Tit-for-tat blockades once again cripple traffic in Hormuz

(The Center Square) — The Trump administration is investigating claims that New York City schools violated the civil rights of Jewish students by hosting seminars on Palestinian resistance. 

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday that it has opened an investigation into the New York City Department of Education to determine whether it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against Jewish students.   

The investigation is based on complaints that New York school officials recently allowed the group "NYC Educators for Palestine" to hold a series of teaching seminars focused on “Palestine, Zionism, and Resistance.” 

Federal investigators said the complaints allege that the group is teaching children as young as five about “contemporary and historical Palestinian resistance,” that Zionists are “genocidal white supremacists,” and to support the terrorist group Hamas and its “martyrs" in the fight against Israel. 

Those actions "teach and sow hostility and hatred towards Jewish students, potentially creating a hostile environment," the agency said, vowing to "investigate these appalling allegations to ensure the equal treatment of all students." 

“No child should be taught by his or her teachers to hate their peers. Neither should Jewish children be taught that being Jewish somehow makes them inherently guilty or proponents of hate and violence," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. "Discrimination has no place in our schools, and, unlike the previous Administration, the Trump Administration will not turn a blind eye to antisemitic harassment." 

In a statement, a spokesperson for the New York City Education Department said the agency has received the notice and is reviewing it, but said the group is "not connected" to the city school system. 

On its website, the group has called on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to require the city's schools to include teaching about the “ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians and "war crimes" committed by the Israeli government. 

"As we head into the new year, Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues, and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank persists," the group said in one post. "These realities underscore the urgency of ensuring that NYC Public Schools are led by leadership committed to truth, justice, and the protection of educators’ and students’ rights to teach, learn, and speak freely in pursuit of a more just future."

The department’s investigation is the latest in a series of disputes between the federal government and the nation's largest school district over President Donald Trump's agenda. The Trump administration previously withheld over $35 million in grants to the city after it refused to change transgender student policies. But the move was blocked by a federal judge, who ruled that the funding freeze was illegal. 

With just one year left in his second five-year term, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will quit politics in 2027 -- leaving observers and supporters guessing about his next moves.

"I wasn't in politics before and I'm not going to be after," Macron said Thursday during a visit to a high school in Cyprus.

He added that at this late stage in office, the "hardest thing" was to strike a balance between defending his record and acknowledging what "didn't work out".

France's political and media world is already abuzz as the race for 2027 has "already begun", said Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, a communications expert at Sciences Po university.

For now, would-be candidates are playing up their softer sides, with far-right National Rally (RN) party chief Jordan Bardella showing off a romance with Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in glossy magazine Paris Match.

And Gabriel Attal, one of Macron's string of former prime ministers, has offered personal revelations in a book as he shores up his bid to lead the centrist camp into the 2027 vote.

"Now is a good time for the president-- who in any case won't be in charge of much any more -- to announce and lay the groundwork for his departure," Moreau-Chevrolet said.

"He needs to tell an alternative story while leaving what's next up to speculation."

- Rear-view mirror -

Macron has sought in recent weeks to spruce up public perceptions of his legacy -- even as would-be successors in his own ranks try to distance themselves from a historically unpopular leader.

The 48-year-old may be hoping to mimic the trajectory of Jacques Chirac, president in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Once out of the cut and thrust of daily politics and with his various scandals fading, conservative Chirac's public image recovered and many now look back on his era with nostalgia.

"At some point there'll be a change in perspective, because he won't be a political personality any longer," a person close to Macron said.

"There'll be a re-emergence of some of the key elements and consistency" in his policy, the person added, such as his push for "industrial and European independence in the face of crises."

Macron remains highly visible outside France, standing up to US President Donald Trump over his threats to annex Greenland and criticising the war against Iran.

His long-vaunted White House relationship has cooled in recent months as Trump becomes a liability even for his supposed political allies in Europe's far right.

"I didn't speak to him in the last few hours because I didn't see a need for it," Macron said dismissively of Trump Monday during a visit to Poland.

The president's "true role has been on the international stage," said Moreau-Chevrolet.

In January, Macron energised the World Economic Forum in Davos with a "defence of European democracies and Gaullist position" of technological and military emancipation from the United States.

Images raced around the internet of the French leader wearing aviator-style sunglasses to protect a broken blood vessel in his eye, as he called for Europe to stiffen its spine.

- #Macron2032? -

Macron's stated intent to leave active politics "doesn't mean that he'll be out of the picture altogether," Moreau-Chevrolet said.

The person close to Macron said that "he was talking about politics in the party-political sense".

Some observers suggest he could seek a post heading an intergovernmental body such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or European Commission.

One centrist leader predicted that "he'll start up an outfit of his own after 2027. And there will be people calling for #Macron2032," the next presidential election when he could stand again.

In the meantime, "he's not taking leave of the questions he's passionate about, reindustrialisation of France, AI, the defence industry, international affairs. He leaves the rest to the prime minister and doesn't bother about it," one sitting minister said.

As the 2027 campaign progresses, Macron will likely leave the battle up to the centrist candidate to succeed him -- with the subtext that "I have a legacy and you must stand up for it," the minister added.

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German prosecutors Friday launched a spying investigation into phishing attacks targeting lawmakers on the Signal messaging app, with an MP saying the latest Russia-directed plot against Germany was a "wake-up call".

The wave of attacks has allegedly been directed at MPs from several parties including the speaker of parliament, a senior member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party, as well as civil servants, diplomats and journalists. 

Germany, Kyiv's biggest provider of miliary aid, has been battling a surge of cyberattacks, as well as espionage and sabotage plots since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

Moscow denies being behind any such actions.

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office told AFP it had launched an investigation into the phishing attacks "based on an initial suspicion of espionage".

It did not name Russia or give more details, but suspicion quickly fell on Moscow.

"The latest phishing attempt from Russia targeting German politicians and journalists is a wake-up call for all of us," said Marc Heinrichmann, a CDU lawmaker who heads a committee overseeing the country's intelligence services.

The attack makes "painfully clear" that everyone "must remain vigilant," he said. 

"What may seem like a harmless message at first glance could, in today's world, be a targeted espionage attempt by foreign powers."

- 'Extremely worrying' -

The attacks work by sending messages purporting to come from Signal support. 

Victims are urged to hand over sensitive account information, which the attackers can then use to gain access to the victim's chat groups and messages.

When the scam is successful, the hackers gain access to photos and files shared on Signal and can also impersonate the person whose account was compromised.

Many have moved from WhatsApp to the non-profit Signal in recent years because of privacy concerns after WhatsApp said it would share some metadata with parent company Meta, which also owns Facebook and Instagram.

German and foreign security services have been warning for months about the attacks, but the potential fallout in Germany is only just becoming clear.

CDU lawmaker Konstantin von Notz told AFP that the scale of the suspected attacks was "extremely worrying".

"At present, no one can say with any certainty whether the integrity of MPs' communications is still guaranteed," he said.

Merz's centre-right CDU party has so far not commented on how many of its lawmakers have been affected.

But earlier this week Der Spiegel news outlet reported that parliament speaker Julia Kloeckner's Signal account had been compromised.

Kloeckner is a member of the CDU's executive committee, whose members -- including Merz -- reportedly communicate via a Signal chat group, although no irregularities were detected on the chancellor's phone.

His centre-left coalition partner, the SPD, and the far-left Die Linke have also said "a few" of their lawmakers have fallen victim.

Asked about the issue at a regular press briefing on Friday, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry said the attack is "probably led by a state actor", adding that official warnings had been issued at the beginning of February and again last week.

Russia-linked hackers have been accused of being behind a string of cyberattacks in Germany. 

Earlier this month, Germany intelligence services accused hackers associated with Russian military intelligence of infiltrating internet routers to obtain sensitive information.

The same group has also been accused of targeting air traffic control and of spreading disinformation ahead of last year's general elections.

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Britain's Prince Harry on Friday visited deminers from the HALO Trust charity -- made famous by his mother, Princess Diana -- near the Ukrainian town of Bucha, where he tested how drones and AI-powered robots are transforming mine-clearance work.

Russian troops occupied the Kyiv suburb for a month after they invaded in February 2022, killing hundreds of civilians in a massacre that was met with outrage and a hardening of support for Kyiv.

When Moscow's forces withdrew they left large areas around the town contaminated with unexploded missiles, bombs and grenades. 

HALO said most of the land there is now safe after four years of work clearing the area.

"It's amazing to see how technology is transforming the work of the HALO Trust -- making demining smarter, faster and safer," Harry said.

Wearing a virtual reality headset, Harry piloted an AI-powered drone designed to detect and map explosives, and later operated a robot used to retrieve them.

The prince hailed his mother's work to raise awareness of mine clearing efforts in Africa some three decades ago.

"When my mum visited Angola nearly 30 years ago, deminers were doing their work on their knees to find hidden explosives," he said. 

Diana had in 1997 visited HALO Trust sites in Angola, where she was famously walked through a minefield wearing body armour.

"Now they also use drones, artificial intelligence and robots for greater accuracy and protection," Harry said, highlighting the role now played by technology in mind-clearing efforts.

The Ukrainian government estimates that 23 percent of its total territory -- around 137,000 square kilometres, an area larger than Greece -- is contaminated by land mines and other unexploded ordnance.

Harry arrived in Kyiv for a surprise visit Thursday.

In a speech at a security forum he urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the invasion and called on Washington to step up its efforts to secure an end to the war.

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Budget airline Ryanair said Friday that it would reduce flights to and from Berlin starting in October and relocate aircraft based in the German capital, citing comparatively high costs and taxes.

Ryanair will have 50 percent fewer flights to and from Berlin in the budget carrier's winter flight schedule, which starts from October 24, the Irish airline said in a statement.

Seven aircraft that are currently based in Berlin will be moved to other European airports, it said.

Berlin-based pilots and flight crew were told notified of the decision Friday and will have the chance "to secure alternative positions elsewhere in the Ryanair network across Europe".

Chief executive Eddie Wilson said the decision was in response to a looming increase in Berlin airport fees, and also took aim at Germany's "stupid aviation tax regime".

The Ryanair aircraft will be moved to other European Union countries "that have abolished aviation taxes like Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy", the company said.

Wilson said Ryanair had cut all service to three other German airports since 2019 -- Dresden, Leipzig and Dortmund -- and had already relocated aircraft previously based in Frankfurt, Duesseldorf and Stuttgart.

Ryanair and other airlines have lobbied Germany to slash taxes on the aviation industry.

Despite being Germany's largest city, Berlin lags well behind several other airports in the country for total passenger traffic, and the city has struggled to attract carriers.

A brand-new Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER), which opened in 2020 after years of embarrassing delays and cost overruns, became a laughing stock during its 14-year construction and was seen by many as a symbol of the city's dysfunction.

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(The Center Square) – The United States will continue it's blockade in the Strait of Hormuz for "as long as it takes," War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday. 

Hegseth called on Iran to make a deal and agree to give up its nuclear weapons capabilities. 

"Iran has a historic chance to amke a serious deal, and the ball is in their court," Hegseth said. "Either way, the War Department stands ready for what comes next. Locked and loaded."

Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, described the United States seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday called the Touska. Caine said 34 ships met the U.S. blockade and turned around. The Touska was the only ship to not turn around. 

"Over a six-hour period, the vessel and her crew repeatedly ignored U.S. warnings, and then the U.S. Navy destroyer executed a series of pre-planned, carefully calibrated escalation options, including firing five warning shots," Caine said. 

The U.S. military fired nine inert rounds into the Touska's engine room and engine space. After firing shots, Caine said, U.S. Marines boarded and took custody of the ship. 

"The ship and her crew remain safe in U.S. custody today," Caine said. 

Caine also said the United States seized two Iranian dark fleet ships in the Indian Ocean. Both ships remain in U.S. custoy, Caine said. 

The Tifani and the Majestic X were seized over the past week, Caine said. The Tifani, a large crude tanker, is capable of transporting roughly two million barrels of oil. 

"We will continue to conduct similar maritime interdiction actions and activities in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against Iranian ships and vessels of the dark fleet," Caine said. 

Hegesth criticized European countries for not aiding the United States' blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. 

"We are not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do," Hegseth said.

Hegseth also said the U.S. would work to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz and called on other countries to help. He said Iran would be violating the country's ceasefire if it laid more mines in the Strait. 

"America and the free world deserve allies who are capable, who are loyal and who understand that being an ally is not a one-way street," Hegseth said. 

Heating with geothermal energy, lighting with solar panels, cooking with biodegradable waste: how can we live with less oil and gas?

It's a long-burning question -- but one that is catching fire as energy costs soar due to the conflict in the Middle East, which has strangled exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

With the global energy shock caused by the conflict expected to linger, AFP's video journalists around the world have explored how countries are experimenting with the climate transition.

- Geothermal in France -

For a long time, the owners of the building where Anne Chatelain lives near Paris resisted switching from gas heating to geothermal energy. 

But on January 1 they finally began heating their homes using the natural heat from the subsoil -- the soil immediately beneath the surface. 

As energy bills soar elsewhere in the world, "Our property manager has announced a 20 percent reduction in heating and hot water bills for 2026 and 2027," rejoices the 69-year-old retiree.

The tech is both climate-friendly and, as a local resource, "not subject to taxation and geopolitical upheavals" such as the war with Iran, says Gregory Mascarau, a Paris director for the French multinational electric utility company ENGIE.

Shallow geothermal energy allows for heating and cooling by using the temperature of the subsoil at depths of less than 200 meters (650 feet). 

Deep geothermal energy involves extracting hot water from depths of 1,000 to 2,000 metres, where its temperature ranges from 80C to 150C.

Since 2023 it has resulted in roughly 25-30 percent savings compared to the cost of heat provided by fossils fuels, says Ludovic Feron, head of the real estate infrastructure department at Gustave Eiffel University.  

The catch is that a suitable subsoil is required, and that deep geothermal energy in particular can be hampered by high costs and uncertainties. 

In France, this type of heating represents only about one percent of final heat consumption -- for now.

- 'Green coal' in Chad -

It looks like charcoal, but the black briquettes are actually made from plant waste: millet and sesame stalks, palm fronds and cobs. 

The residues are sorted, ground and mixed with a maceration of gum arabic to facilitate ignition, and with clay to slow combustion.

"It doesn't smoke, it lasts, and it's economical. And I can see that it doesn't blacken the pot, and there aren't even any side effects," says Sophie Saboura, 24, a resident of the Chadian capital N'Djamena.

The briquettes last up to three times longer than traditional charcoal, according to Ousmane Alhadj Oumarou, technical director of the Raikina Association for Socio-Economic Development (Adser) factory. 

"From an environmental standpoint, eco-friendly charcoal contributes to sanitation. And it also reduces the effects of climate change. It also helps combat deforestation," says Oumarou.

Adser produces about 10 tonnes of briquettes, used for cooking, every day -- but they aren't available everywhere. 

"There are limits to its use. Because even the manufacturing process takes time ... it can take a week," says Pierre Garba, a renewable energy specialist. 

"Sometimes, when there's demand, you try calling, you wait, and wait, and wait," confirms Saboura.

- Solar in Pakistan  -

The aerial view of Islamabad is striking: solar panels stretch as far as the eye can see from the rooftops of the lush, green Pakistani capital. 

Pakistan's shift to solar power is "one of the fastest consumer-led energy transitions on record", according to a recent study by a Pakistani think tank. 

Unlike Western economies, Pakistan -- whose citizens have long struggled with energy shortages, blackouts and regular loadshedding -- did not impose tariffs on solar technology from neighbouring China from 2013 to 2025. 

The rise in oil and gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has also spurred consumers to embrace solar power. 

Imports have surged from one gigawatt in 2018 to 51 gigawatts this year.

In the bustling streets of the ancient Mughal city of Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital, 49-year-old shopkeeper Aftab Ahmed is looking for solar panels to install at his home. 

"It has become so expensive that an average person can no longer afford fuel for a motorcycle or a car. Fuel prices are also affecting electricity bills, leading to further increases," he says. 

Solar power offers the possibility of "at least some savings".

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Despite heightened security measures, Jewish residents in northwest London remain on "high alert" after a spate of arson attacks on synagogues and community sites in recent weeks.

So far there have been no casualties. But since the first antisemitic attack in late March -- when ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer emergency service Hatzola were set ablaze in Golders Green -- other incidents have followed.

There was an attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in northwest London as well as the premises of a Jewish charity. And last week, the Finchley Reform Synagogue was targeted in an area of the UK capital home to a large Jewish population.

The Finchley building, which also houses a nursery, is protected by towering metal fences and daytime security guards, whose hours have been extended, Zoe Jacobs, a cantor who leads Jewish prayers and songs at the synagogue, told AFP.

"There's anxiety, particularly among our younger members, but I would also say that there's incredible resilience.

"It's a difficult situation when someone tries to attack a place that feels like your home," she added.

Police have arrested 25 people in connection with the attacks, which began after the US-Israel strikes on Iran since February 28.

While the motive remains unclear, police are investigating a claim of responsibility by a little-known group calling itself Harakat al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya (Hayi), believed to be pro-Iranian.

Visiting the targeted Kenton synagogue on Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks" in Britain.

- 'High alert' -

Most of those arrested are young men. A 17-year-old has admitted responsibility for the attempted arson at the Harrow synagogue.

"Individuals carrying out these crimes often have no allegiance to the cause and are taking quick cash for their crimes," said deputy assistant police commander Vicki Evans.

On Sunday, she warned people not to get involved, saying "the stakes are high -- and it is absolutely not worth the risk for a small reward".

Not far from the Finchley synagogue, along Ballards Lane, lies a large Iranian diaspora community. Many shops prominently display the lion-emblazoned flag associated with the former monarchy, a symbol showing opposition the the current ruling political system.

"Everything that is happening, it affects both of us actually, because it's not only them being attacked," said Sima Darafsheh, who runs a butcher shop with her husband, and whose son attends a Jewish school.

"Most Iranians who support Reza Shah have been attacked," she said, referring to Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's late shah.

British intelligence services have repeatedly warned of threats by Iranian authorities against opponents based in the UK.

The London offices of Iran International, an opposition Persian-language TV channel, was among the targets of the recent attacks.

A few streets away, in Golders Green, kosher restaurants and shops remain busy. But there is a sense of unease.

"I'm definitely on high alert the whole time, and I think it's a very sad feeling, knowing that I have to live in fear when I'm walking around something that should be safe," said Sarah, a 20‑year‑old student who declined to give her surname.

- 'No higher walls' -

"At the moment, we're all ... very cautious of our surroundings," said Jack Hur, who runs a kosher grocery store.

The Jewish school where his wife teaches now escorts pupils to and from public transport.

He is also "a lot more cautious" about wearing visible religious symbols outdoors.

"I don't have the biggest amount of confidence in the UK police force at the moment," he admitted, regretting the lack of more armed officers.

That feeling was shared by Rabbi David Rose, who said anxiety has been rising since the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel, which triggered the devastating Gaza war.

"Recently, people are feeling a certain sense of unease and that we feel the authorities should be doing more to protect the Jewish community," he told AFP, seated with his family in a restaurant.

Raymond Simonson, director of the JW3 cultural centre south of Golders Green, praised the support from the authorities.

"But we don't want to end up having to build higher fences and higher walls and bigger security," he said.

"That's not the support we want. What we want from government, what we want from the authorities, is to get to the root of this evil in our society, which is not just against the Jewish community, it is against British society."

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The El Nino weather phenomenon, which pushed global temperatures to record highs the last time around, is expected to return in mid-2026, the UN said Friday.

The United Nations' weather and climate agency said El Nino conditions could well develop as early as May to July.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) meanwhile said early signs indicated a particularly strong event.

El Nino is a naturally-occurring climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns.

Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between.

The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest year on record and 2024 the all-time high.

"After a period of neutral conditions at the start of the year... there is high confidence in the onset of El Nino, followed by further intensification," said Wilfran Moufouma-Okia, the WMO's climate prediction chief.

El Nino typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts around nine to 12 months.

The WMO said in its latest monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update that sea surface temperatures are rising rapidly in the equatorial Pacific, "pointing to a likely return of El Nino conditions as early as May-July."

Forecasts indicate a "nearly global dominance of above-normal land surface temperatures" in the next three months.

- Temperature spike -

"There is no evidence that climate change increases the frequency or intensity of El Nino events," the Geneva-based WMO said. "But it can amplify associated impacts."

The WMO explained that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded "because of the combination of the powerful 2023-2024 El Nino and human-induced climate change from greenhouse gases".

While forecasting accuracy improves after April, "what we can say for certain is that the El Nino will be strong", Moufouma-Okia said.

El Nino is typically associated with increased rainfall in southern South America, the southern United States, the Horn of Africa and central Asia, and drought over Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia.

Warmer water can fuel hurricanes in the central and eastern Pacific during the middle of the year, though it hinders hurricane formation in the Atlantic Basin.

The WMO hopes advance warning will guide preparedness, especially in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, water management, energy and health.

The WMO's April Global Seasonal Climate Update said that for May to July, land surface temperatures are expected to be above normal nearly everywhere.

The signals are especially strong over southern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as Europe and Northern Africa.

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German carmaker Porsche announced on Friday the sale of its stakes in sports car manufacturer Bugatti Rimac to a consortium led by a US fund founded by the Egyptian billionaire Sawiris family.

The amount of the transaction, which still has to be approved by regulators, has not been disclosed.

The announcement comes after the German luxury car brand warned it would face a difficult year under pressure from competitors and US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Under the terms of the agreement, Porsche will sell all of its 45 percent stake in Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture founded in 2021 with Croatian "supercar" manufacturer Rimac, which holds the remaining 55 percent.

"Following completion, Rimac Group is set to take control of Bugatti Rimac and form a strategic partnership with HOF Capital and BlueFive Capital to support its continued growth," according to a statement from the German carmaker.

Porsche, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, will also sell its 20.6 percent stake in Rimac Group.

Last month, Porsche chief Michael Leiters said the company was facing "tricky times" after sales fell below expectations.

Porsche has struggled with years of falling sales in China amid fierce competition from local rivals as well as US tariffs.

Trump's tariffs have hit the firm particularly badly since it has no plants in the United States.

"In setting up the joint venture Bugatti Rimac together with Rimac Group, we successfully laid the foundation for Bugatti's future," Leiters said in Friday's statement.

"Now, with the sale of our stake, we demonstrate that we will focus Porsche on the core business."

HOF Capital will additionally join Rimac Group as the major shareholder alongside Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac and CEO of Bugatti Rimac.

The consortium led by HOF Capital -- founded by the Egyptian billionaire Sawiris family -- has BlueFive Capital as its main investor, along with a group of institutional investors from the United States and the European Union.

After regulatory clearances, the deal is expected to be finalised before the end of the year. 

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