Bild: What You Have to Do to Earn €2,000 in Retirement / Was Sie für 2000 Euro Rente leisten müssen!
FAZ: CDU and SPD Clash Over Electricity Tax Reduction / Union und SPD streiten über Senkung der Stromsteuer
Funke: Autobahn Chief Warns of Collapse on Berlin’s Highways / Autobahn-Chef warnt vor Kollaps auf Berlins Fernstraßen
Handelsblatt: Higher Profits in the U.S., Declining in Europe / Höhere Gewinne in den USA, sinkende in Europa
RND: School Heat Rules: These Regulations Apply in Each Federal State / Hitzefrei an Schulen: Diese Regelungen gelten in den einzelnen Bundesländern
Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ): Government Considers Electricity Price Discount for Everyone / Regierung prüft Strompreis-Rabatt für alle
Tagesspiegel: „We Must Stand for Our Values“ – Merkel Criticizes Pushbacks / „Wir müssen unsere Werte vertreten“ – Merkel kritisiert Zurückweisungen
taz: The SPD’s Response to Dobrindt / Die Antwort der SPD auf Dobrindt
Welt: CDU Insists on Comprehensive Electricity Tax Relief / Union pocht auf umfassende Stromsteuer-Entlastung
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant sees the Gaza operation nearing its end: One week after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the war in Gaza may soon conclude. Gallant reiterated Israel’s war goals, including the release of all hostages and the defeat of Hamas. Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid also called for an end to the war in Gaza, saying the military shares this view. swissinfo.ch
- A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump is planned for next Monday.
More than 30 people killed by Israeli strikes: According to Palestinian sources, 11 of them had been near humanitarian aid distribution centers. Gaza has experienced heavy bombardment and artillery fire. Israeli tanks reportedly advanced into a suburb of Gaza City and shelled multiple areas. Hundreds of families had previously been urged to leave their homes. . n-tv.de
Lebanon demands guarantees in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament: In return for the disarmament of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia — a demand also made by the U.S. — Beirut wants a full withdrawal of Israeli forces. AFP reports that such a demand is being negotiated following U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack’s visit to Beirut on June 19, where he reaffirmed the U.S. call for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Israel accuses Lebanon’s leadership of failing to act against the Iranian-backed group.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul declares Ukraine a priority in German foreign policy: During a visit to Kyiv, Wadephul stated that Germany’s focus in security policy is on Ukraine. The outcome in Ukraine, he said, will determine whether borders in Europe can be changed by force. In light of ongoing Russian attacks, he pledged long-term German military support. spiegel.de, faz.net
Iran plans to continue its nuclear program after the war: Tehran stated that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Iranian government remains unwilling to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. n-tv.de, mannheimer-morgen.de
EU and Ukraine agree on a new trade deal for agricultural products: The agreement sets new quotas for duty-free imports of items such as wheat, poultry, corn, and honey, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič. The deal will replace a temporary agreement that took effect in early June. Further details still need to be finalized. spiegel.de, tagesschau.de
Renewed drone attacks on Donetsk and Kharkiv regions: Ukraine’s armed forces intercepted more than 70 out of approximately 100 Russian drones. The attacks targeted industrial sites and residential buildings in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.
Bild-Sonntagstrend by Insa:
Union 28% (−0.5), AfD 23.5% (+0.5), SPD 15.5% (−0.5), Greens 11.5%, Left Party 9.5% (−0.5), BSW 5% (+0.5), FDP 3.5% (−0.5), Others 3.5%. bild.de
The government rejects the proposal by CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn on nuclear policy: There is currently no reason for Germany to gain direct access to nuclear weapons, said government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius. Germany is not about to possess nuclear weapons. Spahn had called for a German-European nuclear protection shield in an interview with Welt am Sonntag. stern.de
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasizes Germany’s leadership in Baltic Sea protection during a visit to Denmark: Germany has assumed leadership, Pistorius said at a press conference with his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen. Maritime threats are increasing, including damaged undersea cables and GPS signal disruptions. Denmark will take over the rotating EU Council Presidency in July. zdfheute.de
- Boris Pistorius also plans a visit to Greenland. t-online.de
CDU/CSU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn calls on the SPD to commit to budget cuts: The costs of citizen’s income (Bürgergeld) have exceeded €50 billion, Spahn told Der Spiegel before Wednesday’s coalition committee meeting. Rising social contributions could stall economic recovery, he warned. He also said that rising CO₂ prices are only justifiable if the revenues are returned fairly.
CDU/CSU deputy leader Andreas Jung emphasized the importance of climate policy for the government: Germany is well positioned in the fight against global warming, he said in an interview with DLF. Despite the current public focus on war and other crises, climate protection remains a priority, as laid out in the coalition agreement with the SPD. Jung identified CO₂ pricing as the key climate policy tool. An independent council of climate experts recently warned that Germany risks missing its post-2030 targets. deutschlandfunk.de
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel criticizes rejections at Germany’s border: If someone says “asylum” at the German border, that person must be granted a procedure, Merkel said in an interview with WDR. That is how she interprets European law. Merkel distanced herself from the Interior Ministry’s current practices, saying the procedure could still occur at the border. She agreed that illegal migration must be limited, but emphasized that legal obligations must be upheld. spiegel.de, zdfheute.de
More news:
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder wants to ban the careless parking of e-scooters on sidewalks.spiegel.de
- Investigation into the face mask procurement scandal: Greens accuse the CDU of nepotism after a personnel change. tagesspiegel.de
Number of people seeking protection in Germany increased in 2024: At the end of 2024, around 3.3 million people were registered in Germany’s Central Register of Foreigners as residing in the country for legal, humanitarian, or political reasons, according to the Federal Statistical Office. This marks an increase of 4.1 percent compared to the previous year. Most protection seekers came from Ukraine, followed by Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey. Together, nationals of these five countries make up nearly three-quarters of all protection seekers. zeit.de
- Berlin: Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch wants to make it easier to file complaints after a gay teacher was bullied. morgenpost.de
- Brandenburg: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier relocates his official residence to Neuruppin for three days. rbb24.de
- Brandenburg: Funding granted for the construction and renovation of 1,300 social housing units. rbb24.de
- Bremen: Education Senator Sascha Aulepp calls for more support for schools in socially disadvantaged areas.n-tv.de
- Hamburg: Diakonie calls for better heat protection for the homeless. n-tv.de
- Saxony (Sachsen): Dresden faces a funding shortfall of around 240 million euros. mdr.de
- Thuringia (Thüringen): BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht says she is open to seeking majorities with the AfD. thueringer-allgemeine.de
UN development conference in Seville, Spain, reaffirms commitment to sustainability goals: On the first of four days, delegates adopted the so-called “Seville Commitment,” outlining a joint approach to meet the 2030 goals despite growing budget constraints — the United States is not participating. The agenda includes fighting hunger and poverty, ensuring access to education, and strengthening climate protection and healthcare. Germany’s Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan described the declaration as a powerful boost for a fairer world. faz.net
Denmark assumes the EU Council Presidency: The government in Copenhagen will lead numerous EU ministerial meetings over the next six months and mediate disagreements between the 27 member states. Denmark aims to focus on joint defense initiatives against Russia and boosting the EU’s competitiveness. Migration and climate protection will also be key priorities. zeit.de
More News
Inflation fell to 2.0% in June: In May, the rate was 2.1%. Energy prices dropped significantly, costing 3.5% less than a year ago, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Food prices rose by 2.0%. sueddeutsche.de, faz.net
Companies are hiring less: The demand for new employees has declined across almost all economic sectors compared to the previous year, in some cases by double-digit percentages, according to the Federal Employment Agency. Business services, hospitality, and retail are especially affected. Only the public sector has seen an increase in demand for workers. handelsblatt.com
Other business news:
- Bitkom: Many schools still lack clear rules on the use of AI. heise.de
- Defense contractors expect a surge in orders after NATO summit. handelsblatt.com
- New dealership model: First Mercedes-Benz branch sold to private partner. tagesspiegel.de
- Deutsche Bank IT executive Bernd Leukert steps down. faz.net
- Media group SWMH to be split up: Antitrust authority approves sale of regional newspapers, but voices strong criticism. kress.de
The 2025 Munich Opera Festival is now underway, featuring two major premieres at the Bayerische Staatsoper: Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Gabriel Fauré’s Pénélope, alongside baroque concerts, chamber recitals, ballet performances, and open-air „Opera for All“ broadcasts at Max-Joseph-Platz. filmfest-muenchen.de
- Musical ‘The White Rose’ premieres in Füssen. zeit.de
- Pensioner terror in Berlin: Fulminant thriller finale on the ‘pulse of fear’. n-tv.de
- ZDF sitcom ‘Nighties’: Oktoberfest table fireworks. dwdl.de
- ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’: Production has begun. stern.de
- Bruce Springsteen releases his ‘Lost Albums’: Daddy was in the garage again for a moment. faz.net
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2026 World Cup faces climate risk: Experts warn that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, could be severely affected by extreme summer heat. Several host cities — including Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City — regularly experience temperatures above 35°C (95°F) in June and July. Medical associations and environmental researchers are calling on FIFA to implement heat protection measures for players, fans, and workers. The last World Cup in Qatar already sparked debate over heat risks, even though it was held in winter. bbc.com
- European Football Championship in Switzerland: DFB women start the European Championship without any noise. zdfheute.de
- Sahin is coming: Kaiserslautern help themselves to Elversberg. kicker.de
- Tennis: Tatjana Maria – Germany’s best again. zdfheute.de
- Match interrupted in the evening: Zverev has to sit out the first round of Wimbledon. sportschau.de
- First round win at the grass court classic: Lys fights his way into the second round at Wimbledon. sportschau.de
- At Durant’s side: Finney-Smith finds new club. basketball-world.news
Germany is home to the world’s largest cuckoo clock. In the Black Forest town of Schonach, you’ll find a giant, hand-carved cuckoo clock the size of a house. The cuckoo itself is over 4 meters long and weighs 150 kilograms. And yes — it actually works and chimes on the hour.