Nature and EnvironmentGermany
Germany updates: Thousands to join Cologne’s CSD parade
Richard Connor | Emmy Sasipornkarn | Alex Berry with dpa, AFP, Reuters, APPublished 07/04/2025Published July 4, 2025last updated 07/06/2025last updated July 6, 2025
https://p.dw.com/p/4wwC4The Cologne CSD march is followed by several days of partyingImage: Christoph Hardt/Panama Pictures/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Cologne’s annual Pride event, Christopher Street Day (CSD), is kicking off on Sunday with hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend.
The annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts people from around the world.
Below, you can read a roundup of key developments related to Germany from Friday, July 4 to Sunday, July 6.
Skip next section Germany facing 3 more lawsuits over migrant turnbacks07/06/2025July 6, 2025
Germany facing 3 more lawsuits over migrant turnbacks
Following the decision of the German government to turn back migrants at the border, several individuals have launched lawsuits after their asylum applications were immediately rejected.
Germany’s Stern magazine reported on Sunday that the government was facing three more lawsuits after a court in June ruled in favor of three Somali nationals who were turned back at a checkpoint on the German-Polish border.
„There are currently three further court cases pending in connection with the rejection of asylum seekers,” Stern quoted a spokesman for the Interior Ministry as saying.
A Berlin Administrative Court made its ruling, which was a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, against the government argument that since they were coming from a safe third country — Poland — officials did not have to consider their application.
The court found the immediate transfer of the Somali nationals back to Poland without an adequate review of their applications was unlawful.
The government had feared that the ruling would result in a wave of lawsuits, however, this has not appeared to be the case.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that Berlin would take the case to the European Court, saying he was „convinced that our actions are in line with European law.”
Germany ramps up border checks
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/4x20kSkip next section Polish border checks to begin on Sunday night07/06/2025July 6, 2025
Polish border checks to begin on Sunday night
Polish officials are set to begin carrying out checks on the border with Germany at midnight on Sunday, following German plans to increase spot checks on its side of the border.
Germany had already been conducting spot checks on the border with Poland, but the new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced in May, shortly after taking office, that the checks would be increased as a measure to tackle irregular migration.
Poland said that for its side, no physical barriers would be set up, but signs would tell drivers to slow down and spot checks would be carried out with a focus on buses and cars with multiple passengers.
Polish authorities will also introduce checks on the border with Lithuania.
Both Poland and Germany are part of the Schengen Zone that allows cross-border travel without checks, however, countries are allowed to introduce temporary measures as „last resort” and „in exceptional situations.”
Germany introduced limited checks on the Polish border in October 2023, but has repeatedly renewed the temporary measures. Germany last extended its border checks until September 15, 2025 in March, citing „Serious threats to public security and order posed by continued high levels of irregular migration and migrant smuggling, and the strain on the asylum reception system.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4x20BSkip next section Over 1.4 million German pensioners still work — report07/06/2025July 6, 2025
Over 1.4 million German pensioners still work — report
Many pensioners in Germany still have to work due to a low pensionImage: Michael Gstettenbauer/IMAGO
More than 1.4 million German pensioners are still working after having retired, according to a response from the Bundestag to a question from the Left Party and reported by the RND network.
Almost 375,000 of those working pensioners were holding down jobs that counted as more than a small side job.
The numbers provided by the Bundestag were dated to December 31, 2023.
Dietmar Bartsch, from the Left Party, remarked that Germany is the biggest economy in Europe, but its pension level — the relation between the average income of workers and the average income of pensioners — is ten points lower than the EU average.
„Austria, the Netherlands or Denmark are at more than 80%, we’re below 50%, no wonder then that more and more old people continue working — many not because they want to, but because they must.”
Bartsch also called for a „major pension reform” in line with the Austrian system.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x1zjSkip next section Hundreds of thousands expected for Cologne’s CSD parade07/06/2025July 6, 2025
Hundreds of thousands expected for Cologne’s CSD parade
Alex Berry with AFP, dpa, Reuters, AP | Kieran Burke Editor
Welcome back to our coverage of the latest news, explainers and analysis from Germany on Sunday, July 6.
Cologne is preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to show up for the Christopher Street Day (CSD) demonstration on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT).
Organizers and police are expecting around 60,000 participants. Some 90 floats are also expected to join the march.
CSD traces its origins back to the Stonewall riot in New York on June 28, 1969, when people at the Stonewall LGBTQ+ bar fought back against a police raid. The incident is an important historical date for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Stonewall bar was on Christopher Street, hence the name for the Cologne event.
The motto for this year’s CSD is „For queer rights. Many. Together. Strong.”
Cologne’s CSD is one of the biggest Pride events in Europe and attracts people from around the world.
Pride and LGBTQ+ Germany
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/4x1msSkip next section Pride and protest in eastern Germany07/05/2025July 5, 2025
Pride and protest in eastern Germany
Pride marches are increasingly targeted by right-wing extremists in GermanyImage: Christoph Soeder/dpa/picture alliance
Several hundred people on Saturday celebrated the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade to promote diversity and tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community in Falkensee, a town in the eastern German state of Brandenburg.
A banner reads ‘CSD instead of AFD,’ the far-right party which opposes same-sex marriageImage: Christoph Soeder/dpa/picture alliance
On the same day, several dozen participants protested against Pride events.
A banner read ‘No to CSD’Image: Christoph Soeder/dpa/picture alliance
Police say both the march and the counter demonstration remained peaceful.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x1AoSkip next section PSG edge Bayern in Club World Cup thriller as Musiala suffers horror injury07/05/2025July 5, 2025
PSG edge Bayern in Club World Cup thriller as Musiala suffers horror injury
Paris Saint-Germain have booked a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals after a tense 2-0 win over Bayern Munich — but the match was overshadowed by a gruesome injury to young German star Jamal Musiala.
Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 78th minute after Joao Neves robbed Harry Kane near midfield and sparked a quick counter that ended with Doue’s left-footed shot beating Manuel Neuer at the near post.
PSG finished with nine men after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, but clung on as Bayern threw everything forward. Ousmane Dembele sealed the win deep into stoppage time with a breakaway goal.
Bayern had two goals ruled out for offside, including a Harry Kane header, and saw a late penalty overturned by VAR.
Musiala’s injury stunned both teams. In first-half stoppage time, PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collided with Musiala’s left ankle while diving for a loose ball, leaving the 22-year-old’s foot hanging at an unnatural angle. Donnarumma was visibly shaken as Musiala was stretchered off.
PSG will face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday’s semifinal at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Saturday’s quarterfinal drew 66,937 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — the city’s biggest crowd yet ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The injury to Musiala made a bad day for Bayern even worseImage: Malachi Gabriel/ZUMA/picture alliance https://p.dw.com/p/4x13PSkip next section Father and child missing after boating accident on Bavarian lake07/05/2025July 5, 2025
Father and child missing after boating accident on Bavarian lake
Richard Connor
A father and his child have gone missing after a boating accident on the Eibsee, an Alpine lake in southern Germany, police said on Saturday.
The family of four was out on a pedal boat when the six-year-old fell into the water and the father jumped in to rescue them — but neither resurfaced.
Emergency responders are caring for the mother and the couple’s other child, aged four.
Police said the family is from Bavaria. A major rescue operation is underway with helicopters and divers searching the lake.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x0tuSkip next section Wildfires in eastern Germany continue to rage07/05/2025July 5, 2025
Wildfires in eastern Germany continue to rage
Emmy SasipornkarnHundreds have been deployed to battle the firesImage: Daniel Wagner/dpa/picture alliance
Firefighters and emergency personnel continue to battle the forest fire in the Gohrischheide region on the border between the eastern German states of Saxony and Brandenburg.
The situation on the Saxony side remains more difficult. Around 700 firefighters were deployed on Saturday afternoon, according to a statement from the Meissen district office.
Mario Voigt, the premier of Thuringia, traveled to the fire area on SaturdayImage: Daniel Vogl/dpa/picture alliance
The situation in the Saalfelder Höhe in Thuringia has been stabilized, according to authorities. Emergency services were able to prevent the fire from spreading overnight.
„Our emergency services have the situation under control,” the Thuringian State Chancellery, which called the forest fire „the largest of its kind” in the state in over 30 years, posted on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x13eSkip next section AfD leader blasts SPD ban push as ‘reminder of dark times’07/05/2025July 5, 2025
AfD leader blasts SPD ban push as ‘reminder of dark times’
Richard Connor
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leader Alice Weidel says the cente-left Social Democrats’ (SPD) push to consider banning her party reminds her of „very dark times.”
Speaking in Berlin on Saturday, Weidel compared the idea to Adolf Hitler’s crackdown on other parties and the press.
The SPD’s party conference last weekend called for constitutional bodies to prepare conditions to file an application to have the AfD declared unconstitutional.
Any party ban would have to be decided by Germany’s Constitutional Court and requested by the federal government or parliament.
Calls for a ban have gained momentum after Germany’s domestic intelligence service upgraded its assessment of the AfD, citing „confirmed right-wing extremist tendencies.” The party is challenging this label in court.
Meanwhile, AfD lawmakers passed a new code of conduct on Saturday, with co-leader Tino Chrupalla aiming to polish the party’s image ahead of any future term in office. The code calls for a united and moderate front in parliament, along with rules to prevent corruption and conflicts of interest.
Citește mai multe știri pe top10stiri.ro
Weidel compared the proposed move by the SPD to the crushing of resistance by the NazisImage: Andreas Gora/IMAGO https://p.dw.com/p/4x0vVSkip next section Germany captain Gwinn out of women’s Euro 202507/05/2025July 5, 2025
Germany captain Gwinn out of women’s Euro 2025
Germany captain Giulia Gwinn will miss the rest of the Women’s Euros in Switzerland due to a left knee injury, the German football federation (DFB) announced on Saturday.
„Our captain sustained a medial ligament injury in her left knee yesterday in the match against Poland. She is expected to be out for several weeks.”, the DFB posted on X.
Gwinn had to be helped off the field in tears in the 40th minute of Germany’s opening 2-0 victory over Poland on Friday in St. Gallen.
She suffered an injury after making a crucial tackle on Poland’s striker, Ewa Pajor.
It was originally feared that she had suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament tear since 2020.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x0vJSkip next section Anti-German graffiti sprayed on property in Spain’s Mallorca07/05/2025July 5, 2025
Anti-German graffiti sprayed on property in Spain’s Mallorca
Anti-German graffiti has appeared on shops and cars on the Spanish island of Mallorca, a popular holiday destination for many Germans, the German-language Mallorca Zeitung newspaper reported on Saturday.
The perpetrators defaced dozens of German-owned shops and cars with foreign licensed plates with slogans such as „Germans out” and „Foreign buyers go to hell” in the small southern village of Santanyi.
Police have confirmed the incidents to German news agency DPA
„It is frightening to feel such a wave of hatred after 34 years on the island, where I pay taxes and currently employ nine people,” one man affected was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
In recent years, there have been rising tensions between tourists, foreign property owners, and locals on the holiday island.
Thousands have protested at regular rallies against mass tourism and a housing shortage.
Toxic tourism — Mallorca’s housing crisis
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/4x0twSkip next section Welcome back to our coverage07/05/2025July 5, 2025
Welcome back to our coverage
Emmy Sasipornkarn | Saim Dušan Inayatullah Editor
Guten Abend from Bonn!
We are continuing our coverage of news from Germany over the weekend.
Anti-tourist graffiti was sited on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca, a beloved holidaying spot for Germans.
Wildfires continued to rage in eastern Germany.
Stick around for the latest on these stories and much more from DW.
https://p.dw.com/p/4x0tbSkip next section German education minister floats limiting foreign students in classrooms07/04/2025July 4, 2025
German education minister floats limiting foreign students in classrooms
Jon Shelton
German Education Minister Karin Prien recently suggested she could be open to introducing limits to the number of foreign-born students allowed into German classrooms.
The minister is a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Prien, speaking on a recent broadcast of the show Welt TV, said a Danish model limiting the number of foreign students in a given classroom could be one that might work in Germany.
Without advocating one model or another, Prien — who can only make suggestions as education is a state, not a federal responsibility in Germany — said that the most important factor defining a child’s chances of success was whether he or she could speak German.
The education minister said she strongly believes in language proficiency tests for pre-schoolers, „because every child in this country deserves to have the same chances.”
Education Minister Karin Prien’s comments on potentially limiting the number of foreign-born students in schools was met with backlash [FILE: July 2, 2025]Image: dts-Agentur/picture alliance
What was the response to Prien’s comments?
Prien’s oppenness to the idea of limiting foreign-born students in schools was not warmly greeted by everyone. Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees, and Integration Natalie Pawlik, for instance, said, „Germany doesn’t need classroom quotas,” adding that they won’t solve the problems the country’s education system faces.
Pawlik did, however, agree with Prien that every child in Germany should be able to speak the language, whether they are foreign-born or not. She, too, advocated for intensifying language lessons at the pre-school level.
Pawlik belongs to the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), which is the CDU’s junior coalition partner.
Gerhard Brand, federal chairman of the German Education Association (VBE), summed up his view of the matter by assessing, „Confronting a real situation with unrealistic suggestions will not help anyone.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4wyTcSkip next section Dobrindt to host migration policy summit on Germany’s top peak07/04/2025July 4, 2025
Dobrindt to host migration policy summit on Germany’s top peak
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is set to host his counterparts from neighboring countries for talks on tightening European migration rules at a meeting on Germany’s highest mountain on July 18.
The summit on the Zugspitze — a 2,962-metre (9,718-foot) peak on the German-Austrian border — aims to give fresh momentum to a tougher European migration policy, according to the Interior Ministry.
Interior ministers from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic, along with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, have been invited.
They plan to discuss ways to combat people smuggling and improve deportations during the gathering some 100 kilometers (just over 60 miles) south-west of Munich.
EU member states have long debated tightening the bloc’s common asylum system, known as GEAS, due to be fully in place by 2026. Under the latest reform, countries cannot deport asylum seekers outside the EU if there is no connection to that country — a rule some states want removed.
The Zugspitze is the highest point in Germany. It sits on the border between Germany and Austria, in the Bavarian Alps, and is a well-known destination for skiing, hiking and mountaineering.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wy2JSkip next section Merz held call with Trump over Ukraine — report07/04/2025July 4, 2025
Merz held call with Trump over Ukraine — report
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, German magazine Spiegel reported on Friday, citing government sources.
There was little information released about the content of the conversation, but the magazine said the two leaders discussed Ukraine, including strengthening its air defenses, and trade issues.
The call came after the US announced a pause in certain arms deliveries to Ukraine.
For more on the latest from Ukraine, follow our live blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/4wy2aShow more postsRichard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.Emmy Sasipornkarn Multimedia journalist with a focus on AsiaAlex Berry Writer and Editor in DW’s online newsroom.Send us your feedback
Sursa: DW