Bild: Laura, we cry for you / Laura, wir weinen um dich
FAZ: Cabinet presents budget with €174 billion in new debt / Kabinett legt Haushalt mit 174 Milliarden Euro Schulden vor
Funke: Federal government massively increases film funding – Berlin hopes to benefit / Bund erhöht Filmförderung massiv – Berlin will davon profitieren
Handelsblatt: Bosch remains committed to the auto industry / Bosch setzt weiter aufs Auto
RND: Draft budget for 2026: The five biggest problems in Klingbeil’s financial plan / Etatentwurf für 2026: Die fünf größten Probleme in Klingbeils Haushaltsplanung
SZ: „Everyone at the cabinet table will have to make cuts“ / „Jeder am Kabinettstisch wird sparen müssen“
Tagesspiegel: Consequences of US tariffs: German economy shrinks – massive profit losses for carmakers / Folge von US-Zöllen: Deutsche Wirtschaft schrumpft – massive Gewinneinbußen bei Autobauern
taz: Germans without a firewall / Deutsche ohne Brandmauer
Welt: Klingbeil: Federal government must cut billions / Klingbeil: Bundesregierung muss Milliarden sparen
Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, following similar moves by France and the UK. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decision reflects Canada’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, which he believes is slipping away. He cited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s failure to prevent it as reasons for the shift. Carney emphasized that this is an intention, not a final decision, and that recognition would be conditional on reforms within the Palestinian Authority and elections in 2026 that exclude Hamas. He noted the possibility of reversing the decision, though he currently sees no reason to do so. The announcement was met with sharp criticism from Israel and the United States. Tagesspiegel.de
Deaths in Israeli attacks: While more aid shipments arrive in the Gaza Strip, at least 46 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and by Israeli soldiers‘ gunfire, according to hospital sources. More than 30 of them reportedly died while trying to access aid supplies. diepresse.com
- According to Israel’s military authority COGAT, 220 aid trucks have reached the population in Gaza for the fourth consecutive day. The shipments were handed over to aid organizations for distribution.
- 32 parachute pallets with food were dropped by Jordanian, Emirati, and Egyptian planes. The three countries are coordinating their drops with Israeli authorities.
- The UN accuses Israel of continuing to obstruct the import of aid. Some missions experienced delays caused by Israel; one had to be canceled. The UN again demanded that all border crossings be opened.
- Aid organizations criticize Israel’s so-called “tactical pauses” instead of a permanent ceasefire, saying they do not allow for continuous supply lines.
Russian attack on a Ukrainian military training unit: Three soldiers were killed, 18 injured. Ukraine announced additional security measures to better protect its troops.
Protests against Putin ally at international conference in Geneva: Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and other EU delegates demonstratively left the room when Valentina Matviyenko appeared. Matviyenko, President of the Russian upper house and a supporter of the war of aggression, is on sanctions lists. Over 200 Kremlin critics harshly condemned the visit of the high-ranking Russian delegation to Switzerland. An open letter said that while Geneva welcomes “war criminals,” Russia continues its missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. spiegel.de, tagesspiegel.de
Cabinet approves budget for 2026: Next year, the federal government plans to spend about €520 billion, taking on around €174 billion in new debt. About €90 billion of that will be loans, and nearly €85 billion will come from special funds. The cabinet also approved a financial plan through 2029, which still requires closing a three-digit billion-euro gap. Investments are mainly intended for growth, security, and modernization. zdfheute.de, rnd.de, tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
- Investment to strengthen the judiciary: The federal government plans to provide around half a billion euros over the next four years. The funds will go toward creating new positions and supporting digitization. Approval came from Justice Ministers Conference Chair Constanze Geiert, who stressed the need for close coordination between federal and state governments. sueddeutsche.de
- Stricter requirements to protect critical infrastructure: Around 30,000 companies must implement key protection measures such as risk analyses, emergency plans, and backup concepts. The Interior Ministry plans regulations to set cross-sector minimum standards for the physical protection of critical infrastructure. n-tv.de
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil defends record investments and high new debt: The top priority is securing jobs and enabling new economic strength. Germany is investing in its future now so the country can become more modern, fairer, and safer. tagesschau.de
Municipalities‘ financial deficit bigger than ever: According to a Bertelsmann study, last year’s shortfall was about €25 billion. Main reasons, according to the „Municipal Finance Report“, include high inflation and stagnating tax revenues due to weak economic activity. Rising costs, such as for personnel, also contributed to the shortfall. zdfheute.de
Police union wants domestic security excluded from debt brake: Like external security, internal security should also be exempt, said GdP head Jochen Kopelke. “We’re seeing cyberattacks, drones, sabotage, espionage, and disinformation campaigns.” He also pointed to violent protests by extremist groups, knife crimes, and international drug trafficking at German ports. rp-online.de
Interior Ministry examining use of controversial Palantir analysis software: No conclusion yet, said the ministry. Recently, CDU faction leader Jens Spahn supported using Palantir’s “Gotham” software, which is already in use in Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia. On Tuesday it was revealed that its use is also planned for police in Baden-Württemberg. heise.de, tagesspiegel.de
- SPD MP Johannes Schätzl criticized Palantir, calling it not a neutral IT provider but a company with deep ties to US intelligence and clear geopolitical interests.
- Green MP Konstantin von Notz said Dobrindt seemed to be acting as “a lobbyist for a highly controversial US company.”
- Left party interior expert Clara Bünger said that data collected for completely different purposes would be merged, analyzed, and provided to police for dragnet searches—without effective oversight, transparency, or protection from errors.
More news:
- Despite missing billions, CSU General Secretary Martin Huber assures that the “Mütterrente” will be completed.
- Federal government creates legal basis for use of remote-controlled cars
The traditional New Year’s Eve party at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate has been officially canceled for 2025. The event, which drew over 60,000 visitors last year and was broadcast live by ZDF, will not take place because the state of Berlin has withdrawn its financial support. Mayor Kai Wegner argued that taxpayer money should not fund such events, especially given the tight budget. The organizer had been informed two years ago that public funding would end after 2024. Last year, Berlin contributed €300,000. ZDF plans to offer an alternative New Year’s Eve program. faz.net
Activist partially acquitted over use of “From the River to the Sea”: The court in Berlin-Tiergarten ruled that this did not constitute a criminal offense. The defendant credibly stated that the slogan was meant to express support for the Palestinian population, not Hamas. She was fined €1800 for other offenses, including resisting and assaulting law enforcement officers. welt.de
More News:
- Bavaria: Defense plans canceled. sueddeutsche.de
- Baden-Württemberg: Recovery work after train accident near Riedlingen completed, rail line still not reopened. swr.de
- Baden-Württemberg: Leinfelden-Echterdingen council orders nearly finished mosque to be demolished. n-tv.d
- Berlin: Court places nightlife district under protection; residents must tolerate outdoor dining noise. tagesspiegel.de
EU announces new border surveillance system with fingerprints instead of passport stamps: The EU will launch a new digital border control system called the Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, 2025, replacing passport stamps for non-EU travelers. It will record biometric data (fingerprints, facial images) and travel details to improve internal security, prevent overstays, and reduce identity fraud. All EU countries except Ireland and Cyprus, as well as Schengen members like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, will implement it. A six-month transition phase begins in October, with a gradual rollout and public information campaigns. Critics warn of potential delays and data privacy concerns. zeit.de
French President Emmanuel Macron criticizes EU in customs dispute: For him, the customs deal between the US and the EU is “not the end of the story.” It is a first step in a negotiation process that will continue. Macron said at a cabinet meeting in Paris: “To be free, you have to be feared.” However, in his opinion, the EU has not been feared enough. It does not yet see itself sufficiently as a world power. It is therefore more urgent than ever to accelerate the European agenda for sovereignty and competitiveness. At the same time, Macron defended the agreement because it offers security in the short term. web.de
More News:
EU sounds the alarm: Our bridges and railways cannot withstand a war. focus.de
EU budget control: How Brussels embellishes the German budget. faz.net
Italy: Investigation opened against Facebook parent company Meta for pre-installed AI application in WhatsApp. heise.de
Spain: More Airbnb listings classified as illegal. n-tv.de
US Democrat Kamala Harris does not want to run for governor of California: The former US vice president said that after careful consideration, she would not seek nomination as a candidate for governor. She will reveal more about her future plans in the coming months. There is speculation that Harris will run for the White House again in the 2028 presidential election. She lost the presidential election last year to Donald Trump by a clear margin. rnd.de, spiegel.de, n-tv.de
German economy shrinks in early summer: Gross domestic product fell by 0.1 percent compared to the previous quarter, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Economists had expected a decline of this magnitude. In the first quarter of the current year, GDP had risen slightly. tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- Second quarter economy: US economy grows surprisingly strongly – The US economy is currently showing signs of strength. Gross domestic product grew by 3.0 percent on an annualized basis from April to June. tagesschau.de
- New use: Nuclear power plant site in Philipsburg to become giant electricity storage facility by the end of 2027 bnn.de
- Opinion: How decarbonization in the boiler room is driving growth table.media
- Problems in Scotland too: Severe air traffic disruptions over London n-tv.de
- Tesla removes Model S and X from its configurator – only existing vehicles are available in this country, as in other European countries. The future of the two luxury models is currently unclear. electrive.net
- Agriculture: Hazelnut crisis hits Nutella, Nusspli, and Ritter Sport handelsblatt.com
- Ten-year period: Almost twice as much non-alcoholic beer brewed t-online.de
- Virus outbreak reaches new peak: Italy reports two more deaths from West Nile virus merkur.de
- Chronic pain caused by vitamin deficiency? Researchers discover link to vitamin deficiency augsburger-allgemeine.de
- Sex toy manufacturer discloses users‘ email addresses derstandard.de
- “Colbert has himself to blame”: Trump rejects responsibility for the end of “The Late Show” n-tv.de
- German government doubles film funding new-business.de
- Women’s share of power in German media shrinks again new-business.de
- Funeral procession through Birmingham: Fans bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne spiegel.de
- Looted art: Mannheim wants to return stolen Benin bronzes to Nigeria monopol-magazin.de
- Roles in “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Rambo”: Actor Alon Aboutboul has died spiegel.de
- Justin Trudeau: Canada’s former prime minister spotted at dinner with Katy Perry t-online.de
- Request for release from custody: Sean “Diddy” Combs wants to be released on $50 million bail faz.net
- Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas can be seen together in public kleinezeitung.at
- Pedro Pascal reveals: THIS is his absolute favorite band – The Cure musikexpress.de
- On the death of Laura Dahlmeier: Freedom in the mountains was sacred to her spiegel.de
- National soccer team: Nagelsmann backs ter Stegen – if he plays for his club sueddeutsche.de
- National soccer team: Nagelsmann announces Kimmich’s return to midfield spiegel.de
- Xhaka leaves Leverkusen – move to Sunderland confirmed sueddeutsche.de
- Over €30 million transfer fee? DFB star apparently highly sought after in the Premier League – Yann Aurek Bisseck from Inter Milan spox.com
- Tour de France Femmes: Kim Le Court wins fifth stage after crash-filled race sportschau.de
- World Swimming Championships: Silver and bronze – Schwarz and Märtens cause celebrations in the German team welt.de
- “Systematic abuse”? After scandal: TG Mannheim gymnasts want their coaches back n-tv.de
Germany has a forest where trees bend at 90-degree angles — and no one knows why.
Known as the Crooked Forest (Krummewald or Krzywy Las — it’s actually just across the border in Poland, but the mystery fascinates many Germans), about 400 pine trees grow with an odd J-shaped curve at the base. Theories range from unusual snowstorms to human intervention in the 1930s… but to this day, it remains unsolved. A real-life botanical mystery!