Categories
Germany news: Bremerhaven port to receive defense boost
Germany news: Bremerhaven port to receive defense boost
Darko Janjevic | Wesley Dockery | Richard Connor | Roshni Majumdar with AP, AFP, dpa, ReutersPublished 09/29/2026Published September 29, 2026last updated 09/30/2026last updated September 30, 2026Bremerhaven's port and Bremen's airport will be upgraded for German, NATO defense needs in case of an attack on the alliance. It comes as European countries upgrade militarily amid Russia's war in Ukraine. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NRQdWhat you need to know
This blog has closed. Below is a roundup of the main headlines in Germany on Tuesday, September 29, 2026:
- Bremerhaven's port to be upgraded for German, NATO defense needs
- Police cars in Rhineland-Palatinate to be equipped with teddy bears
- Historic German brewery to close after nearly 400 years
- Friedrich Merz and five others threaten to block EU budget proposal
- EU budget proposal slated to be approved by end of year by all 27 EU states
- Merz says Russia 'not interested' in serious talks after Wadephul-Lavrov meeting
- Coalition talks are underway in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.
Skip next section Thousands evacuated over US-made WWII bomb in Cologne09/30/2026September 30, 2026Thousands evacuated over US-made WWII bomb in Cologne
Darko JanjevicAround 3,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes in Cologne after the authorities discovered a World War II-era bomb near the Rhine river.
Authorities said the 1-ton bomb was discovered due to the river's low water levels. In parallel with the evacuation order, authorities temporarily closed the Rhine to traffic and blocked a nearby motorway, or Autobahn, as they are known in Germany.
Three people were fined during the evacuation effort — two for refusing to leave their apartments and one for entering the secure zone.
The disposal team was unable to remove the detonator at the scene, prompting authorities to transport the ordinance to a different location. Once in an open field, the bomb was placed in a hole and covered with 60 tons of sand, with the bomb disposal unit then conducting a controlled detonation.
Unexploded bombs are still being discovered across Germany over eight decades since the end of World War II, often prompting mass evacuations.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUaHSkip next section UK Oscar winner Helen Mirren honored in Hamburg09/30/2026September 30, 2026UK Oscar winner Helen Mirren honored in Hamburg
Darko JanjevicMovie star Helen Mirren received the Douglas Sirk Award at Germany's FilmFest Hamburg.
The veteran actress, now 81 years old, said she was honored to be awarded for her body of work.
"I've worked consistently all through my life, there has never been literally one year... that I haven't worked, so it is quite nice to have a recognition for that," she told reporters.
"So I will be proud."
The annual FilmFest Hamburg is one of Germany's top movie festivals.
The Douglas Sirk Award is a non-monetary prize given to people who contributed to the film industry and culture.
It is named after Hamburg-born US director Douglas Sirk, who died in 1987.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUa7Skip next section Hanover-Berlin train line to be closed for 14 months09/29/2026September 29, 2026Hanover-Berlin train line to be closed for 14 months
Wesley DockeryThe train line between the major German cities of Hanover and Berlin is expected to be closed for 14 months starting from Friday due to renovations.
Instrastructure and tracks will be replaced on a stretch with a total length of 227 kilometers (141 miles) until December 2027.
According to Germany's rail service Deutsche Bahn, trains will be redirected via Braunschweig and Magdeburg and will take around 80 minutes longer to travel.
High-speed Intercity Express trains between Berlin and the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia will also be impacted, along with regional trains.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUQESkip next section Merz on Wadephul-Lavrov meeting: Russia 'not interested' in serious talks09/29/2026September 29, 2026Merz on Wadephul-Lavrov meeting: Russia 'not interested' in serious talks
Wesley DockeryDuring a press conference in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his counterpart Sergey Lavrov showed Russia is "not interested" in serious talks to end the war in Ukraine.
The Wadephul-Lavrov meeting was the first time the German and Russian sides met in person since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Russia's subsequent assessment of this conversation has shown that Russia is obviously not interested in serious talks at all at this point in time," Merz said.
During a speech at the UN General Assembly debate following the meeting with Wadephul, Lavrov said the "aims of the special military operation will be achieved," referring to Russia's official term for the war.
Merz urged the Russian government to come to the negotiating table.
"But if Russia is not prepared to do so, then we are... ready to support Ukraine over a long period of time," Merz said. The German chancellor said "Russia will not win this war" and pointed at the "precarious situation" of the Russian economy.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUG5Skip next section Bremerhaven's port to be upgraded for German, NATO defense needs 09/29/2026September 29, 2026Bremerhaven's port to be upgraded for German, NATO defense needs
Wesley DockeryThe North Sea port of Bremerhaven will be upgraded to better serve German and NATO defense needs, German officials said on Tuesday.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday which will transform the port into a "Deployment Hub" in the case of an attack on the NATO bloc. The plan will cost some €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has caused European countries to draw up plans in case of an attack on a NATO member, such as Germany.
"Tens of thousands of soldiers will need accomodation and food. Machinery and equipment must be maintained and operated accordingly," Pistorius said.
Bridges, roads and railways will need to be boosted to facilitate the transportation of NATO equipment arriving at the Bremerhaven port. Bremen's airport will also be expanded with more logistics space as part of the plan.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTxPSkip next section Police cars in Rhineland-Palatinate to be equipped with teddy bears09/29/2026September 29, 2026Police cars in Rhineland-Palatinate to be equipped with teddy bears
Wesley DockeryPolice cars in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate will soon come equipped with a new cute and cuddly weapon ― teddy bears.
The state's interior minister, Achim Schweikert of the center-right Christian Democratic Union, said the bears will be given to kids by officers as a "source of comfort" in emergency situations. So far, 1,100 bears have been bought by police, equating to three bears per car.
It's up to police to decide when to give out the bears to children.
The decision to equip the police with teddy bears is due to a bachelor thesis at the Rhineland-Pfalz Police Academy by Kim and Kevin Zorn. The couple are both police officers in the major city of Koblenz.
The thesis researched the first aid provided to children in emergency situations. Children who witness situations such as domestic violence or sexual abuse can be distracted if they have an object hold on to.
Teddy bears are already being used by police in other German states, such as Saxony-Anhalt.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTt5Skip next section SPD leaders call for review of possible AfD ban09/29/2026September 29, 2026SPD leaders call for review of possible AfD ban
Richard ConnorParliamentary leaders from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) have called for a formal review of whether Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) should be banned.
"Democracy is threatened by it from within," SPD leaders from the federal parliament, Germany's states and the European Parliament said in a joint declaration after meeting in Bremen.
The resolution described the AfD as a right-wing extremist party that systematically attacks Germany's free society, normalizes racism and seeks to undermine the democratic order from within.
The SPD leaders called for a joint federal-state working group to be established before the end of the year to prepare the review.
"Preparing an examination procedure is a legal necessity required by the protection of our constitution," they said. "We see this as our democratic duty."
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said such a review was important because every liberal democracy was vulnerable and could also be destroyed from within.
Why Germany's political center is losing ground
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTYmSkip next section Western Germans inherit four times as much as easterners09/29/2026September 29, 2026Western Germans inherit four times as much as easterners
Richard ConnorWest Germans received more than four times as much inherited or gifted wealth per person as people in the east in 2025, highlighting the country's persistent wealth divide.
More than €2,100 ($2,390) per person was passed down or gifted in western Germany, compared with just under €500 in the eastern states and Berlin, the Federal Statistical Office said. The national average was just over €1,800.
Although the east and Berlin were home to 19% of Germany's population, they accounted for only 5% of the inheritances and gifts assessed for tax.
Tax authorities recorded transfers worth €142.5 billion in western Germany, dwarfing the €8 billion recorded in the east and Berlin.
The divide was also reflected in the tax assessed. Western states accounted for €20.4 billion, or 95%, of Germany's €21.4 billion in inheritance and gift taxes.
Eastern states and Berlin accounted for just €1 billion. The revenue goes directly to Germany's federal states.
Eastern Germany in western hands
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTYbSkip next section Historic German brewery to close after nearly 400 years09/29/2026September 29, 2026Historic German brewery to close after nearly 400 years
Richard ConnorWolters brewery in the northern German city of Braunschweig is to stop producing beer at the end of the year, bringing almost four centuries of brewing at the site to an end.
The closure will affect around 90 employees, who have been informed of the decision, according to the law firm handling the company's insolvency proceedings.
Founded in 1627, Wolters filed for insolvency under self-administration in the summer, citing falling sales in Germany's shrinking beer market. Efforts to find an investor for the production site were unsuccessful.
Germany's beer market contracted more sharply in 2025 than in any year since reunification, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
The Food, Beverages and Catering Union criticized the speed of the closure decision, saying the process appeared less like an orderly restructuring and more like "slamming on the brakes."
The Wolters brand could still survive. The insolvency law firm said talks with several interested parties were continuing, although they would not necessarily keep production in Braunschweig.
"An era is coming to an end with the closure of the Braunschweig production site," managing director Nils Handke said, describing the decision as unavoidable.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTSrSkip next section Germany warns Slovakia against doubting NATO defense09/29/2026September 29, 2026Germany warns Slovakia against doubting NATO defense
Richard ConnorGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has indirectly criticized Slovakia's stance on Russia's war in Ukraine, warning that doubts about NATO deterrence could endanger the entire alliance.
"The greatest threat to freedom on our continent comes from Moscow. The greatest danger to Europe is Putin's belligerent imperialism," Wadephul said during talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar in Bratislava.
"Questioning these facts is not only lacking in solidarity, it would be irresponsible," he added. Wadephul said countries that doubted NATO's deterrence created risks for themselves and weakened security guarantees for all allies.
Slovakia's left-nationalist Prime Minister Robert Fico has increasingly accused Western countries of escalating tensions with Moscow and questioned the policies of both NATO and the European Union.
Fico recently said he would prefer Slovakia to be neutral and expressed doubt that NATO allies would send troops to defend the country in an emergency. However, he acknowledged that Slovakia remained bound by its NATO membership.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NTSpSkip next section Merz calls teachers Germany's most important profession09/29/2026September 29, 2026Merz calls teachers Germany's most important profession
Richard ConnorGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has praised teachers as "the most important professional group in our country" at the German School Award ceremony in Berlin.
"I speak as a father and grandfather: We entrust you with the most valuable thing we have. Our children," Merz said.
Against the backdrop of Germany's weak results in the PISA international education assessment, Merz said ensuring that young people receive a good education was "one of the most important, if not the most important, tasks facing our society."
The chancellor admitted that he "rarely felt like" going to school as a child but said the ceremony had encouraged him to visit schools more frequently.
The €100,000 ($114,000) top prize went to the Bertha von Suttner Comprehensive School in the central state of Hesse, for its data-driven teaching model and personal support for pupils.
The jury said dedicated departments at the school evaluate data and use the findings to improve lessons. Students also have designated staff members who serve as permanent points of contact.
Only 15% of pupils arrive with a recommendation to attend a gymnasium, Germany's academically oriented secondary school. However, two-thirds later obtain the Abitur qualification needed to enter university, according to the jury.
Ukrainian defense minister cancels trip to Germany amid intensifying Russian strikes
Roshni MajumdarUkrainian defense minister has canceled his trip to Germany on Tuesday as Russia hammers the country withround-the-clock drone attacks to wear down its capital and the economy.
Yevgeniy Khmara was scheduled to meet his German counterpart Boris Pistorius at a time when Ukraine has been pushing for allies to step up military and financial aid ahead of winter.
At least nine people were killed across the country on Monday when Moscow's forces pounded apartment buildings, offices as well as a building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in downtown Kyiv.
The AFP news agency cited an unnamed source telling it that Khmara had canceled trips to both Germany and Norway "due to the situation in Ukraine and intensification of Russian attacks, which requires rapid attention."
First Germany-Russia talks since Ukraine invasion: Why now?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NSUmSkip next section Patricia Schlesinger: Ex-RBB director's trial date set for November 1009/29/2026September 29, 2026Patricia Schlesinger: Ex-RBB director's trial date set for November 10
Roshni MajumdarThe former director of Berlin-based broadcaster RBB (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg) is to stand trial in connection with allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of company resources that emerged when she was heading the channel in 2022.
The public prosecutor's office filed criminal charges against Patricia Schlesinger and three others last year in December.
The Berlin regional court on Tuesday accepted that indictment, meaning that it believes the case has enough weight to move to trial.
The trial, which is scheduled to begin on November 10, is set to see 56 hearing days because the trial is likely going to be a complex one.
The case is a very high-profile one because it involves someone who was at the helm of Germany's public broadcasting system as Schlesinger was also the director of ARD, the powerful association of the country's nine regional stations.
Schlesinger has denied all allegations. "Ms. Schlesinger based all her decisions as director solely on the interests of RBB. We will fully refute the accusations," her lawyer Oliver Sahan told German press agency DPA.
The trial ends at the end of June 2027, a spokesperson for the Berlin court told reporters.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NSDMSkip next section Germany intends to block sale of Hamburg logistics firm to China's Cosco09/29/2026September 29, 2026Germany intends to block sale of Hamburg logistics firm to China's Cosco
Roshni MajumdarThe German government intends to block the sale of logistics firm Zippel to Chinese state-owned group Cosco over security risks, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported.
The newspaper cited a restricted government memo that mentioned security and strategic risks that could come with the planned deal.
Cosco, which is one of the world's largest container shipping companies, last year announced that it would like to acquire an 80% stake in Zippel. It already has a minority stake in Hamburg's port terminal.
Zippel, a traditional German company based in Hamburg, the country's largest port city, arranges transportation of freight and cargo.
A number of ministries have been in favor of blocking the deal.
A final decision has yet to be made.
Germany's Merz seeks China reset as trade imbalance widens
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NRuJSkip next section CDU struggles: A trip to Sardinia and a beach chair at the chancellery09/29/2026September 29, 2026CDU struggles: A trip to Sardinia and a beach chair at the chancellery
Jens Thurau in BerlinThe center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party has seen better days: Most recently, it suffered unprecedented defeats in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin. At this time of voter disenchantment, two prominent CDU politicians have come under fire on social media: Jens Spahn and Philipp Amthor have been facing accusation of being out of touch and self-absorbed.
A few weeks ago, Spahn resigned from his powerful position as parliamentary group leader of the CDU and CSU bloc in the Bundestag after Spahn had announced that had become a parent with the help of a surrogate mother in the United States. He was accused of hypocrisy because surrogacy is banned in Germany and the CDU and Spahn himself had repeatedly voted to uphold this ban.
Spahn was then given a seat on the influential Budget Committee. He called in sick for a meeting, but at the same time the tabloid BILD published a photograph of him vacationing in Sardinia with his young son. Spahn immediately resigned that post as well.
The CDU's Philipp Amthor has only recently become Minister of State for Federal-State Cooperation in the Chancellor’s Office. There, he placed a beach chair on the balcony of his new office and proudly showed it to a TV reporter. As a reminder: His party has just been voted out of the state parliament in his home state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the Baltic Sea coast. But that didn't seem to have dampened the minister's good spirits.
Once again, social media reactions were fierce: This time with criticism of the young government official’s alleged arrogance. Amthor swiftly had the beach chair removed.
As the German saying goes, "Wer den Schaden hat, braucht für den Spott nicht zu Sorgen" (He who suffers the loss need not worry about the ridicule). That is seen to apply quite accurately to the CDU at the moment.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NRcHShow more posts