Daily Briefing 13.05.2026, 15:55 (CEST)

Green veteran Özdemir becomes first German premier of Turkish heritage

Cem Özdemir became Germany's first state premier of Turkish heritage on Wednesday after leading his Greens to a narrow election victory in the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg earli...

Far-right AfD leads Social Democrats in German state ahead of election

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) by almost 10 points in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern four months before voters go to the polls in the north...

Embarrassing U-turn for Merz as German coalition drops workers' bonus

The German government is dropping its planned €1,000 ($1,170) tax-free bonus for workers in an embarrassing U-turn for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, lawmakers confirmed on Wednesday.

German court backs consumers in Milka chocolate bar shrinkflation case

A German court ruled on Wednesday that new Milka chocolate bars with reduced weight breach competition law and may not be marketed in their current form, siding with a lawsuit filed by a co...

Aytekin to officiate Bayern v Cologne as final Bundesliga match

German top referee Deniz Aytekin will officiate the match between Bayern Munich and Cologne on Saturday as he brings his Bundesliga refereeing career to an end.

Volkswagen holding company Porsche SE posts loss of nearly €1 billion

German multinational Porsche SE on Wednesday reported a first-quarter net loss of €923 million ($1.08 billion) after a massive write-down on its stake in the Volkswagen Group.

Report: Goalkeeper Neuer agrees on new contract with Bayern Munich

Captain Manuel Neuer has agreed on a new contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, broadcaster Sky said on Tuesday.

German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd turns to loss amid Hormuz blockade

Germany’s largest container shipping company, Hapag-Lloyd, turned to a loss in the first quarter of the year, with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, severe weather and falling freight r...

Germany to impose tougher penalties on use of 'knockout drops'

The German government is set to impose tougher penalties for the use of knockout drops, also known as date-rape drugs. 

Activists dismayed as Germany to scrap limits on fossil fuel heating

The German government on Wednesday passed a measure to allow the installation of fossil fuel-based heating systems in new buildings, causing fury among environmental groups.