Germany

German authorities seize tank, other WWII weapons in raid

Kiel prosecutor Birgit Hess said the collector, whose name she would not release for privacy reasons, is being investigated for possibly violating German weapons laws but remains free while the probe is ongoing.

In the search Wednesday and Thursday investigators also seized a torpedo and multiple other military items in addition to the Panzer V "Panther" tank and the 88mm flak gun, Hess told The Associated Press. German military engineers were called in to haul the tank out of the underground garage of the house in Kitzeberg, near Kiel.

Robot kills man at Volkswagen plant in Germany

The man died Monday at the plant in Baunatal, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Frankfurt, VW spokesman Heiko Hillwig said.

The 22-year-old was part of a team that was setting up the stationary robot when it grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate, Hillwig said.

He said initial conclusions indicate that human error was to blame, rather than a problem with the robot, which can be programmed to perform various tasks in the assembly process. He said it normally operates within a confined area at the plant, grabbing auto parts and manipulating them.

Queen Elizabeth II begins state visit to Germany

The 89-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip, 94, received a red-carpet welcome as they left their jet at Tegel airport on a grey Berlin evening. A German military honor guard lined their route to their car, while artillery fired a 21-gun salute and fighter jets overflew the area in tribute.

The two shook hands with the British ambassador and others before walking to their waiting limousine to take them to the capital's Hotel Adlon, which overlooks the historic Brandenburg Gate.