Bild: Bürgergeld costs us more than ever / Bürgergeld kostet uns so viel wie nie
FAZ: Trump demands ceasefire from Iran and Israel / Trump verlangt Waffenruhe von Iran und Israel
Funke: Senator wants to monitor permanent construction sites with new unit / Senatorin will Dauerbaustellen mit neuer Einheit kontrollieren
Handelsblatt: The trillion-euro gamble / Die Billionen-Wette
RND: What the Iran-Israel war means for Germany’s security situation / Was der Iran-Israel-Krieg für die Sicherheitslage in Deutschland bedeutet
SZ: Ceasefire instead of escalation / Waffenruhe statt Eskalation
Tagesspiegel: Ceasefire in the Middle East: Trump warns Iran – and Israel / Waffenruhe in Nahost: Trump ermahnt den Iran – und Israel
taz: Klingbeil presents his new budget / Klingbeil stellt seinen neuen Haushalt vor
Welt: Mask report: A „multi-billion euro drama“ / Masken-Geheimbericht: Ein „Drama in Milliarden-Höhe”
Iran and Israel emphasize their commitment to the ceasefire. Iranian President Massud Peseschkian stated that Iran is ready to halt its attacks if Israel does the same. He also said the country is willing to return to the negotiating table regarding its nuclear program. In a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Peseschkian said that Iran wants to resolve the matter through diplomacy. tagesschau.de, n-tv.de
Israel’s opposition and relatives of hostages are calling for an end to the war in Gaza. Opposition leader Yair Lapid stated that it is now time to end the war in Gaza as well. Representatives of the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas expressed similar views, saying that if a ceasefire with Iran is possible, the war in Gaza can also be ended. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for the ceasefire with Iran to be used as an opportunity to bring the hostages back to Israel as quickly as possible. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority supports the call for an end to the war in Gaza.
- In Gaza, according to Palestinian reports, there were fatalities near aid distribution points. In the south, Israeli soldiers reportedly opened fire on people waiting in line. Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat reported a similar incident in the central Gaza Strip. rnd.de, spiegel.de
Several killed in Russian attacks: The city of Dnipro was hit particularly hard, with local authorities reporting that schools, kindergartens, and medical facilities were among the targets. Reports say 19 people were killed and 70 injured, and two more were killed in the nearby town of Samar. In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, according to the regional military administration, four civilians were killed and at least eleven others injured. In the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine, at least three people were killed. spiegel.de
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks funding for defense industry: He aims to attract more NATO countries as financial backers to expand Ukraine’s arms industry. Speaking in The Hague, he mentioned a production capacity worth 35 billion US dollars, of which 40 percent lacks solid financing. He said Ukraine now manufactures more than 1,000 types of weapon systems domestically.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls the upcoming NATO summit historic. In his government statement, he defended the planned increase in defense spending, saying it is not about doing U.S. President Donald Trump a favor, but stems from Germany’s own conviction. He said Russia threatens the security and freedom of Europe, and NATO must become so strong that no one would dare attack the alliance. Germany will do its part. NATO countries plan to agree on spending at least 3.5 percent of GDP on defense and 1.5 percent on defense-relevant infrastructure. tagesspiegel.de, tagesschau.de, n-tv.de
- Friedrich Merz said he still hopes for U.S. sanctions against Russia and remains confident the U.S. government will support this course. He rejected accusations that he was not using all diplomatic means to end the war in Ukraine. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin „only understands the language of strength.“ Merz also condemned the recent Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, calling them barbaric and a sign that Russia currently has no intention of peace.
- A senior Bundeswehr officer said the planned military buildup will have major effects on Germany’s armed forces. Army Inspector Alfons Mais stated that for the first time since the Cold War, there is a planning cycle derived from actual defence requirements.
- Defence Minister Boris Pistorius sees the significantly increased budget for his ministry as an important signal to NATO. His core budget alone will rise by nearly 10 billion euros, or almost 20 percent compared to 2024, in addition to funds from the special defence fund n-tv.de
The cabinet has adopted the budget plans: the 2025 draft and key figures for 2026 have been approved. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil plans to spend 503 billion euros this year, with nearly 82 billion euros coming from loans, plus over 60 billion euros from debt-financed special funds. High borrowing is also planned for next year. Large sums will be invested in modernizing bridges, roads, and energy networks. zeit.de
- Lars Klingbeil defended the coalition’s planned new debt, saying a balanced budget means little if bridges and schools fall apart. He said now is the time to invest in defence capability and economic development. Doing nothing would be far more expensive.
- Electricity tax cuts are limited: for now, only industry and the agriculture and forestry sectors will benefit. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said private consumers will be relieved instead through the removal of the gas storage levy. Starting in 2026, the federal government will also subsidize power grid fees. handelsblatt.com
- There is criticism over cuts to humanitarian aid. While last year’s federal budget allocated around 2.7 billion euros, only about 1.4 billion are earmarked this year. The organization Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe said that given major U.S. cuts, Germany must do more.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche remains optimistic in the trade dispute with the U.S., saying she still hopes for a streamlined framework agreement. At the Day of Industry event in Berlin, she questioned whether each individual item needed to be negotiated in detail or whether a broader agreement could offer faster relief. ariva.de
The far-right magazine Compact may continue publishing. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig overturned a ban imposed last year by then-Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. She had cited the association law, calling the publishing house and its film company a central mouthpiece of the far-right scene. The plaintiffs argued the decision violated press freedom. The judges ruled the ban unlawful, stating the constitution protects even those who oppose it. lto.de, kress.de, spiegel.de
- The International Auschwitz Committee expressed disappointment with the ruling, calling it a revealing example of a democracy that still underestimates the cunning of its enemies.
- AfD leaders remained silent on the ruling. zdfheute.de
Farmers’ President Joachim Rukwied is calling for stable funding for agriculture. He said strengthening food security is just as important as strengthening defense. He said at least 1.5 billion euros will be needed next year to support reforms in animal welfare, climate protection, and environmental standards. He also stressed the need to reduce bureaucracy and offer farmers greater planning certainty. evangelische-zeitung.de
The AfD has been added to Bavaria’s list of extremist organizations. The list includes groups such as the NPD, Der Dritte Weg, Pegida, the Reichsbürger movement, some left-wing Antifa groups, the DKP, and the Muslim Brotherhood. This list is used to prevent constitutional enemies from entering public service. n-tv.de
- Berlin: More housing containers for refugees planned at Tempelhofer Feld. . rbb24.de
- Berlin: Weapons and knives banned on public buses and trains. rbb24.de
- Hesse: AfD candidate Patrick Schenk fails in bid for state parliament vice president post. n-tv.de
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: President Steinmeier meets with 140 top diplomats. ostsee-zeitung.de
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State government introduces child protection law. n-tv.de
- Saxony: Parliament unanimously adopts a motion from the Left Party. n-tv.de
- Saxony: The state’s only concentration camp memorial saved with millions from former East German party assets. mdr.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Measures to address teacher shortages adopted; entry requirements are being eased. ndr.de
- Thuringia: The Left Party ends its 3plus1 dialogue format. mdr.de
State banquet marks the start of the NATO summit: The heads of state and government gathered for a working dinner hosted by the Dutch royal couple. Among the attendees are U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the White House, a meeting between the two is planned during the summit. Shortly before the summit began, the 32 member states agreed that by 2035 they aim to spend five percent of their economic output on defense and related infrastructure. tagesspiegel.de
- Bill Gates speaks at the EU Parliament: innovations against the “global health crisis.” heise.de
- EU roadmap for “decryption” and data retention is set. heise.de
- EU draws red lines in trade dispute with the USA. diepresse.com
- EU Parliament rejects changes to passenger rights – calls for uniform hand luggage rules. airliners.de
Business climate in Germany improved again in June: According to the Ifo Institute in Munich, the business climate index rose to 88.4 points this month, up from 87.5 in May. The index is based on around 9,000 monthly reports from companies in manufacturing, services, trade, and main construction sectors.
More economic news:
- 100 more train stations are to be extensively modernized this year. tagesspiegel.de
- Insolvent battery manufacturer from Europe: first takeover bid for Northvolt submitted. spiegel.de
- CureVac CEO makes case to shareholders for takeover by BioNTech. swr.de
- Study: People are increasingly speaking like AI. heise.de
- Otto Brenner Foundation corrects study on ARD and ZDF committees. faz.net
- Press subsidies: „Words must finally be followed by action“ morgenpost.de
- Why is ZDF tearing apart its prime-time news from 7 p.m. onwards? wiwo.de
- Podcasts reach more 18- to 29-year-olds than radio for the first time meedia.de
- Kunsthalle Hamburg acquires Magritte painting for €2.4 million monopol-magazin.de
- Munich Theater Grenzenlos: A stage for young refugees sueddeutsche.de
- Benjamin Myers“ novel „Strandgut“: Back to life with soul ndr.de
- Culcha Candela: Internal dispute after shitstorm laut.de
- Shipyard instead of church, airplane instead of luxury yacht: War in the Middle East disrupts Bezos“ wedding plans spiegel.de
- Seriously ill in court: Alfons Schuhbeck makes confession n-tv.de
More from Culture, Media and People
- Norman Foster wins bid for Queen memorial monopol-magazin.de
- Illustrated book: From the Beatles to the Queen – the best celebrity portraits since the 1960s stern.de
- US actor and singer: Bobby Sherman has died spiegel.de
- Brad Pitt talks about alcohol problems and rehab spiegel.de
- Oasis opens its own merchandise shops in the UK derstandard.at
- Munich’s most expensive villa sold – for more than €47 million sueddeutsche.de
ASK A GERMAN: How does Dating in Germany work?
- Meeting someone in Germany can be tricky, especially if you’re new. Many Germans date within their social circle, so friends often play matchmaker. But if you’re an expat, online dating is a great option; apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are widely used. When it comes to first dates, it depends on the generation. Older Germans might go for a restaurant dinner or a movie, while Gen Z prefers casual meetups, like a coffee, a walk, or just hanging out. Millennials fall somewhere in between, favouring a drink at a bar or a relaxed dinner. Where do people meet? Social events, cafes, parks, and even bookshops. But no matter where or how, honesty is key. Germans are usually straightforward about their interest (or lack of it). Dating here isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about taking things at a comfortable pace.
- Trubin unbeatable: Benfica snatches group victory from Bayern kicker.de
- Ahead of the European Championship semi-finals: German U21 team fears for two players sportbuzzer.de
- Gladbach transfer deal falls through sport.de
- German Bundesliga: Ole Werner signs with RB Leipzig spiegel.de
- „A tragedy, not Olympic material“ – Heavy criticism rains down on a sinking Kiel Week n-tv.de
- Wolfgang Petry with the German national team: „Fall in love, lose, forget, forgive!“ 11freunde.de
Germany has over 3,200 varieties of bread. The country’s official recognition of its bread culture—designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—shows just how much pride Germans take in their baked goods.