Wednesday's top story: 'We are the daughters' rally held in Berlin after Merz's comments
Thousands of demonstrators came together on Tuesday evening in a rally against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after his comments about women's safety, as the 'Stadtbild' row continues.
The 'We are the daughters' protest was organised by climate activist Luisa Neubauer and took place in front of the CDU party headquarters in Berlin on Tuesday evening.
It came following a series of divisive remarks by Merz. Last week, he was accused of being racist after hinting that diversity in cities was an issue. “Of course we still have this problem in the Stadtbild (cityscape), and that is why the federal interior minister is now working to enable and carry out expulsions on a very large scale," he said.
Merz then defended his comments on Monday, insisting he had “nothing to take back", and telling critics to "ask your daughters" what he meant.
Neubauer said the chancellor was misusing women "as a pretext or justification" for his remarks.
READ ALSO: Opinion - Merz's divisive comments are a distraction from real problems in Germany
"There are plus or minus 40 million daughters in this country. We have a genuine interest in people addressing our safety," said 29-year-old Neubauer in a post on Instagram when announcing the protest.
"What we are not happy about is being misused as a pretext or justification for statements that were ultimately discriminatory, racist and deeply hurtful."
€2.8 billion shortfall threatens Germany’s waterways
Germany’s network of rivers and canals is facing a severe funding gap, with the Federal Ministry of Transport warning that about €2.8 billion is missing from medium‑term financial plans, according to reports by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
The budget shortfall affects crucial maintenance and replacement work on locks, weirs, and bridges across the country.
An internal ministry paper cited by RND says that 26 unfunded projects involve “system‑critical structures of high safety relevance,” particularly weirs that regulate water levels and cannot be shut down in emergencies. Another 24 locks and 39 bridge replacements are also awaiting financing.
Without repairs, many facilities risk closure, leaving flood‑protection projects in jeopardy.
“The financing of federal waterways for the coming years is not secured in many areas,” the paper warns. Between 2025 and 2027, only binding construction contracts can be fulfilled, while rising costs and emergency repairs are expected to widen the gap further by 2029.
The ministry’s warning underscores growing concerns about Germany’s ageing transport infrastructure, much of which has suffered from decades of underinvestment.
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Police search for suspects who robbed coach on Autobahn
Police in Lower Bavaria are searching for three armed men who robbed a coach on the A93 motorway in the early hours of Monday after posing as police officers.
According to investigators, the suspects used flashing light signals to force the bus to pull off at the Aiglsbach exit around 3:30am. They then pretended to conduct a police check and stole cash and travel documents before fleeing towards Munich in a van marked with the licence prefix “WR.”
The perpetrators are said to have had firearms with them. None of the passengers were injured.
On Tuesday a police search for the suspects continued.
The Bavarian Bus Companies Association (LBO) described the incident as an "isolated case".
Managing Director Stephan Rabl said: "We are not aware of any such or similar current or past cases. This applies both to Bavaria and nationwide."
However, Rabl urged drivers in Germany to remain cautious and alert.
Bayern Munich extend coach Kompany's contract until 2029
Vincent Kompany has extended his contract as coach of Bayern Munich by two years until 2029, the Bundesliga champions announced on Tuesday.
Kompany was not Bayern's first choice when he was appointed in the summer of 2024, but the Belgian reclaimed the German title for the Bavarians in his debut season at the club.
"It feels like I've been here a lot longer and that I know the club well," former Manchester City captain Kompany said in a statement.
"It's been a great experience so far. We've started on a wonderful journey. Let's keep working hard and celebrate much more success!"
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World's oldest Volkswagen Beetle back in action
The world’s oldest Volkswagen Beetle is back on the road. The car — a 1937 W30 prototype — has been painstakingly restored by collector Traugott Grundmann in Hessisch Oldendorf, near Hanover.
Once reduced to a single surviving chassis, the historic vehicle had endured war, neglect, and obscurity before being rediscovered in southern Germany and finally rebuilt over nearly a decade.
Grundmann, known for his celebrated VW collection, spearheaded the restoration using original technical drawings, factory photographs, and worldwide searches for authentic 1930s components. A full‑scale sketch by Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt helped recreate the missing bodywork.
Now certified by TÜV Nord, the 23‑horsepower car – officially chassis number 26 – can reach 100 km/h, though it remains a bumpy, cramped ride for modern‑day drivers.
With reporting by AFP and DPA.
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