GERMANY STRENGTHENS ITS SECRET SERVICES

The German Bundestag has adopted a major reform granting new powers to intelligence services in response to the growing number of threats, particularly from Russia. The BND, responsible for foreign intelligence, will now be able to conduct clandestine operations abroad, including cyberattacks and sabotage. Domestic services will also benefit from enhanced surveillance capabilities, including artificial intelligence and biometric recognition. The government defends this adaptation as necessary in the face of foreign threats, while the opposition and civil liberties organizations warn of the risks to privacy and the separation of police and intelligence services.