Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
- German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has advised people to postpone or cancel journeys if possible.
- The heat can affect rail infrastructure and increase the risk of disruption
- Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann will rotate his squad against Ecuador
- Deniz Undav will stay on the bench despite already scoring three goals in the tournament
Here are some of the latest headlines coming out of Germany on Thursday, June, 25:
Skip next section German export outlook improves but firms remain cautious06/25/2026June 25, 2026
German export outlook improves but firms remain cautious
Germany’s export outlook has improved slightly after three consecutive declines, though companies remain wary of global uncertainty.
The Ifo Institute said its export expectations index rose to minus 3.7 points in June from minus 5.6 in May.
“The exporters are still skeptical whether geopolitical uncertainty will ease in a sustained way,” said economist Klaus Wohlrabe. “International competition also remains strong.”
The picture varies sharply by sector. The electrical industry expects strong growth, while beverage producers are the most optimistic overall.
By contrast, Germany’s key car industry remains under pressure, with expectations falling further to minus 17.9 points. Only the paper industry posted a weaker outlook.
The chemicals sector showed a marked recovery from the previous month, while mechanical engineering remained close to the overall average.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5G2vlSkip next section Nagelsmann to rotate Germany squad, Undav stays on bench06/25/2026June 25, 2026
Nagelsmann to rotate Germany squad, Undav stays on bench
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann will rotate his squad for the final World Cup group game against Ecuador, but striker Deniz Undav will remain on the bench despite his recent goals.
Undav has scored three times, including a brace in the 2-1 win over Ivory Coast that secured Germany top spot in Group E and a place in the knockout stage.
“I understand the argument that Deniz has earned his place in the starting line-up. Nevertheless, we also have a plan behind our decisions,” Nagelsmann said.
He confirmed changes were necessary due to injuries to Nathaniel Brown and Nico Schlotterbeck, with Antonio Rüdiger and David Raum set to return to the starting team.
Nagelsmann will also stick with Manuel Neuer in goal, despite calls for Oliver Baumann to make his World Cup debut.
“It’s all about rhythm,” he said. “Manu has played two games now.”
Nagelsmann said he could understand the case for Baumann but stressed that decisions must be made with the “big picture” in mind.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5G2T4Skip next section Germany’s rail operator offers refunds, amid heat, tells people not to travel06/25/2026June 25, 2026
Germany’s rail operator offers refunds, amid heat, tells people not to travel
People who are reconsidering their planned and booked train trip amid the current temperatures are in luck, thanks to an understanding Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national rail operator.
“Anyone not wishing to take their journey in this extreme weather situation will get their money back,” the state-owned company said in a statement.
It even recommended that anybody able to postpone or cancel their trip should do so in the current weather conditions.
All tickets for long-distance trips bought by June 23 are covered by the offer until June 30.
It is the first time DB has offered refunds because of extreme heat.
The extreme heat is also causing problems for the railway system as a whole.
Air conditioning units in trains may no longer give out in very hot conditions as they often used to do. Moreover, points and safety technology can be damaged by the intense sunlight.
There is also a higher risk of fires breaking out along tracks, while the heavy rainstorms that often follow hot periods in Germany can pose problems.
Last summer, heat already caused problems with several points in June and July and led to cancellations and delays, a situation that could easily arise again this year.
Separately, railway services across Germany returned to normal on Wednesday morning after a nationwide failure of the operator’s digital communications system. The problem halted rail traffic for about 2 hours and stranded countless passengers.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5G2SwSkip next section Welcome to our coverage06/25/2026June 25, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Rana Taha Editor
Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in a sweltering Bonn.
You join us as Germany sweats through another day of baking weather, as temperatures in some parts of Europe hit record highs.
That’s been causing problems for Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, which has urged customers not to travel with it unless really necessary.
Separately, football fans across the country are braced to see Germany play Ecuador in their third and final group stage game.
The squad has already qualified, with Germany’s tournament star Deniz Undav once again set to start the match from the substitute bench.
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