Wind of change: Germany gets serious about plans to make military ‘fit for war’

The return of full-scale armed conflict to Europe has Germany dramatically reframing its security policy.

With Russia and Ukraine still locked in combat after nearly two years and a major Israeli-Palestinian conflict underway, the European Union and NATO are feeling…[Read more]

Far-right German politician arrested after ‘Sieg Heil’ salutes heard

A legislator with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party was arrested on Monday on charges including displaying forbidden totalitarian symbols, with neighbours of his fraternity complaining of often hearing the Nazi “Sieg Heil” victory salute.

Newly elected…[Read more]

Why Germany’s economic miracle is facing a new reality

Germany has come a long way in 100 years. Back in November 1923, people were trundling wheelbarrows stacked high with cash through its streets to buy a loaf of bread. Now its reputation is that of an economic powerhouse.

That episode of hyperinflation left deep scars on the nation’s psy…[Read more]

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau tells Israel to stop ‘killing of babies’

Canadian rime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on Israel to “exercise maximum restraint,” saying the killing “of women, of children, of babies” in Israel’s war on Gaza must stop.

The Israeli military stormed the Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, on Wednesday in what it…[Read more]

How to mobilize cultural relations for climate action?

Climate Culture(s) Creative Lab
The EUNIC Climate Culture(s) Creative Lab occurred in Berlin from 22 to 28 June 2023. As part of the Goethe-Institut’s presidency of EUNIC in 2022-2023, the Lab brought new connections and collaboration among EUNIC members on environmental, climate, and c…[Read more]

German government tightens belt in new budget

After three years of big spending to cope with the COVID and Ukraine crises, Germany is imposing wide-ranging cuts in its new budget to reduce debt.

The German government presented its 2024 budget to the parliament on Tuesday, with Finance Minister Christian Lindner, of the neoliberal Free Democratic…[Read more]

Germany’s top court annuls move to repurpose COVID funding

Germany’s highest court has ruled that the government’s 2021 reallocation of unused coronavirus pandemic credit is unconstitutional. The government’s climate action budget is now €60 billion short.

What was the government planning?
In December 2021, the German coalition government a…[Read more]

German publisher halts sale of top author’s books after leak reveals he received €600,000 from Putin ally

A German publisher has announced a stop to the sale of books authored by a leading journalist and Russia expert after an investigation showed he had received at least €600,000 (£522,000) in undisclosed offshore payments from companies linked…[Read more]

Gaza war pushes tumultuous Israel-Turkey ties into ‘deep freezer’

Istanbul, Turkey – The mounting death toll in Gaza has seen Turkish politicians, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, become increasingly direct in their criticism of Israel.

Erdogan recently said he had severed ties entirely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan…[Read more]

Türkiye, Egypt to arrange patient transfers out of besieged Gaza

Tukiye and Egypt will reportedly work to transfer injured Palestinians and cancer patients out of Gaza as Israeli attacks continue.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and his Egyptian counterpart Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss medical aid supplies for Gaza…[Read more]

Emine Erdoğan calls on first ladies to be ‘voice of Gaza’

In a show of global solidarity for Palestinians, first ladies from different countries gathered in Istanbul Wednesday for a summit hosted by Emine Erdoğan, where the Turkish first lady called on all the first ladies in the world to be “a voice of Gaza,” and to stop Israeli attacks that…[Read more]

France’s ex-president Sarkozy appeals 2012 campaign fraud conviction

A Paris court on Wednesday began hearing former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal against his conviction for illegal campaign financing in a failed 2012 re-election bid.

The 68-year-old former French head of state appeared relaxed as he appeared for the hearing in a grey suit,…[Read more]

France’s political parties bitterly divided over Paris march against anti-Semitism

A call for a weekend march in Paris against anti-Semitism sparked bitter squabbling between political parties Wednesday despite a surge in anti-Semitic incidents in the country.

The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party said it would boycott the “great civic m…[Read more]

French court overturns government decree to disband ‘Earth Uprising’ climate group

France’s top administrative court overturned the government-ordered dissolution of a climate activist group, Les Soulèvements de la Terre (“Earth Uprising”, or SLT) on Thursday, ruling the group had not provoked violence.

“The dissolution of SLT did not…[Read more]

France to build polar research vessel as Macron sounds warning on melting glaciers

Addressing a conference on the polar regions and glaciers, he urged world powers to act in the face of the climate emergency despite raging geopolitical tensions.

He said mankind faced a “civilisational” challenge and called for “an unprecedented level of…[Read more]

France Deploys 7,000 Troops for Extra Security After Teacher Slain

PARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron on Oct. 14 deployed up to 7,000 soldiers for increased security patrols, as bomb alerts forced the evacuation of the Louvre museum a day after a teacher was killed in an Islamic attack.

France was put on its highest security alert on Oct. 1…[Read more]