A heatstroke begins with headaches, dizziness and loss of awareness. The body’s regulation system fails, causing body temperature to rise to life-threatening levels. Multiple organ failure and death can follow. But doctors rarely record deaths that can be directly attributed to heat. According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, an average of 21 such cases were recorded each year between 2004 and 2014. The 5,120 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2026 through June 28, published by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), is therefore an estimate. But that does not mean the figure is pulled out of thin air. “It is based on a statistical correlation,” says Alexandra Schneider, a meteorologist, epidemiologist and deputy director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich. Statistical link between temperatures and deaths This estimate was found by comparing death figures collected by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office with temperature trends over a given period measured by the German...

After six years of being on ESPN, the Bundesliga has a new home in the United States of America. A combination of USA Network and Fandango has reportedly struck a deal through the 2030-31 season to be the English-language broadcaster of Germany’s top flight in the USA. The deal is reportedly worth $20 million (€17.4 million) per year, which is noticeably less than the $34 million per year paid by ESPN. USA and Fandango are part of Versant, a media company in the country that is trying to develop itself as a home for broadcasting rights below the top leagues of the NFL and NBA. Fandango is predominately an app to buy movie tickets, but Versant is looking to diversify its offering by including live sports. All 300-plus Bundesliga games will air on either channel, with USA requiring a subscription and Fandango being free and ad-supported. The reaction from US-based Bundesliga fans...

Darya* was very happy with her holiday plans: Her short trip to Turkey coincided with the start of a heat wave in Germany. But when she returned to her flat in the northwestern city of Bochum on June 26, she was in for an unpleasant surprise. The temperature inside her apartment reached 31°C (87.8°F) – higher than the 29°C she had experienced at the Turkish seaside. Outside, temperatures were soaring to a scorching 39°C.   “This flat turns into a thermos over the summer,” said Darya, describing the attic apartment where she lives with her husband and one-year-old daughter. Her south-facing flat has no external blinds or air conditioning. Last year, Darya had to buy her own blackout curtains, and now on hot days she relies on a fan. “We tried putting frozen bottles of ice in front of the fan, but it didn’t help much – it was just moving the hot air around,” she says, adding that her bedroom, with its...

The Bundesrat, the upper chamber of Germany’s parliament, is pressing for a statutory ban on slogans that members say deny Israel‘s right to exist. During their final session before the summer recess, the representatives approved a bill put forward by the state of Hesse. “We are introducing this bill now deliberately because the time has come to move beyond discussion and take legislative action.” According to the Bundesrat’s proposal, “anyone who publicly, or at a public assembly, denies the State of Israel’s right to exist or calls for its destruction” would be subject to criminal penalties. However, the offense would be punishable only where the conduct in question is capable of encouraging antisemitic acts of violence or other forms of discriminatory treatment. According to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill, the existing provisions of German criminal law — including those addressing incitement to hatred and the use of symbols associated with terrorist...

The annual summer press conference with the German chancellor is one of the last public events before the holidays.   Friedrich Merzwill also be going on vacation soon and the Federal Press Conference Room in the German capital Berlin was packed with journalists eager to hear what he would say.  They were greeted by a chancellor who appeared to be quite content with himself — and that despite poor poll numbers, with only between 13% and 20% of people in Germany satisfied with how he and his coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats are doing their jobs. “The coalition has found its footing,” said Merz. “The outcome has been positive,” he continued. “The federal government has found its rhythm, despite some criticism. We’ve delivered.” He was referring to reforms — adopted but not yet approved by Parliament — pertaining to pensions, healthcare and taxes, which he went on to elaborate on in...

The annual summer press conference with the chancellor is one of the last public events before Friedrich Merzare also goes on vacation. And the Federal Press Conference Room was packed to capacity for the occasion.  Journalists were greeted by a chancellor who appeared to be quite content with himself — and that despite poor poll numbers, with only between 13% and 20% of people in Germany satisfied with how he and his coalition of conservatives and social democrats are doing their jobs. “The coalition has found its footing,” said Merz. “The outcome has been positive,” he continued. “The federal government has found its rhythm, despite some criticism. We’ve delivered.” Merz was specifically referring to the reforms — already adopted but not yet approved by Parliament — in the areas of pensions, healthcare and taxes, which he went on to elaborate on in detail. He specifically mentioned reforms to the pension system,...

Many soils in Germany are far too dry. Rainfall was already lacking in spring, especially in March. Even the partly above-average precipitation in some regions during April and May was unable to replenish the missing moisture in deeper soil layers. This is shown by the current drought monitorof the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). The city of Munich in Germany’s South has banned filling private swimming pools and watering lawns. Following an extreme heat wave at the end of June, the next one is already torching Europe, putting even more strain on dwindling groundwater resources. Anyone with a garden and a water tank knows the advantage of collecting rainwater and using it when rain is scarce. But groundwater also functions like a gigantic water reservoir. Containing nearly half of the world’s drinking water, groundwater forms when water seeps into the ground and accumulates above impermeable layers of rock or clay in the subsurface. It’s often the only source of water in arid regions. Groundwater levels are falling worldwide  Precious groundwater is currently being...

Teheran’s ultra-conservative newspaper Hamshahri published images of thirteen Western politicians “wanted” for the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, along with a statement claiming the politicians would pay the ultimate price. Among the politicians was German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). In addition to Merz, it also featured US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others. In the images, all of them are wearing orange prison uniforms, as are common in US prisons. Since late February, many European countries have supported the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, for example, by giving them permission to fly through their airspace. Merz in early March: ‘The mullah regime is coming to an end’ After US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in early March, Merz said that the German government shared the relief felt by many Iranians that this regime...

Tehran’s ultraconservative Hamshahri newspaper published images of 13 international politicians “wanted” for the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with a statement claiming that the politicians would pay the ultimate price. Among the politicians was German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democrats (CDU). In addition to Merz, it also featured US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among other politicians. In the images, all of them are wearing orange prison uniforms, as are common in the United States. Many European countries have supported the US and Israeli attacks on Iran since February, including by giving them permission to fly through their airspace. Merz in early March: ‘The mullah regime is coming to an end’ After US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in early March, Merz said that the German government shared the relief felt...

When Alexandra Wiemer recalls the night of July 14, 2021, what she remembers most is water suddenly “coming from every direction.” It was 10:30 p.m. when she felt it rushing towards her. The normally gentle Ahr river that starts in the mountains of western Germany and flows more than 85 kilometers (53 miles) before emptying into the mighty Rhine, had burst its banks. The region received an entire month’s worth of rainfall in just two days, turning the usual trickle into a torrent. The force of the water swept away cars, houses, trees and other flotsam that, in turn, tore down bridges. The floods caused huge amounts of damage to infrastructure built along the riverImage: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture alliance Alexandra Wiemer and her son managed to escape to safety, but many others were not so lucky. The flood, the worst in the country’s living memory, claimed 135 lives, most of them...