Germany

Merz plays down US military withdrawal plans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has insisted he will maintain close ties with Washington despite plans by Donald Trump to withdraw thousands of US troops. Speaking on German television, Merz said…

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Far-right AfD overtakes German conservatives in new poll

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for a second time this week. The survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday showed…

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Germany’s far-right AfD adopts ‘radical’ manifesto ahead of key polls

Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is leading polls in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of September’s regional elections, raising the prospect of the first far-right state government since World War Two. At…

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UPDATED: Germany works to clarify new rules on fighting-age men leaving country

Germany's armed ‌forces are working on clarifying a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to gain permission to leave the country for more than…

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CDU/CSU calls for cannabis rethink 2 years in

Government ministers from Germany's conservative CDU and CSU parties on Wednesday called for changes to the 2024 partial legalization of cannabis introduced by the previous more left-leaning coalition government. They…

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Friedrich Merz: Most Syrians to Leave Germany Within Three Years

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he and the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa hope that 80% of the Syrians in Germany will return home in the next three years. During…

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German drone deal faces scrutiny over Thiel stake

A multibillion euro German military drone contract is facing political scrutiny over billionaire investor Peter Thiel’s stake in a Berlin defence tech firm, according to a report by investigative portal…

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Germany plans to give spies vast new powers in rollback of postwar restraints

Germany is preparing to significantly strengthen its foreign intelligence service amid growing concern that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing with Europe, according to a report by Politico.…

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German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland

Last year, 5,976 Syrians applied for voluntary repatriation to Syria, which was funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), submitting all the necessary documents. Of these,…

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Berlin Blackout: Deliberate Sabotage Exposes Fragile Critical Infrastructure

Berlin experienced a major power outage in early January 2026 after an arson attack on high-voltage power cables in the city’s southwest. German authorities have said the fire was deliberately…

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German president says US is destroying world order

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a "den of…

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Germany’s Merz tells Europe to assert itself to safeguard peace, prosperity

Europe must assert its interests more strongly to ensure peace and prosperity in 2026 amid challenges from Russian aggression, global protectionism and changing ties with the U.S., German Chancellor Friedrich…

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Germany registers over 1,000 suspicious drone flights

Germany has registered over 1,000 suspicious drone flights so far in 2025, the head of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) told German newspaper Bild in comments published on Sunday.…

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Germany votes to bring back voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It marks a significant shift…

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Germany’s Christmas markets grapple with soaring security costs

Germany's Christmas markets, a major tourist draw for local economies, are grappling with unprecedented security costs following a series of attacks. A nationwide survey by the Federal Association of City…

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Berlin Draws Up Secret War Plan as Russia Fears Mount

Germany is developing and implementing a secret plan in case of war with Russia, which involves sending up to 800,000 NATO troops to the front line, according to The Wall…

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Germany to introduce voluntary military service

Germany's coalition partners announced a compromise on Thursday over new rules on military service, a key element in a wider drive to rebuild the country's shrunken armed forces. The model…

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Wild form of polio found in German sewage sample

The wild form of the virus behind polio has been detected in wastewater sampling in Germany, the nation's main public health body told Reuters, in a setback for efforts to…

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German man arrested for offering assassination bounty on Merkel and Scholz

German police have arrested a 49-year-old man, identified as Martin S., accused of running a darknet “assassination platform” that targeted former Chancellors Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. Prosecutors said the…

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Germany arrests 18 in international crackdown on online fraud

An internationally coordinated action against alleged online fraud and money laundering networks that included German payment service providers resulted in 18 arrests, German authorities said on Wednesday. Germany's Federal Criminal…

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Chancellor Merz Says Syrians No Longer Qualify for Asylum

Syrians no longer have grounds for asylum in Germany now the civil war in their country is over, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, as his conservatives seek to fend off…

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Germany’s top general says all young men should be considered for the Bundeswehr

Germany's armed forces chief has rejected the idea of a draft lottery in the ongoing debate over reintroducing military service, saying all young men should undergo assessment to determine eligibility.…

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German Civil Protection Office Warns: War Can No Longer Be Considered Unlikely

For the first time in 35 years, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) is warning of war. The agency emphasises that Germany is one of the…

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German cabinet agrees on law to incentivise post-retirement work

Germany's cabinet agreed a draft law on Wednesday to encourage work after retirement by allowing those who do so to earn up to 2,000 euros a month tax-free in an…

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Germany to order over 600 short-range air defence systems

The German government plans to order more than 600 Skyranger 30 short-range air defence systems from Rheinmetall before the end of the year, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Friday, citing…

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German parliament votes to get rid of fast-track citizenship

The Bundestag voted to get rid of a fast-track citizenship law put in place under the previous government led by center-left Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Scholz. The vote passed with…

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Germany to allow police to shoot down drones

Germany will grant police the power to shoot down rogue drones like those that have disrupted airports across Europe and that some European leaders have attributed to a hybrid war…

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Berlin Faces Calls to Let Police Shoot Down Rogue Drones

Drone sightings overnight at Germany's Munich airport led to the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded and…

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Munich airport reopens after drone sightings halt flights

Germany's Munich airport reopened on Friday after shutting overnight due to drone sightings that forced the cancellation or diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday…

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Clouds loom on German economy as demand weakens

German business confidence slipped unexpectedly in September, raising fresh doubts about the government’s ability to deliver the promised economic turnaround. The Munich-based Ifo institute reported Wednesday that its closely watched…

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Germany plans for 1,000 wounded troops per day in case of conflict with Russia

Germany's armed forces are planning how to treat a potential 1,000 wounded troops per day should a large-scale conflict between NATO and Russia break out, and amid long-standing warnings by…

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Lead Figure in Madeleine McCann Investigation Set for Release From Prison

The main suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann is due to be released on Wednesday from the German prison where he has been serving a seven-year…

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Ex-partner in crime says Brueckner knows truth of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance

A former associate of Christian Brueckner, the German man prosecutors say is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, said he is “100% sure” Brueckner was involved in…

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Germany’s army needs to more than double in size, commander says

Germany's army needs to add 100,000 active troops to its existing 62,000 to meet new NATO targets intended to boost preparedness for the growing threat of Russian aggression, its commander…

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German Chancellor Merz ‘mentally preparing’ for war in Ukraine to ‘drag on’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is “mentally preparing” for Russia’s war in Ukraine to drag on, warning that Moscow has no real interest in ending the conflict. Speaking to…

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UPDATED: German cabinet passes bill for voluntary military service

Germany's cabinet passed a draft bill on Wednesday that would introduce a voluntary military service as the country seeks to bolster national defences over Russian security concerns. The text also…

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Ten years on: Merkel reflects on 2015 refugee decision

It has been ten years since German Chancellor Angela Merkel made her famous "Wir schaffen das" ("We can do this") statement regarding her decision to accept hundreds of thousands of refugees into Germany.…

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Berlin courts tourists as Paris and Barcelona tire of the crowds

As many southern European cities grow tired of tourists, Berlin is pitching itself as an antidote to the crowds, blistering heatwaves and anti-tourism protests causing problems elsewhere. The German capital…

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Germany Stresses Importance of Security Pledges to Ukraine, Rules Out Troop Presence

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that his country can play an important role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, but that Berlin likely doesn't have the capacity to send…

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Air conditioner sales up as heat wave hits Germany

A heat wave that has gripped Europe for weeks has now arrived in Germany, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday and national weather service DWD…

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France and Germany Push Forward on Fighter Jet Deal Amid Industry Disputes

France and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint effort to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2040, despite ongoing disagreements over industrial…

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People in Germany are driving more again

In a reversal of a trend, people in Germany are driving more again. According to data from the the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), personal cars registered in Germany covered 594…

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Germany outlines emergency draft plans

A bill to be put forward by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet, with parliamentary agreement, to call up conscripts if a situation arises that requires a rapid…

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Merz supports not flying rainbow flag on German parliament during Pride

Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz has supported a move not to fly the rainbow flag — a symbol of the LGBTQI+ community — on the Reichstag building in Berlin during Pride celebrations.…

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Syrian juvenile charged with Taylor Swift concert plot

Germany has charged a Syrian juvenile with supporting a foreign terrorist organization for helping to plan a foiled attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last year, the prosecutor…

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Germany to stop funding migrant rescue ships in Mediterranean

Germany is cutting financial support for charities that rescue migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean, saying it will redirect resources to addressing conditions in source countries that spur…

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Germany to hire 11,000 more military personnel this year

The German government will provide funds for an extra 11,000 military personnel by the end of the year, an increase of around 4%, tabloid Bild reported, citing government sources. The…

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Germany will need thousands more troops under new NATO targets, says defence minister

Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, will require an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 additional troops to meet NATO's updated defense requirements amid the growing threat from Russia, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said…

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Germany to Make It Easier to Declare Countries Safe in Curbs on Asylum

The German government plans to make it easier to declare certain countries of origin safe under a push to reduce the number of asylum seekers, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said…

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Russia may attack Nato in next four years, German defence chief warns

Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany's chief of defence. General Carsten Breuer told…

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Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to…

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Trump spurs questions about safety of Germany’s gold in New York

The safety of Germany's gold reserves held overseas and in New York in particular, until recently mainly a talking point for the country's far-right party and gold bugs, is becoming…

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German government restricts migrant family reunification, path to citizenship

Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz.…

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Germany shifts tone on Israel over ‘incomprehensible’ Gaza carnage

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s massive airstrikes on Gaza, calling them "no longer justified" or "comprehensible" in the fight against Hamas. Speaking at a…

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German Chancellor Merz sees no sign war in Ukraine will end soon

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday dampened expectations of a quick end to the war in Ukraine. "There are currently no signs that this war will end quickly," Merz said…

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Germans narrowly back weekly working hours limit over daily cap

A narrow majority of German residents support replacing the current daily working hours limit with a weekly cap, according to a new YouGov survey. The poll, conducted for dpa, found…

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Germany warns draft may return if troop numbers fall short

Germany may return to conscription if too few people volunteer for the military, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned Wednesday. Speaking in his first parliamentary address since the new government took…

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