For several days, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius struggled to explain himself. A provision in the new Military Service Act, which took effect on January 1, appeared to require men between the ages of 17 and 45 to notify the German military, or Bundeswehr, before taking trips abroad longer than three months.
Hungary is gearing up for its most consequential election in years, with longtime nationalist leader Viktor Orban facing an unprecedented challenge to his 16 years in power. Political upstart Peter Magyar and his center-right Tisza party are leading in most opinion polls.
An Israeli restaurant in Munich was attacked overnight, smashing several windows and throwing pyrotechnic devices inside, police said on Friday. Nobody was hurt in the incident, but the attackers caused damage worth several thousand euros. It is unclear who the assailants were or how many were behind the attack.
Cabin crew at German flag carrier Lufthansa walked off of their jobs on Friday, with a strike that began at midnight (2200 Thursday GMT) and that will affect hundreds of flights. Some 20,000 flight attendants have been called to strike until 10 p.m. on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine for the Orthodox Easter holiday, the Kremlin said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called for an Easter ceasefire earlier this week. Putin had declared a similar ceasefire last Easter, but each sides accused the other of violations.
International development aid fell by 23% in real terms in 2025 to the lowest levels since 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Thursday. Preliminary data pointed to the largest dip in donations from members and associates of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since records began.
As Hungary's April 12 general election nears, opinion polls continue to point to a slight lead for Peter Magyar, the challenger to longstanding incumbent Viktor Orban, albeit with many voters still undecided and results varying by polling institute.
During Easter, Serbian officials discovered two backpacks containing bombs and detonators near a key gas pipeline that transports Russian gas through the Balkans to Hungary. "Our units found an explosive of devastating power," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in a post on Instagram.
Does everyone who boards a public bus or train in Germany even know that riding without a ticket is a criminal offense that usually results in a €60 ($70) fine? Or that people who don't pay the fine might end up in jail?
In Erlangen, a city of 119,000 residents in northern Bavaria, a great deal is happening at once. Preparations are underway for a new synagogue for which the state of Bavaria has provided a plot of land near the university. The city's two major mosques are planning expansions.
Four people died off France's northern coast trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat early on Thursday morning. The dangerous boat crossings trying to reach the UK tend to reduce in frequency during the harshest winter months, when the seas are dangerously rough and cold.
Skip next section 1st quarter insolvencies at highest in 20 years April 9, 2026 1st quarter insolvencies at highest in 20 years 'Everything must go' signs are being seen more often in Germany than in recent years [FILE: November 2025]Image: Ardan Fuessmann/IMAGO Insolvencies in Germany during the first quarter were at their highest in more