Germany’s main industrial association welcomes the easing of restrictions on truck traffic as river water levels become too low for cargo vessels A German sailor missing for days in the southern Aegean has been found dead, according to Greek media The far-right AfD is kicking off its election campaign in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Here is a roundup of the stories from and about Germany that are hitting the headlines on the weekend of August 8-9, 2026:
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Guten Tag from DW’s newsroom on the increasingly depleted Rhine!
The lack of water in the Rhine and other rivers is hampering cargo shipping and has prompted the government to propose easing rules restricting the use of motorways by trucks on Sunday and public holidays.
Though welcomed by industrial associations, environmentalists and truck driver representatives are not so sure about the idea.
Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)is to hold an event in Stralsund to kick off its election campaign in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ahead of a vote scheduled for September 20.
Read on here for more on these and other stories from Europe’s biggest economy.