Berlin Today

Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance Gains Support in Eastern Germany on Economic and Migration Concerns

The left-wing conservative Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is gaining ground in eastern German polling by combining tougher migration policies with demands for stronger social welfare protections, drawing support from voters on both sides of ...

Germany and Azerbaijan Sign Partnership to Secure Alternative Natural Gas Supplies

Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have signed a declaration strengthening bilateral trade and supporting long-term natural gas supplies as Germany seeks alternatives to the cheap Russian pipeline energy it ...

German Customs to Gain Expanded Powers Against Money Laundering and Organized Crime

The German cabinet has approved legislation to restructure the customs authority and create a specialized unit with broader investigative powers to target money laundering and organized financial crime linked to ports and real estate.

Germany's Constitutional Court Hears Challenge Over Debt Brake Reform

Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has begun hearing arguments over proposed changes to the country's strict constitutional debt brake, with the outcome potentially affecting the government's ability to finance major infrastructure i...

Deutsche Bahn Unveils Multibillion-Euro Plan to Repair Germany's Rail Network

State-owned Deutsche Bahn has announced an emergency restructuring program to repair aging tracks, modernize signaling and tackle chronic delays that are disrupting passenger travel and domestic freight logistics.

BASF Plans Further Production Shift to China as German Energy Costs Remain High

German chemicals giant BASF has warned it will continue reducing production at its Ludwigshafen complex and directing investment toward China, citing persistently high industrial electricity prices and stringent environmental regulations...

Volkswagen Warns High Energy Costs Are Eroding European Industrial Competitiveness

Volkswagen executives have warned that high energy prices, bureaucracy and growing competition from subsidized Chinese electric vehicles are weakening Europe's manufacturing competitiveness and putting additional pressure on the region's...

European Electric Vehicle Sales Share Exceeds 25 Percent as Germany and France Recover

Electric vehicles accounted for more than one-quarter of European car sales in July, according to industry analysts, with stronger demand in Germany and France helped by dealer discounts and more affordable compact models from European m...

Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes Seek Government Support as Chinese EV Competition Intensifies

Germany's leading automakers are pressing Berlin for purchase incentives, tax relief and more charging infrastructure as subsidized Chinese electric vehicles gain ground in Europe and domestic demand for battery-powered cars remains a co...

Alternative for Germany Seeks Major Victory in Saxony-Anhalt State Election

The far-right Alternative for Germany is campaigning for a decisive result in Saxony-Anhalt, where strong regional support could give the party greater political leverage and increase pressure on Germany's traditional centrist parties.

German Prosecutors Arrest Aide to Far-Right European Parliament Lawmaker in China Espionage Case

German authorities have arrested an aide to a prominent Alternative for Germany lawmaker on suspicion of spying for Chinese intelligence, intensifying political scrutiny of alleged foreign influence within the far-right party.

Germany Presses for Faster Deportations as Migration Debate Intensifies

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for faster deportation procedures for rejected asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants, reflecting mounting domestic pressure for tougher border and migration policies ahead of closely contested elec...

Germany Invites Lithuania Into Multinational Brigade Strengthening NATO's Baltic Flank

Germany, working with Poland and Denmark, has invited Lithuania to join a multinational defense initiative linked to the permanent deployment of a German heavy combat brigade, strengthening NATO's military presence along its northeastern...

Unidentified Drones Over Northern Germany Trigger Security Investigation

German police and intelligence agencies are investigating repeated drone flights over industrial facilities, naval sites and energy terminals in northern Germany, raising concerns about possible espionage or sabotage by a foreign state a...

Germany Expands Intelligence Powers to Counter Foreign Hybrid Threats

The German cabinet has approved legislation to broaden the operational and surveillance powers of federal intelligence agencies, giving them additional technological tools to intercept communications and respond to what officials describ...

Germany Approves Air-Defense Missile Exports to Saudi Arabia

The German government has authorized the export of advanced air-defense missile systems to Saudi Arabia, signaling a shift in Berlin's traditionally restrictive approach to arms sales to the Middle East and placing greater emphasis on st...

Merz and Macron Advance Joint European Defense Procurement Plans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to deepen military cooperation and jointly develop European defense capabilities, seeking to strengthen the continent's ability to provide for its own security.

Germany Approves Major New Military Aid Package for Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius joined British and Ukrainian counterparts in Berlin to announce thousands of drones, advanced air-defense systems and continued financial assistance for Kyiv as the war with Russia continues.

Klaus-Michael Kuehne, German Logistics Billionaire and Kuehne Plus Nagel Shareholder, Dies at 89

Klaus-Michael Kuehne, the influential German billionaire and major shareholder of Kuehne Plus Nagel, Hapag-Lloyd and Lufthansa, has died at the age of 89, ending the career of one of Germany's most powerful figures in transport and logis...

Chancellor Friedrich Merz Pushes German Cabinet to Accelerate Pro-Growth Economic Reforms

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is urging his reshuffled cabinet to move quickly on deregulation, tax changes and digitalization measures as Germany seeks to revive growth and ease the bureaucratic burden on mid-sized companies after pr...

Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Give Ukraine Classified Storm Shadow Blueprints for Domestic Missile Production

The British premier authorizes European defense manufacturer MBDA to release sensitive component data during his first official visit to Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day.

Germany’s Industry Expands Automation Presence at Taipei Manufacturing Exhibition

The German Trade Office Taipei is presenting twenty German industrial companies at Automation Taipei, the country’s largest national pavilion at the exhibition, with firms showcasing automation, precision engineering and manufacturing te...

Bavarian School Holidays End as Return Travel Drives Heavy Autobahn Congestion

The end of Bavaria’s long summer school holidays has brought heavy traffic to major autobahn routes as millions of families return to urban centers, prompting regional travel warnings from highway police.

German Consumer Groups Warn Against Rising Pressure to Tip in Restaurants

Consumer protection organizations are raising concerns about digital tipping prompts and growing social pressure to leave gratuities, including for counter service, as households continue to face elevated everyday costs.

Deutsche Bahn Changes BahnCard Loyalty Scheme With Dynamic Points System

Deutsche Bahn has revised its BahnCard loyalty programme to introduce dynamic points requirements based on factors including travel distance, booking timing and peak demand, while reducing the points needed for some bookings.

German Police Launch Nationwide Speed Enforcement Campaign Near High-Risk Areas

Police forces across most German states have begun coordinated speed checks near schools, construction sites, hospitals and care facilities in an effort to reduce serious traffic accidents.

Germany’s Household Spending Remains Cautious Despite Stable Wage Growth

German households continue to restrain overall consumer spending despite steady wages, with lingering inflation encouraging caution while a growing share of discretionary spending is directed toward travel and leisure.

German Rail Union Seeks Harsher Penalties for Attacks on Transit Workers

The Railway and Transport Union is calling for stronger legal protections and tougher criminal penalties after an increase in physical and verbal assaults against train guards and station staff.

Germany Expands Urban Cooling Measures as Cities Prepare for More Extreme Heat

Municipal governments in Berlin, Frankfurt and Stuttgart are investing in cooling centers, shaded public spaces and urban forestry to protect residents from increasingly intense summer heat.

Munich and Berlin Startups Face Tighter Investor Focus on Profitability

Venture capital investors in Munich and Berlin are placing greater emphasis on immediate commercial returns, increasing valuation scrutiny for early-stage software and artificial intelligence companies as funding conditions tighten.

German Banks Tighten Corporate Lending Risk Controls Amid Supply Chain Volatility

Commercial banks are restructuring corporate lending portfolios and strengthening stress tests as persistent supply-chain uncertainty and elevated borrowing costs increase risks for mid-sized industrial companies.

German Researchers and Industry Launch Projects to Secure Critical Raw Materials

German research institutions and industrial partners are developing recycling, substitution and supply initiatives aimed at securing critical raw materials and reducing dependence on foreign rare-earth supplies.

Germany Steps Up Supply Chain Risk Reviews as Middle East Tensions Threaten Trade

German chemical and manufacturing companies are intensifying supply-chain assessments and diversifying procurement channels as maritime security risks and trade disruptions in the Middle East raise concerns over access to industrial inputs.

Renewable Energy Groups Urge Germany to Remove Barriers to Vehicle-to-Grid Charging

Renewable energy associations are pressing Berlin to remove legal and administrative obstacles to bidirectional electric vehicle charging, arguing that wider adoption could expand decentralized energy storage and help support grid stabil...

German Government Cuts Solar Feed-In Tariffs for New Photovoltaic Installations

Germany has implemented its scheduled semiannual reduction in feed-in tariffs for new solar installations, lowering payments for surplus electricity supplied to the grid as equipment costs decline and subsidy arrangements are adjusted.