Germany news: Minister weighs decriminalizing fare dodging

A debate is brewing about whether fare-evasion on trams, buses and trains in Germany should no longer be a criminal offense. Meanwhile, companies are starting to feel the pinch of war in the Middle East. DW has more.

• German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has said there are good reasons to decriminalize public transport fare evasion
• While a leading lawyer's group supports the idea, there is pushback from a top police union
• The Iran war is starting to hurt German industry, with a large majority of firms saying they are affected
• Germany's top union leader has hit out at the ruling coalition's call for longer working hours and higher pension ages

Here are the headlines from and about Germany on Tuesday, April 7, 2026: