The joint Dutch-German venture, which received the green light from regional authorities last month, seeks to extract 13bn cubic metres of gas from just outside a protected area at the marine border between the two countries. Campaigners have criticised the project because it will mean drill for gas more than four years after the International Energy Agency warned that new oil and gas development was incompatible with its roadmap to stop the planet heating by 1.5C (2.7F).
Germany will develop a 'comprehensive action plan' to counter what it sees as low-level hybrid warfare waged by Russia, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday. The newly formed National Security Council would "in the coming days" hold its inaugural meeting to work on the plan, Merz told parliament. Referencing mysterious drone flights that have caused chaos at European airports, Merz charged that Russian President Vladimir Putin was subjecting Europe to "hybrid attacks".
Although the World Cup is still a little while away, the German Football Association (DFB) is busy with pre-tournament preparations. According to Bild (via @iMiaSanMia), the final friendly opponents ahead of the World Cup have been finalized. The last opponent before the tournament will be none other than one of the co-hosts, the United States of America. The dress rehearsal will be held in early June.
Germans who continue in the labour market beyond retirement age will be able to earn up to 1,750 (2,000) a month tax-free on top of their pension under a scheme aimed at boosting economic growth and labour force participation rates. The Aktivrente, or active pension scheme, due to come into force in January, was promised on the campaign trail by the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, before he came into office five months ago.
It was very important for me to score my first international goal today. It's actually fitting that it was with my shoulder. We got the three points so I'm happy. It's tough here with a great atmosphere, so winning is not a given. We're working a lot on set pieces with different variants - I'm glad it worked out today,
Germany now boasts a record 256 billionaires, the highest number since records began according to Manager Magazin. The total wealth of the 100 richest Germans has nearly tripled since 2001, reaching €758 billion, while the combined asset value of the 500 richest stands at €1.16 trillion. More than half of those on the list now possess fortunes exceeding €1 billion.
Manufacturers fear the looming EU ban will deal them another blow, complaining they have not had enough time to build up competitive EV offerings while demand for battery-powered cars is moving far more slowly than expected in Europe. After holding talks with auto industry leaders, Merz vowed to fight against an abrupt total ban from 2035 of sales of new fossil fuel-burning cars. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that this does not happen," he told a press conference.
It all happens so suddenly every year: one day you're out in the beer garden enjoying the seemingly endless, balmy nights, and the next you're huddling at a bus stop in drizzly weather, noticing that it's already dark at 4pm. The transition from the summer months to the autumn/winter long haul is one that takes getting used to in Germany, and you may find yourself developing some coping mechanisms to deal with the sudden shift.
Prosecutors in Berlin said they have arrested three suspected Hamas operatives. The suspects were preparing attacks on Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany, authorities said. Hamas has been designated a a terrorist organization by Germany, the EU, the US and several governments. The three men, two Germans and one Lebanese national, were identified by authorities as Abed Al G., Wael F. M. and Ahmad I.
Large crowds waved Palestinian flags and banners reading "Free Palestine" and "Food and water are human rights" as they marched from Berlin's town hall. "Today we can send a signal that the majority, who are against Israel's policies and against this genocide, are visible on the streets and can take action," Dustin Hirschfeld, who took part in the "Together for Gaza" demonstration, told AFP. The protesters finished their march at Berlin's Victory Column monument, the site of a rally and concert by rappers and hip hop artists.
"We want to reach an agreement with Syria this year and initially deport criminals, followed later by those without legal residence," Dobrindt said in remarks published in the regional Rheinische Post newspaper. "It is important to distinguish between people who are well integrated and working, and those without asylum rights who rely on social benefits," he continued, adding that talks would begin "shortly."
Despite the well-documented issues with punctuality and reliability, the number of Germans using public transportation continued to increase in 2025, albeit at a slower rate than before. According to data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office, Germans made around 5.7 billion journeys on public transportation in the first half of this year, a 1% increase on the same period in 2024.
In Kenya, over 700,000 refugees, many from Somalia, have been directly affected by the US cuts to the World Food Program. The 35-year-old minister said that they had only received a third of the necessary food rations, leading to a dramatic increase of hunger and malnutrition. "Tensions are growing, many people have to flee, the region is becoming increasingly destabilized," she warned. "This is unacceptable in human terms and is also not in Germany's security interests."
