Berlin Today

DAX Trades Lower as Rising Oil Prices Add Pressure on German Companies

Germany’s benchmark DAX index moved moderately lower as investors assessed higher energy costs, Middle East supply risks and the outlook for European Central Bank monetary policy.

German Government Criticises Trump’s Praise for AfD After Saxony-Anhalt Election

Berlin pushed back after US President Donald Trump publicly praised the Alternative for Germany following its state-election victory, with the German government stressing that outside commentary on domestic elections is unwelcome.

Eight CDU State Premiers Publicly Back Merz Amid Leadership Pressure

All eight CDU state premiers issued a joint statement supporting Chancellor Friedrich Merz and opposing renewed personnel debates as the party confronts electoral setbacks and internal criticism.

German Engineering Group Cuts 2026 Production Forecast to 2% Decline

Germany’s mechanical-engineering industry has lowered its annual production outlook from flat growth to a 2% real-terms contraction, citing high domestic costs and excess industrial capacity in China.

German Unemployment Rises Above Three Million as Industrial Weakness Persists

Germany’s number of unemployed people has climbed above three million, up 36,000 from a year earlier, adding to signs of strain in the labour market after prolonged manufacturing weakness.

TSMC-Backed Dresden Chip Project Advances After Intel Cancels Magdeburg Plant

The European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company project in Dresden is proceeding as planned after Intel abandoned its proposed €30 billion Magdeburg facility, increasing the importance of Saxony to Germany’s semiconductor strategy.

German State Premiers Seek Faster EU Action to Support Auto Industry

The leaders of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony are urging Brussels to accelerate industrial support measures and ease regulatory pressure as Germany’s carmakers contend with weaker profitability and international competition.

AfD Wins 39 of 83 Seats in Saxony-Anhalt, Falling Short of Majority

The Alternative for Germany secured 39 seats in Saxony-Anhalt’s 83-seat parliament after winning 43.8% of the vote, leaving other parties facing difficult coalition negotiations.

CDU Faces Risk of Falling Below 5% Threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Election

Voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are choosing a new state parliament, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU facing the possibility of dropping below the threshold required for representation.

Berlin Voters Choose New State Government With CDU and Die Linke Competing for Lead

Berlin’s state election has developed into a close contest involving the governing CDU and Die Linke, with the result set to shape control of Germany’s capital and test Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party.

Germany Approves €2.5 Billion Fuel-Tax Relief Package as Energy Costs Surge

Germany will cut taxes on petrol and diesel by the equivalent of about 17 cents per litre from October, with federal and state governments sharing the cost of a €2.5 billion relief package.

UniCredit Pushes for Leadership Changes at Commerzbank After Building Near-50% Position

UniCredit is pressing for changes at Commerzbank after securing access to nearly half of the German lender’s voting rights, intensifying pressure on management as the takeover process advances.

Germany Sets Conditions for UniCredit’s Proposed Commerzbank Takeover

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told UniCredit Chief Executive Andrea Orcel that Commerzbank should remain a Frankfurt-based listed company and continue its role financing Germany’s Mittelstand businesses.

German Automakers’ Combined Operating Profit Falls 19% in First Half

Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW reported combined earnings before interest and taxes of €13 billion in the first half, down 19% as German manufacturers contend with stronger international competition.

Merz Cancels UN General Assembly Trip as Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Vote

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will remain in Berlin rather than travel to the United Nations General Assembly as voters cast ballots in two closely watched state elections amid mounting pressure on his CDU leadership.

Finnish Cell Biologist Sara Wickström Receives €1 Million Körber Science Prize

Sara Wickström received the Körber European Science Prize in Hamburg for research showing how physical forces influence cellular behavior and gene regulation, with potential applications in cancer, fibrosis and regenerative medicine.

German Labour Court Limits Long-Term Damages in Employment Discrimination Cases

Germany’s Federal Labour Court ruled that compensation for discriminatory hiring does not necessarily extend indefinitely when a claimant later secures suitable and established employment, clarifying the limits of employer liability for ...

Global Car Dependence Estimated to Cost $9.3 Trillion a Year

A new study estimates that private and social costs associated with car travel total about $9.3 trillion annually worldwide, including expenses linked to crashes, pollution, infrastructure, land use and environmental damage.

German Schools Enter New Academic Year With Continuing Teacher Shortages

Education authorities in major German states are still struggling to fill teaching positions as student numbers and demand for specialized education services keep pressure on school staffing.

Dutch Tourist Bus Crash in Switzerland Kills Five

Five Dutch nationals died and dozens were injured when a tour bus left the road and overturned near Susch in Switzerland, prompting cross-border medical and repatriation efforts.

Munich Police Arrest Two Suspects After Incendiary Attack on Defence Companies

German police arrested a man and a woman after incendiary devices were thrown at sites linked to Rohde & Schwarz and defence technology company Helsing, with investigators continuing to examine the motive.

Munich Oktoberfest Opens With About Six Million Visitors Expected

Munich Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first keg to open the 191st Oktoberfest, beginning a 16-day festival expected to attract roughly six million visitors under heightened security measures.

EU Anti-Greenwashing Rules Set to Apply From September 27

The European Union’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition rules will restrict unsupported environmental claims and sustainability labels, requiring companies operating in Germany and across the bloc to revise consumer-facing mar...

Deutsche Bahn Rolls Out Alcohol Ban Across German Stations

Deutsche Bahn has begun extending a ban on drinking alcohol in station halls and on platforms, starting at locations including Berlin, Kiel and Braunschweig before a planned nationwide rollout across 5,400 stations by mid-October.

U.S. Expands Sanctions on Networks Supporting Iran-Aligned Groups

The U.S. Treasury has imposed additional sanctions on financial and commercial networks accused of supporting Iranian-linked groups, broadening pressure on entities connected to Tehran’s regional activities.

U.S. and Denmark Reach Greenland Security Agreement Without Transfer of Sovereignty

Washington, Copenhagen and Greenland agreed to deepen Arctic security cooperation while Danish and Greenlandic leaders maintained that the arrangement does not transfer sovereignty over the territory.

Berlin SPD Candidate Steffen Krach Faces Investigation Over €9,900 Donation

Prosecutors are investigating Steffen Krach over allegations linked to a procurement process and a €9,900 donation to Berlin’s Social Democrats, while Krach and the party deny wrongdoing and say the money was returned.

Russia Holds Parliamentary Election With Major Anti-War Opposition Excluded

Voting for Russia’s State Duma is proceeding under wartime restrictions after the anti-war Yabloko party was removed from the party ballot and independent political competition remained heavily constrained.

Latest Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Poll Shows SPD Narrowly Ahead of AfD

A September 17 survey put the governing Social Democrats at 37% and the AfD at 36% ahead of the state election, highlighting a closely contested race with a significant share of the political landscape in flux.

Berlin Poll Puts Left Party Ahead of CDU and Greens

A BerlinTrend survey placed the Left Party at 22%, ahead of the CDU and other major parties as the capital approaches its state election campaign.

EU Data Act Expands Access to Information Generated by Connected Devices

European rules give consumers and businesses broader rights to access and share data generated by connected products such as cars, smart appliances and industrial machinery, requiring manufacturers to support greater data portability.

Ukraine Seeks Further Air-Defence Support Ahead of Possible Zelensky-Trump Meeting

President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing for diplomacy around the UN General Assembly as Ukraine seeks additional air-defence assistance and a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Resistance Grows Within Conservative Bloc Over German Income-Tax Reform

Lawmakers from the CDU and CSU are pressing for changes to the government’s income-tax package, including greater relief from the effects of inflation, complicating passage of a major coalition fiscal measure.