Bild: Now it’s the computer granting citizenship in Berlin / In Berlin bürgert jetzt der Computer ein
FAZ: Spahn sees himself cleared in mask affair / Spahn sieht sich in Maskenaffäre entlastet
Funke: Berlin’s CDU backs articulated buses as an alternative to trams / Berliner CDU setzt auf Gelenkbusse als Alternative zu Straßenbahnen
Handelsblatt: Divided in the fight against Trump / Zerstritten gegen Trump
RND: The new Musk party: Can the tech billionaire hurt Trump? / Die neue Musk-Partei: Kann der Tech-Milliardär Trump schaden?
SZ: Greens and Left call for parliamentary inquiry / Grüne und Linke fordern U-Ausschuss
Tagesspiegel: First Germany, now Poland – tougher border checks on both sides / Erst Deutschland, jetzt Polen – Verschärfte Kontrollen auf beiden Seiten der Grenze
taz: Make auto-cracy great again / Make Auto-Kratie great again
Welt: CDU/CSU want to quickly tighten EU migration policy / Union will Migrationspolitik der EU zügig verschärfen
Indirect talks on Gaza ceasefire resume in Qatar: A new round of negotiations has begun in Qatar’s capital to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas’s requested changes to a U.S. proposal „unacceptable.“ The Islamist terrorist group raised objections concerning humanitarian aid and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal. Previously, Hamas had stated it agreed to the new proposal in principle. n-tv.de
Netanyahu to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday: Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s war aims: „There are 20 hostages still alive, 30 are dead. I am determined—we are determined—to bring them all back. And we are equally determined to ensure that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel,“ he said. swissinfo.ch
Criticism after the attack on Deutsche Welle team by radical settlers: Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, urged Israel to ensure the safety of journalists. Deutsche Welle Director General Peter Limbourg voiced similar concerns. DJV head Mika Beuster stressed that Israel’s government now has a duty to investigate the incident and pursue legal consequences. On Friday, a DW correspondent and her cameraman were attacked with stones and chased by Israeli settlers near the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah. Both escaped unharmed, but their vehicle was severely damaged. zdfheute.de, tagesschau.de
Ukraine’s President Zelensky speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump: Following their call on Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky said they agreed to cooperate on strengthening air defense. He also discussed joint arms production, purchases, and investments with Trump. sueddeutsche.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump: According to the German government, Merz used the conversation to advocate for U.S. support of Ukraine’s air defense.
Insa Sunday trend poll (BamS): CDU/CSU: 28% , AfD: 24% , SPD: 15% (–1) , Greens: 11% , Left: 11% (+2) , BSW: 4% (–1) , FDP: 4% (+1) , Others: 3% bild.de
Poland begins border checks on Germany earlier than announced: Controls at the border were already carried out on Sunday, according to NDR information. Since Sunday morning, almost every car at the Linken border crossing has been stopped by Polish police and border guards. These checks had originally been announced to start on Monday. Control teams made up of Polish police and border guards were also deployed at the crossings in Ahlbeck, Garz, and Pomellen. ndr.de, handelsblatt.com, n-tv.de, tagesspiegel.de
- Commuters and holiday travelers should expect delays at the border. According to the Polish border guard, buses, minibuses, and cars with many passengers will be subject to random checks. However, there are no plans for barriers or roadblocks.
- Poland has expressed its willingness to suspend border controls with Germany—provided that the German side also halts its checks, said Interior Minister Thomasz Siemoniak in Warsaw.
Controversy over migration quotas in schools: Education Minister Karin Prien suggested a possible cap of 30–40% for children with a migration background in schools. Education Minister Karin Prien spoke of a “conceivable model” and mentioned a quota of 30 to 40 percent. faz.net
- Teachers’ Association President Stefan Düll considers a cap on children with a migration background practically unworkable. In an interview with DLF, Düll said that in many areas, “you’d have to cart children across the country” to reach a quota of 30 percent.
- SPD education politician Jasmina Hostert called the idea “fundamentally wrong” and said children should receive support regardless of their background.
- CDU parliamentary group deputy Anja Weisgerber emphasized that the high level of immigration in recent years has overwhelmed many schools. She said that other countries facing similar challenges have shown that solutions exist.
- Integration Commissioner Natalie Pawlik rejects a quota for children with a migration background in school classes, saying that a “quota in the classroom” would not solve the imbalance in the education system.
EU report: Number of asylum applications in Germany drops sharply. For the first time in years, Germany is no longer the leading EU country for asylum applications. A confidential EU Commission report reveals a sharp decline in asylum seekers: from January to June 2025, Germany registered 65,495 applications—a 43% drop compared to the previous year. Spain now tops the list (76,020 applications), followed by France (75,428), with Germany in third. Despite the drop, Brussels remains concerned about rising migration from Libya, where rebel leader Khalifa Haftar, backed by Russia, plays a key role in the ongoing conflict. Crete, in particular, is struggling with new arrivals, and an estimated 90,000 people are currently waiting in Libya to cross to Europe. welt.de
First Syrians lose protection status in Germany. Germany’s Interior Ministry, has begun revoking the protection status of certain Syrian refugees, specifically those convicted of crimes or deemed security threats, arguing that the civil war in Syria has ended and a new government is in place. This move follows the CDU/CSU–SPD coalition agreement allowing deportations to Syria and Afghanistan, starting with offenders. Between January and May 2025, 3,537 revocation procedures were initiated; 57 refugees lost their status, and 22 lost subsidiary protection. Additionally, 804 Syrians voluntarily returned under a federal program.n-tv.de
Steinmeier pledges support to Lithuania: During Lithuania’s national holiday in Vilnius, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared that Lithuania’s security is also Germany’s security. He pointed to the deployment of the German tank brigade 45, expected to be operational by 2027, as a sign of mutual responsibility and NATO solidarity. He also praised Lithuania’s role in the EU and NATO, noting that people there know freedom and peace are never guaranteed. stern.de
Spahn claims exoneration in mask affair: Former Health Minister Jens Spahn says an internal document clears him in the Emix mask procurement scandal. According to the paper, the deal with Swiss supplier Emix cost taxpayers less than previously thought. However, a prior investigation led by Margaretha Sudhof found that Spahn’s ministry paid excessive prices and accepted quality issues. Spahn argues the new report shows that the Sudhof report selectively framed the facts. faz.net, rnd.de, zdfheute.de
Four billion euros in relief expected for companies: The German Economy Ministry estimates a €4 billion relief for businesses as more companies will benefit from the industrial electricity price scheme—potentially rising from 350 to 2,200 firms. Economy Minister Katharina Reiche announced a plan to quickly lower electricity costs following a new EU aid framework. handelsblatt.com, tagesschau.de, faz.net
Audit office warns of €12 billion gap in long-term care insurance: Without policy changes, Germany’s long-term care insurance system faces a €12 billion shortfall by 2029, according to the Federal Audit Office. Causes include a rising number of care recipients and capped out-of-pocket contributions for residential care. A federal-state commission on care reform begins work on Monday under pressure to deliver timely proposals. handelsblatt.com, zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
Other news:
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder sees major backlog in road, rail, and waterway infrastructure. deutschlandfunk.de
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger says he dislikes „tinkering too long“ with problems. sueddeutsche.de
- Dobrindt invites neighboring countries to a July 18 summit on stricter migration policies. dw.com
- Dobrindt avoids clear rejection of EU chat control plans. heise.de
- EU report: Number of asylum applications in Germany drops sharply. welt.de
- „Heroes of Kabul“ awarded Federal Cross of Merit after airport rescue. spiegel.de
Tighter rules for e-scooter parking: The German Association of Towns and Municipalities supports new government plans to regulate rental e-scooter parking. Mobility expert Timm Fuchs stressed that rules must be simple and low-bureaucracy for local governments, and called for automatic speed limits in pedestrian zones. mdr.de
- Berlin: 18 arrests during anti-Israel demonstration. tagesspiegel.de
- Berlin: CDU parliamentary group sees need for action on heat protection. online.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: Left Party leader Eva von Angern files complaint against AfD MP Daniel Wald after racist comment on X. tagesspiegel.de
- Saxony: Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner banned from speaking at Chemnitz city hall. sachsen-fernsehen.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Hundreds of thousands celebrate Christopher Street Day „circus“; Cologne responds to Merz’s comments. spiegel.de
BRICS countries demand more influence in the IMF: At a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, they called for a redistribution of voting rights and an end to the traditionally European leadership of the fund. The current regional representation is considered unsuitable for the modern world order. The heads of state and government also plan to address health policy, artificial intelligence, and climate change. A draft summit declaration also expresses “serious concerns” about international trade policy. Officially, BRICS countries represent about half of the world’s population and around 40 percent of global economic output. Chinese President Xi Jinping has canceled his participation. Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot attend due to an international arrest warrant. tagesspiegel.de, faz.net
- Spain: Governing PSOE party bans members from paying for sex. faz.net
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Court lifts arrest warrant against Serb leader Milorad Dodik. zeit.de
- Sweden: Government wants to assess migrants‘ values. n-tv.de
- United Kingdom: Begins diplomatic relations with Syria. deutschlandfunk.de
- Hungary: Intelligence agency uses lie detector on journalists. rnd.de
- Serbia: Country facing ongoing protests.zeit.de
- Croatia: 500,000 attend far-right singer Marko Perković’s concert. dw.com
- France: Abuse scandal shakes the country—sadistic teachers and broken souls. sueddeutsche.de
- France: Public swimming in the Seine closed again in Paris. tv.de
- Switzerland: Foreigners pay more rent than locals on average. nau.ch
1.4 million pensioners in Germany still working: According to a government response to a Left Party inquiry, most are in marginal employment, though nearly 375,000 work to a greater extent. The data, collected by the German Pension Insurance as of December 31, 2023, shows that financial need is not the main reason for many seniors continuing to work. A representative survey on retirement security indicated that “enjoyment of work and social aspects” are cited far more often than financial motives. rnd.de
More economic news:
- Food banks call for solidarity with people affected by poverty. ndr.de
- HDE consumer barometer: Consumers enter summer with mild optimism. handelsblatt.com
- Number of new student loans drops to record low. tagesspiegel.de
- VW’s head of HR, Gunnar Kilian, is leaving the company. handelsblatt.com
- Wikipedia criticized for numerous errors and outdated information. heise.de
- 40th Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival begins; over 200 concerts at 71 venues. deutschlandfunkkultur.de
- Germany’s largest festival for folk, roots, and world music in Rudolstadt comes to a close.mdr.de
- Opera – No more shorts: Scala tightens dress code. ksta.de
- Royal ace: Princess Kate beats her husband William at tennis. n-tv.de
- The days of landmark judgements: Courts are increasingly interpreting copyright law in favour of AI companies. meedia.de
- Fair founder Julie Leopold: „Denmark is gaining more and more recognition as an art location“. monopol-magazin.de
- Funeral service for Günther Uecker: „The light that remains“. monopol-magazin.de
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- Bayern star Musiala misses months after serious injury – fracture of fibula. faz.net
- Fuss at „Club World Cup“: „Tasteless discussions“ about FC Bayern professional Müller – Thomas Müller apparently felt that the topic of contract extension was out of place at an emotionally difficult moment in his Bayern farewell tour, which ended abruptly and without a coronation. faz.net
- Round of 16 win against Sierra: Siegemund’s journey at Wimbledon continues. sportschau.de
- Formula 1 in Silverstone – Hülkenberg sensationally third – Norris capitalises on Piastri’s mistake. sportschau.de
- Tour de France, 2nd stage: Van der Poel beats Pogacar and takes yellow shirt. sportschau.de
- Accident with serious injuries: German track cycling championships cancelled. spiegel.de
In some German public swimming pools, there are designated „naked days“ (FKK-Tage), where everyone is required to swim completely nude—no exceptions, no swimsuits allowed. This is part of Germany“s long tradition of Freikörperkultur (Free Body Culture), which promotes naturism and body acceptance. So if you“re planning a pool visit… check the schedule first!