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Investigators Link Russia to Parcel Fire Plot in Europe

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European and British investigators have said Russia’s military intelligence service is suspected of being behind a series of parcel fires that targeted the UK and other parts of Europe in 2024. The joint investigation was launched after several self-igniting parcels detonated in Germany, Poland and at a DHL depot near Birmingham in the UK. Authorities say the incidents were part of a coordinated sabotage operation.

According to investigators, the parcels contained explosive devices triggered by electronic timers hidden inside vibrating massage pillows. One device exploded in a DPD truck in Poland, while another caught fire at a sorting centre at Leipzig airport in Germany just before it was due to be loaded onto an aircraft. Officials said it was fortunate the device did not ignite mid-air, which could have caused a major disaster.

Authorities have identified 22 suspects in Lithuania and Poland who are believed to have been working on behalf of Russian military intelligence. The suspects, reportedly recruited through online messaging platforms and paid in cryptocurrencies, were said to come from several countries including Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. Russia has denied accusations of sabotage, while investigators say trials of two suspects are expected later this year.

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Merz Faces First State Election Test in Germany

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces his first electoral challenge since taking office as voters head to the polls in the state of Baden-Württemberg on Sunday. The election is seen as an early test of support for Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which hopes to regain dominance in a region long tied to Germany’s car industry.

Opinion polls show a tight race between the CDU candidate Manuel Hagel and the Greens’ Cem Özdemir, both polling around 28%. The winner will succeed outgoing Green premier Winfried Kretschmann, with the outcome likely shaping the balance of power in the state government coalition.

Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to poll strongly at about 20%, reflecting growing political shifts across Germany. The Baden-Württemberg vote is the first of several regional elections this year and comes amid economic concerns linked to rising fuel prices and global tensions.

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EU ‘Made in Europe’ Auto Plan Risks Trade Tensions

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The European Union is preparing to introduce stricter “Made in EU” requirements for automakers as part of a proposed Industrial Accelerator Act aimed at reviving domestic manufacturing. Under draft rules, electric vehicles would need at least 70% of their parts’ value — excluding the battery — produced within the bloc to qualify for subsidies, alongside minimum EU-based battery content. The move is designed to counter mounting pressure from cheaper Chinese electric vehicle imports and prevent further industrial decline.

However, the plan has exposed divisions within the EU. France has pushed for stronger protection of local suppliers, warning of further factory closures and job losses without firm local-content mandates. Germany, whose carmakers depend heavily on exports to China, fears that stricter rules could trigger retaliatory trade measures. Industry groups caution that global auto supply chains are deeply integrated, making compliance complex and raising the risk of disrupting production networks.

Non-EU countries such as Britain and Turkey, key manufacturing hubs for European brands, are lobbying to be included in the framework. Automakers warn that excluding these partners could weaken EU production itself, while including them may create loopholes for Chinese firms to benefit indirectly. With billions of euros in subsidies and thousands of jobs at stake, policymakers are walking a tightrope between strengthening European industry and avoiding backlash from global trading partners.

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Germany Warns Recruitment Is Armed Forces’ Biggest Challenge

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Germany’s armed forces face a critical recruitment shortfall that could force Berlin to reinstate compulsory military service if voluntary efforts fail, the country’s Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces has warned. In his annual report, Commissioner Henning Otte said personnel shortages remain the Bundeswehr’s most pressing bottleneck as Germany seeks to strengthen its military capabilities amid heightened security concerns over Russia and pressure from the United States.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has pledged to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army after years of underinvestment. Berlin aims to expand active troop numbers to 260,000 from nearly 185,000 and double reservist strength to 200,000 by the mid-2030s. As part of this effort, authorities have introduced a voluntary model requiring all 18-year-olds to complete a questionnaire indicating their interest in military service.

However, the report cautions that modest gains in troop numbers — about 3,000 additional active soldiers by the end of 2025 — may not be enough to meet ambitious targets. Demographic decline, competition for skilled workers and high dropout rates are limiting growth. The commissioner warned that political goals risk outpacing military realities, adding that a return to compulsory service may become necessary if voluntary recruitment does not deliver sufficient personnel.

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German Court Halts AfD ‘Extremist’ Label

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Germany’s Cologne administrative court has granted an injunction preventing the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) from classifying the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist, pending a full court ruling. The decision provides temporary relief to the far-right party ahead of five state elections scheduled for later this year.

The injunction was filed by the AfD to contest the 2025 BfV decision labeling the party as extremist, which would have allowed increased monitoring by the intelligence service. The court noted that it could not currently establish that the party as a whole is dominated by extremist positions, thereby suspending the agency’s classification until further review.

The BfV’s May 2025 classification had triggered political tensions in Germany, with calls from some lawmakers to ban the party and criticism from the AfD itself, which argued the move undermined democratic principles. The U.S. administration also expressed concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging German authorities to reconsider the designation.

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German Chancellor Merz Visits China Amid Trade Challenges

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embarked on his first official visit to China, leading a delegation of senior German business leaders, including heads of Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The trip aims to strengthen economic ties as Germany faces growing trade deficits and competitive pressures from China’s booming electric vehicle industry. Merz’s visit comes amid concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and global economic rivalry.

China, Germany’s largest trading partner in 2025, has reversed years of trade surpluses, leaving Germany with a deficit of nearly €90 billion. German officials warn that export controls, overcapacity, and rising competition from Chinese firms have created a challenging environment for German manufacturers, prompting calls for Merz to negotiate better terms for industry.

During his visit, Merz is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang, signing economic agreements and visiting major facilities, including a Mercedes-Benz EV plant and Siemens Energy site. The trip reflects Germany’s strategic effort to balance trade relations with China while addressing EU measures protecting local industries from underpriced imports.

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Germany Considers More F-35 Jets as European Fighter Project Stalls

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Germany is considering purchasing additional F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, potentially expanding its fleet beyond the 35 aircraft ordered in 2022. Sources said Berlin is in talks that could lead to buying more than 35 additional jets, which would significantly increase its reliance on U.S. military technology. Each aircraft costs over $80 million, and deliveries from the earlier order are expected to begin later this year.

The move comes as Germany and France face growing uncertainty over their joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a €100-billion program launched in 2017 to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2040. Disagreements and delays have raised the possibility that the project could be abandoned. German officials, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have also questioned whether investing heavily in a new manned fighter jet remains practical given evolving military technology.

Expanding Germany’s F-35 fleet would mark a strategic shift toward closer defense integration with the United States and strengthen its role within NATO’s nuclear deterrence framework. The F-35 is currently the only Western aircraft certified to carry modern B61 nuclear bombs, making it essential for replacing Germany’s aging Tornado jets. While the future of the FCAS program remains uncertain, Germany and France are expected to continue cooperating on other defense areas such as drones and digital warfare systems.

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Merz Warns Rules-Based World Order Has Collapsed at Munich Security Conference

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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that the rules-based world order “no longer exists,” urging Europe to prepare for sacrifices in an era dominated by great-power politics. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Merz said Europe’s freedom was no longer guaranteed and acknowledged a “deep divide” between Europe and the United States, citing growing tensions over trade, values, and security.

His remarks came amid strains in transatlantic relations following actions and rhetoric by US President Donald Trump, including threats to annex Greenland and the imposition of tariffs on European goods. Merz rejected protectionism and criticised the ideological influence of the Maga movement, while still appealing for renewed cooperation with Washington. He also revealed confidential discussions with Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of a joint European nuclear deterrent.

The conference, attended by around 50 world leaders, is also focused on the war in Ukraine, relations with China, and questions over US commitment to NATO. Addressing delegates later, Macron urged Europe to accelerate rearmament and become a stronger geopolitical actor, calling Russia’s war against Ukraine an “existential challenge.” Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the moment as a “new era in geopolitics,” underlining the scale of global realignment now under way.

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IOC Faces Backlash Over Nazi-Era Berlin Olympics T-Shirt

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come under criticism in Germany for selling T-shirts featuring the original poster design of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which were used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis for propaganda. The shirts, sold through the official Olympic Shop, depict a male figure wearing a laurel wreath, the Olympic rings above, and the Brandenburg Gate below, alongside the text “Germany Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.”

Critics, including Klara Schedlich of the Green Party in Berlin, said the design is inappropriate and insensitive, arguing that it does not adequately reflect the historical context of Nazi propaganda. The IOC defended the sale, stating the shirts are part of its Olympic Heritage Collection, which showcases styles from all editions of the Games and celebrates athletic achievements, such as Jesse Owens’ four gold medals at the Berlin Games that challenged Nazi racial ideology.

The IOC emphasized that only a limited number of the 1936 T-shirts were produced and sold, and the historical context of the Berlin Olympics is explained at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The collection aims to highlight 130 years of Olympic art and design rather than promote the propaganda of any regime.

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Tesla Files Complaint Over Secret Recording at Berlin Plant

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Tesla has filed a criminal complaint against a member of Germany’s IG Metall union for allegedly recording a non-public works council meeting at its Gruenheide plant near Berlin. According to an internal memo confirmed by the company, the external union representative attended the meeting as a guest but began recording proceedings on a computer, prompting legal action.

Plant manager Andre Thierig said in the memo that works council meetings are confidential and that recording them constitutes a criminal offence under German law. The move marks another escalation in tensions between the U.S. electric vehicle maker and IG Metall, whose relationship has been strained in recent years.

IG Metall rejected Tesla’s claims, calling the accusation a “calculated lie” ahead of works council elections scheduled for March. The union has previously accused plant management of resisting union influence, while in the last election two years ago, most Tesla employees opted for non-union representatives instead of IG Metall-backed candidates.

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