News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

COLOGNE, GERMANY - JUNE 04: A view of as German city of Cologne is preparing for its largest evacuation on June 04, 2025, since World War II after the discovery of three unexploded bombs in the Deutz district. Roughly 20,000 residents are being evacuated

WWII bombs defused in Cologne after thousands evacuated

Over 20,000 people were evacuated from central Cologne after three unexploded World War II bombs were found, the biggest such operation in the German city since the end of the war.

World • 05 Jun

EU Commissioner Stephane Sejourne in a suit walking in front of a flag

EU 'must reduce reliance' on China's rare earth minerals

The diversification of supply of raw materials is important to stay independent in the future, EU Commissioner for Industrial Strategy Stephane Sejourne has said, adding that the EU should reduce its dependency on China regarding rare earth magnets.

Business • 04 Jun

German inflation rate eases to 2.1% in May

German inflation eased further in May, bringing it closer to the European Central Bank's 2% target and strengthening the case for a rate cut next week, but economic turmoil overshadows hopes for a lasting recovery.

Business • 30 May

Germany is considering a 10% tax on large online platforms like Google and Facebook

Germany seeks to levy 10% tax on online platforms

Germany is considering a 10% tax on large online platforms like Alphabet's Google and Meta's Facebook, its new culture minister told magazine Stern, in a move likely to heighten trade tensions with the Trump administration.

Business • 29 May

Japan loses status as world's top creditor to Germany

Japan has lost its position as the world's top creditor after 34 years, falling behind Germany, even as its net external assets last year hit a record high, officials said today.

Business • 27 May

US authorities said the company's cars passed tests while emitting far more pollution in actual driving

Ex-Volkswagen managers convicted over emissions scandal

A German court has convicted four former Volkswagen managers of fraud and handed down prison sentences to two of them for their part in the manipulation of emissions controls.

Business • 26 May

Forensic police officers investigate on the railway platform at Hamburg's main train station after a knife attack

German woman due in court after mass stabbing in Hamburg

A German woman accused of a mass stabbing attack at a train station in Hamburg will appear before a judge later, while the number of victims wounded rose to 18, police said.

Europe • 24 May

A spokesman for the Hamburg fire department said that 12 people had been injured in the attack

Woman arrested as 12 injured in German station stabbing

German police have said they had arrested a woman after at least 12 people were injured in a knife attack at the main station in the northern city of Hamburg.

World • 23 May

The German economy grew by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter, better than a preliminary reading of 0.2%

German Q1 GDP upgraded as orders rush to beat tariffs

The German economy grew significantly more in the first quarter than previously estimated due to good economic developments in March, according to a second estimate published today.

Business • 23 May

German foreign ministry spokesman Christian Wagner described the agreement as 'important'

EU-Israel agreement 'important forum' for talks - Germany

Germany has defended a cooperation deal between the European Union and Israel, a day after the bloc ordered a review of it in a bid to pressure Israel over the war in Gaza.

Middle East • 21 May

The tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump are expected to deal a major blow to Germany's export-oriented economy

German economic advisory panel forecasts 2025 stagnation

The German Council of Economic Experts has cut its economic forecast for the German economy, now expecting Europe's biggest economy to stagnate this year as it sees a "pronounced phase of weakness".

Business • 21 May

Vodafone says Germany will return to growth this year

Mobile and broadband provider Vodafone said it expected to return to revenue growth in Germany, its largest market, this year, driving an increase in cash flow after it said it met expectations for the year ending in March today.

Business • 20 May

Birkenstock makes its products at factories in Germany, which is subject to the US's universal 10% tariff on imports

Birkenstock plans price hikes to offset tariffs

German sandal maker Birkenstock plans to raise prices globally to fully offset the impact of the US tariff of 10% on European Union-made goods, chief financial officer Ivica Krolo said today, as the company's sales beat expectations.

Business • 15 May

Siemens said its full year sales rose by 7% to €19.76 billion, while orders increased 10%

Siemens confirms growth outlook after Q2 beats forecasts

Siemens still expects to increase its full-year sales by between 3 and 7% "despite increased uncertainty", the German engineering group said today, as it reported better-than-expected profit during its second quarter.

Business • 15 May

Merz vows to rev up German economic 'growth engine'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz today pledged reforms and investment for Europe's biggest economy to transform it once again into a "growth engine" after two years of recession.

Business • 14 May

Germany intelligence said a plane crash almost occurred when an air freight parcel caught fire (Stock image)

Germany arrests three Ukrainians suspected of spying

Three Ukrainians have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the shipment of exploding parcels, German prosecutors said, after a series of fires at European courier depots pointed to suspected Russian sabotage.

World • 14 May

New figures show that German inflation eased further to 2.2% in April

German inflation confirmed at 2.2% in April

German inflation eased further to 2.2% in April, the federal statistics office said today, confirming preliminary data.

Business • 14 May

The raids in seven federal states took place in properties associated with the Koenigreich Deutschland, or Kingdom of Germany, group

Raids across Germany after 'Reichsbuerger' group banned

Police have arrested four members of a radical group seeking to replace the modern German state, the interior minister and prosecutors said, in the latest operation against a far-right movement flagged as a potential threat to democracy.

Europe • 13 May

BMW expects some of the tariffs that have been imposed on vehicle imports to decline from July in one of the more optimistic views on the industry's prospects

BMW keeps 2025 outlook, warns US tariffs will bite in Q2

German premium carmaker BMW has today confirmed its 2025 outlook and said it expected some of US tariffs on car imports to decline from July, but warned the duties will have a "notable" second-quarter impact on its business.

Business • 07 May

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is congratulated by outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz

Merz elected German chancellor after initial shock defeat

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz was elected chancellor by parliament in a second round of voting after his new alliance with the centre-left Social Democrats was dealt a surprise defeat in the first attempt.

Europe • 06 May

Premium fashion retailer Hugo Boss said subdued global consumer sentiment continues to weigh on the sector due to uncertainty over US tariffs

Hugo Boss reports better than expected Q1 revenue

German fashion group Hugo Boss has today reported a better-than-expected quarterly revenue and maintained its full-year forecast amid increased macroeconomic uncertainties.

Business • 06 May

Germany's BASF has today reaffirmed its earnings guidance

BASF confirms outlook but warns of high uncertainty

German chemicals giant BASF said today it was facing high levels of uncertainty from US tariffs and other countries' reactions to them, but reaffirmed its earnings guidance for lack of clearer economic indicators.

Business • 02 May

A campaign poster of AfD leader Alice Weidel from the recent election campaign

German intelligence agency labels AfD 'extremist'

Germany's domestic intelligence service has designated the AfD as a right-wing extremist group, handing authorities greater powers to monitor the party and fuelling calls for it to be banned.

Europe • 02 May

Germany's gross domestic product rose in line with forecasts by 0.2% in the first quarter, compared with the previous three-month period

Germany skirts recession but unemployment rises

The German economy grew in the first quarter of the year, escaping a recession thanks to consumption and investment, but the unemployment rate rose to a decade high showing how economic weakness is taking its toll on the labour market.

Business • 30 Apr

Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest lender, recorded net profits of €1.78 billion in the first quarter, compared to €1.28 billion a year earlier

Deutsche Bank posts 39% rise in Q1 profit, tariffs weigh

Deutsche Bank has today posted a 39% rise in first-quarter profit after its global investment banking division generated a big increase in revenue in bond and currency trading during volatile markets.

Business • 29 Apr