Latest Germany government News

Number of new German citizens hits 20-year high as many Syrians naturalized

May. 30, 2023 10:52 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany saw a 28% increase in the number of people gaining its citizenship last year, with people from Syria accounting for more than a quarter of those who were naturalized, official data showed Tuesday. Preliminary figures show that about 168,500 people were granted...

Panel of historians starts 3-year review of 1972 Munich Olympics attack

May. 30, 2023 09:08 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — A panel of historians set up to review the 1972 attack on the Munich Olympics is starting its three-year mission to examine what happened before, during and after the events of five decades ago on Tuesday, the German government said. In April, Germany's Interior...

Jewish groups and city officials protest against Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt

May. 28, 2023 15:46 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Several Jewish groups, politicians and an alliance of civil society groups gathered for a memorial ceremony and a protest rally against a concert by Roger Waters in Frankfurt on Sunday evening. They accuse the Pink Floyd co-founder of antisemitism - an allegation he...

Germany expects Russia to expel German diplomats, teachers, cultural staff

May. 27, 2023 11:53 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Russia will start expelling German diplomats, teachers and employees of German cultural institutions next month — a move that will further enhance tensions between the two countries that have already had very fraught ties since Russia invaded Ukraine early last year. ...

Berlin police investigate Roger Waters for possible incitement over concert outfit

May. 27, 2023 09:48 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Police in Berlin said Friday that they have opened an investigation of Roger Waters on suspicion of incitement over a costume the Pink Floyd co-founder wore when he performed in the German capital last week. Images on social media showed Waters firing an imitation...

German government denies Scholz comments spurred raids on climate activists

May. 26, 2023 14:29 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — A German government spokesperson on Friday rejected the notion that comments by Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticizing climate activists might have prompted raids against them this week. Police on Wednesday searched more than a dozen properties across Germany linked to...

Germany orders 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles sent to Ukraine

May. 26, 2023 13:52 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — The German military has ordered 18 new Leopard 2 tanks to replace vehicles that were sent to Ukraine earlier this year, a leading defense company said Friday. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann said a contract for the Leopard 2A8 tanks was signed with the federal office for...

Man joins VIP convoy, hugs German chancellor; security breach under investigation

May. 26, 2023 12:35 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — German police have been left red-faced after a member of the public was able to slip into a VIP convoy for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then give him a hearty hug as he prepared to board a plane at Frankfurt Airport. Tabloid newspaper Bild reported Friday that Scholz's...

OpenAI boss downplays fears ChatGPT maker could leave Europe over AI rules

May. 26, 2023 11:37 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Friday downplayed worries that the ChatGPT maker could exit the European Union if it can't comply with the bloc's strict new artificial intelligence rules, coming after a top official rebuked him for comments raising such a possibility. ...

German parliament authorizes troops to stay in Mali for one final year

May. 26, 2023 08:03 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers on Friday gave the go-ahead for the country's troops to stay in Mali for up to another year, part of a plan to bring Germany's involvement in a U.N. military mission in the West African nation to an orderly end. Parliament approved the new and final...