Germany

Trump approves plan to pull 9,500 troops from Germany

US President Donald Trump approved a plan to withdraw 9,500 US troops from Germany, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed. Defense Secretary Mark Esper presented the plan to the president on Monday.…

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Former Pope Benedict’s brother Georg dies at 96

Georg Ratzinger, the brother of former Pope Benedict who nurtured a very close relationship over decades to his sibling, has died at the age of 96 in the German town…

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Trading in Europe affected by tech glitch in Germany’s Xetra

Trading in many European exchanges, including Frankfurt and Vienna, was interrupted on Wednesday morning due to a "technical issue" at German electronic trading platform Xetra, Deutsche Boerse said. The outage…

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Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 466 to 194,725

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 466 to 194,725, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Wednesday. The reported death toll…

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Germany to dissolve special forces unit over far-right links

Germany’s defence minister plans to disband a company of its elite KSK special forces in a effort to purge them of a persistent problem of far-right extremism, a ministry document…

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Photo Story: First walk-in coronavirus test centre in Germany

A view of a test kit at Germany's first walk-in test centre for coronavirus (COVID-19) at an airport at Frankfurt International Airport, Germany. Germany's first walk-in test centre at an…

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Merkel-Macron insist again for need of effective agreement on European reconstruction plan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for an "effective" agreement on the European reconstruction plan to deal with the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic after a meeting at…

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German lower house backs VAT cut

Lawmakers in Germany's lower house of parliament on Monday backed stimulus measures including a cut in value-added tax (VAT) to 16% from 19% from July 1, aiming to stimulate…

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Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 262 to 193,761

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 262 to 193,761, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Monday. The reported death toll…

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Merkel, Macron to meet today

Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on Monday, days before Germany takes on the rotating presidency of the European Union with the economy in the throes…

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Angela Merkel warns against reckless behaviour

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned people against ignoring the dangers posed by the coronavirus, saying that the pandemic is not over — and the situation in the country remains…

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Germany maps out coronavirus regulations on domestic travel

Germany's federal and state governments have reached agreement on a uniform regulation for travel within the country. It comes after authorities ordered fresh lockdowns in two districts following a massive…

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Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 256 to 193,499

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 256 to 193,499, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday. The reported death toll…

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Borussia Moenchengladbach secures spot in the Champions League

Borussia Moenchengladbach capped a successful season by booking a spot in the Champions League, beating Hertha Berlin 2-1 on the final day to finish fourth in the Bundesliga on Saturday.…

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Werder Bremen avoid automatic relegation and will face two-leg playoff

Werder Bremen extended their 39-year stay in the Bundesliga for at least another 10 days on Saturday, when they thumped Cologne 6-1 to avoid automatic relegation. The four-times Bundesliga champions…

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Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ends season winning against VfL Wolfsburg

Bayern Munich, already crowned Bundesliga champions last week, lifted the league trophy in an empty stadium on Saturday after crushing hosts VfL Wolfsburg 4-0 on the final matchday. The Bavarians,…

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Lufthansa investors back $10 bln German government rescue

Lufthansa shareholders on Thursday backed a 9 billion euro ($10 billion) government bailout, securing the future of Germany's flagship airline after it was brought to the brink of collapse by…

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Ryanair to challenge Lufthansa’s bailout

Europe's biggest budget airline Ryanair will challenge the European Commission's approval of German rival Lufthansa's bailout, a senior Ryanair executive said on Thursday. "It (Lufthansa) needs it as a war…

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Germany bans single-use plastic products

The German Cabinet agreed on Wednesday to end the sale of single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and food containers from July next year, bringing it in line with a European Union directive…

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Top shareholder backs Lufthansa rescue deal

Lufthansa’s top shareholder said he would back a nine-billion-euro government rescue package, removing the threat of a last-minute veto that could have plunged the German airline into bankruptcy. “I will…

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German business morale posts record rise, “light at end of tunnel”

German business morale posted its strongest rise in June since records began and Europe's largest economy should return to growth in the third quarter after the coronavirus pandemic hammered output…

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German minister stresses coronavirus risk despite low infection numbers

German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Wednesday stressed that the coronavirus remains a risk after the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday put two municipalities back into lockdown…

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New outbreaks of coronavirus spark new lockdowns in Germany

German authorities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia have reimposed lockdown restrictions in two districts after a spike in cases, with more than half a million people affected. One area…

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Lufthansa closing down the flight operations of its subsidiary Sun Express Germany

Sun Express, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, will restructure its business to focus on leisure flights to and from Turkey, as well as domestic flights in the country,…

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German region to re-impose lockdown after spike in cases

A lockdown is being re-imposed in a German region after a coronavirus outbreak linked to a meatpacking plant. The premier of the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia said on…

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German Finance Minister says “It’s our duty to help Lufthansa”

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Monday he thought consensus could be achieved on Lufthansa as a showdown between its biggest shareholder and the German government looms over the…

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Germany’s R number increases again

Germany's coronavirus R number has leapt again - from 1.79 on Saturday to 2.88 on Sunday, official figures show. The Robert Koch Institute for public health (RKI), which has been…

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Police attacked, shops vandalised during violent clashes in Stuttgart

More than 12 police officers were injured and 20 people detained after street fights in the German city of Stuttgart that broke out early Sunday, local Police said. Groups of people have…

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BMW, Mercedes put automated driving alliance on hold

Daimler announced it had put on hold a development alliance in the area of automated driving between its luxury brand and rival German luxury carmaker BMW. "Following extensive review, the…

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German region risks lockdown if coronavirus outbreak not contained

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 601 to 189,135, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll…

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First results of CureVac COVID-19 vaccine trial expected in 2 months

The first trial results of a coronavirus vaccine being developed by CureVac are expected in two months, German news website Focus Online reported on Friday. CureVac, an unlisted German company,…

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German department store chain to shut stores, slash jobs

Germany's leading department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof will close 62 of its 172 stores, putting about 5,000 jobs at risk, as part of a restructuring plan aimed at saving…

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BMW to lay off 10,000 contract workers

BMW will not extend the contracts of 10,000 contract workers, a company source told Reuters on Friday, as the German luxury carmaker seeks to reduce its capacity due to the…

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Reports indicate Lufthansa may sell Brussels Airlines or let it go bankrupt

Lufthansa could let its Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines go bankrupt or sell it, La Libre newspaper reported on Friday, citing anonymous sources at the airline. Brussels Airlines, which employs 4,200…

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Hundreds test positive for COVID-19 in German slaughterhouse

Hundreds of workers have tested positive for COVID-19 at a slaughterhouse in northern Germany, prompting to the closure of local schools and an urgent investigation. Toennies, one of Germany's biggest…

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German police found files linking new suspect with Madeleine McCann disappearance

German Investigators have recovered computer memory sticks that link prime suspect Christian B. to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, according to a German media report. Three-year-old "Maddie" went missing from…

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Photo Story: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI visits his brother in Germany

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (C) leaves the house of his brother Georg Ratzinger sitting in a wheelchair after a visit in Regensburg, Germany, on Thursday 18 June 2020. Pope Emeritus…

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Germany wants to retest mystery saliva sample found in Madeleine McCann apartment

German investigators want to retest a mystery saliva sample found in the holiday apartment from where Madeleine McCann went missing. Portuguese forensic tests on the sample apparently found no DNA…

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Germany bans large events until end of October over coronavirus

Germany will extend a ban of large events, including fairs, until at least the end of October due to the coronavirus pandemic, broadcaster n-tv reported on Wednesday, citing a document…

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Lufthansa warns its bailout deal is in jeopardy

German airline Lufthansa warned that it might need to apply for creditor protection if its state-backed bailout failed to win sufficient shareholder support in a vote later this month.…

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Coronavirus vaccine could be on market in mid-2021 – CureVac

A vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic by CureVac could be on the market in mid-2021, the unlisted German company said on Wednesday. CureVac might be able to apply for approval…

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Bayern Munich clinch 8th consecutive Bundesliga title

Bayern Munich have retained their Bundesliga crown following a narrow victory against Werder Bremen, courtesy of Robert Lewandowski. It's a record eighth straight title for Bayern and a first for…

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Trump confirms reduction of US troops in Germany

President Donald Trump said on Monday he would cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close U.S. ally for failing to meet NATO's defense spending target and accusing…

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Commerzbank to cut more jobs, branches

Commerzbank will announce "considerably" more branch closures and job cuts when it lays out its strategy review in August, a member of the bank's supervisory board said on Monday. Stefan…

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Germany to buy stake in CureVac as world races for COVID-19 vaccine

Germany will take a stake in unlisted biotech firm CureVac, which is working on a COVID-19 vaccine, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Monday, confirming an earlier Reuters report. Altmaier said…

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Germany warns upcoming holiday season could increase the coronavirus risk

Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, warned Sunday that traveling during the upcoming holiday season could increase the coronavirus risk. "If holidaymakers return from a hotspot to their…

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Photo Story: First holiday plane takes off for Mallorca

A Boeing 737-800 aircraft of German carrier TUIfly takes off from the international airport in Duesseldorf, Germany, early 15 March 2020. Since the travel restrictions in Germany began, the first…

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German airline Condor to cut up to 25% of staff

German charter airline Condor will cut up to 25% of its employees to reduce costs and recover from the coronavirus crisis, Chief Executive Ralf Teckentrup told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung…

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Bayer Leverkusen snatch 1-1 draw against Schalke 04

Bayer Leverkusen came from a goal down to snatch a 1-1 draw at Schalke 04 on Sunday as they held on to fourth place in the Bundesliga with three games…

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Photo Story: German coronavirus warning app

A close-up image shows the new German 'Corona Warn-App' on a smartphone in Cologne, Germany. German companies Telekom and SAP developed the app to help and inform people afterwards if…

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Germany earmarks 500 million euros to boost training

Germany plans to make 500 million euros ($563 million) available to firms to prevent a collapse in company training and apprenticeships due to the coronavirus crisis, a document seen by…

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Slim hope Madeleine McCann could still be alive

Madeleine McCann may still be alive, according to the German prosecutor who previously said police were working on the assumption she was dead. The investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance from Praia…

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Lufthansa to offer coronavirus testing at German airports

German airline group Lufthansa plans to offer coronavirus tests at airports in Frankfurt and Munich, a spokesman announced. The tests would be conducted through partnering test centers and be available…

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Germany says it is well placed to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections

Germany is well placed to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Friday, warning that the absence of a vaccine meant social distancing as…

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UPDATED: German cabinet agrees to reduce VAT as part of economic stimulus package

The German cabinet has agreed to temporarily slash value-added tax and give parents a cash handout of 300 euros per child as part of its 130 billion euro ($147.20…

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Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases increase by 555 to 185,416

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 555 to 185,416, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday. The reported death toll…

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Madeleine McCann suspect moved to own prison cell over safety fears

The suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has been moved into a single jail cell for his own protection. As police re-examine more unsolved murder and rape investigations, the prison…

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