Germany news: Number of millionaires is growing, study shows

Skip next section Prosecutors demand life sentence for Christmas market attack June 4, 2026

Prosecutors demand life sentence for Christmas market attack

Prosecutors requested a sentence of life in prison for the suspect on trial over the deadly 2024 car ramming attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

Prosecutors demanded the harshest possible sentence for the confessed Saudi-born attacker, telling the court that the December 20, 2024, car ramming that killed six people and injured more than 300 "was planned long in advance."

The severity of the crime is evident and preventive detention should be ordered, prosecutor Marco Reinl said, adding that further violent crimes are to be expected.

During the trial, a psychiatric expert found the defendant was criminally responsible for his actions.

https://p.dw.com/p/5ErxQ

Skip next section Lufthansa plane suffers nose gear collapse at gate June 4, 2026

Lufthansa plane suffers nose gear collapse at gate

A Boeing 787 jetliner operated by Lufthansa experienced a nose gear collapse while parked at a gate at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday.

Lufthansa said several staff members were injured in the incident. Passengers had not yet boarded the flight bound for Los Angeles.

"Several employees were injured and are currently receiving medical attention," Lufthansa said in a statement.

Only Lufthansa crew members and ground staff were onboard.

Get all the details here.

https://p.dw.com/p/5ErjA

Skip next section Germany cutting benefits for rejected asylum seekers is unlawful, EU court rules June 4, 2026

Germany cutting benefits for rejected asylum seekers is unlawful, EU court rules

German benefit cuts forrejected asylum-seekers violate EU law, the European Union's top court ruled on Thursday.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that basic provisions, such as clothing and household goods may not be withdrawn even from asylum-seekers who are the responsibility of another EU member state.

Under current EU rules, member states are required to guarantee asylum-seekers an "adequate standard of living" that also protects applicants' physical and mental health.

The case was brought to court by an Afghan man who was due to be deported to Romania and whose benefits were cut in 2022 as a result of the deportation order. He took legal action against the southern German district of Schweinfurt.

While the man was provided with food, heated accommodation and basic healthcare, he received no support for clothing or household products. The case was referred to the ECJ.

The Luxembourg-based judge made two points.

First, clothing was among the "most elementary needs." Two, cash payments for daily necessities — such as public transport tickets — were necessary to ensure a "minimum level of participation in social and cultural life."

The German benefit rules at issue in the case were tightened further in 2024. Under current rules, benefits can now be cut entirely once it has been established that another member state is responsible for an asylum-seeker and that the individual must leave.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition of conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the center-left Social Democrats has tightened its stance on migration in an effort to counter the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Er64

Skip next section WATCH: Germany loses out on seat on UN Security Council June 4, 2026

WATCH: Germany loses out on seat on UN Security Council

Germany lost out on its chance to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in a setback for the Friedrich Merz government.

The council is made up of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. Half of the non-permanent seats are replaced each year.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EqiP

Skip next section German foreign minister is due in Mexico June 4, 2026

German foreign minister is due in Mexico

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday travels to Mexico from New York City for a two-day visit.

Wadephul is scheduled to meet with Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco and co-chair a session of the German-Mexican Binational Commission with him.

Economic cooperation tops the agenda on Wadephul's trip.

The European Union last month signed an expanded trade agreement with Mexico as Brussels tries to diversify its trade partnerships and decrease dependence on the US.

EU, Mexico finalize delayed trade agreement

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At the start of his visit, the German foreign minister plans to visit the Templo Mayor (main temple) in the historic center of Mexico City, as well as a museum connected to the temple and an archaeological site.

The temple was once the most important religious site of Tenochtitlan (1325–1521), the Aztec capital that became Mexico City.

Wadephul's schedule for Friday includes business meetings and a visit to the Goethe Institute, the German cultural exchange center, in Mexico City.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Epkx

Skip next section A public holiday in majority Catholic states in Germany June 4, 2026

A public holiday in majority Catholic states in Germany

German states with a majority Catholic population are observing a major holiday called "Fronleichnam" in German or Corpus Christi (Latin for "Body of Christ").

The festival celebrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, emphasizing the belief that Jesus Christ is substantially present in the bread and wine used during communion.

Today is a public holiday in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland.

This festival is also an official holiday in certain predominantly Catholic communities in the states of Saxony and Thuringia.

However, in Berlin and other states, it's a regular workday.

Even though the festival isn't a nationwide holiday, many people take advantage of the Thursday holiday by combining it with a Friday holiday to enjoy a long weekend.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Eppa

Skip next section Germany third on list for number of millionares globally June 4, 2026

Germany third on list for number of millionares globally

The number of millionaires worldwide grew by almost 2 million last year to reach a record 25.3 million people in 2025, according to a new study.

Germany saw its population of high-net-worth individuals or people with liquid assets of $1 million or more rising by 11.1% to about 1.78 million people last year.

Their combined wealth rose by 12.7% to just over $7.1 trillion, helped in part by easing inflation.

That put Germany third on the list of countries with the most millionaires, according to Capgemini, a consulting firm.

Close readers of our Germany news blog will remember our report two days ago on poverty in Germany rising to its highest level in five years .

Europe's population of high-net-worth individuals also grew 6.5% in 2025 after a decline in 2024.

Those gains were attributed to stabilizing equity markets and easing inflation.

US adds most number of millionaires

Meanwhile, the United States added the largest number of "dollar millionares," defined as people with a net worth of at least $1 million, according to the study.

The US added 736,000 millionaires last year — more than any other country worldwide — with the number of millionaires totaling 8.7 million.

The boom in wealth generation was largely led by expectations and enthusiasm over artificial intelligence that sent tech stocks soaring.

Asian economies recorded the highest growth on a regional level. Japan added 436,000 millionaires and China added 154,000 millionaires.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Epku

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage June 4, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Bonn, where our newsroom is based, is celebrating "Fronleichnam" or Corpus Christi, a holiday observed in Catholic German states.

But the news keeps rolling on, and so do we!

Keep reading for the latest news out of Germany.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Epx8

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