Daily Briefing 30.05.2026, 16:36 (CEST)

Top German conservative: Speculation of move against Merz 'nonsense'

Speculation about a move to topple German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is "nonsense," a leading conservative said on Saturday.

Fire disrupts Brenner rail route amid closure of key Alpine road

A fire on a railway line north of the Italian city of Verona severely disrupted train services on the key Brenner route on Saturday, the local rail company said, compounding transport problems caused by the closure of the nearby Brenner Pass road crossing.

Munich Airport briefly halts flights after suspected drone sighting

Air traffic at Munich Airport was suspended for about an hour on Saturday morning following a suspected drone sighting.

Influential French philosopher Edgar Morin dies at 104

Edgar Morin, one of the most influential French intellectuals of the modern era, has died in Paris at the age of 104.

Putin again touts German ex-chancellor Schröder as EU Ukraine mediator

Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended his proposal to nominate former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the EU's negotiator in peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

German soldiers arrive in Lithuania for major combat exercises

German soldiers and tanks have arrived in Lithuania for the first major combat exercise involving the German brigade stationed in the Baltic country.

'Sound of Falling' sweeps German Film Awards, winning 10 prizes

"Sound of Falling" (In die Sonne schauen), by director Mascha Schilinski, dominated the 2026 German Film Awards, winning 10 prizes including the top honour, the Golden Lola for best feature film.

Decision with 18: Völler wants new sporting eligibility rules

Footballers should decide by the time they turn 18 for which senior national team they want to play, German team sporting director Rudi Völler has said.

Dead humpback whale 'Timmy' brought ashore on Danish island

The body of a dead humpback whale known as "Timmy" has been brought ashore on the Danish island of Anholt, where experts hope a post-mortem examination will shed light on how it died.

Merz emphasizes need for 'strong presence' on NATO’s eastern flank

The German government has assured Romania of its solidarity following the crash of a Russian drone on its territory.