Europe News Scholz gets SPD's chancellor candidate nod after weeks of doubt Germany's centre-left Social Democracts have chosen to officially nominate current Chancellor Olaf Scholz as their party's candidate despite his low approval ratings. 25/11/2024
Economy Germany business morale worsens further: Is competitiveness at risk? German business confidence fell sharply in November, with the Ifo Index hitting its second-worst level since January. Rising costs, energy prices, and structural issues are eroding industrial competitiveness, while private sector activity hit a nine-month low. 25/11/2024
Europe News VW workers' union threatens to go on strike after talks fail Earlier this week, the workers announced that they were willing to accept pay reductions so that the company could continue to keep plants open and avoid mass layoffs. 22/11/2024
Travel News China extends visa-free entry to Bulgaria, Romania, Malta and Japan China's rapidly expanding visa-free scheme aims to boost tourism. 22/11/2024
Europe News German Defence Minister says he won't run for chancellor in 2025 The announcement, which Boris Pistorius made in a video posted to SDP social media channels, clears the way for incumbent chancellor Olaf Scholz to run for a second term. 22/11/2024
Europe News Denmark and Norway investigate damaged cables in Baltic Sea Concerns are growing over cables carrying internet data being cut or damaged, with cases reported in a number of European countries including Germany, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania. 21/11/2024
Europe News Ukrainians in Berlin ask Russians to share blame for 'Putin's war' Russian opposition figures organised a march to the Russian embassy in Berlin to mark 1,000 days of the war in Ukraine — and some of the city's Ukrainian residents had mixed feelings. 20/11/2024
Europe News Germany's Olaf Scholz faces pressure to drop re-election campaign Members of the German chancellor's Social Democratic Party are increasingly speculating that Scholz's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, is a more popular choice to lead the country. 20/11/2024
Culture news German architecture prize rescinded for British pro-Palestinian artist The Schelling Architecture Foundation has refused to award the winner of its top prize because they signed a letter pledging to boycott Israeli institutions. 19/11/2024
Business Thyssenkrupp's steel division sees valuation slump The unit has suffered from rocky economic conditions, fierce competition from Asian manufacturers, and a pressure to decarbonise. 19/11/2024
Europe News Damage to underwater cables was 'sabotage', German minister says Two underwater fibre-optic communications cables running between Finland and Germany were discovered cut on Monday, an incident both countries said was under investigation. 19/11/2024
Europe News Finland and Germany discover severed data cable through Baltic Sea In a joint statement, the two countries said the damage comes at a time that “our European security is not only under threat from Russia‘s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors.” 18/11/2024
Europe News Russian opposition figures march against Putin in Berlin Prominent Russian opposition figures led a march of at least 1,000 people in central Berlin on Sunday, against President Putin and his war in Ukraine 17/11/2024
Green News Three big European countries rely on gas - and plan to use more Three European countries are especially reliant on fossil gas for electricity generation - Italy, the UK and Germany. 15/11/2024
Europe News Scholz calls for peace in Ukraine in phone call with Putin For the first time in two years, the German chancellor directly spoke with the Russian president. 15/11/2024
Europe in Motion Alcohol-free beer is becoming more popular in the EU Alcohol-free and low-alcohol beer production in the EU jumped by 13% from 2022 to 2023, while the share of traditional brews declined. How large is the gap now? 15/11/2024
Cinema Todd Haynes named as Jury President of 75th Berlin Film Festival US director Todd Haynes ('Far From Heaven', 'Carol', 'May December') will be president of the international jury of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. 15/11/2024
Economy Germany warns ports against accepting Russian gas shipments Germany's economic ministry has warned the Deutsche Energy terminal of a planned shipment expected to arrive at the Brunsbüttel facility, according to a report. 14/11/2024
Europe News Scholz calls for compromise as opposition leader lays out election bid In the first Bundestag meeting since the ruling coalition collapsed last week, the leader of Germany's largest opposition party laid out his plans for the country in a fiery debate. 13/11/2024
Europe News German vice chancellor open to dialogue from left to right As Germany prepares for its 2025 elections, Green Party’s Robert Habeck said he is open to talks with all parties for possible post-election coalitions. 13/11/2024