May 11, 2026 — Brief summaries of the day’s main stories from Germany.
Lufthansa orders new long‑haul jets
Lufthansa announced an order for 20 long‑haul aircraft — 10 Airbus A350‑900s and 10 Boeing 787‑9s — worth about $7.7 billion (€6.5 billion). The airline said the new, more efficient planes will begin replacing older models from 2032, with deliveries completed by 2034. The order raises Lufthansa’s outstanding deliveries to 232 aircraft, including 107 next‑generation long‑haul jets. CEO Carsten Spohr framed the purchase as a commitment to modernity, premium service and lower CO2 emissions.
Survey: retail under strain
A Munich ifo survey found business sentiment remains strained: 8.1% of German companies say their survival is at risk. The figure is far higher in retail, where 17.4% of firms fear for their future. Across wholesale and retail combined, 11.6% of trading companies reported being worried about being forced out of business. If o highlights weak demand, rising operating and energy costs, growing bureaucracy and liquidity bottlenecks as the main pressures, warning that insolvencies may stay elevated amid geopolitical uncertainty.
German couple jailed in Spain over child neglect
A Spanish court sentenced a German couple to two years and 10 months in prison for family abandonment and causing psychological harm after their three children were found locked inside a home. Prosecutors had sought much longer sentences but the pair were cleared of unlawful detention. Investigators described the house as severely neglected; the children were reportedly malnourished, isolated and lacking schooling. The children — then 8‑year‑old twins and a 10‑year‑old boy — were rescued in April 2025. The parents plan to appeal.
WWII bomb defused in Cologne
Authorities successfully deactivated a large Second World War bomb unearthed at a construction site in Cologne‑Lindenthal. About 4,400 residents within a 500‑metre radius were temporarily cleared from the area, schools and daycares closed and one hospital was evacuated as a precaution. The bomb, described as close to 500 kilograms, was deactivated by a munitions disposal team and transported away; most restrictions were later lifted.
Teen arrested over alleged Hamburg attack plot
A 17‑year‑old Syrian teenager was detained in Hamburg on suspicion of plotting a terror attack. Prosecutors say he was inspired by the Islamic State group and planned to target locations such as a shopping mall, bar or police station, using explosives, Molotov cocktails or a knife. Police found materials including fertilizer, firelighters, a balaclava and a knife during the investigation. The arrest followed cooperation among domestic and federal security services.
Suspect held after pigeon attacks in Freiburg
Police in Freiburg identified a 65‑year‑old suspect after several pigeons in the Stühlinger district were found wounded by needle‑like projectiles or hit by airgun pellets. Investigators, working with animal welfare groups and the veterinary office, executed a search warrant and seized evidence from the suspect’s home. He is under investigation for violating animal protection and weapons laws.
Zoo nocturnal section reopens in Stuttgart
Wilhelma Zoo reopened its nocturnal animal section following a temporary closure after two children were injured there in separate incidents. The zoo said it had added safety measures including improved lighting, more staff presence and other organisational precautions as the probe into the incidents continues.
Ultra‑endurance runner covers 600 km
Berlin‑based ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, 28, completed a 600‑kilometre run — the distance roughly between Munich and Hamburg — across desert terrain in just over 123 hours. He fell short of his 96‑hour target but maintained an impressive pace at times. His solo attempt drew large online viewership.
Four Germans return from hantavirus‑affected cruise
Four German passengers from the MV Hondius, linked to a hantavirus outbreak, arrived in Frankfurt for medical checks and quarantine before returning to their home states. The WHO lists six confirmed and two suspected hantavirus cases from the ship; three fatalities have been reported. Spanish authorities organised evacuation flights for asymptomatic passengers.
Federal Network Agency flags possible gas price rises
The Federal Network Agency urged customers to use gas sparingly amid energy pressures linked to broader geopolitical tensions, saying modest price increases could not be ruled out. Agency head Klaus Müller said any rise would not be comparable to the spike after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and noted that electricity prices are easing thanks to renewables.
Switzerland top European destination for Germans abroad
Germany’s Federal Statistical Agency reported that roughly 330,000 Germans were living in Switzerland in early 2025, up about 10.7% over a decade. Austria is the next most popular nearby destination with about 240,000 Germans, while Spain is particularly attractive to older Germans (around 132,000).
Federal Council rejects relief bonus
Germany’s Bundesrat vetoed a government proposal to allow employers to give voluntary, tax‑free relief payments of up to €1,000 until mid‑2027. Only four Social‑Democrat‑run states supported the plan; most states opposed it, criticising the cost and distribution, and instead called for broader income tax reform.
Diplomacy and security: Schröder, Pistorius and Kallas
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, visiting Kyiv, warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talk of negotiating an end to the war could be a deception aimed at masking weakness. Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder act as a mediator, citing Schröder’s close ties to Russian state interests.
Trial of activists over suspected attack on Israeli contractor
Five activists known as the “Ulm 5” faced trial in Stuttgart over an alleged night‑time attack on the Ulm site of an Israeli defence contractor. The defendants — citizens of Ireland, Britain, Spain and Germany — are accused of criminal damage, trespass and membership of a criminal organisation for their alleged ties to Palestine Action Germany. Protests were reported outside the courtroom as the trial resumed.