Germany news: Industry hemorrhaging 15,000 jobs a month Published July 24, 2026last updated July 25, 2026What you need to know - The head of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) says the country has become less competitive and called on politicians and business leaders to usher in a course correction - The BDI boss urged innovation in the face of Chinese competition and US tariff burdens - Politicians including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Bavarian State Premiere Markus Söder are expected to attend the opening of this year's Bayreuth Festival, the 150th installment of the annual music festival featuring works by 19th century German composer Richard Wagner - Germany's BfV domestic intelligence service has warned of the growing threat posed by so-called 'active clubs' as gateways to racist, right-wing indoctrination Below you can read up on developments from Germany from Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 of July: Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed.

BDI boss says Germany shedding 15,000 jobs a month Welcome back to our coverage. Tanja Gönner, director general of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) described the fact that the country is losing 15,000 each month "critical" while at the same time arguing that it is not too late to turn the situation around. Speaking with Germany's dpa news agency, Gönner said: "I am convinced that if we do our homework, we will have every opportunity again.

Innovation has long been a top priority for many companies." Urging investment in artificial intelligence and other new technologies, Gönner said "Germany has lost ground in terms of competitiveness," and therefore political and business leaders should ask themselves one thing with each decision they make: "Does it contribute to competitiveness? Does it help companies become more competitive again?" Gönner stressed that structural weaknesses coupled with US tariff burdens and Chinese competitiveness had put Germany — a former industrial export powerhouse — in its current position, arguing, "we really ought to be heading to the gym to work off the excess weight we've put on over recent years." The roughly 100,000 companies represented by the BDI employ over 8 million workers. We are pausing these updates Thank you for reading.

We will back on Saturday morning to bring you more headlines from Germany. Bis bald! IN DEPTH: Highs and lows as Bayreuth Festival turns 150 The Bayreuth Festival's 150th anniversary, coming up on the last weekend of July, has been clouded by controversy surrounding German-Jewish speaker Michel Friedman.

Yet it offers an opportunity to celebrate, including with an AI-enhanced Ring cycle. Learn more about the celebrations for this year's Bayreuth Festival, which the current chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and his predecessor, Angela Merkel, will both attend, in this report. Foreign Minister Wadephul draws international law and traffic offense analogy in satire show interview German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has taken the bold but risky move of appearing in a feature interview on public television's premiere weekly satirical comedy the "heute-show," roughly like the US "Daily Show." Wadephul speaks at some length to young anchor Fabian Köster in an elevator in a playful interview that's nevertheless focused on entirely serious topics.