Merkel limits public gatherings to 50 in covid hotspots but says national shutdown will be avoided

Angela Merkel limits public gatherings to 50 people in covid hotspots but says a national shutdown will be avoided ‘at all costs’ to preserve Germany’s economy Merkel told state leaders ‘more difficult times lie ahead in autumn and winter’  Compared to other European countries Germany has a low infection rate But the Chancellor said cases … Read more

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to take an extra 1,500 refugees from Greek islands

Germany has agreed to take in 1,500 migrants from the Greek islands after a fire left thousands homeless last week, German government and coalition sources have said. Chancellor Angela Merkel and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer have reportedly come to the agreement, with sources saying Seehofer had made the proposal and Merkel had agreed. More than … Read more

Germany warns Vladimir Putin it could halt gas pipeline project over Alexei Navalny poisoning

Germany has warned Russia that it could halt a gas pipeline project over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Mr Navalny, an opponent of Vladimir Putin, is in a coma in a Berlin hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia. Tests showed he was poisoned with novichok – the nerve agent used … Read more

Germany warns Vladimir Putin it could halt gas pipeline project over Alexei Navalny poisoning

Germany has warned Russia that it could halt a gas pipeline project over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Mr Navalny, an opponent of Vladimir Putin, is in a coma in a Berlin hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia. Tests showed he was poisoned with novichok – the nerve agent used … Read more

Western fury grows over Alexei Navalny Novichok poisoning

The West is demanding answers from Moscow today after the ‘despicable and cowardly’ nerve agent attack on Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.  Britain said the Kremlin ‘has a clear case to answer’ while NATO demanded a ‘full and transparent’ investigation after a German military lab found that Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, the Soviet-era weapon used … Read more

Germany suffers worst daily spike in coronavirus cases since May with 1,226 new infections  

Germany saw its worst daily spike in coronavirus cases for three months today as a ‘very concerning’ rebound in infections continues to gather pace.  Health officials announced 1,226 new cases this morning, the highest figure since May 9 – bringing the total from 217,293 to 218,519.  The seven-day average of new cases is now above … Read more

Coronavirus: Germany to impose Covid-19 tests on travellers returning from high-risk countries

Germany will make coronavirus tests mandatory for travellers returning from high-risk areas, as fears rise that summer travel could spark a new surge in infections. Among the countries included in the measures, announced today by Health Minister Jens Spahn, is the USA, which has so far reported 4.33million confirmed cases and 149,000 deaths from the … Read more

Coronavirus: Germany sets up testing centres at airports

Germany is carrying out coronavirus checks at airports and is considering making them compulsory to fend off a second wave of Covid-19.  Munich, Dortmund and Duesseldorf are among the airports which are screening travellers when they return from overseas, and Angela Merkel’s health minister is today discussing plans to enforce them nationwide.   Britain has never … Read more

‘The second wave of coronavirus is already in Germany’, senior Merkel ally says

‘The second wave of coronavirus is already in Germany’, senior Merkel ally says, as he admits ‘we have new clusters of infections every day’ The warning came as daily infections rose to 800 on Friday and Saturday Country’s R rate also rose above 1 to 1.08 on Saturday, up from 0.93 on Thursday Comes as … Read more

Angela Merkel calls for ‘more realism’ from the UK in Brexit trade deal talks

Angela Merkel calls for ‘more realism’ from the UK in Brexit trade deal talks in blow to Boris Johnson’s hopes she would help break the deadlock Angela Merkel’s government called for ‘more realism’ from the UK in trade talks German government said the bloc was ready for negotiations to move quickly But Boris Johnson hoped … Read more