Daily Briefing 20.08.2026, 14:19 (CEST)

Germany charges four men over €20m tax evasion in cum-ex scandal

Germany has brought charges against four former employees of Commerzbank on suspicion of serious tax evasion linked to the cum-ex fraud scandal. 

Severe storms, two tornadoes cause widespread damage in Germany

Severe storms, including two confirmed tornadoes, caused widespread damage across parts of Germany overnight, leaving at least one person dead and others injured, with dozens of buildings d...

Munich prosecutors blame far-right man for 1970 Jewish centre deaths

More than 56 years after an arson attack on a Jewish care home in Munich left seven Holocaust survivors dead, prosecutors said on Thursday they are convinced a lone far-right perpetrator wa...

German Jewish leader on anti-Semitism: 'I was wrong'

One of the most prominent representatives of the Jewish community in Germany, Charlotte Knobloch, has expressed deep concern about rising anti-Semitism.

China remains Germany's top trading partner

China maintained its position as Germany's most important trading partner in the first half of 2026, with the volume of imports and exports with the People's Republic totalling €125.5 billi...

Merz lashes out at Israel's Ben-Gvir for 'targeted killings' remark

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) firmly opposes statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for targeted killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, deput...

Ukrainian diver suspected of Nord Stream attack arrested in Croatia

A Ukrainian national and trained diver was arrested on Wednesday morning in Croatia as a second suspect in the Nord Stream pipeline attacks of September 2022, the German public prosecutor's...

German airline Eurowings resumes flights to Dubai

The German airline Eurowings plans to resume flights to the Arab emirate of Dubai, after a war-related break of almost eight months, it announced on Wednesday.

Munich bids for 2028 men's Champions League final

Munich is again bidding to host the men's Champions League final and wants to stage European club football's showpiece match as early as 2028, the city council said on Wednesday.

German agency provides details on Vietnam Airlines near-crash

Germany's Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has provided further details about a near-accident at the weekend involving a Vietnam Airlines aircraft.