Bild: Job center chief spills the beans! / Jobcenter-Chef packt aus!
FAZ: EU sees 15% tariff deal with Trump as possible / EU hält Einigung mit Trump auf 15-Prozent-Zoll für möglich
Funke: Berlin’s regulatory offices lack hundreds of parking zone inspectors / Berlins Ordnungsämtern fehlen hunderte Kontrolleure für Parkzonen
Handelsblatt: What the decision-makers are reading / Das lesen die Macher
RND: Fresh mercenaries wanted: Putin’s new Wagner group / Frische Söldner gesucht: Putins neue Gruppe Wagner
SZ: Criticism of Israel’s conduct of war is growing / Kritik an Israels Kriegsführung wächst
Tagesspiegel: Trade conflict with the U.S.: EU agrees on possible multi-billion counter-tariffs / Handelsstreit mit den USA: EU einigt sich auf mögliche Milliarden-Gegenzölle
taz: What African women and dating apps have to do with Putin’s drones / Was afrikanische Frauen und Dating-Apps mit Putins Drohnen zu tun haben
Welt: Influx of refugees from Greece outrages CDU/CSU / Einreise von Flüchtlingen aus Griechenland empört Union
France wants to recognize Palestine as a state: President Emmanuel Macron stated in a letter to the Palestinian Authority that he will officially announce the recognition in September before the UN General Assembly. The establishment of a Palestinian state must follow a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Macron said this state could contribute to the security of all in the Middle East by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel. A UN summit on a two-state solution is also planned for September. Palestine is currently formally recognized by nearly 150 states. Germany is not among them. spiegel.de, zdfheute.de, n-tv.de, tagesschau.de
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such a step rewards terror and threatens Israel’s existence; he will not tolerate it. n-tv.de
- Defense Minister Israel Katz called the planned recognition a disgrace and a capitulation to terrorism. Israel will not tolerate the establishment of a Palestinian state that „violates our security and endangers our existence.“
- The deputy head of the Palestinian Authority and possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas, Hussein al-Sheikh, praised Macron’s announcement as a commitment to international law and to the self-determination of all Palestinians.
- Militant Islamist group Hamas called for more European countries to follow France’s lead. n-tv.de
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X: „This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.“
- Saudi Arabia called it a „historic decision.“
Israel and the US recall Gaza negotiation teams from Doha: Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire have broken down in Qatar. The Israeli government recalled its delegation to Jerusalem to review a Hamas proposal; US envoy Steve Witkoff said the American delegation also left; Hamas was not willing to reach a ceasefire. Despite major efforts by mediators, Hamas did not appear to be acting in a coordinated or honest manner. The US government will now explore alternative ways to rescue the remaining hostages. spiegel.de, n-tv.de
Aid supplies reach Gaza: According to the UN, some aid has reached the Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, UN teams were able to collect mostly flour at two border crossings and bring it to two million people in need in the coastal strip. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq emphasized that the quantities released were insufficient. n-tv.de
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls for an end to the blockade. In a televised speech, he urged US President Donald Trump to intervene to allow UN organizations to deliver aid to Gaza.
- Israel’s Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, sees all of Gaza as Jewish. The far-right politician from the Jewish Strength party also denied that there is a famine in the Gaza Strip.
- In a car attack, eight soldiers were injured in central Israel, according to the army. The attacker drove his vehicle into a bus stop near Kfar Yona, north of Tel Aviv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy backs down on anti-corruption law: After massive protests, a bill proposing political control over two anti-corruption agencies was withdrawn. Instead, Zelenskyy will present a new, balanced draft to Parliament that aims to restore the independence of the agencies. He emphasized the importance of respecting all Ukrainians’ views. The original plan was to place the agencies under the authority of the prosecutor general, appointed by the president. spiegel.de, faz.net, tagesschau.de
Norway plans to provide Ukraine with one billion euros for drone procurement, according to an agreement reached between the two countries, as stated by Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. He said he had spoken with his Norwegian counterpart Tore O. Sandvik. The agreement includes boosting air defense, joint drone production, and training Ukrainian soldiers.
- German company Hensoldt receives large order for radar systems to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. As part of a major contract worth more than 340 million euros, high-performance TRML-4D radars and SPEXER 2000 3D MkIII short-range radars will be delivered.
- Wholesale prices in Russia are skyrocketing; the Kremlin plans to ban gasoline exports.
The federal government’s debt and financial shortfalls appear to be growing further, with more than €150 billion for the years 2027 to 2029 remaining unaddressed, according to Handelsblatt, which cites government officials. Finance Minister Klingbeil had originally assumed a shortfall of €144 billion for this period. The reason for the additional shortfall is a series of decisions made by the coalition, including the expansion of maternity benefits and financial commitments to states and municipalities. stern.de stern.de
Number of deportations rose in the first half of the year: According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, more than 11,800 people were deported in the first half of this year, according to a response to an AfD inquiry. In the first half of last year, there were just under 9,500 deportations.
Poland maintains border controls with Germany and Lithuania: According to the rules of the Schengen area, the deadline for this is initially 30 days, Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on TVN24; „They will certainly be extended.“ In a report after two weeks, the Polish border guard said that 100 people who wanted to enter the country illegally from Germany or Lithuania had been turned away.sueddeutsche.de, zeit.de, n-tv.de
Germany and France want to clarify the joint FCAS fighter jet project by the end of the year: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius played down the recent tensions between Berlin and Paris regarding the project after a meeting with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, saying saying there were no obstacles that could not be overcome. The Future Combat Air System aims to develop a fighter jet that will be operational from 2040 and replace the Eurofighter. There are currently differences regarding the distribution of tasks among the companies involved in France and Germany. stern.de, table.media/security
The German Armed Forces want to create incentives for voluntary military service: In future, part of the now immense costs of obtaining a driver’s license could be reimbursed. According to information from sources within the Ministry of Defense, these and similar incentives are planned in order to attract more young people to the armed forces and the announced new military service. In addition to improved pay, there could be commitment bonuses for those who commit to the Bundeswehr for a longer period of time. In addition, offers such as further training are planned. zdfheute.de, web.de
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius wants to reintroduce military conscription for men in 2028. The first step will be a questionnaire sent to young women and men next year. However, only men will be required to fill it out. Starting in 2028, all men will be called up for conscription, even if they decide against voluntary military service. stern.de stern.de
Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger is focusing on exchange with the US when it comes to artificial intelligence: Europe must have access to chips and AI models, which is why exchange with the US is extremely important, Wildberger said in Washington. Artificial intelligence will influence the future like hardly any other technology before it. US President Donald Trump has presented a new strategy for artificial intelligence that focuses on extensive regulatory freedom for companies. He is urging the EU to abolish its own rules. stern.de
147,995 people wanted in Germany on arrest warrants: 19,257 of those wanted on arrest warrants are German citizens, 128,738 are foreign nationals or persons of unknown or stateless nationality, according to the government’s response to an AfD inquiry published by the Bundestag. n-tv.de, tagesspiegel.de
More News:
- Environment Minister Carsten Schneider: Climate change is the biggest social issue of our time. stern.de
- Addiction commissioner Hendrik Streeck calls for stricter regulation of social media use by children and young people. deutschlandfunk.de
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer announces a change to memorial site concept. deutschlandfunk.de
Intel abandons plans for factory in Magdeburg: The chip manufacturer announced in a quarterly report that it would not be pursuing projects in Germany and Poland. This is part of a series of measures aimed at optimizing production capacities. Intel is in financial difficulties. Due to renewed losses in the billions, further layoffs have also been announced. Until now, Intel had only mentioned that the chip factory in Magdeburg would be delayed by two years. Investments of around 30 billion euros were planned.rnd.de, faz.net
Swastika on ballot in Baden-Württemberg state parliament: State Parliament President Muhterem Aras confirmed the incident in the plenary hall and expressed her outrage. The use of anti-constitutional symbols is a criminal offense. The Green Party politician called it a disgrace for parliament. It is not known who is responsible. According to DPA, the swastika was next to the name of an AfD candidate. According to his party, he has filed a criminal complaint. The AfD wanted to use the vote to elect representatives to the so-called Upper Rhine Council, a German-French-Swiss body, but failed once again. n-tv.de, faz.net
Bavaria’s state parliament goes into summer recess with AfD scandal: After AfD faction leader Katrin Ebner-Steiner used her speaking time to make right-wing extremist statements despite warnings, state parliament president Ilse Aigner ended her appearance. In Bavaria, it is traditional for the strongest opposition faction to speak on behalf of all other opposition factions in the closing remarks. It was customary to take a conciliatory tone. br.de
More News:
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Duisburg commemorates the victims of the Love Parade disaster on the 15th anniversary. wdr.de
- Brandenburg: SPD in state parliament commits to detention pending deportation.n-tv.de
- Bavaria: Minister of Culture Markus Blume calls for higher subsidies from the shareholders of the Bayreuth Festival. sueddeutsche.de
- Berlin: Governing Mayor Kai Wegner defends naturalization procedures. tagesspiegel.de
- Berlin: Police break up Palestine demonstration. tagesspiegel.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Minister President Daniel Günther open to speed limits. ndr.de
- NRW: AfD mayoral candidate in Lage finally disqualified. wdr.de
EU countries agree on possible retaliatory tariffs of up to 30 percent: As confirmed in Brussels, the 27 EU countries have approved a corresponding list from the Commission. According to this list, the community of states intends to impose tariffs on US exports to the EU worth more than €90 billion if negotiations with Washington fail. The tariffs would then come into force on August 7. However, the Commission expects an agreement to be reached. n-tv.de
China-EU summit ends without breakthrough: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for fundamentally new trade relations with China. She pointed to the trade deficit, which rose to a record high of almost €306 billion last year. Chinese President Xi Jinping and von der Leyen blamed each other for the difficulties. According to a statement, both countries want to join forces to step up the fight against climate change. spiegel.de, faz.net, zeit.de
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announces the formation of a new party in the UK: The time has come for a new kind of political party, Corbyn and co-founder Zarah Sultana declared. She is also a former Labour MP. The new party, called “Your Party,” is to be rooted in communities, trade unions, and social movements. The goal is a “massive redistribution of wealth and power.” Corbyn and Sultana also declared their support for a “free Palestine.” Corbyn resigned as party leader after the Labour Party’s poor performance in the 2019 general election. In 2020, Labour expelled him for refusing to accept the findings of an inquiry that concluded anti-Semitism had become widespread in the party under his leadership. derstandard.at, zeit.de
Saudi Arabia invests six billion dollars in Syria: The money is intended to help rebuild the war-torn country. Representatives from both countries signed agreements covering areas such as energy, infrastructure, banking, and technology at an economic forum in Damascus. The goal is to attract more investors to Syria, said Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih. Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said the projects would create 50,000 direct and 150,000 indirect jobs.
- Thousands flee violence against civilians in southern Syria; the humanitarian situation has further deteriorated. Most people fled within the province of Suwaida or to the neighboring province of Daraa.
Iran considers moving capital Tehran due to water shortage: “The situation is serious and Tehran really has no water left,” said Massud Peseschkian. Moving the city cannot be ruled out as an emergency solution. The water crisis is having a severe impact in many parts of the country and is the dominant issue for many Iranians. The situation is coming to a head in more than 20 of 31 provinces. n-tv.de
Border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalates: According to Thai sources, at least twelve people have been killed in fighting, eleven of them civilians. Cambodia has fired heavy weapons indiscriminately at targets in Thailand. Thailand, in turn, said it deployed an F-16 fighter jet and bombed positions in Cambodia. Both sides blamed each other for the outbreak of fighting. tagesschau.de
More News:
- Key interest rates in the eurozone remain unchanged; deposit rate at two percent. capital.de
- EU Commission warns Berlin about failure to implement sanctions rules. stern.de
- EU countries will be allowed to use regional funds for defense projects in the future. euractiv.de
- How patents are now crossing borders in Europe. capital.de
- France: President Macron and his wife are suing right-wing US influencer Candace Owens for knowingly making false statements. rnd.de
- Slovenia: Euthanasia permitted for terminally ill patients suffering severe pain with medical assistance. zeit.de
- Turkey: Central bank lowers key interest rate to 43 percent. faz.net
- Luxembourg: New defense satellite for GovSat. wort.lu
- Czech Republic: Majority of the population is against free immigration into the country. radio.cz
- Central African Republic: Long prison sentences for war crimes including murder, torture, and displacement. faz.net
- Afghanistan: According to the UN, deported people face violence from the Taliban. srf.ch
- Iran: Negotiations on the nuclear program in Istanbul with Germany, France, and Great Britain. stern.de
US News:
US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche questions Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell: Maxwell’s lawyer said after the meeting that his client had answered every single question. Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. She had helped Epstein abuse underage girls. According to authorities, Epstein took his own life in prison. Observers see Blanche’s trip as another attempt by the Trump administration to portray itself as transparent in the Epstein affair. The US president denies having been close to the sex offender. stern.de
- US President Donald Trump is traveling to Scotland. handelsblatt.com
- US authorities approve merger of Paramount and Skydance Media. zeit.de
- Massive disruption to Musk’s Starlink satellite system. faz.net
German industry is already feeling the effects of US tariffs: According to a survey by the Ifo Institute, almost 30 percent of companies that originally wanted to invest in the US have postponed their projects, and 15 percent have even canceled them. Overall, more than 60 percent of industrial companies reported negative effects from the US tariffs that have been increased since President Trump took office.
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- GfK consumer sentiment declines again; consumers are saving more and more. deutschlandfunk.de
- One in nine employees works overtime. welt.de
- Earnings limit for mini-jobs rises due to higher minimum wage. fr.de
- Trainees in German companies have excellent chances of being hired. spiegel.de
- ECB keeps key interest rates in the eurozone steady at 2.0 percent wiwo.de
- Trump’s tariff stick backfires: German companies cut investments in the US n-tv.de
- Uncertain consumers: consumer sentiment falls unexpectedly – consumer climate barometer drops 1.2 points to minus 21.5, the second month in a row tagesschau.de
- Landlord survey: Many private landlords are making losses wiwo.de
- Renewable energies: More private investment thanks to government guarantees table.media/esg
- Heating market: Heat pumps outsell gas heating systems for the first time table.media/berlin
- Entertainment: Eventim boss expects concert prices to rise saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- Food: Nestlé puts division under review and restructures China business handelsblatt.com
- Make America healthy again: AI at the US Food and Drug Administration invents studies golem.de
- Consequences for the immune system: PFAS chemicals enter children’s bodies via the placenta and breast milk heise.de
- Digital education offerings: How students and teachers use learning apps, social media, and more table.media/bildung
- What remains of the summer paradise? The climate crisis is taking away the sand from Spain’s Mediterranean coast rnd.de
- America loses its most successful late-night talk show host: Humorless autocrats: I decide what’s funny rnd.de
- Journalism expert on Brosius-Gersdorf: At some point, the avalanche can no longer be stopped – as in the case of Föderl-Schmid kress.de
- Nius: A stage for right-wing agitation mmm.verdi.de
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer sees openness among US streaming services for greater engagement in Germany. wdr.de
- Relief for the industry: Contribution to the artists‘ social security fund to fall to 4.9 percent in 2025 monopol-magazin.de
- More expensive and delayed: new museum building in Berlin faces delays monopol-magazin.de
- The Diocese of Osnabrück is defending itself against allegations that it was behind the cancellation of a play about abuse in the church. wdr.de
- Opera: Bayreuth Festival not yet sold out ksta.de
- After separation rumors: Lisa and Thomas Müller appear together again for the first time t-online.de
- After stepping down – “CSU or FDP”: Lisa Müller reveals surprising plans, considers entering politics web.de
More from Culture, Media and People
- A chance to say “thank you”: This is how Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell will take place – Fans will also be given the opportunity to pay their last respects to the legendary singer. n-tv.de
- New details about Warner’s death: Drowned “Cosby Show” star was swimming with his daughter n-tv.de
- He was 71 years old: Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died t-online.de
- Post Malone’s custody drama: Ex-girlfriend gives in in L.A. promiflash.de
- Rapper Cardi B sued for throwing microphone at concert promiflash.de
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- Next injury shock: DFB goalkeeper ter Stegen announces bad news – another back operation, expects to be out for around three months sport.de
- Tournament in Switzerland: Women’s European Championship sets attendance record t-online.de
- Comments from the DFB team: “We gave it our all” – deep sadness among German players sportschau.de
- Thomas Müller: Sydney FC apparently interested in former Bayern star t-online.de
- England allows alcohol at soccer games – for women sport.de
- French stop German tennis pros in Kitzbühel sport.de
- King’s stage of the Tour de France: O’Connor wins ahead of Pogacar – Lipowitz loses a lot of time but remains in third place sportschau.de
- Tour de France – In Valence: Man cycles into the finish area shortly before the sprint and is stopped sportschau.de
You can adopt a highway — and it gets your name on a sign.
In Germany, private individuals, companies, or even clubs can “sponsor” a stretch of the Autobahn or a local road through a program called Straßenpatenschaft (road sponsorship). In return for helping maintain the area — often just through funding—your name gets displayed on a tidy little sign next to the road. It’s like being famous to passing traffic!
It’s very German: efficient, civic-minded, and proudly displayed — but also kind of adorable. Who wouldn’t want to be the “godparent” of Kilometer 42?