Monday's top story: Germany sees Trump peace plan as 'unique' chance for Gaza
Germany will "decisively commit" to implementing US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, calling it a "unique opportunity", Berlin's foreign minister said Sunday ahead of a visit to Qatar and Kuwait.
"For the swift implementation of the American plan ... rapid international cooperation is necessary," said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, calling the proposal a "unique opportunity" ahead of the expected start of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Wadephul said Berlin would be making "concrete offers" as a "partner for humanitarian aid, stabilisation and reconstruction" of Gaza.
The region as a whole requires stabilisation "with lasting security for all, (with) a political perspective for the Palestinians and finally the normalisation of relations between all states with Israel," he added.
Two years almost to the day after the October 2023 attacks, Israeli and Hamas negotiators were expected to hold indirect talks in Cairo on Sunday on Trump's plan to end the Gaza war and secure the release of Israel's remaining hostages.
Interior minister wants to set up police drone defence unit
Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to establish a drone defence unit within the country's police force, he said at a press conference on Saturday.
The unit would be "empowered to continually equip itself with the latest technologies in this arms race between drone threats and drone defence," said the CSU politician.
READ ALSO: What we know about drone sightings that sparked Munich airport chaos
As well as previously announced plans to create a new drone defence centre, he also wants to set up a "development and research unit" in cooperation with other European countries, the EU Commission, and Israel and Ukraine to allow countries to keep pace with ever-advancing technologies.
This comes after drone sightings near Munich Airport halted operations at the country's second-largest airport on Thursday evening and again on Friday, affecting almost 10,000 passengers in total. It remains unclear who was piloting the drones.
Germany's cabinet is expected to consider these plans on Wednesday.
Defence minister's army volunteer model is 'wishy-washy', says CSU leader
Ahead of the coalition government's summit on Wednesday, CSU leader Markus Söder is still pushing for a return to conscription, ramping up his criticism of defence minister Boris Pistorius' (SPD) draft bill for the country's new military service.
Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, Söder, who is Bavaria's minister-president, called the volunteer model for the Bundeswehr a "wishy-washy" solution.
"There is no way around conscription," Söder said. "Half measures are no longer enough," he said, adding that voluntary service could therefore only be a first step.
READ ALSO: Who would be affected by Germany's new military service draft law?
"In times of great threat, we need more than a questionnaire-based army," the CSU leader told the paper, explaining that every day of hesitation weakened Germany's security further.
"The sooner and more clearly conscription is implemented, the better," he said.
The draft bill is now set to be debated in the Bundestag a week later than originally planned, CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn said. The CDU/CSU are said to be pushing for alterations to the bill.
Hundreds of thousands attend German Unity Day celebrations
Around 400,000 people attended the main three-day German Unity Day celebrations in Saarland, the Saarland State Chancellery announced on Sunday.
"It was a celebration of German unity, with which Saarland was able to shine nationwide and beyond its borders," said Minister-President Anke Rehlinger.
The celebrations, which were attended by French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour, were largely trouble-free, according to the police.
"There were no serious crimes or security-related incidents," they said.
Saarland hosted this year's celebrations because it is the current presiding state of the Bundesrat.
READ ALSO: Children of reunification - What do the stats tell us about Germany's 35-year-olds?
Storm 'Detlef' causes damage and disruption across Germany
A severe storm system named “Detlef” swept across Germany over the weekend, leaving a trail of damage and disruption in multiple states. Strong winds and a storm surge battered the North Sea coast, resulting in significant ferry service interruptions, especially along Schleswig-Holstein.
At least two people were seriously injured in the southern Black Forest when a falling tree struck their minibus; both victims required hospital treatment. Additional incidents occurred in the Harz region, where high winds hampered the rescue of accident victims, and in some areas, emergency helicopters could not be deployed due to the weather.
Throughout the country, authorities temporarily closed numerous roads, primarily due to fallen trees and branches. Most incidents resulted in property damage, but not injuries. In Munich, a construction worker became trapped in a high-rise apartment by a gust-induced slamming door, requiring a dramatic balcony rescue.
The storm surge also flooded a campsite on Norderney island, toppled beach chairs, forced ferry cancellations in several northern regions and delayed the departure of a cruise ship from Hamburg.
Though winds are expected to subside in the coming days, unsettled weather will continue nationwide.
Fire department springs into action over exotic fruit
In Wiesbaden, the fire department was called out four times in a single day due to reports of a strong gas-like smell. Upon investigation, the suspected gas leaks were traced back to the pungent odour of durian fruits sold in an Asian supermarket within a local shopping centre.
The durian, also known as the "stink fruit," is notorious for its intense smell, often compared to rotten eggs or ammonia, which can easily be mistaken for gas leaks. The shopping centre’s ventilation system was found to have spread the smell throughout the premises, causing multiple false alarms.
Later the same day, firefighters responded to a similar report in a residential building, where the distinct durian odour originated from a resident who had brought the fruit into the building.
With additional reporting by AFP and DPA.
Comments