Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison over the killing of a train conductor during a ticket check
- The family had wanted a murder conviction and boycotted the verdict
- Germany’s largest union is protesting as Volkswagen considers cutting 100,000 jobs worldwide
- The plans could include closing three German VW plants and one Audi factory
Here is a roundup of the latest headlines from Germany on Thursday, July 8:
Skip next section Merz announces plans to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles07/09/2026July 9, 2026
Merz announces plans to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the Bundestag on his return from the NATO summit this morning.
He announced that his government would be purchasing Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US and stationing them in Germany, saying this closed an “important” gap in the country’s defensive capabilities.
He also touted his coalition’s contentious summer reform package and tried to land some hits against the AfD and the Left Party.
https://p.dw.com/p/5GnoLSkip next section Volkswagen braces for union clash over reported mega-restructuring07/09/2026July 9, 2026
Volkswagen braces for union clash over reported mega-restructuring
Volkswagen bosses are meeting Thursday to discuss what could become the biggest restructuring in global auto industry history, with unions preparing protests against any mass job cuts.
The German auto giant is already cutting 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 under a deal reached with unions at the end of 2024. But CEO Oliver Blume is now considering cutting 100,000 jobs worldwide, as well as closing three German VW plants and an Audi factory, Manager Magazin reported, citing company sources.
The head of Germany’s largest union IG Metall, Christiane Benner, and VW works council head Daniela Cavallo warned they would oppose such plans “with all our might.”
The proposals would be difficult to push through. VW’s supervisory board is usually evenly split between worker and shareholder representatives. However, the workers’ side currently has a majority after a recent resignation.
Meanwhile, the state of Lower Saxony holds a blocking minority. No major announcement is expected immediately after Thursday’s meeting, which is likely to mark the start of lengthy negotiations.
Volkswagen is under pressure from US tariffs, weaker electric vehicle margins and fierce competition in China, where its deliveries have fallen to their lowest level since 2011.
Blume has warned that VW’s old business model “no longer works,” citing trade tensions, regulation and high costs in Europe. He has also said the group cannot compete with underused factories as Chinese rivals expand into Europe with more efficient plants.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5GnCXSkip next section Court hands man 10-year sentence for fatal attack on German train conductor07/09/2026July 9, 2026
Court hands man 10-year sentence for fatal attack on German train conductor
A German court has sentenced a 26-year-old man to 10 years in prisonfor fatally attacking train conductor Serkan Calar during a ticket inspection in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Prosecutors had said the Greek defendant, who lives in Luxembourg, repeatedly punched the 36-year-old conductor in the head after he was told to leave a regional train near Landstuhl because he had no ticket and refused to identify himself.
Calar lost consciousness at the scene and died two days later in hospital from a brain hemorrhage. The attack was fully captured by security cameras on the train.
The prosecution had called for a 12-year prison sentence for bodily harm resulting in death, saying prosecutors did not see intent to kill.
The defense argued the case should be treated as a less serious form of bodily harm resulting in death and asked the regional court in Zweibrücken for a sentence “at the lower end” of the possible range.
Lawyers for Calar’s family have pushed for a murder conviction, arguing the attack was driven by base motives.
The verdict is not yet final and can be appealed.
Lawyers representing the victim’s family had accused the defendant of murder driven by base motives and demanded a life sentence. The family’s attorney said they would challenge any sentence shorter than 12 years.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5GnGjSkip next section Welcome to our coverage07/09/2026July 9, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Natalie Muller Editor
Guten Tag! Welcome to our Germany coverage from the DW newsroom in Bonn, on the banks of the Rhine River.
You join us as a German court hands down a 10-year prison sentence in a case that has drawn nationwide attention.
Train conductor Serkan Calar died after prosecutors say he was repeatedly punched in the head during a ticket inspection in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Prosecutors sought a 12-year sentence for bodily harm resulting in death, saying the attack was clearly documented on security cameras but that they do not see intent to kill.
Calar’s family disagreed and could appeal the sentence.
Stay with us for this and more of the stories that Germany is talking about today.
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