published by Sigrid Arteaga
Contributor: Imogen Goodman and Ulrich Kraus
Bild: Basti and Ana: Marriage on the rocks | Basti und Ana: Ehe kaputt
FAZ: Federal Cabinet approves „growth booster“ | Bundeskabinett beschließt „Wachstumsbooster“
Funke: Two-thirds of Berlin teachers work unpaid overtime | Zwei Drittel der Berliner Lehrer leisten unbezahlte Überstunden
Handelsblatt: Bär wants to invest substantially | Bär will kräftig investieren
RND: Merz visits Trump: An explosive inaugural visit | Merz zu Gast bei Trump: Ein Antrittsbesuch mit Zündstoff
SZ: Extreme rise in anti-Semitic incidents | Extremer Anstieg antisemitischer Vorfälle
Tagesspiegel: Members to arm themselves; NATO calls for more soldiers | Mitglieder sollen aufrüsten Nato fordert mehr Soldaten
taz: Thus, a decision is made: that people must be fit for war | Also lautet ein Beschluß: Daß der Mensch kriegstüchtig werden muß
Welt: Federal government plans to tighten asylum law | Bundesregierung plant Verschärfung des Asylrechts
Government wants to declare safe countries of origin independently in future: Until now, this has also required the approval of the Bundesrat. In the past, countries with Green and Left-wing participation in government have often blocked such plans. According to the CDU/CSU and SPD, the first step will be to classify India, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia as safe countries of origin. The reform plans must be approved by the Bundestag. stern.de
Tax relief for companies approved: Companies will be able to write off machinery for tax purposes more quickly before 2027. The government hopes this will provide additional incentives for investment. The corporate income tax rate is to be reduced in several steps from the current 15 percent to ten percent between 2028 and 2032. There are also plans to introduce another special depreciation allowance for the purchase of electric cars. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil spoke of a clear signal for reforms. zdfheute.de, web.de, faz.net
Many dead in Israeli attacks: The Wafa news agency reports 41 deaths, citing medical sources. Israel’s army says it is targeting Hamas and other terrorist organizations and insists that it is taking care to spare uninvolved civilians in attacks on the groups‘ targets. orf.at
Resolution on ceasefire fails in UN Security Council: The US has vetoed a resolution to calm the Gaza war. US Ambassador Dorothy Shea blocked a binding resolution under international law by the most powerful UN body. All 14 other member states of the Council voted in favor of the resolution. The draft resolution called for an „immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire“ for the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages in the area. zdfheute.de
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul promises Israel further arms deliveries: Such aid is necessary in view of the terror of the Islamist Hamas as well as the attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia from Yemen and the Hezbollah militia from Lebanon, Wadephul said. He had recently caused irritation even within his own ranks with comments in the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, in which he made arms deliveries contingent on an international review of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. spiegel.de, faz.net
US President Donald Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone and dampens hopes: Trump said that the conversation between the two had gone well, but that there would be no immediate peace. Instead, Putin had said that he had to respond to the latest attacks by Kiev. The Kremlin called the conversation productive; it also addressed the Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military bases over the weekend. There must be a clear response to this, Moscow added. Putin rejected a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin accused Ukraine of terrorist acts against railway lines. Under these circumstances, no talks could be held. spiegel.de, zdfheute.de, n-tv.de
Ukrainian Operation „Spider’s Web“ has hit Russia’s military hard: High-resolution images from space show the extent of the damage to the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region. Photos show several burned-out wrecks and extensive burn marks on the parking spaces of the Russian strategic bomber fleet on the outskirts of the military base. welt.de
ARD Germany trend by Infratest-Dimap: Union 29 percent (+2), AfD 23 percent, SPD 15 percent (-1), Greens 12 percent (+1), Left 9 percent (-1), BSW 4 percent, FDP 4 percent, others 4 percent. tagesschau.de
- Satisfaction with the federal government: Very satisfied 3 percent, satisfied 37 percent, less satisfied 28 percent, not at all satisfied 23 percent.
- 5 percent NATO target: Not far enough 7 percent, Appropriate 50 percent, Too far 35 percent.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is looking forward to meeting US President Donald Trump with „great composure“: Merz left for the US on Wednesday evening. The meeting is likely to focus on the war in Ukraine and the tariff dispute between the EU and the US. Merz’s visit to Washington will only last around 17 hours. A public appearance with Trump in the Oval Office is planned. zdfheute.de, spiegel.de, tagesspiegel.de
Another drastic rise in anti-Semitism in Germany: Reporting centers documented more than 8,600 incidents last year, an increase of almost 77 percent compared to 2023, according to the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Anti-Semitism (RIAS). The RIAS federal association is the umbrella organization for reporting centers in eleven federal states. It assumes that the number of unreported cases is high. On average, there are almost 24 anti-Semitic incidents per day nationwide. Rias also documents statements and incidents that do not constitute criminal offenses. The association cites the war in the Gaza Strip as the main reason for the increase. tagesschau.de
Environment Minister Carsten Schneider fears that climate protection has become a divisive issue: He wants to help climate protection regain more social support. The vast majority of people in Germany want to preserve nature and the environment, Schneider said at the congress of the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry. The populist right in particular has used the issue to undermine democracies. However, if we succeed in winning people over to the energy transition and sustainable growth, this would be the best provision for the future of the country—and also for the protection of democracy. de.finance.yahoo.com
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer denounces anti-freedom encroachment by the left and right-wing culture war reflexes: In a guest article for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, he called for the defense of freedom against left-wing and right-wing zealots. The anti-freedom encroachment of the left has shown its aggressive face in cancel culture. The latest example is the removal of a nude statue of Venus from a Berlin government office on the grounds that it was misogynistic. In this context, he spoke of the credo of a Jacobin iconoclasm. Its modern counterpart, the „shitstorm,“ has become a fixture of „radical feminist, postcolonial, eco-socialist outrage culture.“ At the same time, right-wing, right-wing radical, and right-wing extremist cultural warfare reflexes show no lack of narrow-mindedness. sueddeutsche.de, t-online.de
Doctors warn of negative consequences of the primary care system: The Brandenburg Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians explained that requiring patients to always see their family doctor before visiting a specialist may work in a city like Berlin with its rail and bus connections and short distances. However, in a large state like Brandenburg, such a plan would be difficult to implement. Alternatives are therefore needed for sparsely populated regions.
Resistance in Bavaria to planned purchase of Czech nuclear power: The district council of Lower Bavaria had opposed the course taken by Minister President Markus Söder, and now the city council of Straubing has followed suit. The purchase of nuclear power would encourage the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, it said. It would be better to focus on renewable energies. idowa.de
Berlin Senate must disclose first names of knife attackers: The state constitutional court ruled that the AfD’s request had been wrongly rejected. The decision was made by a narrow majority of five to four judges. The interior administration did not want to disclose the twenty most common first names of knife attack suspects because it feared that individuals could be specifically identified. The court found this implausible given that there were almost 1,200 suspects. AfD member Marc Vallendar can now submit a new request, which the Senate will then have to reevaluate. rbb24.de, tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
More regional news:
- Lower Saxony: Following knife attacks, law planned to improve identification of mentally ill, potentially dangerous individuals. ndr.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: Abolition of ski lessons in physical education sparks debate. spiegel.de
- Saxony: AfD sets conditions for approving the budget. n-tv.de
- Brandenburg: Interior Minister René Wilke reviews structures at the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. n-tv.de
- Bavaria: New regulations for organ donation. augsburger-allgemeine.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: State parliament reinstates old local election law. n-tv.de
- Thuringia: Uniform payment card for asylum seekers throughout the state. welt.de
- Baden-Württemberg: AfD candidates in Mannheim fail to win seats in local council elections. mannheimer-morgen.de
- Lower Saxony: 30 km/h speed limit successfully tested on main roads. ndr.de
- Hesse: State government plans uniform ban on weapons in schools. hessenschau.de
- Berlin: 18-year-old left-wing politician attacked on the street again. rbb24.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: World War II bombs defused in Cologne. wdr.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Public prosecutor’s office appeals ruling against Cum-Ex key witness. handelsblatt.com
EU Commission wants to initiate deficit proceedings against Austria: The country is not complying with debt rules, the Commission said. With a budget deficit of 4.7 percent of GDP last year and 4.5 percent planned for this year, Austria is clearly above the permitted limit of three percent. In addition, the country is in an economic crisis with high inflation, weak consumer demand, and a prolonged recession. n-tv.de
Protection status for war refugees from Ukraine extended by one year: According to Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, Ukrainians will now be able to obtain a residence permit without going through asylum proceedings until March 2027 due to the ongoing war. EU member states will vote on the proposal next week. Germany has taken in 1.17 million refugees from Ukraine. tagesschau.de, n-tv.de
EU optimistic about negotiated solution in customs dispute with the US: The US has increased its import tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25 to 50 percent. The US’s neighbors Canada and Mexico are particularly hard hit by the doubling of tariffs, but the EU also exports to the US. US President Donald Trump justified the additional tariffs on national security grounds. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached. He said that progress was being made. fr.de, spiegel.de, web.de
According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the US feels „fully committed“ to the mutual defense clause: Rutte said before a meeting of NATO defense ministers that they would determine which armed forces and specific capabilities each ally would have to provide. He named air and missile defense, long-range weapons, logistics, and the ability to conduct large-scale land maneuvers as priorities. Rutte also expressed his conviction that the US felt „fully committed“ to the mutual defense clause. However, he said this was conditional on member states providing significantly more money for defense.
Bulgaria is set to join the euro next year. The country meets the necessary criteria and its economy is sufficiently prepared for the move, the EU Commission announced in Brussels. The European Central Bank also published a positive decision. The final decision rests with the EU heads of state and government, but their approval is considered a formality. With Bulgaria, the eurozone would comprise 21 countries. Croatia was the last country to join the single currency in 2023. tagesspiegel.de, tagesschau.de
Turkish government grants religious authority Diyanet interpretive authority over the Koran: A corresponding law was published in the official gazette, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s coalition had pushed through parliament. According to the law, Diyanet can ban Koran editions and commentaries that do not conform to its conservative interpretation. Lawsuits against bans will have no suspensive effect. Critics see this as an attack on liberal theologians who, among other things, advocate a historical classification of Islam’s holy scriptures and different interpretations. faz.net
US President Donald Trump bans citizens from twelve countries from entering the country: According to the White House, the president is protecting US citizens from foreign terrorists. The entry ban will take effect on June 9 and affects citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Entry for citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will be partially restricted. stern.de
More news:
- Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander accepts Dick Schoof’s resignation; government remains in office. nau.ch
- France: Court confirms withdrawal of Marine Le Pen’s local office. derstandard.at
- Poland: Cooperation with Germany to be deepened even after victory of EU skeptic Nawrocki. stuttgarter-zeitung.de
- Hungary: Parliament to vote on „transparency“ law in autumn. de.euronews.com
- Hungary: Constitutional Court calls for more rights for same-sex couples. zeit.de
- Belgium: Attorneys general call for more funding for the justice system. vrt.be
- Sweden: Government wants to rent 400 cells in Estonia for prisoners. rnd.de
- Turkey: Police arrest opposition politicians again. zeit.de
- Austria: According to an environmental report, the Alpine republic would be obliged to do more to protect the climate. derstandard.at
- Czech Republic: Agreement signed on construction of nuclear power plant blocks. t-online.de
- Switzerland: Electronic disposable cigarettes to be banned. nzz.ch
- South Korea: New President Lee Jae-myung nominates close political ally Kim Min-seok as prime minister and former Minister for Unification with North Korea Lee Jong-seok as head of the intelligence service. faz.net
- Vietnam: Communist government scraps two-child policy; birth rate has fallen dramatically in recent years. spiegel.de
A good ten percent of teachers without a teaching qualification: The reason for this is a shortage of teachers. In the 2023/24 school year, 10.5 percent of teachers in general education schools were career changers, a total of around 77,600, according to the Federal Statistical Office. In the 2015/16 school year, the proportion was significantly lower at 4.5 percent. faz.net
More from Business, Tech, and Science:
- Four out of five companies in Germany have abolished fax machines. heise.de
- Electric boom in new vehicle registrations continues. handelsblatt.com
- Europe’s most valuable defense startup, Helsing, acquires aircraft manufacturer Grob Aircraft. handelsblatt.com
- Nasty snooping: Meta and Yandex spied on users of their Android apps. heise.de
- Amazon wants to invest billions in a new AI data center in North Carolina. handelsblatt.com
- After “fictitious” interview: Austrian newspaper parts ways with Clint Eastwood author n-tv.de
- “Save Cosmo!”: Grönemeyer, Peter Fox, and many other stars are fighting for this WDR station ksta.de
- Nicole Höchst: AfD church spokesperson mocks Muslims and Jews on X. At the request of the party leadership, the post has since been deleted. pro-medienmagazin.de
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You can find Tasteit in your App Store.
- Deutsches Nationalteam: Lena Oberdorf fährt nicht mit zur EM in die Schweiz sueddeutsche.de
- Simone Inzaghi verlässt Inter Mailand: Nach der Ära in die Wüste nach Saudi-Arabien sueddeutsche.de
- French Open – Boisson steht sensationell im Halbfinale sportschau.de
Länderspiel gegen Serbien: Finnland nominiert versehentlich 51-jährige Fußballrentnerin spiegel.de