German state in northwestern Germany; second-largest by area.
Volkswagen has signalled a major restructuring plan, with reports that the group is weighing further job cuts and plant closures in Germany to cut costs and counter Chinese competition. The board meeting on July 9 will review potential closures of Hanover, Zwickau, Emden, and Neckarsulm, as part of a broader program to reduce costs and boost profitability.
Six adults have died after a shooting at a youth centre in Stade, near Hamburg. Five died at the scene and one died later in hospital. A suspect has been detained, and police are investigating a custody-dispute motive while confirming the incident is not publicly dangerous at large.
Prosecutors in Berlin have charged a 68‑year‑old man with 22 counts of aggravated rape involving 14 women, part of a wider probe into an online network that prosecutors say enabled drug‑facilitated sexual assaults. Investigations trace the crimes to chats and online forums with suspected involvement of dozens of people across countries. Authorities say the scale is likely under‑detected.
Volkswagen has presented a transformation plan to streamline its model lineup and cut production capacity to about 9 million vehicles per year. The group is weighing up to 100,000 additional job cuts and may close four German plants, triggering protests as unions push back against the overhaul.