Germany’s first-ever report on gender-specific crimes reveals a stark reality: approximately 360 women were killed by men in 2023, with partner/ex-partner violence being a significant factor. This equates to nearly a daily femicide, a crisis underscored by insufficient resources and a lack of comprehensive legal protection for victims. The ongoing absence of a dedicated anti-domestic violence law, despite government pledges, hinders effective prevention and support, leaving women vulnerable and shelters severely underfunded. Activists and government officials alike are urging immediate action to address this urgent issue and enhance victim protection.
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Germany’s latest military aid package to Ukraine includes heavy weaponry such as Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers and Gepard anti-aircraft guns, along with significant ammunition supplies and various vehicles. This delivery builds upon Germany’s substantial contributions, making it the second largest military supplier to Ukraine after the U.S. However, planned military aid will be halved in 2025 to €4 billion, despite the current €8 billion allocation for 2024. This reduction comes amid political uncertainty and despite the U.S. allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles, Germany continues to refrain from providing its own Taurus missiles.
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Germany is poised to deliver approximately 4,000 Helsing kamikaze drones to Ukraine, starting in December. These AI-equipped drones boast extended range, superior EW resistance, and cost-effectiveness compared to similar Western and Russian systems. Their autonomous targeting capabilities, even with communication loss, make them suitable for striking critical infrastructure. This contrasts with the German government’s continued refusal to supply Taurus missiles, despite pressure from opposition parties.
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The German Economy Ministry has instructed its state-owned LNG import terminal to reject a shipment of Russian LNG, citing the need for independence from Russian energy. This decision aligns with the EU’s efforts to replace Russian energy imports and sanction Russian gas, including LNG, following the invasion of Ukraine. The ministry’s action underscores Germany’s commitment to diversifying its energy sources and reducing dependence on Russia. While Germany no longer directly imports Russian LNG, the country still receives Russian LNG indirectly via a long-term contract with Russia’s Yamal facility, highlighting the complexity of decoupling from Russian energy.
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German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has pledged to give Russia a 24-hour ultimatum to cease its aggression against Ukraine if elected. He has not ruled out direct communication with Vladimir Putin, but insists that if Russia does not comply, he would authorize strikes on Russian territory and provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles. This stance contrasts with current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has rejected supplying Taurus missiles and striking Russian territory. With Germany’s ruling coalition collapsing, early general elections are expected in March 2025, potentially setting the stage for a shift in German policy towards the Ukraine conflict.
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On Thursday, young players from TuS Makkabi, a Jewish under-17 soccer team in Berlin, were subjected to a horrific attack after their match against DJK Schwarz-Weiß Neukölln. A crowd wielding sticks and knives chased the players, shouting antisemitic slurs and spitting at them. The referee failed to intervene, and the incident has prompted a strong condemnation from Berlin officials and a promise of expulsion for the youth involved from Schwarz-Weiss Neukölln. The Staatsschutz hate crime police unit is investigating the incident, which represents a disturbing trend of antisemitism in European soccer.
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On Thursday, German authorities apprehended an American citizen, identified only as Martin D., in Frankfurt for allegedly acting as a spy for China. Martin D., who previously worked for the U.S. Armed Forces in Germany, is suspected of contacting Chinese government agencies and offering sensitive military information in exchange for working as an intelligence agent. Investigations reveal that Martin D. obtained this information during his time with the U.S. military. While the suspect had attempted to transmit information, it appears that he was unsuccessful before his arrest. This incident follows a recent string of arrests in Germany related to suspected Chinese espionage, highlighting growing concerns about Chinese intelligence activities in the country.
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The draft legislation “Never again begins now: defense protection and Strengthened Jewish Life in Germany” states a noticeable increase in antisemitism in Germany since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. This law aims to protect the Jewish community in Germany and strengthen Jewish life in response to this growing hostility. This suggests an increasing concern about the safety of the Jewish population in Germany.
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IKEA will pay €6m ($6.5m) to a German government fund set up to compensate victims of forced labour under the country’s communist regime. Political and criminal prisoners during the Cold War era were forced to build flatpack furniture for IKEA, which was aware that political prisoners were being used, according to an investigation by Ernst & Young. IKEA Germany said the payment was the result of a long-term discussion with the Union of Victims’ Associations of Communist Dictatorship. This is the first payment of its type and has been welcomed by advocacy groups who hope this will prompt other companies to follow. Germany’s parliament will vote on the establishment of the fund in the coming weeks.
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A poll by infratest-dimap on behalf of public broadcaster ARD has shown that 74% of German voters prefer US Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to Donald Trump, who polled 11% approval. Harris received 90% to 92% approval from supporters of the Social Democrats, the Christian Democratic Union and the Greens. Meanwhile, Trump received better approval amongst supporters of the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, with 41% approval. The polling results showed that a majority of Germans felt a Democratic victory would be better for relations and the economy. However, the respondents also expressed concerns about job security and Germany’s economic status.
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John Q. Hosedrinker