Skip next section Police seize 400 kilos of cocaine at Hamburg port
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Police seize 400 kilos of cocaine at Hamburg port
German police discovered more than 400 kilograms (881 pounds) of cocaine hidden at the port in Hamburg on Saturday.
Customs officials were alerted after dock workers spotted two men behaving suspiciously. Two men have been arrested.
Read more about the seizure and how larger amounts of cocaine are flooding into Europe.
How Europe became addicted to cocaine
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https://p.dw.com/p/50RKN
Skip next section Could migration mean Merz’s Christian Democrats lose ground in state election?
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Could migration mean Merz’s Christian Democrats lose ground in state election?
The party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to lose ground in the upcoming election for the parliament of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Merz’s center-right CDU conservatives are set to remain the largest force in the state, but polls show the far-right AfD could make strong gains.
Talking to DW, political scientist Oliver Lembcke, says this is party caused by the government’s perceived failures on the issue of migration and integration.
Watch the video here.
Vote in North Rhine-Westphalia key test for Merz government
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https://p.dw.com/p/50RD7
Skip next section Berlin: Protesters demand end to Gaza ‘genocide’
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Berlin: Protesters demand end to Gaza ‘genocide’
Thousands of people have gathered in Berlin to demand peace in Gaza and an end to weapons exports to conflict zones.
The protest at the Brandenburg Gate was called by BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht, along with comedian Dieter Hallervorden and rappers Massiv and Bausa.
Police estimated around 8,000 participants at the start, with more arriving. Organizers claimed up to 20,000 attended the event.
The demonstration took place under the slogan “Stop the genocide in Gaza.” Russia’s war on Ukraine was also part of the protest’s focus.
The organizers called on the German government to push credibly for peace negotiations in both the Middle East and Ukraine.
They also demanded a complete halt to arms exports to all war zones.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas and other Islamist groups launched a major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel has since carried out a large-scale military response. Gaza health authorities, controlled by Hamas, claim over 64,000 people have been killed.
https://p.dw.com/p/50Qu3
Skip next section WATCH — Autoland’s reckoning: Are German cars a thing of the past?
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
WATCH — Autoland’s reckoning: Are German cars a thing of the past?
China is racing ahead in the global auto market and Germany is struggling to keep up. Once a symbol of engineering excellence, has the “Made in Germany” label lost its shine?
And what does it mean for the future of Germany’s industrial backbone? Our guests: Chris Reiter (Bloomberg), Clifford Coonan (DW), Vendeline von Bredow (Economist)
Autoland’s reckoning: Are German cars a thing of the past?
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https://p.dw.com/p/50QMY
Skip next section Tennis: Germany reach Davis Cup Finals
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Tennis: Germany reach Davis Cup Finals
Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz won their doubles encounter with Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki Image: Manami Yamada/REUTERS
Germany secured their place in the Davis Cup Finals after doubles pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz won a 3-0 victory in Tokyo.
The Germans defeated Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), granting them an unassailable lead.
On Friday, Germany won opening singles when Jan-Lennard Struff edged Yoshito Nishioka 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 and Yannick Hanfmann beat Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3, 6-3.
The finals take place November 18-23 finals in Bologna.
https://p.dw.com/p/50QSX
Skip next section WATCH — Germany leads 14-nation military exercises in the Baltic
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
WATCH — Germany leads 14-nation military exercises in the Baltic
Germany and 13 other countries are carrying out military drills in the Baltic Sea which has become a recent target of suspected Russian sabotage and spying. The drills take place as Russia and Belarus are set to hold their own regular military exercises not too far away.
Germany leads 14-nation military exercises in the Baltic
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https://p.dw.com/p/50QMp
Skip next section Many Germans borrowing money to cover daily expenses — survey
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Many Germans borrowing money to cover daily expenses — survey
A large number of Germans are battling to make ends meet and are borrowing money to cover basic expenses, according to a survey commissioned by Barclays bank.
Over half of adults under 50 borrowed money during the course of the past two years, the poll by research institute Civey said.
Forty four percent of respondents relied on family members, while 40% took bank loans.
Borrowed funds were mainly used for daily necessities such as food (26.6%) and general consumption, including clothing (21.4%). About 18% borrowed “to treat themselves.”
The poll questioned 10,007 adults across Germany in July and August.
https://p.dw.com/p/50QMW
Skip next section WATCH — Could ‘remigration’ blow up the AfD’s plan for power?
09/13/2025September 13, 2025
WATCH — Could ‘remigration’ blow up the AfD’s plan for power?
Germany’s far-right AfD is the second largest party in parliament and gaining support in the polls. But one word — ‘remigration’ — risks dividing the party.
Featuring exclusive interviews, this deep dive reveals the internal battles, extremist ties and constitutional risks that could make or break the AfD’s future.
Could ‘remigration’ blow up the AfD’s plan for power?
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https://p.dw.com/p/50QLy
Skip next section Last push before Sunday vote in North Rhine-Westphalia09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Last push before Sunday vote in North Rhine-Westphalia
Political parties in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) took advantage of the last day of campaigning for local elections.
The state is the country’s most populous and is home to 18 million residents living in urban hubs such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund and also the states rural areas.
Sunday will see city and municipal councils, county councils, mayors and district administrators will be voted in — about 20,000 seats in total.
The vote is being seen as the first test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition, which includes the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
It’s also a major test for state Premier Hendrik Wüst and his state government.
Wüst (CDU) has been governing with the Green Party since 2022 and has been tipped as a possible successor to Merz.
Opinion polls are predicting gains in some parts for the far-right AfD in places like Gelsenkirchen and Duisberg in the Ruhr area.
Read more DW coverage here.
https://p.dw.com/p/50QLi
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage09/13/2025September 13, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
Guten Tag from Bonn. Its the first local election in Germany since the nationwide government took office in May and it is also being seen as a litmus test for Friedrich Merz’s coalition government.
There’s also the question of what gains the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) could make in west Germany’s most populous state.
Stay with us for news and updates from Germany.
https://p.dw.com/p/50QKv
