes as relief measures – including reduced bureaucracy and tax relief for farmers – went to the Bundesrat on Friday to be voted on as part of the Growth Opportunities Act.

However, farmers are still pushing for their original demand of fully keeping the agricultural diesel subsidy.

READ ALSO: Analysis: Why are German farmers so angry?

Farmers in Germany have been staging similar protests against the policies of the government since the start of the year.

Where are protests taking place?

Here’s a look at the routes farmers are expected to take in Friday into Berlin where disruption will occur:

Frohnau: From the state border via B96 Berliner Straße, Roedernallee, Lindauer Allee, Residenzstraße, Markstraße, Schulstraße, Luxemburger Straße, Föhrer Straße, An der Putlitzbrücke, Stromstraße, Lessingstraße, Altonaer Straße and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Lichtenrade: From the state border via the B96 Kirchhainer Damm to Tempelhofer Damm and then via Mehringdamm, Hallesches Ufer, Reichpietschufer, Klingelhöferstraße, Hofjägerallee and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Mahlsdorf: From the state border via the B1/5 to Alexanderstraße and then via Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Unter den Linden, Wilhelmstraße, Dorotheenstraße, Scheidemannstraße, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee, Spreeweg and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Staaken: From the state border via B5 Heerstraße to Theodor-Heuss-Platz, Kaiserdamm, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Straße des 17. Juni and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni.

As we’ve already. mentioned, there will also be road closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Carstensen

A large police presence was in place around the federal ministries and parliamentary buildings.

“We are taking preparatory measures before the farmers’ rally so that parliamentary work can take place smoothly on Friday,” said a spokesperson for the Berlin police on Thursday. 

During previous demonstrations, tactics – such as throwing manure and blockade attempts – have been controversial. 

On one occasion in January more than a hundred farmers blocked a ferry port as Economics Minister Robert Habeck tried to return from a holiday with his wife on the North Friesian island of Hooge.

According to media reports, some of the protestors tried to storm the ferry that the Habeck and his wife were on, preventing the Green Party politician from disembarking and forcing police to intervene. 

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