Esme Nicholson

For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr says closing airports cannot be the solution to drone incursions and is advocating for the speedy installation of drone defense technology at all airports.

Speaking to public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, the airline chief stressed the aviation industry guarantees passenger safety at all times and anti-drone policy must catch up.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet has drafted a bill to strengthen police and military powers to shoot down rogue drones.

Germany is among a number of European countries that have seen drones fly over airports, military bases and critical infrastructure.

Mertz says he suspects the drones are Russian, something Moscow denies.

For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

In a speech to parliamentarians, Denmark's Prime Minister Meta Frederiksen said mobile phones and social media are stealing our children's childhoods, adding that by allowing their use, we have unleashed a monster.

She said many children have difficulty reading and that screens and social media expose young people to things they should not have to see.

Earlier this year, Denmark's Wellbeing Commission found that 94% of Danish 7th graders had a social media profile, despite not being 13, the minimum age for many social media platforms.

The proposed restrictions follow similar measures in some other countries, such as Australia.

For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

Speaking to lawmakers in Poland's lower house of parliament, Tusk said his government aims to introduce military training for all adult men by the end of this year to create a reserve force that can, quote, stand up to possible threats.

Speaking to lawmakers in Poland's lower house of parliament, Tusk said his government aims to introduce military training for all adult men by the end of this year to create a reserve force that can, quote, stand up to possible threats.

Situated on NATO's eastern flank, Poland already spends a higher proportion of its GDP on defence than any other member of the alliance, including the United States. As concerns grow about Russian ambitions to move further westwards, Warsaw is considering enshrining defence spending of at least 4% of GDP into the constitution. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

Situated on NATO's eastern flank, Poland already spends a higher proportion of its GDP on defence than any other member of the alliance, including the United States. As concerns grow about Russian ambitions to move further westwards, Warsaw is considering enshrining defence spending of at least 4% of GDP into the constitution. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.

Friedrich Merz is set to be Germany's next chancellor, but as results come in, it remains unclear who he will partner with to form the majority needed to govern. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland, or AFD, has secured its best result ever, doubling its number of seats in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag.

Friedrich Merz is set to be Germany's next chancellor, but as results come in, it remains unclear who he will partner with to form the majority needed to govern. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland, or AFD, has secured its best result ever, doubling its number of seats in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag.

Merz says he stands by his vow to uphold the firewall against the far right to keep it at bay from the corridors of power. AFD leader Alice Weidel argues this ignores the will of the electorate. Appealing to other parties, Merz stresses that a new government must form quickly as Europe comes under pressure from an increasingly hostile and unpredictable US administration.

Merz says he stands by his vow to uphold the firewall against the far right to keep it at bay from the corridors of power. AFD leader Alice Weidel argues this ignores the will of the electorate. Appealing to other parties, Merz stresses that a new government must form quickly as Europe comes under pressure from an increasingly hostile and unpredictable US administration.