Shortly before the German parliament’s summer recess, lawmakers approved a whole series of reforms. “These reforms are meant to get Germany back on track,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz optimistically. Toward the bottom of the 34-point list of reforms is something that has begun to cause great controversy: the ruling coalition of conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/ Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) wants to significantly alter the Freedom of Information Act (IFG), which has been in effect since 2006. Critics say, the plan is to abolish it altogether. The IFG grants every individual the right to access official information held by federal agencies. This is the law that many organizations, including environmental groups, consumer protection organizations and, not least, journalists, cite to demand that government agencies provide them with data and substantive material quickly and free of charge. Exceptions apply only to security-related information, such as...

Skip next section 1 in 3 experience heat-related health issues 07/13/2026July 13, 2026 1 in 3 experience heat-related health issues As hot weather continues to drag on in Germany, a study has revealed that around one in three people have personally experienced heat-induced problems, a rise from previous years. The study was commissioned by the health insurance provider DAK-Gesundheit. The most common problems reported include: Fatigue (71%) Sleep issues (68%) Circulatory problems (64%) Headaches (52%) Dizziness (32%) Loss of appetite (27%) Confusion (7%) Women who reported suffering due to the heat were almost double the men (40% versus 21%). Around 5% of those surveyed needed to consult a doctor regarding their heat-induced symptoms. Around 13% more did not but in retrospect believed they should have. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed reported extreme concern regarding the heat, with three-quarters believing the existing heat protection measures are insufficient. Nearly 60% of the...

German companies are continuing to move abroad — and that applies to businesses of every size. According to press reports, Gardena, the Ulm-based garden tools specialist, plans to cut 250 jobs in Germanyand partially relocate operations to the Czech Republic. That amounts to a reduction of 10% of its domestic workforce. Major global players such as BASF are also continuing to invest abroad. Earlier this year, it become known that the chemical company intends to relocate service positions to India, with many jobs at its Berlin site coming under particular pressure. Relocations and job losses Last year, the situation was described in even more dramatic terms. “Germany’s industrial crisis is running at full speed,” wrote the online magazine Finanzmarktwelt in November, citing figures from the Federal Statistical Office from 2018 to 2023. More recent figures have yet to be published by the office. According to the data, around 1,300 German companies with...

The Centro mall is the one place the city of Oberhausen is famous for nowadays. The shopping and entertainment center, with its 250 stores and restaurants, sits next to a marina with a promenade and right by Germany’s largest Sea Life Aquarium. The complex was built in the mid-1990s on a site where 32,000 people had previously worked in the steel industry, which was once a cornerstone of Europe’s manufacturing base. “Thanks to the Centro, we’ve created almost as many jobs again, but they’re all in the service sector, where people don’t earn as much,” Oberhausen City Treasurer Apostolos Tsalastras said. City Treasurer Apostolos Tsalastras says time is running out for his cityImage: DW/Sabine Kinkartz Demise of the Ruhr region The average income in the city is now among the lowest in Germany: “The gross domestic product we generate here is also one of the lowest nationwide,” the treasurer admits. The...