Germany's Defence Minister on Tuesday vowed to severely punish soldiers stationed in Lithuania who were accused of singing
racist and anti-Semitic songs, if the allegations turned out to be true.
Several hundred German soldiers arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday as part of the multinational NATO battalion being deployed in the country, part of the alliance's effort to beef up its eastern flank.
The first group of German and Belgian troops arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday, part of a NATO move to reinforce its eastern flank in a bid to deter a militarily resurgent Russia.
Lithuania on Monday signed its biggest ever arms deal for German-made armoured vehicles, as it seeks to allay concerns of a military resurgence of Russia on its doorstep.
Germany said Wednesday it wants to sell howitzer-type mobile artillery vehicles to Lithuania as the Baltic NATO nation
boosts its defences amid concerns over neighbouring Russia.
Berlin will send over 500 troops to Lithuania for military exercises this year to underscore its NATO commitments
amid tensions with Russia, the Baltic state's defence ministry said on Tuesday.
Dirk Nowitzki, whose MVP heroics helped Dallas Mavericks win the NBA title, will play for Germany at the European championships, hoping to lead his country to the 2012 Olympics.
The fire aboard the Baltic ferry Lisco Gloria was largely out on Sunday lunchtime, leaving authorities working out a plan to eventually tow it to a harbour and conduct an investigation to find out what happened.