Record-low water levels on the Rhine have severely restricted inland navigation, prompting German railway operator DB Cargo to plan reactivation of decommissioned freight wagons to shift cargo from barges to rail. The plan, reported by the Rheinische Post, could mobilize up to 900 wagons, replacing 200 inland vessels. Transport Minister Steffen Bilger has announced measures to shift freight, and Sunday driving bans for trucks have been relaxed in several states. Economist Veronika Grimm warns of rising consumer prices due to transport disruptions and criticizes the government's lack of preparedness for climate change impacts.

Belgium is fighting its largest wildfire on record in the High Fens nature reserve near the German border. The fire, which broke out on Friday, has burned around 3,000 hectares, forcing evacuations of about 600 residents in Belgian villages and prompting smoke advisories in the German town of Monschau. The EU civil protection mechanism has deployed helicopters and water-bombing aircraft from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, with additional support from Germany and Luxembourg. The blaze, exacerbated by extreme heat and drought, remains partially out of control, but no homes have been damaged. This event highlights the growing threat of wildfires in Europe due to climate change.

The German Foundation for Patient Protection is calling for heat to be officially recorded as a cause of death on death certificates, arguing that current RKI estimates based on statistical models undercount heat-related deaths. The RKI reported 12,500 heat deaths this year, but medical experts like DIVI's Uwe Janssens believe the actual number is higher. A ver.di survey of 321 care facility workers found temperatures reaching up to 45°C in some homes, with reports of circulatory collapses, dehydration, and suspected heat-related deaths among residents. Advocates demand a binding national heat protection plan and more funding for heat protection in clinics and care facilities.

Background: Germany has been deporting Afghan nationals to Kabul, initially targeting convicted criminals and later expanding to include non-criminals, with flights coordinated with Taliban-controlled consular officials. In a new development, the case of Abdul S., a 25-year-old Afghan cook in Bavaria, highlights the policy's expansion to non-criminals. Detained in early June in Hof for crossing into Austria without proper documentation, he faces deportation despite having no criminal record and being employed as a cook. His asylum application was rejected, and authorities deemed his fears of persecution (due to alcohol, religious apostasy, and Taliban repression) as not credible. His employer and supporters describe him as an integrated individual, highlighting the human impact of the policy. The government cooperates with Taliban representatives for these deportations, raising humanitarian concerns as the practice extends beyond the initial 204 convicted criminals.

Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has significantly increased the revocation of protection status for Syrian refugees, with 23.2% of 8,320 reviews in the first half of the year ending in revocation or withdrawal, up from 3.7% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2024. The move follows the fall of Bashar al-Assad and perceived improvements in Syria's humanitarian situation. BAMF expanded its review procedures in June to include more groups, such as those whose asylum procedures have lasted over 21 months or who are not considered particularly vulnerable. However, deportations to Syria remain practically impossible due to lack of cooperation from Syrian authorities. Chancellor Friedrich Merz aims to expand deportations beyond criminals and security threats, but faces internal disagreement, with the Foreign Ministry citing instability in Syria. Meanwhile, naturalization among Syrians is rising, with over 65,000 acquiring German citizenship last year, and return rates remain low.

Germany's Foreign Ministry and embassy in Kyiv have updated travel advisories, warning citizens against travel to Ukraine and specifically advising against rail travel due to the risk of intensified Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilian targets around Ukraine's Independence Day on 24 August. The advisory cites daily Russian airstrikes and follows a recent drone attack on a passenger train in Odesa that killed two railway workers, as well as US intelligence warnings of a large-scale Russian strike campaign targeting Kyiv's energy infrastructure.

Green party co-leader Felix Banaszak is campaigning across Saxony-Anhalt ahead of the state election, where the Greens poll at 5% and face an uncertain chance of entering the state parliament. The outcome could determine whether the AfD, polling above 40%, can form a sole government. Banaszak's tour includes events like 'Beer with Banaszak' in Burg, where he discusses ecology, climate, and defense spending. Local Green members report reduced hostility compared to previous campaigns, though the party faces significant challenges in the region.

Five years after the Taliban seized power, Germany is reconsidering its diplomatic approach to Afghanistan. With its embassy in Kabul closed, the German government relies on Afghan diaspora for information. The article argues for a German presence in Afghanistan to monitor developments, provide humanitarian aid, and support women, citing the EU delegation office and Switzerland's humanitarian liaison office as examples. It also discusses Germany's cooperation with the Taliban on deportations and the broader geopolitical competition involving Russia, China, Iran, and India.