Daily Briefing 12.02.2026, 12:14 (CET)

Lufthansa strike in Germany grounds hundreds of flights

Pilots and flight attendants at German airline Lufthansa began their announced all-day strike on Thursday in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

German politician visits Gaza for first time since October 7 attacks

The president of Germany's Bundestag visited Gaza on Thursday, the first German politician to do so since the October 7, 2023, attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.

Germany backs negotiated US-Iran deal on nuclear, missile programmes

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul remains committed to a negotiated solution between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear and missile programmes.

German economists report increased European aid to Ukraine in 2025

Europe significantly increased its aid to Ukraine last year, according to an analysis published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy on Wednesday.

Germany's Siemens Energy nearly triples quarterly profit

Siemens Energy nearly tripled its profit in the first quarter of its financial year, the German energy technology company said on Wednesday.

German businesses warn EU 'is falling behind in global competition'

A group of leading German businesses has called on EU leaders to implement key reforms to boost the bloc's competitiveness with global players like the US and China, ahead of an informal summit later this week.

German court finds US man guilty of offering secrets to China

A US citizen was found guilty by a German court on Wednesday of planning to pass on sensitive US military information to China.

Tesla calls police to seize laptop at German works council meeting

Police were called to a works council meeting at a Tesla plant outside Berlin over accusations by management that a union representative was unlawfully recording the session, a police spokesman confirmed on Wednesday.

Campers push German overnight stays to record high in 2025

Germany's tourism industry posted the highest number of overnight stays ever recorded in 2025, thanks to increased demand on camp grounds, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

Teen on trial for killing officer during robbery in Germany

A 19-year-old accused of fatally shooting a police officer after robbing a petrol station in western Germany went on trial on Wednesday.