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Germany will deliver two more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine as part of a deal with the United States, which will fast-track replacement systems for Berlin. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said launchers will be sent in the coming days, with additional components arriving in the next few months, according to Reuters.

The agreement allows Germany to support Ukraine now without compromising its own defenses, as it will receive upgraded systems funded by Berlin from the U.S. Ukraine’s demand for air defense has grown amid intensified Russian missile strikes.

Germany has already provided three Patriot systems and says its NATO commitments remain unaffected, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned the UK will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN in September unless Israel takes meaningful steps to end the crisis in Gaza, BBC reported.

He called for a ceasefire, renewed aid access, a halt to West Bank annexations, and commitment to a two-state solution. Starmer said the situation in Gaza is “intolerable” and the chance of peace is fading.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, calling it a reward for terrorism. Trump also voiced concern, warning it could be seen as benefiting Hamas.

The UK faces growing domestic pressure, with over 250 MPs urging immediate recognition. Critics say recognition should not be conditional, while others warn it could backfire, as reported by BBC.

France plans a similar move, but Germany has ruled it out for now. Most countries already recognise Palestine, but sceptics say recognition alone won’t bring peace.

Leaders from Europe's two largest economies have led a chorus of gloomy reactions to the trade deal struck between EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, BBC reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the agreement would "substantially damage" his nation's finances, while French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said it was tantamount to "submission".

The reaction has been downbeat across the bloc - though several capitals acknowledged signing an uneven deal was worth it in order to avert an all-out trade war.

It will see a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the US - half the rate threatened by Trump - in return for Europe buying more American energy and slashing taxes on some imports, according to BBC.

Three people have been killed and several others seriously injured after an overflowing sewage shaft caused a passenger train to derail in south-west Germany, local authorities say, BBC reported.

Prosecutors said the train crashed between Riedlingen and Munderkingen near Stuttgart on Sunday following heavy rain in the area.

They said water was believed to have caused the overflow, triggering a landslide on the banks running next to the tracks, which caused the incident.

The train driver, another rail employee and one passenger died, while 41 people were wounded. On Sunday, German Chancellor Freidrich Merz said he "mourn[ed] the victims" and offered his "deepest sympathy" to their families, according to BBC.

French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Berlin on Wednesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders are expected to discuss US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 30 percent tariffs on EU goods if a trade deal is not reached.

They will also address nuclear energy policy, a long-standing point of tension between the two countries. France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, hopes for greater EU support as Merz, a known advocate of nuclear energy, takes office. The meeting aims to set the stage for the upcoming Franco-German Council of Ministers in August, according to Firstpost.

Iran will resume nuclear talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, marking the first meeting since US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last month, Reuters reported.

The talks, confirmed by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, come after the E3 warned of renewed sanctions if Tehran failed to return to the negotiating table. A German official said the three countries remain united in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and are working toward a lasting diplomatic solution.

Previous talks involving the US, mediated by Oman, collapsed following the joint US-Israeli offensive. Tensions have since escalated with direct military exchanges and further US strikes on Iranian targets, according to Reuters.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called the situation in Gaza “unacceptable” and urged an immediate ceasefire along with swift delivery of humanitarian aid. Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, he emphasized Germany’s commitment to working with international partners to address the crisis, Xinhua reported.

Merz also conveyed his concerns during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stressing that aid must reach civilians in a secure and humane manner. He reiterated Germany’s opposition to Israel’s settlement policy and warned against any moves toward annexation of the West Bank.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday signed the Kensington Treaty, a landmark agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two nations, according to Reuters.

Described as the most significant UK-Germany treaty since World War II, the agreement covers joint defense exercises, cybersecurity, arms export coordination, and migration policy. It also reaffirms both countries’ commitment to climate goals set in the Paris Agreement, including limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The treaty pledges closer trade ties within existing UK-EU frameworks and aims to promote open markets and job growth.

Calling it a “first of its kind,” Starmer said the deal reflects the deepening partnership between the two countries amid global uncertainty, Reuters reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit London on Thursday to sign a “friendship treaty” with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aimed at renewing ties and strengthening defence cooperation post-Brexit.

The treaty will include a mutual defence pledge, emphasising joint action in the face of shared security threats. Though both are NATO members, the agreement signals deeper collaboration, including in weapons development and NATO operations, according to Firstpost.

The leaders will also discuss continued support for Ukraine and announce new defence export deals, including Boxer vehicles and Typhoon jets, alongside plans to deliver a jointly developed long-range missile system within the next decade.

Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke with US President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss ways to boost Ukraine’s defense and move closer to peace. Zelensky said Trump shared updates from his recent NATO meeting, while he also spoke directly with NATO chief Mark Rutte about ongoing support, according to CNN.

Zelensky confirmed the US, Germany, and Norway are working together to supply more Patriot air defense systems to help protect Ukraine from continued Russian attacks.

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called on the European Union to take firm action if ongoing trade talks with the United States fail. His remarks, published Sunday in Sueddeutsche Zeitung, follow US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30 percent tariff on EU imports starting August 1, according to Xinhua.

Klingbeil warned that Germany would not remain passive if negotiations break down, stating that preparations for countermeasures are already underway. He stressed the need for a fair trade agreement, saying, “Trump’s tariffs produce only losers,” and urged an end to escalating tensions.

He also noted that Germany will accelerate efforts to diversify its global trade partnerships. The US is currently Germany’s largest export market, with exports totaling €161bn in 2024 and a trade surplus of nearly €70bn, Xinhua reported.

Poland has reintroduced temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania due to a rise in undocumented migrants, mainly from Venezuela and Colombia.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the move aims to redirect migration routes bypassing the Belarusian border and entering via Latvia and Lithuania, BBC reported.

The decision comes as several EU countries, including Germany, have tightened border checks. Warsaw argues Germany’s tougher stance has shifted the burden onto Poland.

Recent violent incidents involving foreign nationals have heightened public tension, prompting far-right groups to patrol borders. Rights groups warn such actions fuel xenophobia and call for fact-based migration policy, according to BBC.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has formally declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation guidelines for the first time in 20 years.

In a resolution supported by 19 of the IAEA's 35 board members, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, the agency criticized Iran's refusal to explain undeclared nuclear material and its stockpile of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels, UN News reported.

Iran rejected the resolution as politically driven, announcing plans to construct a new enrichment facility. It argues that its nuclear program is harmless.

The move follows a 2018 decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, after which Iran began scaling back its compliance, according to UN News.

The EU has reaffirmed its commitment to a fair trade deal with the US, following President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on all EU imports starting June 1.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the bloc seeks a deal based on “mutual respect, not threats,” after talks with US officials. Trump criticized stalled negotiations and warned tariffs would not apply to US-made goods, hinting a major EU investment could delay action.

European leaders urged de-escalation and warned of mutual economic harm. Germany, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands endorsed ongoing discussions and a clear EU stance.

Trump, citing trade imbalances, has threatened a 25 percent tax on iPhones not manufactured in the United States. Markets fell in response, with US and EU indexes closing lower.

Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is signaling a tougher stance on Russia, backing stronger EU sanctions including bans on gas and uranium imports and the use of frozen Russian state assets.

Thorsten Frei, Merz’s chief of staff, said Europe must move beyond its “comfort zone” to increase pressure on Moscow. The EU is preparing a new round of sanctions following recent measures targeting Russia’s oil “shadow fleet” and financial networks, accoding to Reuters.

Merz has also supported the potential confiscation of frozen Russian assets, if legally feasible.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying peace efforts in Ukraine and called for stricter EU sanctions, especially targeting Russian energy exports.

Pistorius said Russia’s continued attacks show it is not serious about negotiations and is using diplomacy to buy time, Reuters reported.

Following Putin’s recent call with US President Donald Trump, EU leaders agreed to increase pressure on Moscow if it refuses an unconditional ceasefire.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called Putin's stance hypocritical, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas urged the United States to join the EU in taking greater action. She pointed out that Ukraine had already accepted a cease-fire agreement over 60 days ago, which Russia refused, according to Reuters.