Bild: Teacher on sick leave for 16 years / Lehrerin 16 Jahre krankgeschrieben
FAZ: Ukrainian arrested over Nord Stream sabotage / Ukrainer wegen Sabotage von Nord Stream festgenommen
Funke: Fear of violent protests: No opening ceremony for A100 / Angst vor gewalttätigen Protesten: Keine Eröffnungsfeier für A100
Handelsblatt: Inside the White House / Inside Weißes Haus
RND: Ex-Merkel adviser Heusgen: Why Germany should recognize a Palestinian state / Ex-Merkel-Berater Heusgen: Warum Deutschland einen Palästinenserstaat anerkennen sollte
SZ: Israel begins next phase of the war / Israel beginnt nächste Phase im Krieg
Tagesspiegel: After Nord Stream sabotage: Investigators arrest Ukrainian suspect in Italy / Nach Nord-Stream-Sabotage: Ermittler nehmen ukrainischen Verdächtigen in Italien fest
taz: Nothing is infinite / Nichts ist unendlich
Welt: Property tax reform breaks political promises / Grundsteuerreform bricht mit politischen Versprechen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders negotiations on Gaza: Netanyahu ties ceasefire negotiations to the release of all hostages. During a visit to soldiers stationed in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said Israel was ready for swift negotiations. However, he would only agree to an agreement if all Israeli hostages were freed. Nevertheless, he said he would continue with plans to take over Gaza City. tagesspiegel.de, zeit.de
Israeli army advances further into Gaza City: Several suburbs are already under Israeli control. The population has been urged to seek safety in the south of the coastal strip, Israel’s armed forces announced. The army has ordered the evacuation of hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli authority Cogat, responsible for Palestinian affairs, assured senior health officials in the Gaza Strip that accommodation in the south of the territory would be made available to them. tagesspiegel.de, zdfheute.de
- Palestinian extremists have fired on a key access road for transporting humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. A projectile was launched from an area near the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip.
- There have again been fatalities in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip. The incident occurred near an aid distribution point. Many dead and injured were also reported in attacks in Gaza City and in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns of mass casualties and calls for a ceasefire. It is crucial to achieve an immediate truce, he said. In Gaza City and the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, people took to the streets to protest against the war.
International criticism of Israel’s approval of construction plans in the West Bank: In a joint statement, 21 states condemned the planned construction of 3,400 housing units east of Jerusalem as unacceptable. Among the signatories were France and Italy. The British government described the project as a flagrant violation of international law and summoned Israel’s ambassador in London. France’s foreign ministry condemned the approval of a settlement project in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. Germany is not among the signatories but firmly rejects Israel’s plans. stern.de
First disarmament action in Lebanon: A truck left the Palestinian refugee camp Burj al-Barajneh carrying covered weapons, reported the Lebanese state agency NNA. No incidents were reported. The Lebanese government is pressured to enforce the truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militia. This includes monopolizing all weapons in the country under state control. Palestinian refugee camps in the country are controlled by different groups. zeit.de
Ex-Merkel adviser Christoph Heusgen: Why Germany should recognize a Palestinian state. rnd.de
UKRAINE WAR
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calls European troops in Ukraine „completely unacceptable“: Russia rejects guarantees in which it is not involved and which are directed against Moscow. Foreign troops in Ukraine are absolutely unacceptable. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, the US, China, France and the UK – should guarantee Ukraine’s security, Lavrov suggested. spiegel.de, t-online.de, spiegel.de
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky rejects security guarantees from China; Beijing has not helped end the war and supports Russia with drones. Zelensky said he wanted to secure an agreement on guarantees for his country before a possible meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
- Sergei Lavrov dismisses hopes of a meeting soon. The Russian president has „repeatedly said he is ready for a meeting“; Lavrov raised „questions of legitimacy“ regarding Ukraine’s leadership. Lavrov alluded to claims that Zelensky is not the legitimate president of Ukraine.
- Ukraine will not accept „ultimatums or blackmail“ at peace talks to end the war, presidential adviser Andriy Yermak declared. Kyiv is ready for „any format of dialogue – bilateral or trilateral.“
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul demands more pressure from China on Vladimir Putin. He called on Beijing „to take an active role in ending this conflict and, in particular, to exert political as well as economic pressure on Russia, to finally show readiness to negotiate.“
- EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas accuses Russia’s President Vladimir Putin of only playing for time in international peace efforts. „He has no interest in sitting down at the table,“ Kallas told ZDF.
- Military chiefs of the US and several European states have, according to a US government official, developed military options for Ukraine, Reuters reports; these are now being submitted to national security advisers for review as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signals more counterattacks: his country must move beyond constant defense against Russian attacks and go on the offensive itself. „This war must be ended, we must put pressure on Russia,“ Zelensky said in his evening video address. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin „understands nothing but power and pressure.“ Ukraine’s army will continue to protect land and people; but US President Donald Trump was absolutely right that this must not happen only through defense.
Ukrainian arrested in Italy over suspected sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines: The suspect is believed to be one of the coordinators of the operation, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe said. The pipelines under the Baltic Sea were built to transport Russian gas to Germany. They were severely damaged by explosives in September 2022 near the Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm. The suspect and other accomplices used a sailing yacht, which set off from Rostock, to transport the explosives. It was rented via intermediaries at a German company using forged ID documents. The suspect is now to be brought to Germany and presented to the Federal Court of Justice investigating judge. Authorities hope this will also provide insights into possible masterminds behind the sabotage. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig called the arrest an impressive investigative success. welt.de, sueddeutsche.de, tagesschau.de
New SPD candidate for Federal Constitutional Court selected: After the failed election of constitutional judges, the SPD has a new candidate proposal. „We have a name – and I definitely won’t reveal it now,“ said parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch on RTL/ntv Frühstart. The proposal will first be discussed with the CDU/CSU, but also with the Greens and the Left. Miersch expects that the judges for Karlsruhe will be elected in September. t-online.de
Falling number of asylum seekers eases pressure on municipalities: The decline provides a breather, said Andre Berghegger, managing director of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, to the Augsburger Allgemeine. The German Association of Cities expressed a similar view. Managing director Christian Schuchardt pointed out that in some municipalities, emergency shelters in tents can now be dismantled. Since January, the number of asylum applications has almost halved. augsburger-allgemeine.de, stern.de
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt does not promise quick admission of endangered Afghans from Pakistan: Even those with a legally binding admission promise must undergo a security check. Depending on the outcome, a decision will then be made. This cannot be completed within days or weeks. The Pakistani government began arresting affected persons a few days ago. According to the Foreign Office, more than 200 Afghans with admission promises were deported to their home country. welt.de
- In the dispute over visas for Afghans to enter Germany, the Federal Republic faces a fine of 10,000 euros. According to a ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court, the fine will be due if an Afghan family’s application is not decided within three weeks.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expects rapid introduction of IP address storage: Considering persistently high numbers of cases of child sexual abuse, Dobrindt announced a swift obligation to store IP addresses. Following positive discussions between his ministry and the justice ministry, he expects a draft law in the coming weeks. The three-month IP address retention agreed upon with the SPD in the coalition agreement is intended to enable security authorities to better identify perpetrators online. BKA President Holger Münch emphasized that the clearance rate could be increased from the current 75 percent to more than 90 percent. faz.net
- Last year, more than 16,000 cases of child sexual abuse were registered in Germany, according to the situation report published by the government; experts estimate the number of unreported cases to be significantly higher.
- Family Minister Karin Prien calls for better protection against sexual violence. „Violence also occurs in social environments, where children should actually feel safe.“ Protection is „a task for society as a whole.“
- The Child Protection Association sees all areas of society as responsible in the fight against child sexual abuse. A large proportion of abuse occurs in the family environment, with the digital space also playing a role.
Labor Minister Bärbel Bas sets up a commission for welfare state reform: the body is to develop proposals. The stated goal is to make the welfare state and local administration more citizen-friendly, effective, and efficient. Next month, the commission will begin work with representatives of the federal government, states, and municipalities. Results are expected by the end of the year. The reform project was agreed upon by the CDU/CSU and SPD in their coalition agreement. spiegel.de, tagesschau.de
Government plans to ease electricity customers’ burden from 2026 by reducing grid fees: According to a draft law from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the federal government is to pay 6.5 billion euros annually to grid operators from 2026 to relieve consumers. The subsidy is to be financed from the Climate and Transformation Fund. High electricity prices remain a major challenge for the economy and a burden on consumers. tagesspiegel.de, handelsblatt.com
Other News:
- Tax revenues of the federal and state governments continued to rise in July. n-tv.de
- Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan announces cuts to aid projects. welt.de
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul promotes recruitment of more skilled workers from Indonesia due to shortages in the healthcare sector. web.de
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger wants more German data centers to promote AI development. stern.de
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder faces first rejections in search for new head of Deutsche Bahn. n-tv.de
- Audit Office warns of a cost explosion in transport projects. spiegel.de
Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Rene Wilke discusses right-wing extremism with Lusatia municipalities after Spremberg’s „fire letter“: He wants to work more closely with municipalities in southern Brandenburg to combat right-wing extremism. Video surveillance could also be useful, he said after a meeting with mayors from Lusatia in Spremberg. Wilke announced more educational efforts in schools and new strategies against manipulation by right-wing extremist groups on social media. In addition to Spremberg’s mayor Christine Herntier, colleagues from Guben, Senftenberg, Großräschen, and Lohsa also took part. Herntier had complained in a public letter that right-wing extremist activities in the city had increased. rbb-online.de, tagesspiegel.de
Other News:
- NRW: Deportation of IS Germany leader Abu Walaa is legally binding. n-tv.de
- Saarland: Police officer dies after being shot during robbery at gas station in Völklingen. sueddeutsche.de
- Hesse: Greens want to again be junior partners of the CDU. faz.net
- Berlin: Mohrenstraße renamed; first signs with Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße already installed. spiegel.de
- Brandenburg: Strong demand for trial living in Eisenhüttenstadt. tagesspiegel.de
- NRW: AfD-affiliated association fails in lawsuit against VW subsidiary. spiegel.de
Details of the customs agreement between the US and the EU published: According to the four-page document, EU exports such as cars, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors will be subject to a 15 percent tariff. This is less than what US President Donald Trump had originally threatened. Trump and EU Commission President von der Leyen had reached a verbal agreement at a meeting at the end of July. However, the joint declaration is not legally binding.
- US import tariffs on cars from the EU are to be retroactively reduced from 27.5 percent to 15 percent as of August 1. The reduction depends on whether the EU abolishes its tariffs on industrial goods from the US and removes barriers for the import of certain food products.
- EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the trade deal with the US would benefit the European economy. Many sectors, including the automotive industry, would see relief. Head of the Trade Committee in the EU Parliament Bernd Lange said it was far from a fair deal. He spoke of an imbalance in the agreement, which favors the US.
- CSU MEP Markus Ferber called it a “bitter pill.” While companies now had more planning security, “we cannot be satisfied with a deal that cements such an unbalanced tariff structure permanently.”
- Green EU trade politician Anna Cavazzini criticized, among other things, promised changes to the European supply chain law.
Record since the beginning of data collection: Fires have already destroyed one million hectares of forest in the EU.
- Consequences of global warming: Tropical diseases have arrived in the EU.
- Study: Flying usually remains cheaper than trains in the EU.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni orders eviction of left-wing youth center in Milan: The self-managed Leoncavallo center was considered a headquarters for anarchist groups but was also widely used for cultural events. The building had been occupied since 1994. Meloni justified the eviction by saying that there must be no “lawless spaces.” The building belongs to a business family who have been trying to reclaim it for many years. derstandard.at
Trainees largely satisfied: Almost 72 percent of those surveyed in the DGB Youth Training Report expressed a positive opinion. According to the DGB, the quality of training has improved in important areas. For example, the number of overtime hours has decreased, but is still at a worryingly high level. Cooks, automotive salespeople, and bank clerks are particularly affected. Around 9,000 apprentices from the 25 most popular apprenticeship occupations took part in the survey. zdfheute.de
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- Skills shortage continues to grow. sueddeutsche.de
- Price comparison by Greenpeace: Train travel often more expensive than flights. taz.de
- New customs regulations: Austrian postal service also restricts US shipments n-tv.de
- German economy: Next stop India? table.media
- Report on homeless assistance: Housing shortage increasingly affects working people tagesschau.de
- US tariffs and drug prices: How the pharmaceutical industry wants to prevent the worst – Prices are set to rise in Europe, and some drugs may not even make it to market. wiwo.de
- Domestic flights: decline reduces greenhouse gas emissions table.media
- Cleaner, better, more punctual – how the railways are to be reformed table.media
- Production of the ID.1: VW closes deal with Portugal – The government will support the production of the small electric car with €30 million. electrive.net
- Mercedes and BMW reportedly planning “engine pact” ecomento.de
- Federal Constitutional Court: rbb fails with complaint against state treaty tagesschau.de
- “Shaping the discourse, stimulating public opinion”: These are ARD’s big plans for gaming kress.de
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer: More support for Ukrainian culture wdr.de
- US animated series: “South Park” and Trump’s small penis, part two spiegel.de
- Summer break is over! Victoria & Daniel of Sweden celebrate comeback in matching outfits bunte.de
- Sydney Sweeney is surprised by criticism of her bathwater soap—made from her alleged bathwater watson.de
ZenZen is a Berlin-born wellness app helping expecting mothers navigate the challenges of gestational diabetes with confidence and care. Co-founded by Susa Horvath, who experienced the condition herself, ZenZen combines expert medical guidance with personalized nutrition plans, easy blood sugar tracking, and emotional support.
Designed to make pregnancy healthier and less stressful, the app empowers women to make informed choices for their wellbeing and their baby’s health. With a compassionate approach and user-friendly tools, ZenZen transforms a daunting diagnosis into a journey of balance, connection, and self-care.
- “No easy task”: Max Eberl responds to Uli Hoeneß‘ transfer announcement at FC Bayern Munich – calls for new players spox.com
- 19th German in the MLS: HSV lets former captain Schonlau move to Canada – transfer to Müller’s Whitecaps transfermarkt.de
- Revolution at the US Open: Why the new mixed format was a success faz.net
- Stage 1 of the Deutschland Tour: Brennan snatches stage victory from Milan in photo finish sportschau.de
- Ski jumping: Paige Jones had to “practically strip naked” in front of the doctor t-online.de
Jugendwort des Jahres 2025. The word „tuff“ is basically the Germanized spelling of the English word „tough.“ But in youth slang, it has taken on its own twist. When someone says something is tuff, they don’t necessarily mean „difficult“ or “hard.” Instead, it usually means
- Cool, impressive, strong (like: “That’s awesome!”)
- Sometimes also resilient, unbothered (like: “She’s really tough; nothing gets to her”).