Daily Briefing 20.08.2026, 16:45 (CEST)

German minister expects 'arms race' in drone defence

Building up drone-defence capabilities will be a permanent task for Germany in the coming years, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Thursday.

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. 

Women outperforming men in Germany's education system

Young women in Germany are outperforming their male counterparts at school and university, new figures have revealed.

German frigate takes part in multinational manoeuvres south of Cyprus

Naval vessels from five countries including Germany held an exercise off Cyprus earlier this week, the Cypriot National Guard said on Wednesday.

Heat linked to around 14,000 deaths in Germany so far this year

Around 14,000 people in Germany are estimated to have died in connection with periods of extreme heat so far this year, the country's public health institute said on Thursday.

German court: Stricken tanker loaded with Russian oil cannot be seized

German customs authorities cannot seize a tanker loaded with Russian oil that suffered damage in the Baltic Sea last year for the time being, after expedited legal proceedings were disconti...

Bundesbank: Recovery of German economy hampered by low water levels

Drought and low water levels are hampering the recovery of the German economy, the country's central bank said on Thursday. 

Young Germans losing confidence in state pension system

Trust among young Germans in the state pension system is dwindling, a poll released on Thursday showed. 

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...