Germany news: Arson suspected in large-scale power outage

Skip next section Stolen Opel Manta found in Donau river, 54 years later June 8, 2026

Stolen Opel Manta found in Donau river, 54 years later

A fisherman in Bavaria hooked one of the strangest of catches out of the river Donau at the end of May — the ruins of what was once an Opel Manta sports car, from roughly 1970.

Police said on Monday that after appealing for witness testimony on the vehicle, they now believe it to be the subject of an unsolved 54-year-old crime, one so far in the past that authorities no longer had any archive material on it.

"Thanks to the testimony of a female witness, it is now known that the Opel Manta was stolen from her former husband back in 1972. The man moved back to the US in the 1970s," the Schwaben Süd/West police precinct said in a follow up press release .

"How the car found its way into the Donau remains unclear," police said, adding that it was keeping the car until the ownership issue could be definitively solved. Video footage suggested the vehicle was well past its prime at this stage and of limited use even to a scrap metal dealer.

After the angler hooked the Opel, divers were able to recover it at a depth of about 5 meters.

The Opel Manta was a cult vehicle in former West Germany in the 1970s and 80s, particularly among the less affluent — a German-made high speed sports car available at a comparatively affordable price.

The car's reputation was a large part of Hollywood star Til Schweiger's big break, when he played a role as the rash young petrolhead lead in the 1991 action comedy "Manta Manta."

https://p.dw.com/p/5F2Yh

Skip next section Franco-German combat jet project reportedly collapses after almost a decade June 8, 2026

Franco-German combat jet project reportedly collapses after almost a decade

After years of squabbles, the FCAS project to build a Franco-German next-generation combat aircraft has collapsed, German government officials said in off-the-record comments to various media outlets on Monday.

According to the sources, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron had come to the shared evaluation that the Dassault and Airbus companies were not able to find common ground on the project.

"They recognize this reality," the sources said of Merz and Macron as cited by the DPA news agency.

The project was known to be under strain for months.

The "Future Combat Air System" (FCAS) was first hatched in 2017 by Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It was conceived as a next-generation multirole combat jet capable of operating alongside armed and unarmed drones. The idea was that it could replace both the German-made Eurofighters and French Rafales, perhaps as early as 2040.

However, France and Germany plan to continue cooperation on what they're calling a "Combat Cloud," involving the shared networking of various weapons systems like aircraft, drones and sensors. This could mean a shared plane project could still become a reality.

Spanish manufacturer Indra was also a part of the project.

According to the sources, who tried to portray the cancellation as a logical necessity​​​​​​​ amid intractable arguments between the arms manufacturers, France and Germany's defense ministries would convene in mid-July to work on an "up to date working plan" on combined defense projects, "concentrated on a few realistic and relevant propositions."

German politicians portrayed a scenario whereby Dassault had demanded a leading role in the development, and Airbus had said this was no longer acceptable.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F2Yq

Skip next section Cologne Cathedral reports rush to join special club after announcing entry fee June 8, 2026

Cologne Cathedral reports rush to join special club after announcing entry fee

The Cologne Cathedral's new plan to charge for entry seems to have led to an unexpected spike in membership of a special club supporting the building.

The president of the Zentral-Dombau-Verein (ZDV), roughly the Central Cathedral Construction Association in English, Barbara Schock-Werner said that 1,200 people had applied to join since the news of €12 (almost $14) entry fees starting in July was formalized last week.

By comparison, the minimum annual contribution for ZDV membership is €20 per year.

ZDV members will be entitled to free entry once the fees come into effect, as will children aged less than 13 and the severely disabled. People who want to enter to pray or light a candle will also be allowed into a smaller area via a side door without charge.

"We are pleased about the increasing membership numbers but it still wouldn't be enough," Schock-Werner said, arguing that the issue of covering the cathedral's maintenance and upkeep costs remains an issue.

She said there were roughly 22,700 ZDV members at present, but that the cathedral would need 50,000, all electing to pay €50 per year, to foot the bills along with the state subsidies from the government in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Provost Guido Assmann cited financial concerns as the reason for the introduction of entry fees. He said the cathedral had been operating on a loss for years.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F2Wa

Skip next section Germany's Wadephul welcomes apparent Iranian climbdown June 8, 2026

Germany's Wadephul welcomes apparent Iranian climbdown

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has welcomed Iran's comments about halting attacks on Israel.

Iran and Israel had traded blows for around 24 hours starting on Sunday, before first Iran and then Israel's leaders announced they were stopping again. You can catch up on all the developments in our other live updates.

"Today's statement by Iran that the attacks have ceased could be an important step," Wadephul said during an appearance with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Berlin. "We will not be closely monitoring how credible this statement is."

The German minister was making these comments shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu similarly said in a video address that strikes against Iran had halted once more.

Wadephul also called on Iran to exert greater influence over the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon to bring an end to its attacks on northern Israel from Lebanese territory.

He appealed to "all parties involved to avoid a resurgence of hostilities."

Wadephul also reiterated Germany's support for US efforts to mediate a diplomatic solution between Iran and Lebanon, saying: "A willingness to negotiate is a prerequisite for any long-term peace."

https://p.dw.com/p/5F2Tz

Skip next section Man forgets bag, chases after and jumps on train leaving Hanover station June 8, 2026

Man forgets bag, chases after and jumps on train leaving Hanover station

Federal police say they have launched a case against a young man from Colombia for dangerous disruption of rail travel.

The 27-year-old chased after a train as it was pulling away from the platform 10 of main station, juping onto an external stairwell and clinging on as the locomotive continued for a few meters.

The train conductor pulled the emergency brake on noticing the young man, police said in a statement .

Federal police, responsible for policing public transport networks and the highways, arrived on the scene soon after the incident, which took place around 4 p.m. on June 5.

"Officers ... spoke to the man about his reckless and life-threatening behavior," police said. "Based on current findings, the 27-year-old had forgotten his travel bag inside the train and so therefore abruptly put his life at risk."

Police concluded with a more general appeal to the public against reckless behavior on rail tracks.

"Besides the legal consequences accidents could lead to serious injuries and death," police warned, saying that even the risk of losing possessions "bore no relation to the dangers to yourself and others" when chasing after a moving train.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F2CS

Skip next section UN warns of extreme heat during World Cup as Bonn conference kicks off June 8, 2026

UN warns of extreme heat during World Cup as Bonn conference kicks off

The United Nations climate secretariat has warned that extreme heat is likely to impact the upcoming World Cup, taking place in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The tournament's opening game is in Mexico City on June 11, when Mexico take on South Africa.

"The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the biggest tournament in football history, will be played at a time of rising levels of extreme heat, driven by worsening climate change hitting billions of people around the world," the climate secretariat said Monday as a 10-day climate conference began in Bonn.

"This extreme heat can be expected to be part of the story of the tournament, on the pitch, in the stands, around stadiums and across host cities."

Around a quarter of the tournament's matches are set to be played in dangerously high temperatures. While medical care will be in place to protect the players, supporters in the stands will have to take measures into their own hands.

"The danger can be greatest outside the stadium. Fan zones, queues, transport routes, car parks and outdoor celebrations can expose people to dangerous heat for hours."

The action on the pitch is likely to be impacted by the extreme heat, with a slower pace of play, multiple drinks breaks and cooling towels set to feature prominently.

"It’s hot and getting hotter," UN climate chief Simon Stiell said. "That’s not random. That’s climate change."

"And now we’re feeling it — everywhere. And it’s not just the things we love, like football and the many other sports under serious pressure from global heating. It's also the things we need — like food, as global heating hits harvests and pushes up prices for everyone," Stiell said.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F1vm

Skip next section Bonn set to make public transport free in June due to traffic chaos June 8, 2026

Bonn set to make public transport free in June due to traffic chaos

The sudden closure of the North Bridge in Bonn, one of the region's busiest crossings over the Rhine, has triggered severe traffic disruption across the city.

Traffic slowed to a near standstill on Monday, the first full working day since the bridge was shut for emergency repairs after damage was discovered last Wednesday.

To mitigate the disruption, Bonn Mayor Guido Deus has announced a package of measures, including making public buses and trains free in June.

The city council still needs to approve the measure.

"We can't really afford it," Deus said, but officials hope the measure will encourage people to leave their cars at home.

Planned construction projects are set to be postponed to fix the North Bridge as soon as possible. It is unclear whether the bridge will be reopened.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F1ms

Skip next section WATCH: German fishers vs. seals June 8, 2026

WATCH: German fishers vs. seals

Fishermen in the Baltic Sea traditionally look forward to the spring herring season boosting their income. But with seals making a recent comeback, their nets are often empty.

In Germany's Baltic Sea, it's fishers vs. seals

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https://p.dw.com/p/5F0mI

Skip next section Greenpeace activists install 100 km/h speed limit signs on German motorways June 8, 2026

Greenpeace activists install 100 km/h speed limit signs on German motorways

Germany's motorways, known as the Autobahn, are known the world over for not having speed limits on large sections of the road network.

But climate activists from the environmental organization Greenpeace say lower speed limits would be a "free, highly effective" fuel-saving measure that would help protect the climate and make roads safer, said Greenpeace mobility expert Marissa Reiserer.

"Therefore, activists took matters into their own hands and introduced a 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour speed limit," Reiserer said.

Early on Monday morning, activists climbed onto a section of the A4 motorway near Aachen in western Germany, and affixed a 100 km/h sticker where previously only the number 130 had been displayed as the recommended speed. Greenpeace said that they had also done this at the other 25 highway border crossings around the country.

"Those who rely on pseudo-solutions like fuel discounts during the fossil fuel crisis are merely postponing the problem instead of tackling it," Reiserer said.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F1YQ

Skip next section WATCH: Berlin's new Hindu temple opens June 8, 2026

WATCH: Berlin's new Hindu temple opens

Axel Rowohlt

For many Hindus in the diaspora, faith remains central to everyday life. Berlin's new temple, the largest in Germany, offers a powerful place to connect.

Berlin's new Hindu temple

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https://p.dw.com/p/5F1By

Skip next section Zverev eyes more major wins after breaking Grand Slam duck June 8, 2026

Zverev eyes more major wins after breaking Grand Slam duck

Germany's world number three, Alexander Zverev, believes he will add more Grand Slam titles to his name after winning Sunday's French Open final.

His tense, five-set victory over Italy's Flavio Cobolli was the 29-year-old's first major open win, having lost in three previous finals.

"Now no matter what happens, I will always be a Grand Slam champion, and nobody can take that away from me. Maybe that does give me some freedom. Maybe my mind will just be a little bit calmer when I play in a final," he told reporters.

"This trophy for me is very important, because if I would have lost this one, the self-belief would have gone down a lot. But now that I've won it, I feel like I can do it again."

Zverev's win banished the ghosts of previous disappointments at Roland Garros, where he was beaten by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 final. He also suffered a serious knee injury in the 2022 semi finals against Rafael Nadal.

"I had some of the toughest moments of my tennis career here. I was lying on this court with an injury that I didn't know if I would ever come back from. I lost a Grand Slam final here," he said.

"All of those memories for me, they're not wiped out. They're still with me, but this one will beat all of them."

Zverev is the first German man to win a Grand Slam singles tournament since Boris Becker won the 1996 Australian Open.

"He is a Grand Slam champion, he is now in a very special club – and that feels damn good," Becker told Eurosport.

Despite the victory, Zverev remains third in the ATP world rankings, behind Italy's Jannik Sinner in first and Alcaraz in second.

Sinner was dumped out of the French Open in the second round after struggling with the intense Paris heat, while Alcaraz was unable to defend his title because he is nursing a hand injury.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F0ZQ

Skip next section Thousands rally in Berlin against Merz, mass migration June 8, 2026

Thousands rally in Berlin against Merz, mass migration

Thousands of protesters demonstrated on Monday in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to call for the government's resignation.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, led by the conservative bloc of Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) in a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), is coming under mounting pressure.

After more than a year in power, the government has failed to revive Germany's economy, which has been in recession for three years.

The Iran war is also putting severe pressure on both the German and global economies.

Added to this is the budget crisis in the pension system, as well as in the health- and long-term care sectors.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is cashing in on voter disenchantment.

Protesters carried "Merz out" signs and many waved German national flags at the demonstration called by "Project M1llion", which published an 11-point list of demands.

In addition to calling for the government's resignation, the protesters were also calling for:

Swiss-style direct democracy, which would see the introduction of referendums and veto rights to decide on all far-reaching political decisions and laws

The immediate expulsion of all convicted, criminal and irregular migrants

A halt to the new health care reform

The abolition of public broadcasting fees

Berlin police said around 2,000 people had turned out for the rally, which had 10,000 registered participants.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F1Uk

Skip next section Germany fails to implement EU wage transparency law June 8, 2026

Germany fails to implement EU wage transparency law

Germany has missed a deadline to implement new European Union rules on wage transparency.

EU members had to adapt their national legislation by Sunday's deadline, but Germany's Family Affairs Ministry said recently that the German law wouldn't be amended until 2027.

The European Commission is expected to open a lawsuit against Germany, although if Germany's legislation is amended in the coming months, the EU's executive branch could hold off on opening legal proceedings.

The new EU law is designed to close the gender pay gap. According to the most recent Eurostat figures from 2024, women in Germany earn on average 15.6% less in their hourly wage than men. In the EU as a whole, the difference is 11.1%.

To address this discrepancy, employees in the EU will be able to request information on average salaries for comparable jobs, according to gender.

Employers with at least 100 employees will be required to regularly report on the gender pay gap, as well as inform job applicants of starting salaries in the early stages of the application process. Employers will also be barred from asking applicants about their previous earnings.

"Anyone who slows down the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive is accepting that women will continue to be paid less," said Michaela Engelmeier, Chairwoman of the German Social Association, adding that "wage inequality has repercussions well into old age and increases the risk of poverty in old age for women."

Women in medicine — the pay and power gaps

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Skip next section Bureaucracy, regulatory requirements seen as the biggest risk to SME development: report June 8, 2026

Bureaucracy, regulatory requirements seen as the biggest risk to SME development: report

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany consider bureaucracy, regulatory requirements and energy prices to be their most significant obstacles to growth, according to a report.

The study by ⁠the German Mittelstand Association (DMB) in cooperation with the EMF Institute at the Berlin School of Economics ​and Law, is based on a survey ​of 1,071 entrepreneurs and managing directors from across Germany.

The survey found that 65% of respondents saw bureaucracy as a high risk, with energy prices following close behind at 62.9%.

Sustainability and regulatory requirements (57.1%) and shortages of skilled labor (56.3%) were also seen as risk factors.

SMEs — known in Germany as the Mittelstand — make up 99% of German companies. The findings show that such firms are struggling with multifaceted, simulatenous pressures that hinder development, planning and strategic development.

Around a third of the companies surveyed said they lack sufficient cash reserves to weather a major crisis, and half expect profits and financial risk to worsen over the next 10 years.

Why insolvencies are surging in Germany

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Skip next section CDU candidate narrowly beats far-right challenger in mayoral race June 8, 2026

CDU candidate narrowly beats far-right challenger in mayoral race

Marcus Hoffmann of the ruling center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has narrowly won the mayoral election in Aue-Bad Schlema, in the southeastern state of Saxony.

Hoffmann defeated Stefan Hartung of the far-right Freien Sachsen ("Free Saxons") party in the run-off vote, after Hartung had won the first round on May 10.

Hartung, a member of the city council and the district council, was still leading the tally on Sunday until postal votes were counted, when Hoffmann overtook him to win by the narrowest of margins. Hoffman won 5,007 votes to Hartung's 4,499.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the Free Saxons party as right-wing extremist.

Hoffmann has pledged to work with Hartung, telling German news agency dpa: "Yes, of course, we have to work together. Specifically, in the city council."

Hartung, for his part, wished the new mayor "good luck" but said that Hoffmann's victory was down to voters uniting to keep the far-right party out of power and "prevent me from winning."

Hartung has previously been a member of the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD), which has been renamed Die Heimat ("The Homeland").

He is the co-founder and vice-chairman of the Free Saxons, a fringe party that is classified as right-wing extremist by the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution and by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The party, which claims to have about 1,200 members, regularly organizes public protests, including torchlight marches against asylum-seeker accommodations.

https://p.dw.com/p/5F01j

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