Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - A premature troop withdrawal from Afghanistan may complicate peace talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday, commenting on U.S. plans to pull out 2,000 troops from the country.

“It remains very important for us not to jeopardize what we have reached so far by taking any rash actions,” Maas said.

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden may revise plans for a major troop drawdown from Germany announced by the administration of President Donald Trump over the summer, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Tuesday.

“During the election campaign, we heard from the Democrats that they aim to look into these plans again very thoroughly,” the minister said.

“At least there is a chance the plans will be changed. We’ll have to see whether this means that the decision will be completely revoked or only adjusted in certain parts.”

17 Nov 2020; MEMO: Germany's Public Prosecutor General (GBA) said on Monday charges of espionage have been filed against an Egyptian-born German citizen who worked at the German government press office and gathered information for an Egyptian intelligence agency, Reuters reports.

The GBA said the man, identified only as Amin K. under German privacy laws, had been working at the press office since 1999 and was hired by the Egyptian embassy in Berlin in 2010 "at the latest".

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany hopes that trade barriers between the United States and Europe will be dismantled once the new administration under President-elect Joe Biden takes office, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Monday.

“I hope from the bottom of my heart that the new U.S. administration will help us broker a consensus on the trade relationship between the United States and the EU,” Altmaier said in Berlin.

“And that we can abolish many, many measures with regard to tariffs and trade inspired by protectionism,” he added.

BERLIN (AP) — Prince Charles called Sunday for Britain and Germany to remember their long and close ties, reaffirmed by the nations’ reconciliation after two world wars, as the U.K. tries to find its place outside — but also alongside — the European Union.

Charles’ appeal during a visit to Berlin to attend Germany’s traditional day of remembrance was part of Britain’s diplomatic outreach to Europe’s biggest economy, days before a deadline to strike a post-Brexit deal with the EU.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Technology companies’ services could be banned from the European market if they do not heed EU regulation, Europe’s industry chief Thierry Breton told German weekly Welt am Sonntag, as the European Commission finalises rules on internet companies.

Breton will announce new draft rules known as the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act together with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Dec. 2.

Berlin; 12 Nov 2020 (UMMN): 12 members of a German right-wing Whitist terrorist group, one of them police staff, have been charged for plotting Christchurch like attack on mosques to kill or injure as many worshipers as possible.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany expects to pay out 22 billion euros ($26 billion) in COVID-19 relief aid from January through June 2021 to companies and self-employed people, people close to the matter said, as the impact of the pandemic extends into next year.

Separately, Germany’s November coronavirus aid package to compensate firms affected by lockdown measures will this month amount to 14 billion euros, they said. Initially, the government had expected to pay out 10 billion euros.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s economic recovery continued until October but has slowed since August, the Economy Ministry said on Friday, adding that lockdown measures implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus hit the economy in November.

The Economy Ministry said in its monthly report that the restrictions imposed from the start of November which have seen restaurants, bars and entertainment venues such as cinemas and theatres close meant consumption was taking a hit.

BERLIN (Reuters) - European police launched coordinated raids in seven countries on Tuesday as part of a clampdown on online hatred and incitement to violence, the European Union law enforcement agency Europol and German prosecutors said.

In Germany, police searched 83 apartments and other buildings to seize evidence like smart phones and laptops. Prosecutors said 96 suspects are being questioned about hateful posts they made online.