Skip next section German hotels on track for a record year of stays
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
German hotels on track for a record year of stays
Germany’s federal statistical office Destatis said hotels in the country were expected to have another record year in 2025, despite a slight decline in visitors from abroad.
By the end of October, hotels with more than 10 beds recorded a total of 433.5 million overnight stays, according to Destatis. The figure marks an increase by 0.1% on the record figures seen in the same period last year.
Stays by domestic tourists were also up by 0.6% from last year, with a total of 362 million stays.
However, the number of guests from abroad declined by 2.3% to 71.5 million overnight stays.
https://p.dw.com/p/559Ls
Skip next section German economic growth slower than expected, experts say
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
German economic growth slower than expected, experts say
The Munich-based ifo Institute is predicting that the German economy will grow by 0.8% in 2026 and 1.1% in 2027, down by 0.5 percentage points each compared to the last projection in September.
Researchers at the leading economic institute also revised their forecast for the current year, expecting gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by only 0.1%, down from 0.2%.
The figures are much lower than the German government’s own economic forecast, expecting GDP to grow by 1.3% and 1.4% in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Timo Wollmershäuser, head of forecasts at ifo, said Germany was fighting to catch up on innovation, but red tape and outdated infrastructure were slowing the process.
“The German economy is adapting only slowly and at great expense to the structural shift through innovation and new business models,” said Wollmershäuser.
“Measures are needed that strengthen the supply of labor through additional incentives to increase working hours or participation in the labour market, and boost productivity through comprehensive digitalization, and simplification of the state system.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5596E
Skip next section Merz: Stronger European role in NATO is ‘absolute priority’
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
Merz: Stronger European role in NATO is ‘absolute priority’
Merz is hosting Rutte in Berlin amid increasing tensions in US-European relationsImage: Liesa Johannssen/Pool Photo/AP Photo/picture alliance
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for Europe’s role in NATO’s foreign and security policy to be strengthened, saying it is an “absolute priority.”
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Merz said EU countries must assert their unity in response to the new US national security strategy, which sparked backlash from Washington’s European allies.
“This means that where we can work together with the US in our own interests, beyond rhetoric, we will of course continue to do so,” Merz said, noting this cooperation includes working toward peace in Ukraine.
“We will do this as a united and strong Europe. Keeping this Europe together even under pressure and not allowing it to be divided by anything or anyone is more important than ever. We need a united, strong Europe more than ever before,” Merz said.
Merz confirmed he spoke with US President Donald Trump and other European leaders on the phone a day earlier. He said that conversation “left the strong impression that [Trump] is ready to go down this path with us, because he knows that the Europeans and their interests have to be heard.”
Read more about what Merz said on the US proposal to end the war and Europe’s role in those efforts in our Ukraine blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/558VT
Skip next section Mass chicken-run on a German highway after lorry overturns
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
Mass chicken-run on a German highway after lorry overturns
The truck was reportedly carrying 5,000 chickens Image: Matthias Bein/dpa/picture alliance
Thousands of chickens were on the run after a lorry overturned on a highway, authorities in the central German city of Magdeburg said.
Traffic was disrupted toward the nearby city of Braunschweig, as chickens were roaming freely on and alongside the road.
It was not immediately clear what made the vehicle tip onto its side, spilling 15 tons of cargo.
The driver was unharmed, and veterinary authorities were called in to capture the animals.
https://p.dw.com/p/557gO
Skip next section Brandenburg cleans up after major oil spill
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
Brandenburg cleans up after major oil spill
After an hourslong operation, responders have sealed a leak of at least 200,000 liters (about 52,835 gallons) of crude oil from a pipeline in the eastern German state of Brandenburg.
The state’s minister of the environment, Hanka Mittelstädt, is due to visit the site of the incident on Thursday to assess the damage, while a major cleanup is underway.
Authorities said the leak started on Wednesday evening after a workplace accident.
The leak went on for several hours into the night, with the amount spilled likely higher than estimated, Alexander Trenn, head of the Schwedt fire brigade, told the German news agency dpa.
Special suction vehicles were deployed to collect the large quantity of oil, and crews worked with heavy machinery to contain the spreadImage: Carsten Koall/dpa/picture alliance
Refinery operator PCK said, citing initial findings, that the incident was likely caused by preparatory work for a planned safety test on the pipeline, ruling out deliberate interference.
https://p.dw.com/p/557gN
Skip next section NATO’s Mark Rutte in Berlin for talks
12/11/2025December 11, 2025
NATO’s Mark Rutte in Berlin for talks
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, amid tensions between Europe and the US.
NATO allies, including Germany, have been pushing for more European involvement in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s administration has published a national security strategy stating that Washington does not consider Russia a threat, but sharply criticizes the EU.
Rutte and Merz are due to hold a press conference at 10:35 a.m. local time (0935 UTC).
In the afternoon, Rutte is giving a keynote speech at an event at the Munich Security Conference, followed by a panel discussion with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
https://p.dw.com/p/557di
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage 12/11/2025December 11, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Morgen from Bonn, where the weather is unusually warm for December and the sky seems to promise some shade of blue.
We’re waiting for a press conference later this morning by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO chief Mark Rutte.
While in Berlin, Rutte is also due to give a speech at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) organization and meet with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
It’s also a busy day for the German defense minister, Boris Pistorius, who is meeting with his French and potential Spanish counterparts, reportedly to discuss the European combat air system FCAS.
We’re also monitoring a court decision in the abuse case against the Catholic Church in Cologne in the afternoon.
Plus: New growth forecast for Germany, former Chancellor Angela Merkel gives an interview and updates about the damage to the PCK pipeline in Brandenburg.
https://p.dw.com/p/557H8
