A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Thursday’s top story: Berlin pro-Palestine march halted after arrests and clashes

A pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin was brought to an early end after police halted the march over public safety concerns on the third anniversary of Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel.

Around 700 people gathered at Oranienplatz in the Kreuzberg district, according to police estimates, before marching through the city waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners criticising the war in Gaza. Among those attending was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Local media reported the use of slogans viewed as glorifying violence during the protest. Counter-protesters carrying Israeli flags were also present at the starting point of the march.

Police said the demonstration was terminated following repeated breaches of conditions, along with incidents involving shoving, kicking and scuffles between protesters and officers.

More than 30 people were arrested for allegedly displaying prohibited symbols, including those associated with Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Germany and other Western countries.

READ ALSO: German Chancellor marks October 7th with vow to fight antisemitism

German transport minister backs Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ system

German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger voiced support for the approval of Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” technology in Europe this week. 

In a statement on Tuesday Bilger advocated for the EU to issue a prompt approval of the tech, after he had reportedly discussed details and potential liability issues with Tesla last month.

As part of those discussions, Germany had agreed with Tesla that the system may exceed the maximum speed limit by up to 10 percent. According to a report by Reuters, Germany is prepared to encourage the EU to do the same.

The speeding issue has become a major point of contention as Tesla pushes to get its tech approved for use in its cars in Europe. Safety advocates say the ‘self-driving’ cars should not be able to drive above posted limits.

Additionally Bilger said the company offered to rename its system “Tesla assisted driving” rather than its current “Full Self-Driving”, in response to concerns that the name is misleading.

READ ALSO: Five surprising ways Germany is using new technology to improve mobility 

“My goal is for Tesla drivers to be ​able to enjoy the benefits of ‘assisted driving’ throughout the EU without delay,” said Bilger.

Tesla sales plummeted in Germany and across Europe last year shortly after CEO Elon Musk was revealed to be the second biggest financial backer of US President Donald Trump. In Germany he voiced full-throated support for the far-right AfD.

Activists display a banner reading “Stop fascism” during a “Tesla Takedown” protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk in front of a Tesla Store in Berlin in 2025. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

More recently Tesla sales seem have rebounded in Germany, and the company announced plans to add 1,000 jobs at its Berlin plant.

“Danke Schön!” wrote Musk on his social media platform X in reference to the Transport Minister’s announcement.

Ryanair pulls out of Bremen in airport fee dispute

Budget airline Ryanair is to cease operations at Bremen Airport after failing to reach agreement with local authorities over airport charges, in a move that will remove around 400,000 passengers a year from the airport’s traffic.

Bremen’s Senator for Economic Affairs, Kristina Vogt, accused the Irish carrier of demanding access to airport services and infrastructure at prices that would leave the airport operating at a loss.

She said the city had already made significant concessions during negotiations but could not agree to terms that would create a long-term financial burden or risk breaching state aid rules.

The withdrawal represents the loss of more than a fifth of Bremen Airport’s annual passenger volume. While acknowledging the impact, Vogt argued that accepting Ryanair’s demands would have been unsustainable for the publicly owned airport.

The dispute reflects wider tensions between Ryanair and German airports. The airline has previously reduced services in Hamburg and Berlin, blaming high operating costs and airport fees.

But Bremen officials claim Ryanair is increasingly focusing on smaller airports where state aid restrictions are less stringent and using its market position to secure more favourable commercial terms.

READ ALSO: Eurowings to take over routes from Berlin as Ryanair pulls out

Four killed in devastating moped crash near Berlin

Four people were killed in a road accident in Brandenburg after a car collided head-on with a group of moped riders while attempting to overtake other vehicles.

The crash occurred on a rural road near Biesenthal, north-east of Berlin, on Wednesday evening. Police said four mopeds were travelling together when a car approaching from the opposite direction reportedly moved into their lane to pass several vehicles.

The vehicle struck three of the mopeds, one of which was carrying a passenger. Three riders and one passenger died at the scene. A fourth moped rider managed to avoid the collision and escaped unharmed.

Four people were killed in Brandenburg when a car collided head-on with three mopeds. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

Following the impact, the car caught fire and was later extinguished by firefighters. The driver sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The road was closed for several hours as emergency services and investigators examined the scene with the assistance of an accident reconstruction expert. Counsellors and specialist support teams were also deployed to assist relatives of the victims, some of whom travelled to the crash site.

Study finds German companies ill-prepared for AI-powered cyberattacks

German companies are vulnerable and unprepared for a growing wave of AI-driven cyberattacks, a new study published Wednesday warned.

Only one in ten companies has specific procedures in place to handle AI-related security incidents, according to the joint study from the German government’s BSI cybersecurity office and the independent Association of Technical Inspection Agencies (TÜV).

Looking at roughly 500 companies with at least 20 employees, the study found that one in six companies had experienced “a cyberattack or fraud attempt in which AI played — or could have played — a role” within the last 12 months.

The most common method involves AI-generated phishing emails that are “highly convincing and precisely tailored to specific individuals or companies”.

The study’s authors note that 43 percent of companies “rely on their general IT security processes without having yet supplemented them with AI-specific guidelines”.

In addition, 71 percent of the companies surveyed said they were poorly informed about the obligations imposed on them by the European Union’s AI Act, adopted in 2024 and touted by Brussels as the world’s most comprehensive legal framework for AI.

READ ALSO: Are the EU’s new rules on AI enough to protect Europeans?

With reporting by AFP, DPA and Paul Krantz.