Daily Briefing 20.04.2026, 16:33 (CEST)

Merz hails EU-Mercosur trade deal as he hosts Brazil's Lula

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday hailed a new EU trade deal with four South American countries as "a response" to current geopolitics dominated by a number of power players, as he...

Bayern now focus on 'bonus missions' after winning league title

Bayern Munich are shifting their focus to the "bonus missions" after claiming this season's Bundesliga title on Sunday with four games to spare.

German prosecutors charge teen over Islamist school knife attack

German federal prosecutors have charged a Kosovar teenager with three counts of attempted murder over a knife attack in the western city of Essen last year.

More than 500 Stuttgart fans taken into custody after mass brawl

More than 500 VfB Stuttgart fans were taken into custody after a mass brawl with Bayern Munich supporters outside the Allianz Arena in Munich before the hosts clinched the men's Bundesliga ...

CologneRhineRuhr Olympic bid backed by 66% of voters in referendum

The German Olympic body DOSB said on Monday that 66% of voters in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia have backed an Olympic bid in a referendum.

Recorded crime down in Germany in 2025, but violent assault up

The number of criminal offences recorded in Germany declined in 2025, according to annual police statistics released on Monday, although reports of violent crime including rape and sexual a...

Germany's whale saga continues as animal swims free, then stops again

A humpback whale stranded off Germany’s Baltic Sea coast three weeks ago was able to swim off under its own power early Monday but appeared to come to a stop in the same bay a few hours lat...

Russia reports arrest of German citizen over alleged attack attempt

Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB, said on Monday it had arrested a German citizen on suspicion of terrorism after she allegedly tried to carry out an attack in Russia's North...

German industry body scraps growth forecast as geopolitics weigh

Germany's main industry lobby no longer expects growth in industrial production this year, citing the impact of the Iran war and a sluggish start to the year.

Defence minister says German navy planning possible Hormuz role

Germany is already conducting concrete planning for a possible naval deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Sunday, amid rising tensions in the region....