… The AfD leads the opinion polls nationally, ahead of the ruling conservatives of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Social Democrats, but their heartland lies in the eastern states. …
… Berlin has warned that the country is the “daily target” of hybrid warfare, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned last week that those who carried out hostile acts against Germany would “pay a price”. …
… Berlin has warned that the country is the “daily target” of hybrid warfare, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned last week that those who carried out hostile acts against Germany would “pay a price”. …
… He was also scheduled to co-chair a virtual meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” — a group of countries backing Ukraine — with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. …
… German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he “supports Spain’s intention not to allow illegal migrants onto the European continent”, and demanded that Morocco “take back illegal migrants immediately”. …
… German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he “supports Spain’s intention not to allow illegal migrants onto the European continent”, and demanded that Morocco “take back illegal migrants immediately”. …
Pressure is intensifying on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a cabinet reshuffle that sparked anger in his own ranks and put a spotlight on his government’s competence as it battles to fend off a far-right surge at state elections in September. …
… MERZ UNDER PRESSURE AS SECURITY THREAT SHIFTS Chancellor Friedrich Merz , whose coalition government is going through a bruising cabinet reshuffle, is under pressure to take political action as debate grows over tougher security laws. …
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a record 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of the conservative CDU on just over 17%, according to incomplete results with more than 97% of votes counted. The party is projected to fall short of a majority but says it has won a mandate to govern, which would give it powers over policing, local education and culture in the state.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a record 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of the conservative CDU on just over 17%, according to incomplete results with more than 97% of votes counted. The party is projected to fall short of a majority but says it has won a mandate to govern, which would give it powers over policing, local education and culture in the state.
Germany has attributed a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August to Russia, citing equipment examination and intelligence findings. In response, German officials announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and termination of the Russian House contract in Berlin, along with tighter entry controls for Russian nationals.
Germany's Interior Minister said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany on August 4, where a drone carrying an explosive device was found near Ukrainian cargo planes. The attack followed what the minister described as Russia's "well-established pattern of hybrid operations in Europe," prompting Germany to announce the closure of Russia's consulate in Bonn and termination of the Russian House in Berlin.
King Harald V of Norway, 89 and Europe's oldest head of state, is in hospital in "extremely serious" condition with haemolytic anaemia; his wife Queen Sonja and son Crown Prince Haakon have cancelled all engagements and gathered at his bedside at Oslo University Hospital.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine wants peace but will not surrender to Russia at any price, during Independence Day celebrations marked by visits from foreign leaders including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa. The gathering also discussed Ukraine's requests for air defence systems and British support for long-range missile production.
Spain has condemned the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction of some EU countries to about 60,000 migrants crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Italy, Finland, and Denmark have suspended or called for suspension of the Schengen border-free arrangement with Spain, with EU interior ministers set to meet Tuesday to discuss the crisis.
Spain has condemned the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction of some EU countries to about 60,000 migrants from Morocco reaching the enclave of Ceuta on 30 July. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain had restored border control and prevented unauthorised onward movement within 48 hours, while Italian and other EU governments suspended or urged suspension of Spain's Schengen membership, citing the influx.
Friedrich Merz's standing has been damaged by a fractious cabinet reshuffle that sparked anger in his CDU/CSU bloc, as his conservative party trails the far-right AfD in polls and faces state elections in September. Only 15% of Germans are satisfied with Merz's performance, and the AfD has overtaken his party on perceived competence.
Germany's interior minister announced a security overhaul after a vehicle attack near Berlin's Pride celebration killed a Polish woman in her 60s on Saturday. The suspected driver, 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, had been convicted in May for preparing a serious act of violence but was released under juvenile law and supervision at the time of the attack; the interior minister said applying juvenile criminal law to adult security threats is "unacceptable" and promised new measures including ankle bracelets and preventative detention powers.
Police shot and killed Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese heritage, after he rushed at officers with a knife during a manhunt in Berlin. Ballout was suspected of driving a white van into a crowd near Tiergarten park on Saturday, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 others, followed by a stabbing attack; German authorities say the incident was likely an "Islamist terror attack."
Germany's coalition government has announced changes requiring workers to provide a doctor's note to their employers on the first day of illness, scrapping the pandemic-era option to obtain notes by phone. Under current rules, a certificate is only required if a person is unfit for work for more than three days, but the change would tighten that requirement.
U.S. and Iranian officials announced a deal to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Global leaders including the UN Secretary-General, European nations, and Australia have welcomed the agreement, with emphasis on nuclear non-proliferation and freedom of navigation.
A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Ukraine's Chornobyl nuclear plant; Kyiv officials said a fire was extinguished with no injuries and stable radiation levels, though Zelensky called it a deliberate and vile attack. The strike occurred as UK Prime Minister Starmer prepared to host Zelensky, Macron, and German Chancellor Merz in London for talks on European support for Ukraine.
A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, partially destroying a building; Kyiv said a fire was extinguished, there were no injuries, and radiation levels remained stable. Zelensky called it a deliberate and "vile" Russian strike on critical nuclear infrastructure.
Russia says Ukraine launched an "unprecedented attack" on St Petersburg and surrounding areas during an economic forum, with over 140 drones shot down; Ukraine's President Zelensky said his forces targeted Russian arsenals and a naval base in Kronstadt as a response to Russian attacks.
A Russian drone struck a residential building in Galați, Romania on Friday, causing a fire and injuring two people — the first time Romanian citizens have been hurt in such an incident. Nato and EU allies condemned the attack; Romania scrambled fighter jets but had only four minutes from detection to impact.
President Donald Trump announced the US will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, citing his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a week after the Pentagon had cancelled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the move, though the White House has signalled it intends to reduce overall troop levels in Europe as part of its "America First" agenda.
Germany's finance minister Lars Klingbeil has attributed a €70bn downgrade in projected tax revenues for 2026-2030 to Donald Trump's "irresponsible war in Iran," which he said caused a "global energy shock" harming the German economy.
The US is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, and President Trump said more cuts would follow, without providing details. Germany's defence minister called the withdrawal "foreseeable" while stressing that American military presence in Europe serves both German and US interests, and NATO is seeking clarification from Washington on the decision.
Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany was "foreseeable," while Nato seeks clarification from Washington. President Trump indicated further cuts may follow, citing concerns about German criticism of US negotiations with Iran.
The US Department of Defence plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following a dispute between President Trump and German Chancellor Merz over the war with Iran. The withdrawal, to be completed within six to twelve months, comes after Trump criticized Merz and suggested pulling troops from other Nato allies including Italy and Spain.