German News Roundup: Latest Developments on a Wednesday
In Germany, the investigation into the actions of a police officer involved in a recent incident is underway. Meanwhile, the country's wind energy expansion faces delays due to port capacity and ship availability issues.
The surge in spying and sabotage cases linked to Russia in Germany began after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Authorities suspect several cases of arson, property damage, and drone overflights of sensitive sites were carried out by "disposable agents" with no training, in exchange for small sums. German authorities have launched a campaign warning against Russian efforts to recruit these agents via social media for acts of espionage and sabotage.
In a concerning turn of events, at least twelve candidates for the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia have died in recent weeks. The cause of these deaths is yet to be determined.
Asylum applications in Germany have seen a significant drop. In August 2025, a total of 7,803 people applied for asylum, a 60% decrease compared to the same month last year.
On a positive note, Germany is leading the way in the construction of new wind turbines. A total capacity of 2.2 gigawatts of wind turbines was installed in the first half of 2025. However, slow electrification, grid bottlenecks, and ongoing permitting issues are key obstacles to faster growth of wind energy in Europe.
The European Union predicts it will reach 344 GW of installed wind capacity by 2030, but needs about 425 GW to meet its goal of 42.5% renewables in energy consumption that year. The annual forecast for wind energy installation in Europe has been lowered from 22.5 GW to 19 GW.
Elsewhere in Europe, the EU is growing increasingly nervous at their dependence on US tech firms, following President Donald Trump's re-election and tariffs on European goods. In response, German software giant SAP announced a €20 billion investment in cloud computing to ensure customer data remains within the EU.
In Argentina, Argentine police are investigating a deceased Nazi's daughter and son-in-law in connection with a stolen 17th century painting believed to be "Portrait of a Lady" by Giuseppe Ghislandi. The painting, stolen from a Dutch Jewish art collector during World War II, was recently spotted in a property ad in Argentina before disappearing.
Military facilities, defense industry, transport and energy infrastructure have been targeted in these acts. The most serious offences can be punishable by up to ten years in jail.
A violent confrontation occurred between police and protesters during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin, causing an Irish national, Kitty O'Brien, to require medical attention, including surgery.
Investigations in Germany also involve the actions of the police officer in the case of Friedrich Kadgien, a former high-ranking SS officer. The investigations have involved his daughters and properties linked to the family, though their names are not specifically mentioned in the search results.
