News from Germany on politics, society, regions and everyday issues relevant to readers in Germany and across Europe.
In Dinslaken, North Rhine-Westphalia, a twelve-year-old child has died after a female driver lost control of her car and hit three children. Police currently assume it was a traffic accident, as reported by Welt.
Police in Esslingen, Baden-Württemberg, have arrested four teenagers aged 14 to 16 who allegedly planned a murder. According to the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor General's Office and the State Criminal Police Office, the crime was prevented by the swift intervention.
A 49-year-old man fell onto the tracks at Munich's Kolumbusplatz U-Bahn station and later died from his injuries. Bystanders had managed to rescue him from an incoming train, police said.
On Sunday evening, a regional train in Upper Bavaria had to be evacuated due to a technical fault. According to Spiegel, more than 300 passengers were on board.
The 76th Sudeten German Day is taking place in Brno, Czech Republic, for the first time. Bavaria's Minister Markus Söder (CSU) described the Whitsun gathering as a "great peace festival" and a "historic signal," according to Deutschlandfunk.
A serious accident involving a wrong-way driver occurred on the A8 near Grabenstätt on Saturday afternoon. The 89-year-old driver died, and five other people were injured, according to Bavarian Broadcasting (BR).
A glider crashed onto the A45 motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday, killing one person and seriously injuring another. No vehicles on the road were hit.
Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (CDU) has questioned the planned increase in Bafög. Given the tight budget situation, he sees no financial leeway, as he told the "Münchner Merkur".
On May 23, 1949, the Grundgesetz was solemnly proclaimed. Frank Bräutigam's article for Tagesschau explains the history and key contents of the German constitution.
More than 309,000 people acquired German citizenship in 2025, setting a new record. According to Spiegel, the reform of the nationality law contributed to this increase.
In the night before Saturday, customs, police and the job center checked shops in Berlin-Neukölln – with the governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) present. At the same time, shots were fired in Kreuzberg, as the Tagesspiegel reports.
The Bundestag has held its first reading on plans to pay child benefit automatically without requiring an application. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) said the reform sounds small but would improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.
The Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) has proposed linking long-term care insurance benefits to general life expectancy, according to Deutschlandfunk.
The Munich Higher Regional Court has sentenced three supporters of the so-called Kaiserreich group, who planned the kidnapping of former health minister Karl Lauterbach during the coronavirus pandemic. The sentences range from one year and four months to two years and three months.
The 2026 Civil Rights Report, compiled by ten human rights organizations, warns of a growing militarization in Germany. According to Deutsche Welle, the authors criticize that security interests are increasingly prioritized over fundamental rights.
Germany's federal states are calling on Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) to increase funding for local rail services. Without additional billions, regional trains and S-Bahn lines face severe cuts, according to ZDFheute.
For nearly a week, commuters on the U3 and U6 lines have had to switch to buses at Goetheplatz and Poccistraße. After numerous complaints about crowding and wrong buses, MVG is now responding with comprehensive measures.
The number of firearm-related crimes in Hesse has increased significantly again, according to the police crime statistics. Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) expressed understanding for public concerns.
Linux users may encounter error 751 when checking train connections on bahn.de. According to Golem, Deutsche Bahn cites bot protection systems as the cause.
According to a report by "Welt", the federal government recorded a double-digit billion amount last year for the follow-up costs of migration. Additional burdens fall on states and municipalities.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports on the latest Munich news: the suspected mastermind of the attack on the Eclipse restaurant has been caught, the city cannot award Oktoberfest contracts despite winning a tent dispute, and a headhunter has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
The Bundestag has approved a legislative change that will allow the certificate of good conduct to be issued as a PDF in the future. Previously, the document was printed on special green paper.
A media report about a possible increase in the retirement age to 70 has sparked debate, but several parties have denied it. According to Tagesschau, a 13-member expert commission is to develop proposals for long-term pension reforms.
Munich's municipal utilities have completed four large photovoltaic projects in the districts of Ebersberg, Munich, Dachau, and Erding, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
A new neighborhood with around 1,000 residents is taking shape in Frankfurt's Gallus district. The cornerstone for the Hellerhöfe was laid on Tuesday, as reported by the FAZ.
The German Animal Welfare Association has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that it provides too little money for animal shelters. Many facilities are on the verge of collapse, according to Spiegel.
The German cabinet has passed a reform draft aimed at making the driving license process more digital and affordable. Transport Minister Volker Wissing promises simpler procedures while maintaining high safety standards.
A driving license in Germany currently costs an average of 3,400 euros. Transport Minister Schnieder wants to simplify the rules to reduce costs, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
In Baden-Württemberg's state parliament, Landtag President Thomas Strobl (CDU) reprimanded Interior Minister Manuel Hagel (CDU) for applauding from the government bench. The plenum burst into laughter, as WELT reports.
A married couple has been arrested in Munich. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office accuses them of spying for China at German universities.
Munich's municipal utility, Stadtwerke München (SWM), has made considerable progress in expanding renewable energy but failed to fully meet its self-imposed green electricity target, according to a commentary in the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
CDU politician Gordon Schnieder is the new Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate. The state parliament in Mainz elected him on Monday with 63 votes, as reported by Tagesschau.
Germany is at risk of missing its climate targets, according to a new review by the Expert Council on Climate Issues. The independent advisory body accuses the federal government of doing too little for climate protection.
The Bundeswehr's decision to suspend promotions for non-commissioned officers until 2027 has sparked discontent among troops.
Germany has received below-average results in a recent study on child welfare. Various factors affecting children's well-being in Germany were examined, according to Deutschlandfunk.
A 67-year-old woman has died after being attacked by a herd of cows in East Tyrol, Austria, while hiking with her husband.
The death of the humpback whale Timmy has sparked public outrage and sharp criticism of the officials in the Ministry of Environment.
A 1.8-ton World War II bomb has been found in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg, and is set to be defused today, prompting the evacuation of up to 30,000 residents.
The Federal Police has introduced new prohibition zones at train stations in Berlin to combat violence and drugs.
A small aircraft crashed in Limburgerhof, claiming the lives of two men, while residents escaped unharmed.