German authorities have made the country’s largest ever cocaine seizure, confiscating 35.5 tonnes of the drug with a street value of 2.6 billion euros. The haul was discovered in shipping containers between April and September 2023, with investigations revealing a complex smuggling operation involving fake companies and suspects from various countries.
British singer Rod Stewart was booed by some audience members at a concert in Leipzig, Germany, after expressing support for Ukraine during his performance. The incident reflects growing unease in eastern Germany over continued western support for Kyiv.
European Union nations have failed to reach an agreement on new sanctions against Russia’s lucrative liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector, just a day before the start of the Ukraine Peace Summit. Germany has emerged as the main obstacle to the deal, which would have been the 14th package of sanctions imposed by EU members since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The proposed package included a ban on re-exporting Russian LNG from EU ports and financing planned Arctic and Baltic LNG terminals. Germany is concerned that broadening the sanctions to cover civilian products, such as chemicals and metalworking machinery, would negatively impact small businesses. The European Commission is reportedly negotiating with the German government to convince Berlin to lift its veto. The disagreement highlights divisions within Germany’s governing coalition, with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calling for stronger sanctions against Belarus.
In preparation for the upcoming European Football Championship (Euro 2024), Germany is implementing enhanced security measures to safeguard the event and ensure the well-being of participants and attendees. These measures include increased border checks within the Schengen zone, with intensified inspections at borders shared with Denmark, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
The UK Foreign Office has issued an urgent advisory for travelers heading to southern Germany due to severe flooding that has claimed one life and left hundreds stranded. The flooding has impacted rail travel, with the route between Stuttgart and Augsburg closed and two carriages of a high-speed train derailed following a landslide. Emergency declarations have been issued in several Bavarian districts as water levels continue to rise, and the Rhine River has been closed to shipping traffic in certain sections. Airlines are facing flight cancellations and delays, and hotels are experiencing cancellations as tourists opt for safer destinations. The severe weather is expected to have a significant impact on Germany’s travel and tourism sector, which is already recovering more slowly than other major European destinations.
A video has sparked outrage after it emerged showing a group of people singing racist lyrics and performing Nazi salutes at a club on the island of Sylt in Germany. The video, which has since gone viral, shows the group modifying the popular song ‘L’amour Toujours’ into a Nazi slogan, ‘Germany for the Germans – foreigners out’. The video also shows a man dressed in a white shirt raising his right arm in an apparent Nazi salute. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation on social media, with many expressing shock and disgust at the behavior. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Archaeologists have uncovered an extraordinary burial site in southern Germany, dating back approximately 6,800 years. The remains, believed to belong to a high-status individual known as ‘The Mayor,’ were interred with an abundance of grave goods, including food, drink, stone tools, and a halved boar’s tooth. The discovery offers rare insights into the social hierarchy and burial practices of Middle Neolithic societies.
Germany’s aging and unreliable rail network is raising concerns ahead of the Euro 2024 football tournament, which is expected to draw a large number of fans. The country’s trains have been plagued by frequent delays, cancellations, and construction work, leading to worries that they may struggle to handle the influx of visitors. Deutsche Bahn, the national railway operator, insists it is preparing for the event and has added extra train seats and discounted fares for match ticket holders. However, experts and passenger associations warn that even small problems could cause major disruptions. The rail workers’ union EVG has threatened industrial action if security is not improved, and a recent survey found that a majority of staff have experienced physical or verbal attacks in the past year.
Ryanair, the leading airline in the UK, has announced the release of over 11,000 additional seats for travel to and from the UK during the Euros 2024 tournament in Germany. Due to high demand from UK supporters, Ryanair has increased seating capacity on key match routes, including London Stansted to Dortmund and Frankfurt, and Manchester to Cologne. They are also introducing new temporary routes to cater to the surge in travel demands.
A series of unusual earthquakes near the border of Germany and the Czech Republic has raised the possibility of magma movement deep beneath the surface. These earthquakes, which occurred in the Vogtland region, are typically mild and last for several weeks. However, a recent swarm exhibited unique characteristics, including a northward shift in its center and an occurrence on a near-horizontal underground structure. While the exact cause of the earthquakes is still unknown, scientists believe it may be related to carbon dioxide bubbling up from magmatic fluids deep underground. The findings suggest that the region may have the potential for future volcanic activity, although this is not imminent.
