Background: Germany has previously deported convicted criminals to Afghanistan under a direct agreement with the Taliban, and recently agreed to allow additional Taliban diplomats into the country to expand deportation flights. In a new development, the German government's deepening cooperation with the Taliban has alarmed Afghan dissidents and refugees in Germany, who fear persecution, surveillance, and blackmail. The deal, which allows Taliban-appointed officials to staff Afghan diplomatic missions in Germany in exchange for increased deportations, makes Germany the first EU country to host Taliban diplomats. Activists and refugees, including those who came under special humanitarian programs, worry they will be forced to interact with Taliban officials when renewing passports or extending visas, and that the Taliban could access personal data held in German missions. Critics argue the arrangement legitimizes the Taliban and puts vulnerable Afghans at risk, while the government defends it as a practical necessity to increase deportations amid domestic political pressure from the far-right AfD. The Taliban have already demonstrated leverage by halting a deportation flight in May, and former Afghan diplomats and opposition politicians warn the deal sets a dangerous precedent.

Five years after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, Germany's promise to evacuate all Afghan local staff remains unfulfilled for hundreds of people. While over 37,000 Afghans have arrived in Germany, around 600 remain stranded in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The new German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz scrapped resettlement programs in May 2025, though a Federal Constitutional Court ruling in July 2026 found the blanket decision breached constitutional prohibitions on arbitrariness. NGOs like Kabul-Luftbrücke have won over 200 lawsuits, enabling 1,018 people to travel to Germany since September 2025, but many, mostly women and children, still wait.

Germany's Higher Administrative Court in Magdeburg ruled that AfD members in Saxony-Anhalt can generally be banned from owning weapons, citing the state branch's unconstitutional stance. Separately, investigators found a DNA trace on a drone that targeted a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport, linking it to a previous arson attack on a DHL facility. The government rejected calls for a broader Bundeswehr role in drone defense, while politicians debated reforms. Finance Minister Klingbeil withdrew planned tax cuts for clubs after criticism.

German media report that Cologne's immigration authority has systematically obstructed deportations of rejected asylum seekers, including from Western Balkan states, through a 'right-to-stay program'. The case of a man who stayed solely to collect welfare and had multiple criminal offenses has sparked criticism, with commentators warning such practices undermine public support for asylum law.

Germany has delivered a €5.7 million ($6.6 million) package of firefighting equipment to Ukraine's State Emergency Service, including four robotic firefighting systems designed for dangerous environments. The delivery, confirmed by the German Embassy, is part of a decade-long partnership and aims to enhance Ukraine's emergency response capabilities amid Russia's war. The package also includes fire tankers, trucks, buses, and protective equipment.

Kiel, a German port city, is implementing a comprehensive climate adaptation plan following the worst storm surge in 150 years in 2023. The city is testing climate-resilient tree species, redesigning parks for cooling and stormwater retention, and promoting multi-use infrastructure. Officials emphasize adaptation complements, not replaces, emissions cuts, but face funding challenges and the need for public acceptance of trade-offs.