Protesters throw cake at Volkswagen shareholders' meeting

Pallade Veneta - Protesters throw cake at Volkswagen shareholders' meeting

Protesters throw cake at Volkswagen shareholders' meeting / Photo: Tobias SCHWARZ - AFP

Activists hurled cake at Volkswagen bosses on Wednesday, as the German carmaker's annual shareholders' meeting was disrupted by protests over human rights and climate change.

Change text size:

Outside the hall where the event was taking place in Berlin, climate protesters gathered to put pressure on Europe's largest car manufacturer to reduce its carbon footprint.

"The science is clear: the emissions from Volkswagen's planned car sales are beyond planetary limits," was the message held up by activists from the group Scientist Rebellion.

Inside, the meeting itself was interrupted when cake was aimed at Wolfgang Porsche, who sits on Volkswagen's supervisory board and celebrated his 80th birthday Wednesday.

A topless woman also interrupted the speech given by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume to criticise the group's operations in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.

Activists accuse Volkswagen of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses in the region, where the group has a factory with Chinese partner company SAIC.

China's Communist Party is accused of detaining over one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-western region as part of a years-long crackdown, as well as running labour camps.

China vehemently denies the abuse allegations, while Volkswagen has also rejected suggestions forced labour is used in its factories.

"A constructive dialogue is important. And a general meeting offers a good opportunity for this," the company said in response to the protests.

Among shareholders, some lamented Volkswagen's poor stock market performance despite record profit margins and the drop in sales in China, a key market for the group, where it is facing increasingly stiff competition from local car manufacturers.

D.Bruno--PV

Carney Welcomes U.S. Trade Reversal After Democratic Midterm Victory

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that his government welcomes any moves to restore free trade with the United States, following Democratic gains in the U.S. midterm elections. With Democrats securing control of both chambers of Congress, officials in Washington are signaling a priority to repeal tariffs on Canadian products, intensifying pressure to resolve ongoing trade tensions.

Spain Nominates Hernández de Cos and Díaz for Key International Posts

Spain has officially put forward two high-profile candidates for leadership roles in major international organizations. Economist Pablo Hernández de Cos is seeking the presidency of the European Central Bank, while Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz is running for the head of the International Labour Organization, with voting set for November.

Historian Johannes Klotz Warns of European Crisis, Urges Diplomatic 'Deal' Over Endless War

Historian Johannes Klotz has issued a stark warning regarding the long-term consequences of the war in Ukraine for European stability, arguing that endless military engagement is accelerating a broader continental crisis. In a recent analysis, Klotz contends that the conflict is exacerbating Germany's economic decline and social fragmentation, urging political leaders to prioritize a negotiated diplomatic settlement over continued arms supplies.

South Korean Army Admits 'K-Walking' Training Was Inappropriate

The South Korean Army Special Warfare Command has admitted that a recent training session for elite soldiers, which included instruction on catwalk techniques from fashion models, was inappropriate. The acknowledgment follows intense public criticism over footage showing the event, officially titled the "K-Walking Performance Military Festival," held at the 1st Special Forces Brigade base in late October.