Whether threatening to end climate protection policies and slap import tariffs on European goods, or envisioning a new imperialism that lays claim to the Panama Canal and Greenland, Donald Trump has been confirming all the worst fears of many German politicians. Despite this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated the new US president on his inauguration. Wishing him “strength and success” for the tasks ahead, he added that, “[t]ogether, we can provide crucial momentum on both sides of the Atlantic for freedom, peace and security, as well as prosperity and economic development.” But Scholz was not present in Washington, nor was Germany’s opposition leader Friedrich Merz from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Trump had only invited politically like-minded politicians, such as Italian Premier Georgia Meloni and Argentinian President Javier Milei. Sensitive diplomatic dispatch Most German politicians had either hinted or openly stated that they would much rather have seen the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris enter...

Menschen, die zur Eröffnungsshow am Samstagabend nicht direkt vor der Bühne standen, konnten nur schwer verstehen, was auf rund um den Marx-Kopf gesprochen und gesungen wurde. Manche vermuteten eine Panne. War das so? Es sollte der fulminante Abschluss eines fulminanten Tages werden: Die Show zur Eröffnung der Kulturhauptstadt Europas am Samstag ab 19 Uhr vor dem Marx-Monument. Die Meinungen danach gehen auseinander. Wer direkt auf der Brückenstraße vor der Bühne stand, hörte gut. Doch schon schräg daneben war vor allem das gesprochene Wort kaum noch zu… Registrieren und testen. Jetzt mit Ihrer Registrierung 1 Monat gratis testen und alle Beiträge lesen. Schon Abonnent? Melden Sie sich mit ihren Zugangsdaten an. Deutsche Welle

Germany’s outgoing vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, has said Germany and the EU must do more to help themselves when it comes to innovation, infrastructure and new technologies amid the threat of US tariffs on European products under the Trump administration. Habeck, who is also economy minister and the Green Party‘s top candidate for upcoming federal elections, told DW in an interview that a leading principle here should be that “the next Google has to come from Europe.” What did Habeck say about Trump’s tariff threats? Habeck, speaking of the prospect of trade conflicts with the US as Donald Trump takes the reins of power in Washington, said: “Europe is prepared, should the US impose tariffs,” adding that he hoped that would not be the case.  Europe, he emphasized, could impose “countermeasures that would affect the American economy, including the consumer sector,” but said in his eyes that would be “the wrong way” to deal with Trump. Habeck said...

Germany had been free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) since 1988 — until the virus was detected in a herd of water buffalo in the state of Brandenburg in early January 2025. At the time the deadly virus was detected, local authorities confirmed three animals had died, and the rest of the herd was culled. South Korea also swiftly banned the import of pork from Germany. More than a week later (January 19, 2025), Germany’s Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir cautioned that, while the outbreak was limited to the one in Brandenburg, there would be no quick return to “normality”. What is foot-and-mouth disease? FMD is caused by aphthoviruses. It is a highly contagious viral infection that mostly affects cloven-hoofed animals. That includes domestic and wild pigs, cows, sheep, goats, buffalo and dear. But giraffes, camels, hippopotamuses and elephants can get sick with FMD, too. Infected animals develop fluid-filled blisters on their mouths,...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of trans-Atlantic relations and European self-reliance on Monday ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president. Scholz told the Rheinische Post newspaper that “trans-Atlantic relations are vital for Germany and Europe.” Berlin needs ‘stable relations’ with Washington The German chancellor also highlighted the US’ role in the development of democracy in West Germany and NATO’s role as a guarantor of Germany’s security, reaffirming the US as Germany’s closest ally. “That is why we need stable relations with the US,” he said. The chancellor said he had two phone conversations with Trump, describing them as “very friendly and good talks.” Scholz also emphasized Europe’s strategic advantages saying that “as a community of more than 400 million Europeans” the region has economic might and can “build on our own strength.” How German politicians are taking Trump’s return To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider...

Waschmaschine, Dusche, Toilette: Im Streit um eine geplante drastische Anhebung der Entgelte fürs Abwasser gibt es Aussicht auf einen Kompromiss. Wie viel teurer es für den einzelnen wird, hängt auch vom Wohnungstyp ab. Gute Nachricht für mehr als 100.000 Chemnitzer Haushalte und Gewerbebetriebe: Der geplante erhebliche Anstieg der Abwassergebühren fällt womöglich nicht ganz so drastisch aus, wie zuletzt geplant. Auf Drängen der Kommunalpolitik hat der zuständige Abwasserbetrieb ESC die aus seiner Sicht erforderlichen Gebührensätze für dieses und die… Registrieren und testen. Jetzt mit Ihrer Registrierung 1 Monat gratis testen und alle Beiträge lesen. Schon Abonnent? Melden Sie sich mit ihren Zugangsdaten an. Deutsche Welle

Germans who get their news via the social media giant TikTok, especially those of a younger age, are more likely to hold sympathetic opinions of Russia and China, a poll has concluded. The poll, conducted by Allensbach Institute for Germany’s business-focused Free Democrats (FDP), asked some 2,000 people at the end of 2024 about their views on matters ranging from whether they see China as a dictatorship to how they see Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Respondents were also asked about their opinion on the Covid-19 pandemic and its vaccines. TikTok, which is vastly popular among younger users, is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. What were the findings of the poll? The poll compared the political views of respondents who relied on newspapers and TV to get their news to those who were keeping updated with the latest via social media platforms, especially TikTok. It factored in the respondents’ ages....

Ob Kummer unter Freunden oder Stress mit Klassenkameraden: Senioren helfen Schülern bei Konflikten. Der Verein Seniorpartner in School bietet in Chemnitz eine Ausbildung zum Schulmediator an. Für wen das was sein könnte. Ein Kind möchte mit einem anderen befreundet sein, aber dieses hat kein Interesse. In der Pause gab es eine Prügelei zwischen Klassenkameraden. Konflikte wie diese beschäftigen Grundschüler, doch Lehrer haben selten Zeit, sich um ihre Sorgen intensiv zu kümmern. Dann sind die Mediatoren des Vereins Seniorpartner in School (Sis) gefragt. Registrieren und testen. Jetzt mit Ihrer Registrierung 1 Monat gratis testen und alle Beiträge lesen. Schon Abonnent? Melden Sie sich mit ihren Zugangsdaten an. Deutsche Welle

German media outlets are reporting that the country’s ambassador to the US, Andreas Michaelis, recently penned a diplomatic write-up in which he warned of the threats US democracy will face under the incoming president, Donald Trump, and his team. In the five-page cable report sent to the German Foreign Ministry and the office of Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week, Michaelis stated that a second Trump term represents serious threats to the system of democratic checks and balances outlined in the US constitution. What does Germany’s US ambassador think is at stake? Michaelis voiced serious concern about the future of US democracy, writing, “Fundamental democratic principles, along with checks and balances, will be undermined as far as possible, the legislature, law enforcement and media robbed of their independence and misused as political arms, and big tech will gain co-governing authority.” First seen by news agency dpa on Sunday, the cable is now in...

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday spoke at a gathering of the Jewish community in Frankfurt to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis’ largest concentration camp, Auschwitz. “Jewish life, that is Frankfurt. Jewish life, that is Germany. That is us,” Scholz said in remarks at the commemoration. In Frankfurt, Scholz said that Germany had a responsibility to uphold the memory of the Holocaust committed by Germans during World War II. Scholz also underscored the “worrying and alarming normalization” of antisemitism, hate and the far right, especially on social media. “The internet and social networks in particular often become a hotbed for extremist positions, incitement and hatred,” Scholz warned.  German responsibility ‘will not end’ More than one million people died at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in occupied Poland during World War II. Most of the victims where Jews, but they also included non-Jewish Poles, Roma and Soviet soldiers. “I am...