Bild: Chinese bargain shop challenges discount retailers! / China-Ramschladen greift Discounter an!
FAZ: Sharp criticism of AfD after Weidel’s speech in the Bundestag / Scharfe Kritik an AfD nach Rede Weidels im Bundestag
Funke: General debate in the Bundestag: Merz counters AfD attacks / Generaldebatte im Bundestag: Merz kontert Attacken der AfD
Handelsblatt: Praise for Merz / Lob für Merz
RND: After separation from VW’s head of HR: VW has a vacancy / Nach Trennung von VW-Personalchef: VW hat eine Leerstelle frei
SZ: New contradictions in the mask affair / Neue Widersprüche in der Maskenaffäre
Tagesspiegel: General debate in the Bundestag: Merz announces „major welfare state reform“ / Generaldebatte im Bundestag: Merz kündigt „große Reform des Sozialstaates“ an
taz: Jens Spahn on his COVID mask policy: „Many say thank you“ – here’s the full overview / Jens Spahn zu seiner Coronamasken-Politik: „Viele sagen Danke“ – Hier alle auf einen Blick
Chancellor Friedrich Merz promotes confidence in general debate: Merz gave a positive assessment of the government“s work so far. „We want to give all people in Germany the courage and confidence“ that it is worthwhile to work and live here. His government of CDU/CSU and SPD had tackled many things and achieved a lot in its first nine weeks. He spoke of a „turnaround in economic policy“ and expressed „cautious optimism“ regarding the customs conflict with the U.S. He noted that the mood in the country was improving. However, he also acknowledged citizens“ concerns. zdfheute.de, faz.net, tagesschau.de
- Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge criticized the government“s course as a bankruptcy declaration on climate protection. The coalition was subsidizing fossil gas from the Climate and Transformation Fund, planning new gas extraction near Borkum, cutting climate contracts for industry, and wanting to soften the heating law.
- Left party leader Heidi Reichinnek spoke of a „policy of social coldness“ and a budget of hopelessness. To finance massive armament and tax breaks for the super-rich, the government was cutting social spending.
AfD leader Alice Weidel’s accusations of broken promises were rejected by Friedrich Merz. He defended border controls, emphasizing that this would eliminate the AfD’s „political combat topic.“ Weidel was spreading half-truths, slander, and personal insults, Merz said, adding that he rejected such sweeping and undifferentiated disparagement. - SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch emphasized that the planned investments benefit all people in the country. He cited education, research, and construction as examples.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul indirectly criticized cuts to his budget: The U.S. has shut down its development agency USAID, which means more responsibility for Germany. Despite a reduced budget, Wadephul called for stronger German involvement in international crisis regions, as this was in Germany“s own interest to prevent migration movements. He urged that the changed international situation be considered in budget negotiations. n-tv.de
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defends increased spending for the Bundeswehr: In view of the threat from Russia, defense is not an option but a state task of the highest priority. The government’s goal is to fully equip the Bundeswehr as quickly as possible and ensure its endurance. The defense budget is set to increase by around 10 billion to just over 62 billion euros this year, plus an additional 24 billion euros from special funds. n-tv.de
Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan plans cuts: The available funds should be used more selectively and efficiently. She announced a review of where Germany can have the most impact, where it is most urgently needed, and where it must withdraw to concentrate its efforts. According to the budget draft for the current year, the development ministry’s budget is to fall to 10.27 billion euros. zeit.de
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer defends Bauhaus: Right-wing extremist attacks on the Bauhaus were „directly linked to the persecution of Bauhaus figures by the NSDAP,“ said Weimer during the budget debate. He called for pride in the Bauhaus. His office would take special care to preserve and showcase the Bauhaus’s cultural heritage during this legislative period using budget funds. br.de
Hamas agrees to release ten Israeli hostages: This was decided as part of difficult ceasefire negotiations with Israel, the Islamist terrorist organization stated. Other key negotiation points remain unresolved, such as the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip or a withdrawal of Israeli army from the Palestinian territory. stern.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees no violation of international law in the Israeli attacks on Iran, unlike many legal experts. He said during a government Q&A, „I have no doubt today about the legitimacy and also the legality under international law of what Israel has done.“
- Talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia about the situation with Israel: Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman expressed hope that the ceasefire would contribute to stability in the region, the foreign ministry stated. Riyadh’s position is „to support dialogue through diplomatic means as a way to resolve disputes.“
- USA imposes sanctions on UN rapporteur for Palestine Francesca Albanese. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Albanese is leading a „campaign of political and economic warfare“ against the USA and Israel. In particular, she has supported the actions of the International Criminal Court against officials in the USA and Israel.
Russian forces are reportedly advancing further in the east. In the regions of Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian units have been defeated, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. The Ukrainian military has not confirmed this.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry accuses Germany of wanting to participate in Ukraine’s military attacks far beyond Russia’s borders. This would be an unforgivable entry by Germany into a conflict with Russia, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. For years, Moscow has been trying to stir fear in the West of being drawn into war through arms deliveries.
Ukraine can hope for more air defense from Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that air defense for Kyiv would be a topic at Thursday’s videoconference of the so-called „Coalition of the Willing.“ He said he would make corresponding offers to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. He called it a good signal that the USA still intends to continue its military support for Ukraine. n-tv.de
Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirms Germany’s claim to leadership: 70 years after Germany joined NATO, Friedrich Merz stated that the government would take the lead in strengthening the European pillar of NATO in the coming years. His government would use new financial resources to do everything possible to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in the European Union, Merz said at a ceremony marking the anniversary in Berlin. sueddeutsche.de
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the increase in German defense spending. Germany is a driving force in the military alliance. The debate over fair burden-sharing within the alliance is now over.
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has silenced any doubts about the relevance of NATO. Collective defense is once again the main focus.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reaffirmed Germany’s determination to continue strengthening the alliance during the ceremony. The Russian war of aggression has shown just how fragile peace and security in Europe still are.
Police Commissioner Uli Grötsch criticizes pause in Frontex deployment: During a visit to the Frontex mission off the Greek island of Leros, Grötsch learned that the German contribution would pause in July and August. The federal police confirmed this, citing „tactical and personnel commitments.“ Grötsch said the reason given to him was the holiday season, which he said is not a valid argument. spiegel.de
- Over the past year, 279 citizens have contacted the police commissioner with complaints, tips, and suggestions. According to the annual report, the main focus was accusations of discrimination or racial profiling at border crossings, airports, and train stations.
Memorial ceremony for Margot Friedländer: A memorial service was held at the Berlin Philharmonic for the deceased Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer. In his speech, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said her fate was monstrous and incomprehensible. But she didn’t share her story to frighten people or out of bitterness—rather, to prevent future generations from allowing such a crime against humanity to happen again. zdfheute.de, n-tv.de, tagesschau.de
More news:
- Government criticizes Italian bank Unicredit for „hostile approach“ toward Commerzbank. tagesschau.de
- Government divided over digital tax for U.S. tech companies. dwdl.de
- Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig wants to simplify the cancellation of contracts concluded online. faz.net
- Federal government risks a setback in the Bundesrat over the electricity tax; it is expected to reduce the tax to the European minimum as quickly as possible for all consumer groups. verkehrsrundschau.de
- FDP leader Christian Dürr wants to remove low-income earners from the pension system. shz.de
- Bundestag: Petitions Committee rejects opt-in for the electronic health record. heise.de
Terror suspect arrested in North Rhine-Westphalia: The man allegedly planned an Islamist-motivated attack. He is a 27-year-old with Bosnian-Herzegovinian citizenship, according to the Düsseldorf public prosecutor’s office and Essen police. He is in pre-trial detention. He was initially under investigation for commercial fraud, and during that process, evidence emerged suggesting the proceeds were meant to finance an attack. zdfheute.de, stern.de, tagesschau.de
Court dismisses attempted murder charge against former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette: The court issued a legal notice indicating it does not consider the most serious charge justified. Klette is suspected of having robbed armored vehicles with accomplices to fund her life underground. In 2015, shots were fired at a truck cab, which prosecutors had interpreted as attempted murder. The court now sees only conditional intent to kill, which means a lighter sentence is likely if convicted. web.de, zdfheute.de, tagesschau.de
Crucifix violates religious freedom in school, Bavarian Administrative Court rules: The state high school should have removed the 150 cm wooden crucifix during school hours, as requested by two students. The school’s refusal was deemed unlawful. The students had initially filed an unsuccessful complaint with the Munich administrative court. zdfheute.de, n-tv.de
More news:
- Brandenburg: The Number of registered right-wing extremists has risen again. bz-berlin.de
- Berlin: Broadcasting councils support rbb channel Cosmo. rbb24.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Majority dissatisfied with local administration. n-tv.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: FDP calls for secure funding for all-day childcare. n-tv.de
- Lower Saxony: Ministry rehabilitates former president of the University of Göttingen. sueddeutsche.de
European Court of Human Rights condemns Russia for downing of passenger plane MH17 in 2014: The court in Strasbourg found that Russia had violated the right to life, among other things. The case was brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was hit over conflict territory in eastern Ukraine by a Russian missile fired by pro-Russian rebels. All 298 people on board died. The court also found that Russia had established a system of human rights violations even before its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including indiscriminate military attacks and executions of civilians. . zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
Independent MEP Carola Rackete gives up her mandate: She had entered the European Parliament for Die Linke. The Left group in Strasbourg announced that party member Martin Günther from Brandenburg will take over her seat. Rackete, known for her activism on refugee and climate issues, said her candidacy aimed to contribute to the party’s renewal. That process is progressing well, and from the beginning her team had discussed a collective approach to the mandate, which she is now implementing. zeit.de, n-tv.de, zdfheute.de
More News:
- EU summons the Chinese ambassador over an alleged laser attack on Bundeswehr aircraft; China denies the accusation. stern.de
- EU plans strategic reserves in response to growing military and geopolitical threats, including critical raw materials, infrastructure parts, and nuclear fuel.n-tv.de
- Fall of the firewall: „Patriots for Europe“ take over climate dossier in the European Parliament. de.euronews.com
- EU countries are increasing trade with dictatorships. faz.net
Raids on Rassemblement National in Paris over suspected illegal campaign financing: Prosecutors stated the investigation concerns the 2022 presidential and parliamentary elections and the 2024 European elections. The inquiry is focused on whether the party’s campaign was financed through illegal loans and whether inflated or fictitious invoices were used in reimbursement claims. n-tv.de, zeit.de
- European Court of Human Rights unanimously rejects application by French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who challenged her election ban. Le Pen was convicted in March for embezzling EU funds and is barred from running for office for five years. zeit.de
Greece suspends processing of asylum applications on Crete for three months: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament that his government would inform the European Commission. According to the coast guard, more than 2,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the weekend, including a boat from Libya with 520 people. Mitsotakis called it an emergency requiring measures. tagesschau.de
PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan announces „rapid“ disarmament of fighters: In a video message, Öcalan spoke of transitioning „from the phase of armed conflict to one of law and democracy.“ The disarmament process will be defined and implemented quickly. By the end of the week, PKK fighters in Iraqi Kurdistan are expected to ceremonially destroy part of their weapons. The PKK had already declared its dissolution on May 12, ending its decades-long armed struggle for Kurdish rights. de.euronews.com, faz.net, tagesschau.de
More news:
- Czech Republic: Deepseek banned in government offices. t-online.de
- France: Senate approves major expansion of nuclear energy. stern.de
- Austria: Parliament approves malware for surveillance of potential threats. derstandard.at
- USA: After the flood disaster in Texas, the death toll rises to nearly 120. n-tv.de
- USA: T-Mobile US ends all DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs. handelsblatt.com
US President Donald Trump publishes tariff letters to more countries: Trump has notified the governments of Brunei, Algeria, Libya, Moldova, the Philippines, and Iraq of tariff increases between 20 and 30 percent. He posted the letters on Truth Social. On Monday, Trump had already released similar letters to 14 other countries. The new letters propose 30 percent tariffs for Algeria, Libya, and Iraq; 25 percent for Moldova and Brunei; and 20 percent for the Philippines. Trump also announced 50 percent tariffs against Brazil, citing political motives and criticizing Brazilian judiciary actions against former president Jair Bolsonaro and alleged „censorship“ of U.S. online platforms. n-tv.de, handelsblatt.com, spiegel.de
Warmest June in Western Europe since records began: This is according to the latest climate report from the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation program. With an average temperature of 20.49 degrees Celsius, June was 2.81 degrees above the 1991–2020 average and 0.06 degrees above the previous record from 2003. Such extreme events are becoming more frequent, intense, and dangerous in a warming world. tagesschau.de
E-car sales on the rise: German manufacturers particularly benefited from the upswing in the first half of the year. Their market share rose from 56 to 64 percent compared to the same period last year, according to EY. In terms of volume, they increased their electric car sales by 56 percent. Volkswagen performed particularly well, although it lost ground in the Chinese market. However, VW nearly doubled its EV sales in the first half of the year. tagesschau.de
More News:
- Production only in Hanover: VW halts ID.Buzz deliveries to the U.S. for now. n-tv.de
- Charging while driving: Electricity for electric cars now comes from the road. faz.net
- Ifo: The Economy suffers from the reversal of the electricity tax. n-tv.de
- Head of Musk’s platform X, Linda Yaccarino, steps down. n-tv.de
- Nvidia becomes the first company with a stock market value of over 4 trillion dollars. faz.net
- Cash tracking: Increasing monitoring of banknotes raises privacy concerns. heise.de
- Increasingly dependent on politics: Cartel Office chief Mundt warns of the power of US tech companies meedia.de
- Production Alliance Summer Party: Weimer and Brosda show support for the production industry dwdl.de
- No concerns about diversity of opinion – Nickelodeon takeover falls through: KEK contradicts Cartel Office dwdl.de
- Copyright: Conni in meme fever – Carlsen Verlag responds and warns of legal violations wiwo.de
- After scandal involving British band: Anti-Semitism commissioner calls for Bob Vylan concerts in Germany to be canceled spiegel.de
- German Cultural Council on the culture budget in the 2025 federal budget – Managing Director Olaf Zimmermann said it was good that it showed a small increase over the previous government’s budget. wdr.de
- Despite accusations of anti-Semitism: Deichbrand Festival sticks to Macklemore performance spiegel.de
- After a long illness: Artist Ernst Kahl has died spiegel.de
- Georg Kolbe Museum: A fountain, a villa, a theft – How the Georg Kolbe Museum in Berlin became embroiled in a scandal that isn’t one. zeit.de
- New book: What makes Ukraine special? – Andrii Portnov presents a concise overview of Ukrainian cultural history nzz.ch
More from Culture, Media and People
- Black Sabbath donate huge sum: The Prince of Darkness shows his charitable side – farewell concert on Saturday – More than $190 million (around €162 million) is said to have been raised. n-tv.de
- At Prince William’s side – State banquet with the Macrons: Princess Kate outshines everyone web.de
- Mick Jagger celebrates with Kate, William, and co. at Windsor Castle gala.de
- Guilty on two counts: Sean “Diddy” Combs learns his sentence in early October n-tv.de
- Beata Ernman: Greta Thunberg’s sister does not want to be reduced to her family connection spiegel.de
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- National team: National coach criticizes goalkeeper Berger, finds dribbling in front of her own goal too risky – she promptly responds, “I think that’s just my style.” welt.de
- 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the Club World Cup: Demonstration of power by the Parisian Sun Kings spiegel.de
- Summer fairy tale verdict: DFB lodges appeal faz.net
- First statement after horrific injury: Jamal Musiala defends PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma gala.de
- Under conditions – Appeal successful: Lyon’s forced relegation revoked kicker.de
- After nine years in Munich – ManCity calls: National player Lohmann leaves Bayern in surprise move kicker.de
- Quarterfinals at Wimbledon: Swiatek follows Sabalenka into the semifinals sport.de
- Shock on the sidelines of the Tour de France – knife attacker stopped by police with shots fired welt.de
- Acquittal for fencer Yasora Thibus before sports court: It was kissing, not doping spiegel.de
- Water jumpers welcome return of Russians to World Championships web.de
In Germany, you shouldn’t wish someone a happy birthday before their actual birthday — it’s considered bad luck. This superstition runs deep: even if you’re going to miss someone’s birthday because you’ll be out of town, you do not say „Alles Gute zum Geburtstag“ early. Want to celebrate ahead of time? Call it a pre-birthday gathering — just don’t say the words. It’s one of the few times Germans will politely but firmly stop you mid-sentence:
„Nicht vor dem Geburtstag!“ – Not before the birthday!