Daily Briefing 13.03.2026, 16:55 (CET)

Germany does not 'want to become involved' in Iran war, Merz says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he currently doesn't see the need for an international military campaign to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that his country does not "wish to become involved" in the Iran war.

German city appeals lifted entry ban on ex-Guantánamo inmate Slahi

The German city of Duisburg has appealed a decision by a German court to lift a decades-old entry ban for former Guantánamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a court spokeswoman told dpa on Friday.

Germany advised to lift fracking ban over Iran energy crisis

Germany should consider allowing fracking to bring down energy prices and reduce dependencies highlighted by the war in Iran, according to a group of advisers to Economy Minister Katherina Reiche.

Wild boar caught strolling through Berlin shopping mall

Shoppers at a Berlin mall were in for a surprise on Friday morning when they suddenly came face-to-face with a wild boar, leading police to temporarily shut down the building.

Economist warns Iran war could push German inflation to 6%

An economist at the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research (RWI) has warned that inflation in Germany could temporarily rise to 6% if the Iran war drags on for more than four weeks.

Germany and Norway to boost cooperation on European space efforts

Germany and Norway are planning to intensify cooperation to help make European space travel more independent, the two countries' leaders affirmed during a visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday.

German insolvencies at highest level since 2014 amid economic woes

The number of German businesses that filed for insolvency last year surged to the highest level since 2014 as Europe's biggest economy struggles to regain momentum, official figures showed on Friday.

Merz's conservatives narrowly ahead in western state election poll

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) have a razor-thin lead in Rhineland-Palatinate, a poll showed on Thursday, just 10 days before the south-western state heads to the polls.

Mercedes' average selling price declines after strong years

In the past two years, Mercedes-Benz has reported declines in its Average Selling Price (ASP) following exceptionally profitable years, according to a dpa analysis of the German automaker's financial presentations.

Stuttgart and Freiburg lose Europa League first legs, Villa win

Twice champions Porto hold the upper hand over VfB Stuttgart after winning 2-1 in their Europa League last 16 first leg in Germany on Thursday.