Stories from Munich · Germany

Krause will succeed Dieter Reiter as the Mayor of Munich. Reiter expressed his honor in serving the city in his farewell message. Krause won the municipal elections in Bavaria this past March following a runoff election. He previously served as de facto head of the administration in his role as Vice Mayor. The Green Party is currently engaged in coalition negotiations with the SPD, FDP, and Freie Wähler to form a city council majority. Krause described the position as a dream job and expressed a desire to help shape the city. Key focus areas for the new administration include finance, transportation, and housing. Krause noted that while the city's growth brings new residents, the administration must manage this influx effectively. This handover will occur during the constituent meeting of the new city council.

A suspect is under investigation for allegedly targeting Jewish individuals in the Goldersgrün district of Munich. Police-recorded statistics show the Jewish community experienced more than eight times as many hate crime incidents as Muslims per head of population. The charity CST recorded 3,700 anti-Semitic incidents in 2025, including an attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in October. These figures follow a knife attack in Southport. Local imams, vicars, and civic leaders have expressed solidarity with the Jewish community following recent events. Members of the community have expressed frustration regarding perceived policy failures. Members of the Jewish community are calling for the UK government to ban the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

PSG defender Achraf Hakimi may be unable to play in the upcoming match in Munich next week. The uncertainty regarding his availability was reported by RMC Sport.

Defense company KNDS is conducting an external audit of a 2013 tank contract with Qatar due to suspected corruption. Auditors are reviewing their previous certification of the deal. KNDS has commissioned external experts to investigate a 2013 contract involving the sale of 62 combat tanks and 24 armored vehicles to Qatar. The deal was valued at nearly 1.9 billion euros. According to reports from Spiegel, there are suspicions that bribes were paid through a consulting firm.

Police and firefighters cordoned off an area near the Englischer Garten in Munich after a whistleblower reported a black dust spot. The individual was reportedly using a Geiger counter as a hobby when the discovery was made.

German chemical company Wacker Chemie released quarterly financial results that appear positive at first glance. The company reported losses during the previous year. The chemical industry in Germany is currently facing challenges due to extremely high location costs.

Mountain rescuers and experts are calling for a shift in responsibility regarding mountaineering safety in the Bavarian Alps. They said that hikers must engage in realistic tour planning and show respect for alpine hazards and the environment.

German companies Adidas and Waka Chemie reported an upward trend at the start of the year. Adidas recorded one of its most successful quarters in company history and expects increased revenue following the start of the FIFA World Cup.

The number of poorly prepared mountaineers in the Bavarian Alps is rising, according to reports from Doris Bimmer. The mountain rescue service in Bavaria recorded approximately 3,500 operations between May and October 2025. One in ten of these operations involved individuals who were not injured. Police in Bavaria recorded approximately 3,500 rescue operations, with 10% involving uninjured individuals. About 17 cases involved people who had simply overexerted themselves. Mountain guide Pietro Wetter described the trend as 'thrill instead of skill,' noting climbers prioritize social media experiences over necessary skills. Michael Schmidt, an alpine sports base owner in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, reported observing this trend more frequently. An owner of an Alpine sports base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen reports an increasing trend of unprepared climbers using rental equipment.

German national player Leon Goretzka is expected to leave Bayern Munich following the current season. According to reports from the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Goretzka has reached an agreement with AC Milan. Goretzka was substituted into a match in Paris on the evening of April 28. The announcement follows Bayern's 4-5 loss in Paris.