Daily Briefing 18.11.2025, 16:13 (CET)

Merz proposes national standards to protect German Christmas markets

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called common security standards to be applied to Christmas markets across the country, in light of deadly attacks in recent years.

Three in four Germans support compulsory year of service, poll shows

A clear majority of Germans would support introducing a compulsory period of social service for all citizens, a Forsa poll showed.

Germany wait for World Cup draw as squad remains open

Germany didn't have an easy journey on their way to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but booked their ticket on Monday evening with a 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia.

Germany's Rheinmetall aims to quintuple sales to €50 billion by 2030

Germany's largest defence contractor believes it is on track to increase its turnover fivefold within six years.

NATO general urges 'rethink' of deterrence at Berlin security talks

NATO General Ingo Gerhartz called on Germany to step up its efforts to deter possible future attacks, at the start of a two-day conference in Berlin focused on strengthening Europe’s defenc...

WWF says EU consumption causes 100 trees to disappear every minute

A study commissioned by the WWF has found that EU citizens' consumption of soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, industrial timber and rubber led to the felling of 149 million trees worldwide...

Amazon Germany hires 12,000 seasonal workers ahead of holidays

Amazon has hired around 12,000 seasonal workers in Germany ahead of the Black Friday and Christmas shopping rush, the company has said, marking an increase of roughly 3,000 compared with la...

Germany's Wadephul: UN resolution on Gaza is 'decisive milestone'

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution backing the Gaza peace plan.

Polanski to remain Gladbach coach for the time being

Eugen Polanski has been permanently appointed as Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach and has signed a contract until 2028, the Bundesliga club said in a statement.

Housing approvals up by 11.7% in Germany since start of year

Germany's residential construction sector saw more positive news, with the number of approvals for new housing units from January to September 11.7% higher than in the same period last year...