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October 26, 2026
Audi CEO's Trump rally appearance was with company's 'best interests in mind'Audi on Monday issued a statement responding to "the current situation," as it coyly referred to the controversy following CEO Gernot Döllner's appearance with Donald Trump at an election rally in Georgia on Saturday.
Audi said that while a delegation was in Georgia for talks on its plans to open a production site in the US, "we were asked to present our plans publicly together with the President of the United States."
"We accepted this invitation solely with Audi's best interests in mind," the company wrote. "At the same time, we acknowledge that the circumstances surrounding the announcement may have been perceived as a political signal. We take this very seriously."
Audi said that it remained "firmly committed" to its values and principles but also said it had a "responsibility" to safeguard the company's economic future and believed these responsibilities went "hand in hand."
The company noted that it was currently not making a profit in the US, the second-largest premium car market on the planet, saying that producing in the country could help it rectify this and help secure Audi's "long-term success."
Despite expressing an intention to "provide context" on the decision and the approach taken, the statement neither named CEO Döllner or US President Trump, mentioned the upcoming US midterm elections, or spoke to the perceived poor judgment in Döllner appearing at a Republican Party campaign rally weeks before the vote.
Skip next section READ — What Germany thinks of carmaker Audi's $4 billion deal with TrumpOctober 26, 2026
READ — What Germany thinks of carmaker Audi's $4 billion deal with TrumpAudi hopes that its plans to build SUVs in the US can revive the company's fortunesImage: AFPThe luxury carmaker is set to open its first factory in the United States — a move Trump credits to his tariffs.
DW examines the German reaction amid a massive auto industry cull at home.
Read the full story on the backlash to Audi's deal with Trump.
Skip next section Cruise captain investigated after Bremerhaven collisionOctober 26, 2026
Cruise captain investigated after Bremerhaven collisionThe cost of the damage is expected to run into the millionsImage: Sina Schuldt/dpa/picture allianceGerman police are investigating the captain of the Mein Schiff 3 cruise liner after it collided with two container ships in Bremerhaven, forcing the cancellation of a 20-day voyage to the Canary Islands.
Police opened administrative offense proceedings to establish whether the captain breached his duty of care. They have not specified the suspected lapse.
A gust of wind pushed the liner toward the container ships as tugboats assisted its departure on Sunday evening, police said. All three vessels were damaged, but none took on water and nobody was injured.
Read more about the investigation into the cruise ship captain here.
Skip next section Union chief condemns Audi boss's Trump rally appearancePublished October 26, 2026last updated October 26, 2026
Union chief condemns Audi boss's Trump rally appearanceGermany's IG Metall union chief Christiane Benner has sharply criticized Audi CEO Gernot Döllner for appearing onstage at a campaign rally with US President Donald Trump.
Benner called the appearance "deeply embarrassing, politically unacceptable" and unworthy of Audi and its employees. She also accused Döllner of breaching the company's political neutrality rules.
Audi's code of conduct, published in April and signed by Döllner, bars public appearances with parties or politicians standing for election, and sponsorship of their events, during the three months before a vote.
Trump announced plans for an Audi factory in Georgia at Saturday's rally, with Döllner alongside him. The plant would produce around 200,000 vehicles annually, mainly large SUVs.
Benner stressed that the project still required approval, with the final decision "rightly and importantly" resting with Volkswagen's supervisory board, "with the full picture in mind."
She said employee representatives wanted safeguards for German sites alongside a clear North American strategy for Volkswagen and Audi. While acknowledging the US market's importance, she said IG Metall's priority was employment prospects in Germany.
Merz says he would not advise young people to move to USTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Skip next section READ — Harry Kane seen as Ballon d'Or frontrunner after record Bayern seasonOctober 26, 2026
READ — Harry Kane seen as Ballon d'Or frontrunner after record Bayern season Harry Kane scored six World Cup goals for England this summer but Lionel Messi's Argentina stopped him in his tracks in the semifinalImage: Moritz Müller/IMAGOBayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane could break a series of English and German droughts in London tonight at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony.
Most bookmakers consider him the favorite among the 30 nominees, even amid stiff competition from the likes of World Cup winner Lamine Yamal and French superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Kane would be the first English winner of world football's most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The Bayern star would be the first Bundesliga player to win since Matthias Sammer in 1996, and the first Bayern Munich player since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
The 33-year-old's record-setting 73-goal season for Bayern and England is Exhibit A when making the case for him, but there's more to it even than that.
Matt Pearson on our sports desk explores the arguments for and against in depth here.
Skip next section READ — Merz heads to Asia amid security and trade concernsOctober 26, 2026
READ — Merz heads to Asia amid security and trade concernsMerz's visit to Asia will be his longest foreign trip since he took office in May 2025Image: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture allianceChancellor Friedrich Merz is visiting Singapore, Japan and South Korea as Germany seeks stronger partnerships amid security threats and uncertainty over global supply chains.
Read more about this story here.
Skip next section READ — Steinmeier visits China in uncertain timesOctober 26, 2026
READ — Steinmeier visits China in uncertain timesSteinmeier begins a five-day trip to China on MondayImage: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa/picture alliancePresident Frank-Walter Steinmeier is traveling to China on a state visit in a period of political and economic uncertainty.
Germany is seeking alternative partners in the region, but also wants good ties with Beijing.
Read DW's full report on President Steinmeier's trip to China.
Skip next section Berlin Left leader says Dobrindt plan is unconstitutionalOctober 26, 2026
Berlin Left leader says Dobrindt plan is unconstitutionalBerlin Left Party leader Elif Eralp has called Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's proposal to restrict the socialization of property unconstitutional.
"You cannot use a federal law to make impossible what the Basic Law provides for and what Berliners voted for," Eralp told public broadcaster ZDF on Monday. She said the proposal had nothing to do with protecting investment and was aimed at Berlin's tenants.
Under Dobrindt’s plan, a state government would have to prove that socialization was unavoidable and that it had exhausted all alternatives, including investment in and support for new housing. Compensation would have to be paid immediately in cash and based on the property’s market value, determined by an expert assessment.
Eralp said that setting compensation at market value could make socialization impossible. "It is an attempt to prevent socialization," she said.
Eralp could become Berlin's first governing mayor from the Left Party. After winning the state election, her party is negotiating a coalition with the Greens and the Social Democrats. The parties plan to target private housing companies with more than 10,000 apartments and estimate compensation would cost €16 billion (about $18 billion), likely below the properties’ market value.
Why Germany's political center is losing groundTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Skip next section State premier criticizes Audi boss's Trump appearanceOctober 26, 2026
State premier criticizes Audi boss's Trump appearanceLower Saxony premier Olaf Lies has criticized Audi CEO Gernot Döllner's appearance alongside US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, saying he had become part of a political spectacle.
"A campaign rally cannot be the right place to announce an investment of this magnitude," said Lies, whose state is Volkswagen's second-largest shareholder.
Trump announced plans for an Audi factory in Georgia at Saturday's rally, with Döllner onstage alongside him.
"This appearance has caused consternation among employees who are worried about their jobs here, and far beyond. I can fully understand that — I feel the same way," Lies said.
His comments follow criticism from IG Metall union chief Christiane Benner, who accused Döllner of breaching Audi's political neutrality rules.
Skip next section German weightlifters question Russia's 2030 Worlds awardOctober 26, 2026
German weightlifters question Russia's 2030 Worlds awardGermany's weightlifting federation says it will critically examine the decision to award the 2030 world championships to Moscow, while stopping short of an outright condemnation.
The International Weightlifting Federation becomes the first Olympic sports federation to award Russia a global sporting event since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The German Weightlifting Federation said it would assess the decision's political, ethical and international implications.
"The complexity of the situation must not mean that fundamental questions and the necessary critical examination of this decision are neglected," it told the SID sports news agency.
The championships will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2032 Olympics, adding to the significance of the decision.
Skip next section Track worker killed after ICE train hits two in EssenOctober 26, 2026
Track worker killed after ICE train hits two in EssenOne worker was killed and another seriously injured in the accident on Sunday eveningImage: Christoph Reichwein/dpa/picture allianceA track worker has died and another has been seriously injured after an ICE high-speed train struck them in the western German city of Essen.
The two were among six workers on a section of Deutsche Bahn track late on Sunday evening, the fire service said.
Emergency crews pronounced one worker dead at the scene. The injured colleague was lifted from the tracks to street level using a fire engine's aerial ladder and taken to hospital.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
The line between Gelsenkirchen's main station and Essen-Altenessen remained closed in the morning as cleanup work continued. The train had been removed, a railway spokesperson said.
Long-distance services were being diverted between Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg. Regional passengers were advised to check alternative routes.
Skip next section German cruise ship cancels voyage after port collisionOctober 26, 2026
German cruise ship cancels voyage after port collisionThe ship collided with two container vessels in the port on Sunday, forcing the cancellation of a 20-day cruise to the Canary IslandsImage: Sina Schuldt/dpa/picture allianceGerman cruise operator Tui Cruises has canceled a 20-day voyage to the Canary Islands after its cruise ship "Mein Schiff 3" collided with two container vessels in the northern port of Bremerhaven.
Tugboats were helping the nearly fully booked cruise ship, carrying 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members, leave port on Sunday evening when a gust of wind pushed it toward two moored container ships, police said.
All three vessels sustained damage. One container ship suffered extensive damage to its port side, with several meters of its hull torn open above the waterline. The cruise ship also suffered significant damage, including to its lifeboats and bridge.
There were no injuries or water ingress on any of the vessels. All three ships have been temporarily prohibited from leaving port while investigations continue.
Tui Cruises said technical experts had inspected the vessel and determined that repairs at a shipyard were necessary, forcing the cancellation of the planned voyage.
The company described the cancellation as "the only responsible decision," stressing that passenger and crew safety remained its highest priority.
Skip next section Merz and Steinmeier head to Asia on separate tripsOctober 26, 2026
Merz and Steinmeier head to Asia on separate tripsGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier are departing on separate Asian tours to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
Merz will visit Singapore, Japan and South Korea on his longest overseas trip since taking office, accompanied by a high-level business delegation. He is seeking to broaden Germany's partnerships and reduce dependence on individual countries.
In Singapore, he will hold political talks and deliver a major foreign policy speech before traveling to Japan. In South Korea, he will attend an Asia-Pacific business conference and visit the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea.
Steinmeier will make his second state visit to China, pressing for fairer trade relations and action to address economic imbalances, according to his office.
He is expected to speak at Peking University on Thursday and meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Friday.
Steinmeier also wants China to take greater international responsibility, including using its close ties with Moscow to help end Russia's war against Ukraine.
Düsseldorf bookstore 'a little piece of Japan' in GermanyTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageOctober 26, 2026
Welcome to our coverageGuten Tag from DW's newsroom in Bonn.
You join us as the boss of carmaker Audi faces serious criticism back home after sharing a stage with US President Donald Trump.
Gernot Döllner appeared alongside Trump at a campaign rally in Georgia on Saturday, where the president announced plans for a new $4 billion (€3.4 billion) Audi factory in the state.
And Germany's powerful IG Metall union is far from impressed.
Meanwhile, Germany's two most senior political figures are heading east to Asia — but they're taking very different routes.
Stay with us here for these stories and more of what Germany is talking about today.
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