Bild: This is how Hamas barbarians torture their hostages! / So quälen die Hamas-Barbaren ihre Geiseln!
FAZ: Linnemann cites Schröder’s boldness as a model for reforms / Linnemann empfiehlt Schröders Mut als Vorbild bei Reformen
Funke: Wegner: Federal government must keep its promise on electricity tax / Wegner: Bund muss Versprechen bei der Stromsteuer einhalten
Handelsblatt: The 5G disappointment / Die 5G-Enttäuschung
RND: NATO without the US – military strength in numbers: Could Europe defend itself against Russia alone? / Nato minus USA – Militärstärken in Zahlen: Könnte sich Europa allein gegen Russland verteidigen?
SZ: Situation in Gaza shows little improvement / Lage im Gazastreifen bessert sich kaum
Tagesspiegel: Outrage over Hamas hostage videos: Kiesewetter criticizes German Middle East policy / Empörung über Videos von Hamas-Geiseln: Kiesewetter kritisiert deutsche Nahost-Politik
taz: Good that people talked again / Gut, dass mal wieder geredet wurde
Welt: Cities want to take in traumatized children from Gaza / Städte wollen traumatisierte Kinder aus Gaza aufnehmen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed „deep dismay“ following the release of videos showing emaciated hostages. He accused Hamas of boundless cruelty and pledged to continue efforts for their release. The videos include footage of 24-year-old Evjatar David, visibly undernourished, speaking from a tunnel and allegedly digging his own grave. His family condemned the act as a campaign of starvation for propaganda purposes. Hamas stated it is willing to allow Red Cross aid to hostages if Israel permanently opens humanitarian corridors and suspends air traffic during aid deliveries. zdfheute.de, tagesspiegel.de, handelsblatt.com
- Netanyahu asked the International Committee of the Red Cross for help in supplying hostages with food and medical aid. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with families of hostages and reaffirmed U.S. efforts to secure their release. EU foreign affairs chief Kallas described the images as horrifying and called for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza.
- Chancellor Merz also condemned the videos, stating they show the necessity of a negotiated ceasefire, with hostage release as a precondition. Foreign Minister Wadephul echoed the outrage and supported criminal prosecution of Hamas leadership.
1,200 aid trucks carrying 23,000 tons of supplies have entered Gaza since the recent easing of restrictions. Aid workers report widespread looting before trucks reach storage centers. UN representatives speak of a breakdown of order due to prolonged blockade and hunger. The German and Belgian governments have resumed airdrops of aid over Gaza. Wadephul defended UN aid organizations despite Israeli criticism, acknowledging occasional errors but affirming trust.
- Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine captured images of destruction in Gaza during aid flights, highlighting the scale of devastation. Journalists remain barred from reporting on the ground.
Far-right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the reoccupation of Gaza, urging immediate military action and encouraging Palestinian emigration. Hamas rejected disarmament, stating it will not lay down arms without an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. U.S. envoy Witkoff said the conflict is nearing its end and called for a comprehensive deal to free all hostages. . n-tv.de
- Thousands of Palestinians protested in the West Bank against the war and for prisoners in Israeli jails. Demonstrations took place in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron.
U.S. nuclear submarines have moved closer to Russia following threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Trump confirmed the move but gave no specific location. The U.S. and NATO are working on a new weapon delivery model for Ukraine, with $500 million priority lists to be filled by allies. sueddeutsche.de
- Germany will proceed with delivering two Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, contingent on rapid replacement deliveries from the U.S. Russian attacks killed seven and wounded over twenty in Kherson and Donetsk, where key infrastructure was hit. Ukraine launched drone attacks on a military airfield and gas pipeline in southwestern Russia; an oil depot in Sochi caught fire after drone debris struck a tank.
- Ukraine and Russia are preparing a swap of 1,200 prisoners, including civilians. Ukraine’s intelligence says Russia plans to expand drone warfare, aiming to produce 40,000 Shahed drones and 24,000 decoys this year. President Zelensky has appointed Lt. Gen. Anatoliy Kryvonozhko as the new head of Ukraine’s air force after a yearlong vacancy.
- A corruption scandal was uncovered involving inflated contracts for frontline drone equipment; four arrests were made, including MP Oleksiy Kuznetsov.
- Armenia announced joint military exercises with the U.S. from August 12–20. Meanwhile, China and Russia have launched joint naval drills. handelsblatt.com
BamS Sunday trend by Insa: CDU/CSU 27 percent, AfD 25 percent (+1), SPD 15 percent, Greens 11 percent, Left Party 10 percent, BSW 4 percent, FDP 3 percent, Others 5 percent. bild.de
CSU leader Markus Söder rejects SPD demands for tax increases, stating on ZDF that such measures will not happen. To improve the state“s performance and generate more tax revenue, economic growth is needed—achievable mainly through increased employment. He also pointed to the coalition agreement between CDU, CSU, and SPD, which does not include tax hikes but instead aims for relief, particularly for businesses and people with low to middle incomes. zdfheute.de, rnd.de, tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
- Contrary to the black-red coalition agreement, Söder wants to abolish citizen“s income for people from Ukraine. He said this should apply not only to future arrivals but to all. The government had agreed that needy Ukrainians arriving after April 1 would receive only asylum-seeker benefits instead of citizen“s income. zeit.de
- Söder is facing criticism from within the CDU/CSU over his position on citizen“s income. CDA head Dennis Radtke accused him in „Focus“ of thinking only in headlines, arguing that loud and broad demands had failed to deliver results on asylum and refugee issues recently.
Citizen’s income payments are set to rise to nearly €47 billion in 2024—an increase of just €4 billion compared to 2023. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, this is partly due to a significant increase in standard rates in 2023 and 2024 to offset inflation. Around 53 percent of the total went to German citizens, and 47 percent to non-Germans, including several hundred thousand Ukrainians who fled Russia’s war. sueddeutsche.de, rnd.de, handelsblatt.com
- CDU labor market policy spokesman Marc Biadacz described the increase in spending as a wake-up call. He said the Ministry of Labor must now deliver on the agreed reform of basic income. Germany needs the new system promised in the coalition agreement, as the current model creates the wrong incentives.
- SPD parliamentary secretary Dirk Wiese stated that those who exploit the system must face clear sanctions. Organized fraud or undeclared work cannot be tolerated.
- CDU politician Tilman Kuban added that basic income should be reserved only for those truly in need—not for those unwilling to work.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche criticized trade barriers in the EU internal market, stating they cost businesses billions and are almost triple the threat posed by U.S. tariffs. Economist Veronika Grimm warned that inconsistent regulations deter investors and cause serious economic damage. welt.de, handelsblatt.com, sueddeutsche.de
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig expressed skepticism about using Palantir software in law enforcement, citing constitutional concerns over sensitive personal data.
- Bavarian police union leader Florian Leitner defended the software, saying it’s essential for data coordination across state police forces. He dismissed constant privacy objections as unhelpful.
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger is open to using Palantir but emphasized the need for European alternatives. sueddeutsche.de
Union leader Michael Vassiliadis opposes reforms to working hours. His mining, chemical, and energy union is prepared to challenge any changes in German and EU courts, especially to protect workers without union contracts. spiegel.de
More News:
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt says asylum applications have halved. n-tv.de
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger supports age limits for social media.t-online.de
- Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer says the harvest is secure despite extreme weather. stern.de
- Economic advisor Martin Werding calls for a long-term retirement age of 69. handelsblatt.com
- 1 in 20 school principal positions in Germany remains unfilled. welt.de
- Family reunification waiting times in Germany continue to tear families apart. zdfheute.de
Brandenburg’s Interior Ministry plans to publish documentation supporting the classification of the AfD as definitively far-right. Reasons cited include anti-constitutional positions, xenophobia, and calls for revolutionary conditions to dismantle the state. tagesspiegel.de, rbb24.de
More News:
- Brandenburg: Fish population in the Oder River recovering after the 2022 environmental disaster. rbb24.de
- Hamburg: 260,000 attend CSD parade — a new record. n-tv.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: Attack on railway line near Hohenmölsen, data and power cables set on fire. tagesschau.de
- Saxony: Trial begins in Dresden against former employee of AfD politician Maximilian Krah for alleged espionage for China. rnd.de
Transparency requirements for AI model providers now in force: Among other things, this concerns artificial intelligence with “general purpose,” meaning systems that can write texts, analyze language, or program software. In the future, operators will have to disclose how their systems work and what data they were trained with. Particularly powerful models that could potentially pose a risk to the general public will also have to document their safety precautions. The new rules are also intended to strengthen copyright law. zdfheute.de
- AI Act: Young entrepreneurs warn against excessive AI regulation by the EU. t-online.de
ECJ attaches conditions to lists of safe countries of origin in third-country asylum procedures: Only countries where no one is at risk of persecution may be classified as safe, the judges in Luxembourg ruled. The ECJ cited homosexuals as an example. In addition, EU countries must disclose the sources for their assessments of countries of origin. This will ensure judicial review, according to the court. zeit.de
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the decision, saying it restricts the already limited scope for combating irregular migration. The background to this is Italy’s plan to no longer conduct asylum procedures for people from safe countries of origin in their own country, but in third countries such as Albania.
US appeals court bans arbitrary arrests of immigrants: In July, the US government appealed against a federal judge’s ruling in California that prohibited the arrest of immigrants without reasonable suspicion during raids. The judge stated that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency was violating the Constitution by arresting people solely on the basis of their ethnicity or language. Los Angeles, among other places, is a particular focus of ICE, which has carried out numerous raids and mass arrests there. n-tv.de
- Investigation against former special investigator Jack Smith, who led two investigations against Donald Trump after his first term as president. n-tv.de
- Former Fox News presenter Jeanine Pirro becomes US attorney for the District of Columbia; Senate confirms Trump nominee by 50 votes to 45. tagesspiegel.de
- Adriana Kugler’s early resignation from the Fed’s board plays into US President Donald Trump’s hands. zdfheute.de
More News:
- European Banking Authority stress test: According to the EBA, major EU banks could withstand an economic crisis. zeit.de
- EU ruling on emissions scandal: Millions of diesel drivers could now receive more compensation. focus.de
- A ruling by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg curtails the strong position of the CAS in sports jurisdiction. fr.de
- Flying with more liquids: EU allows new baggage rules. derstandard.at
- Four astronauts arrive at the International Space Station. spiegel.de
- Poland: Border controls with Germany extended until early October. faz.net
- United Kingdom: Right-wing extremist protests in London and Manchester. tagesspiegel.de
- Switzerland: Glacier melt in the Alps particularly early this year deutschlandfunk.de
- Denmark: How the Scandinavians‘ tough migration policy works in practice. welt.de
- Spain: Madrid takes the opposite approach to migration than the US. srf.ch
- Spain: Migrants are reviving deserted villages. tagesspiegel.de
Retailers complain about gangs of thieves and lax prosecution of offenders: “The damage caused by shoplifting amounted to three billion euros in 2024 – 20 percent more than in 2022,” said Stefan Genth, CEO of the German Retail Association, to T-Online. He added that there is highly professional gang crime in city centers. On the other hand, there are more aggressive lone perpetrators. Genth called for legal changes, investment in security, and better equipment for the judiciary. tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- “Boring is the new sexy” – what matters in high tech, US investors, and tariffs table.media/ceo
- Microsoft: These are the jobs where AI is most widely used heise.de
- IT job market: Demand continues to fall heise.de
- Rejection of electric cars: “Damn electric cars!” – Electric cars have many advantages in rural areas – but they are particularly unpopular there, especially in the east. What’s going on? We asked around in Jüterbog. zeit.de
- BMW now mass-producing new-class drives electrive.net
- Poor Apple Intelligence: Apple wants to turn things around with billions heise.de
- Well-known burger chain Swing Kitchen goes bankrupt with millions in debt – branches in Germany already closed merkur.de
- It’s getting more expensive for bridal couples: experts expect the price of gold to rise further n-tv.de
- Belgian court orders block on Internet Archive’s Open Library heise.de
- The authorities look the other way – While data protection and data security are becoming increasingly important, the responsible authorities are increasingly distancing themselves from their supervisory role, says Falk Steiner. heise.de
- Tax on large tech companies: “Met with positive response”: Wolfram Weimer is optimistic that the “platform solidarity tax” will be introduced meedia.de
- Deal between Sky and Amazon: Sky streamer Wow’s sports package now also available on Prime Video meedia.de
- US museum removes reference to Trump’s impeachment proceedings wdr.de
- Performance in Ramallah: How artists are preserving the culture of Gaza tagesschau.de
- “And Just Like That…” ends – The final chapter of Carrie Bradshaw welt.de
- Allegations in new book: Prince Harry denies dispute with his uncle stern.de
- Matt Damon wins the million on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” faz.net
- Pop star: Dua Lipa is now also a Kosovar citizen deutschlandfunk.de
- Trial against Jimi Blue – Cheyenne Ochsenknecht: Brother Jimi lives with us zeit.de
Berlin Talent is an initiative by Berlin Partner, the city’s economic development agency, dedicated to connecting skilled professionals with job opportunities in Berlin’s vibrant labor market. Through services like the Talent Portal and joint recruiting campaigns, Berlin Talent helps companies attract, recruit, and onboard both local and international talent, offering support with everything from job postings and work permits to welcome packages and integration resources.
For job seekers and new Berliners, Berlin Talent provides guidance on navigating the city’s job market, understanding employer expectations, and settling into life in the capital. With a strong network and tailored support, the initiative strengthens Berlin’s reputation as a diverse, innovative, and welcoming city for professionals from around the world.
- Local elections in Dortmund: Bundesliga soccer club BVB takes legal action against AfD election advertising – Stickers with the slogan “Black and yellow for soccer – blue on Sunday.” deutschlandfunk.de
- Mönchengladbach celebrates 125th anniversary with friendly win – 2-0 against FC Valencia sportschau.de
- 2-1 opening victory against Hertha: Schalke sends a signal to the league faz.net
- Tennis: Opponent Francisco Cerundolo retires – Zverev reaches quarterfinals in Toronto tagesschau.de
- McLaren triumph in Hungary: Norris wins after near crash with teammate sportschau.de
- World Swimming Championships: Schwarz secures silver faz.net
- The finals show: Germany can do multi-sport allgemeine-zeitung.de
In Germany, crossing the street on a red light—even when no cars are coming—can get you publicly scolded.
It’s not just about the fine (which exists), but about setting a bad example, especially for children. You might even hear someone shout, „Es gibt Kinder, die das sehen!“ („There are children watching!“) as you’re halfway across. Germans take their pedestrian signals very seriously—the Ampelmännchen (little traffic light man) is basically sacred.