Berlin

Germany has called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction supplies into Gaza. The appeal adds to mounting international pressure over the dire humanitarian situation in the territory, where aid deliveries have been severely restricted and large-scale rebuilding has been blocked. Berlin, historically a firm ally of Israel, framing the issue this way highlights growing European concern over access for relief and reconstruction materials.

Germany has concluded that Russia is not currently prepared for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The assessment followed a meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, during which Berlin sought to gauge Moscow's willingness to engage on ending the conflict. German officials say Russia's posture showed no genuine readiness for serious talks.

Germany's foreign minister visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague, pledging Berlin's full support for the institution despite US sanctions imposed under the Trump administration. The visit signals Germany's continued commitment to international justice, though it comes after Berlin also announced its own sanctions targeting ICC officials, creating a mixed picture of Europe's stance toward the court.

Germany's foreign minister says her meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was driven by security concerns linked to Russia, amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine. The talks, held on the margins of the UN General Assembly, mark a rare high-level contact between Berlin and Moscow, and analysts are watching whether it signals any shift in European diplomacy toward Russia.

Germany's foreign minister met with her Russian counterpart in a rare face-to-face encounter, urging Moscow to step back from what she called a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine. The meeting stands out given how few high-level contacts between Berlin and Moscow have taken place since Russia's full-scale invasion, and it signals continued diplomatic channels despite deep tensions.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Sunday that his decision to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was driven by security concerns and the need to address a growing food-export crisis. The meeting marks a notable diplomatic contact between Berlin and Moscow at a time when European governments remain divided over engagement with Russia.

Russian and German diplomats have held their first high-level talks since 2022, meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations. The encounter marks the most significant direct contact between the two governments since Germany radically reoriented its Russia policy after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The talks signal a possible, cautious thaw in diplomatic channels between Berlin and Moscow, though no concrete outcomes have been announced.

The German and Russian foreign ministers have held a rare direct meeting at a time of sharply heightened tensions between Berlin and Moscow. Direct high-level contacts between the two governments have become unusual since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, making the talks notable. The meeting suggests both sides see some value in keeping diplomatic channels open, even as political relations remain deeply strained.

Germany has moved against Berlin's 'Russian House', a Russian state-linked cultural centre that remained open throughout Russia's war in Ukraine despite EU sanctions. Its survival was shielded by a reciprocal arrangement protecting Moscow's Goethe-Institut. The final trigger was Germany's accusation of sabotage ties, prompting Berlin to end the arrangement and move to shut the centre down.

A far-left party has won the election in Berlin, campaigning on a pledge to nationalise the city's housing stock. The result signals strong voter support for radical measures against the German capital's housing shortage and rising rents, and is expected to trigger debate over property expropriation both in Germany and across Europe.

A new study reports that higher air pollution levels are associated with slower finishing times across the six World Marathon Majors, including Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo. The findings suggest poor air quality measurably affects elite and amateur runners' performance on race day, adding an environmental dimension to debates over race scheduling and urban air standards.

The Berlin Buyers Club has published an open letter calling on Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), the Federal Joint Committee and Health Minister Nina Linnemann to make adapted COVID-19 vaccines accessible now. The group is demanding science-based vaccination recommendations and faster availability of updated shots for those who want them, framing access delays as a public health problem.

The full list of results, finish times and standings from the Berlin Marathon 2026 has been published. Runners and fans are checking the complete rankings to see how the elite fields and mass participants fared on the course through the German capital.

The ongoing struggle over forming a government in Berlin is not only about the capital's next coalition. Commentators point out that the outcome will also shape future power relations in the Bundesrat, Germany's chamber of the states. At the start of 2026, the Union held the post of minister-president in eight of the sixteen federal states, all of them men, and the Berlin negotiations could shift that balance.

Arsenal and Tottenham have intensified their interest in Hertha Berlin midfielder Ibrahim Maza, according to Yahoo Sports. The North London rivals are both monitoring the young German-Algerian playmaker ahead of a potential transfer move. No bid or fee has been reported, and it remains unclear whether Maza would favour either club.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is traveling to The Hague for a visit to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, combined with discussions on the EU's budget strategy. The trip underlines Germany's positioning on international justice institutions at a time when they face political pressure, while Berlin weighs its stance on the European Union's next long-term budget.

The Berlin branch of the Left party has filed a criminal complaint against Alexander Dobrindt, Germany's interior minister, over an antisemitism-related accusation. The dispute, reported by Die Zeit, centers on what the party says was an antisemitic remark or conduct. Dobrindt has not been charged, and the legal basis and outcome of the complaint remain to be seen.