Daily Briefing 21.05.2026, 22:29 (CEST)

Wolfsburg held 0-0 by Paderborn in first leg of Bundesliga play-off

Former champions Wolfsburg were held to a 0-0 draw by Paderborn on Thursday and face an uphill battle in the return leg of the play-off tie to avoid a first ever relegation from the Bundesl...

Germany's Merz proposes EU 'associate member' status for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed offering Ukraine a new special status as an "associate member" of the European Union in response to Kiev's demand for swift accession, accordin...

EY: Foreign investment projects in Germany hit lowest level since 2009

Foreign companies announced fewer investment projects in Germany for the eighth consecutive year in 2025, underlining concerns about the country's attractiveness as a business location, acc...

Berlin house of representatives votes in favour of Olympic bid

Berlin's house of representatives has backed a bid for future Olympic Games with a majority vote on a motion from the city's governing senate on Thursday.

Axel Springer reports higher 2025 profit after split from investors

German media giant Axel Springer on Thursday reported increased revenue and operating profit for 2025 as it announced its first financial results since parting ways with investors KKR and C...

Swiss Lustrinelli appointed Union Berlin coach

Union Berlin have signed Mauro Lustrinelli as their new coach from next season onwards.

German fountains dyed green in protest against government's gas policy

Activists from the German branch of the Extinction Rebellion environmental movement poured dye into fountains in several cities across the country on Thursday, turning the water bright gree...

Merkel highlights plight of Iranian women at Berlin book event

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has used a book event in Berlin to draw attention to the Iranian women's movement, warning that their struggle must not be overshadowed by the Iran co...

Passenger traffic down 7.5% at German airports amid strikes, Iran war

Passenger numbers at Germany's major airports were down 7.5% year-on-year in April amid the war in Iran and strikes at Lufthansa, industry figures showed on Thursday. 

'Aura' and 'quality': Neuer returns into Germany team for World Cup

Former captain Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement and will be Germany's first choice goalkeeper at the World Cup as coach Julian Nagelsmann praised his "aura" and "qualit...