Germany's defence minister on Saturday said the withdrawal of American troops from Germany had been expected and that Europe needed to do more to ensure its own security.

France and Germany sent firefighting units to the Netherlands on Friday to help battle woodland blazes flaring in several areas.

NATO on Saturday said it was "working" with the United States to understand Washington's decision to slash its troops in Germany by 5,000 following a spat between the leaders of the two nations.

A humpback whale that had been struggling to survive after beaching near the German coast was released Saturday into the North Sea off Denmark, after being transported in a barge in a last-ditch rescue operation.