Bild: How Potofski died so dramatically / So dramatisch starb Potofski
FAZ: Merz: Zelenskyy is ready to negotiate on territorial issues / Merz: Selenskyj ist bereit, über territoriale Fragen zu verhandeln
Funke: „Constructive and good conversation“ – Merz praises phone call with Trump / „Konstruktives und gutes Gespräch“ – Merz lobt Telefonschalte mit Trump
Handelsblatt: Europe sets conditions / Europa stellt Bedingungen
RND: Debate on social reforms: Caution, construction site! Why the SPD fears a new agenda / Debatte über Sozialreformen: Vorsicht, Baustelle! Warum die SPD Angst vor einer neuen Agenda hat
SZ: Europe rises up / Europa bäumt sich auf
Tagesspiegel: Before Trump–Putin summit: Merz sees „hope for peace“ in Ukraine / Vor Gipfeltreffen von Trump und Putin: Merz sieht „Hoffnung auf einen Frieden” in der Ukraine
taz: Coalition of bystanders / Koalition der Zaungäste
Welt: Putin’s last-minute offensive before meeting with Trump / Last-Minute-Offensive Putins vor dem Treffen mit Trump
Israel’s army chief Eyal Zamir approves expansion of military operation against Hamas: Previously, there had been speculation about disagreements between Zamir and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Zamir had reportedly argued that stronger attacks on Gaza could endanger the lives of hostages still held by Hamas. Israel’s security cabinet had decided a few days ago to expand the nearly two-year war against Hamas, with the goal of gaining full control over Gaza City. zdfheute.de
- Israeli attacks on Gaza City continue. According to Al-Ahli Hospital, twelve people were killed in an airstrike in the Zeitoun neighborhood. Residents report heavy shelling from planes and tanks also in the Shejaiya neighborhood.
- In the Gaza Strip, at least 25 people searching for aid were killed. They were hit by Israeli bullets either on their way to aid distribution points or while waiting for aid convoys.
- Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is urging residents of the largely destroyed Gaza Strip to leave the area. „We are not pushing them, but allowing them to go,“ Netanyahu said.
- Spain welcomes France’s proposal for a UN-mandated mission to stabilize the Gaza Strip, saying this must be a step towards a two-state solution, according to the Foreign Ministry in Madrid.
The Bundeswehr has so far dropped 192 tons of aid on 386 pallets from 18 A400M transport flights for the population of Gaza. The operation, coordinated by Jordan since early August, uses designated drop zones and risk management to avoid harming people on the ground. stern.de
- Lower Saxony’s Minister President Olaf Lies is confident the federal government will support the initiative by German cities to help children from Gaza. He has written to Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. sueddeutsche.de
- More News:
An Israeli settler shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority said the victim was 35-year-old Thamin D., a distant relative of a 2015 settler arson attack victim. - Iran rejects Hezbollah disarmament. The secretary of Iran’s security council, Ali Larijani, said his country opposes the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the Shiite militia.
- Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian rejects Netanyahu’s call for an uprising in Iran. In a video message, Netanyahu had suggested that Israeli water experts could bring „modern technology and expertise“ to Iran once the country is „free.“
- Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accuses Israel and Syrian Kurds of destabilizing Syria, saying Israel has contributed to „certain problems“ there, in a press conference with Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara.
UKRAINE
US President Donald Trump threatens Russia’s President Vladimir Putin with consequences: After talks on the Ukraine war with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump increased pressure on the Kremlin. He did not clarify whether his threat referred to tariffs. Trump said peace terms were discussed and expressed hope that after his Friday meeting with Putin in Alaska, another meeting could be organized, possibly with Zelenskyy’s participation. n-tv.de, dw.com, handelsblatt.com, spiegel.de
- Zelenskyy, speaking from the German Chancellery during the video call, urged increased pressure on Putin if he does not yield. Territorial concessions are incompatible with Ukraine’s constitution. He hopes the Alaska summit will deliver an immediate ceasefire and strong security guarantees. sueddeutsche.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz said future talks must protect core European and Ukrainian security interests, including an immediate ceasefire, security guarantees for Kyiv, and Ukraine’s participation in follow-up meetings. rnd.de
- French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump made it clear he wants a ceasefire, and that he will work for a three-way summit with Putin and Zelenskyy.
- Russia said it will also discuss bilateral relations and normalization with the US in Alaska, insisting on its claim to four Ukrainian regions and noting territorial issues are defined in the Russian constitution.
Germany will contribute $500 million to NATO’s military aid package for Ukraine. Trump had said the US was ready to supply weapons if Europeans paid. NATO chief Rutte welcomed the German decision. The Netherlands was the first to pledge funds to the new arms supply fund earlier this month. tagesspiegel.de
Russia restricts calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the platforms of withholding information from law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. . rnd.de
Report on double-digit million costs from tightened border controls: Since their start in September 2024, more than 80 million euros have been spent. The largest item, at almost 38 million euros, was overtime pay for federal police officers, according to the Funke newspapers citing a government response. Other costs include meals and accommodation for officers, operation of border stations, and allowances for night, Sunday, and holiday shifts. morgenpost.de, welt.de, tagesschau.de
Train connection to London planned: Germany and the UK are advancing plans for a direct rail link. Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and his British counterpart Heidi Alexander signed a declaration stating that a task force will resolve open questions. “We are committed to ensuring that in the coming years the first trains can run directly from Germany to the UK under the English Channel.” Border control issues will need to be resolved first. tagesschau.de, handelsblatt.com, n-tv.de, tagesschau.de
More News:
- SPD energy politician Nina Scheer opposes Economy Minister Katherina Reiche’s plans to cut solar subsidies. augsburger-allgemeine.de
- Poverty researchers complain: Federal Statistical Office understates the number of affected people. rnd.de
- “No complicated subsidy programs”: Association of German Cities calls for fixed budgets for heat protection. rnd.de
- Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer sticks to plans for a digital levy on Google and others. welt.de
- Leopoldina advocates access and functionality restrictions on social media use. tagesschau.de
- Federal government rejects US accusation of lack of freedom of expression in Germany. spiegel.de
Berlin: Commemoration of the construction start of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. rbb24.de
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Investment advisory board for special fund established. n-tv.de
Berlin: A Man tears down Israeli flag in front of synagogue.n-tv.de
Bavaria: Rosenheim district follows Tyrol’s example and blocks detour routes during motorway traffic jams. sueddeutsche.de
Thuringia: SPD district administrators demand asylum seeker benefits be provided as loans. stern.de
North Rhine-Westphalia: Düsseldorf introduces Rhine swimming ban after accidents; fines up to 1,000 euros. n-tv.de
Germany, France, and Great Britain issue ultimatum to Iran in nuclear dispute: They are prepared to impose sanctions if no agreement is reached by the end of August. This was announced by the foreign ministers in a letter to the UN, according to the Financial Times. The politicians reiterated their full commitment to a diplomatic solution to the crisis triggered by Iran’s nuclear program. handelsblatt.com
UN reports at least 26 dead in shipwreck off Lampedusa: At least 26 people have died and 60 migrants have been rescued, according to Italy’s coast guard. The toll is still preliminary, and more people are missing. According to the coast guard, citing survivors, two boats had left the Libyan capital Tripoli early Wednesday morning. One began to sink, prompting the occupants to transfer to the other boat, which then also capsized. zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
More News
- After Trump’s tariff hammer: SPD politician Markus Töns open to Switzerland joining the EU. spiegel.de
- Austria: Interior Minister Gerhard Karner wants to continue deportations to Syria and is targeting Afghanistan. derstandard.de
- Turkey: Scandal over fake university degrees. spiegel.de
- Türkei: Frauenrechtlerinnen fürchten Kopftuchpflicht. stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
- France: Highest heat warning level triggered in large parts of the country. zeit.de
- Sudan: UN calls for an end to attacks on civilians after massacre by RSF militia in North Darfur. deutschlandfunk.de
- China: Navy pushes away US warship; destroyer “USS Higgins” entered Scarborough Reef area without Beijing’s consent. faz.net
- Brazil: 52 million hectares of nature lost in the Amazon region. zdfheute.de
IG BAU union proposes climate-related short-time work allowance: Work on outdoor construction sites should be suspended when temperatures exceed 33 degrees Celsius. Heat protection is not a luxury, but a fundamental right, explained union vice president Carsten Burckhardt. Man-made climate change is having a major impact. With a climate-related short-time work allowance, it would be possible to respond to weather events that make work impossible throughout the year. The union is thus renewing its proposal to introduce seasonal short-time work allowances for heat waves, as is already the case for frost, snow, and ice. n-tv.de
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- Inflation: Consumer prices rise by 2.0 percent in July zeit.de
- Welfare state: Minimum wage or basic income? Those who work have more sueddeutsche.de
- Aktion Mensch calls for more action against discrimination against people with disabilities. evangelische-zeitung.de
- Young people in the labor market: Germany needs apprentices, but fails to provide them with training wiwo.de
- Repair costs: Accidents involving electric cars are still more expensive <tagesschau.de
- German-French border region: MPs want to make it easier to choose a doctor table.media
- Type 1 diabetes leads to loss of income, especially for mothers aerzteblatt.de
- Many hurdles: Bleak prospects for German social media ban netzpolitik.org
- Biodiversity: Heat decimates tropical bird populations table.media
- Discovery in space: “We may be dealing with a planet right next door” fr.de
- General Atlantic apparently sells P7S1 shares to PPF new-business.de
- After Trump’s threat, Jimmy Kimmel takes Italian citizenship nau.ch
- Nominations for German Radio Prize wdr.de
- “Love triangle”: Jennifer Aniston talks about the pain after her breakup with Brad Pitt – On Gwyneth Paltrow – “Ironically, I was at her and Brad’s engagement party,” Aniston recalls dtern.de
- Angelina Jolie: She is selling her historic luxury villa gala.de
ZenZen is a Berlin-born wellness app helping expecting mothers navigate the challenges of gestational diabetes with confidence and care. Co-founded by Susa Horvath, who experienced the condition herself, ZenZen combines expert medical guidance with personalized nutrition plans, easy blood sugar tracking, and emotional support.
Designed to make pregnancy healthier and less stressful, the app empowers women to make informed choices for their wellbeing and their baby’s health. With a compassionate approach and user-friendly tools, ZenZen transforms a daunting diagnosis into a journey of balance, connection, and self-care.
- Injured Barça captain and DFB goalkeeper: Ter Stegen officially ruled out for the long term spiegel.de
- FC Bayern’s shooting star: Will little Lennart become Charlemagne? sportschau.de
- Champions League qualification: Fenerbahçe defeats Feyenoord 5-2 in a seven-goal thriller sportschau.de
- Basketball: Dildo scandal? Sex toys thrown onto the court in the WNBA – Leonie Liebich „We haven’t had that yet, I hope it doesn’t happen. I think it’s just a bit stupid. What’s the point?“ sport1.de
- 6.29 meters in Budapest: Duplantis keeps raising the world record sportschau.de
In 2010, a small Bavarian village briefly became the proud owner of an entire Aldi supermarket, accidentally. A property developer mistakenly transferred the deed for the store to the village instead of the buyer. For a few surreal weeks, the town technically owned all the groceries inside, leading to plenty of jokes about “municipal cheese rations” and “state-funded chocolate.” Sadly, no free bratwurst buffet ever materialized.