Germany: Domestic travel drives highest-ever hotel bookings

German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has issued an apology after being accused of cultural appropriation in the design of its new "Oaxaca Slip-On" shoe.

The shoe, designed by US designer Willy Chavarria, is inspired by the "huarache" sandals traditionally worn by indigenous villagers from Villa Hidalgo Yalalag in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, who weren't involved in the production.

"Adidas values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the importance of their craft heritage," the Bavaria-based company said in a statement on Monday.

"The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by a design from Oaxaca rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag," it continued. "We apologize publicly and reaffirm our commitment to working with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural heritage."

The issue went as far as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who described the shoe design as "inappropriate cultural appropriation," saying: "Large companies are taking products, ideas and designs from our country's Indigenous communities. That is intellectual property."

Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said on social media that "huaraches from Yalalag are part of the cultural heritage of this community, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation and reflects its identity," adding: "This heritage is one of our greatest treasures, and we must not allow it to be treated as a commodity."

Mexico passed legislation in 2022 to protect Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples' intellectual and cultural property, with unauthorized use now punishable with fines and even prison sentences.

In a statement to the BBC, Chavarria, a former senior vice president of design at Calvin Klein, said he was "deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community."

He continued: "The intention was always to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities – a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me. This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, Villa Hidalgo Yalalag and its people deserve."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday invited US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and several European leaders to a virtual meeting, to take place on Wednesday ahead of the Trump-Putin summit later this week.

The German chancellery said in a statement that the talks would concentrate on "the current situation in Ukraine with a view to the planned meeting between US President Trump and Russian President Putin."

The chancellery also said the talks would focus on "further options for action to put pressure on Russia" as well as "preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security."

Read more for the latest on Ukraine here

More girls and young women in Germany are being hospitalised for eating disorders. 

Official figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) show hospital admissions have doubled, rising from 3,000 cases in 2003 to 6,000 in 2023.

The number of 10- to 17-year-olds treated has doubled over the past two decades, from 3,000 in 2003 to 6,000 in 2023.

They now make up nearly half of all inpatient cases, with anorexia nervosa the most common diagnosis. 

Women account for over 93% of those treated. In contrast, only around 820 men were receiving inpatient treatment for eating disorders in 2023.

Patients are also staying longer in hospital, averaging 53 days, far above the national average of just over seven.

Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, is ramping up its social media presence by joining TikTok in an effort to reach younger audiences.

"If you ask young people where they get their news, it's TikTok," Bundestag President Julia Klöckner told the DPA news agency.

While acknowledging concerns over TikTok, she said it would be counterproductive not to use the platform to inform the public about parliamentary work.

TikTok is under scrutiny in Europe over how it stores and processes the data of European users, particularly regarding potential transfers to China.

Despite those concerns, the German chancellor, politicians and several political parties have a presence on the platform.

The Bundestag already has a presence on several other social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

Official data obtained by Germany's socialist Left Party shows more than 11% of people deported from Germany in 2024 were children or teenagers.

The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) media group reported the data shows authorities deported 20,084 people, including 2,316 aged between six and 18 years old. 

In the first half of 2025, 1,345 children and teenagers were among 11,807 deportees, or 11.4%, the data given in response to a Parliamentary question by the Left Party shows.

"What sense does it make to deport children who are learning here, growing up here, are integrating here — the skilled workers of tomorrow, along with their families," Left lawmaker Dietmar Bartsch asked. 

Germany has recorded its highest-ever number of overnight stays in the first half of the year.

Official figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) show 223.3 million bookings at hotels and guesthouses, slightly surpassing last year's record.

The increase comes despite a 12.7% drop in foreign visitors compared to the same period last year, when Germany hosted the UEFA European Football Championship.

German travelers accounted for more than 80% of all stays so far this year.

June saw a sharp rise in domestic bookings, totaling 50.5 million overnight stays, boosted by school holidays in several states.

Guten Tag from Bonn, where, if anyone was still under any illusions, summer is making itself felt.

Temperatures are forecast to climb into the mid-30s Celsius this week.

Clearly, Germans are making the most of the summer holidays, with locals accounting for the vast majority of overnight stays at hotels and guesthouses in June.

More data is expected today from the Federal Statistical Office, offering fresh insights into German society.

We'll be looking at that and other German news here in this blog.