1 August 2026
the news now

Germany

Union Leader Thorsten Frei Defends Abolition of Early Retirement Amid CDU Internal Conflict

Unions parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei has defended the proposed abolition of the pension at 63, which allows for early retirement without deductions after 45 years of contributions. Speaking to the Bild newspaper, Frei described the recommendation from the pension…

development
3 sources · Germany

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

Every source for this story reports from Germany.

· evening

Germany Responds to Islamist Attack on Berlin Pride Parade

An Islamist attacker killed one person and injured dozens during a Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin. The perpetrator, identified as 21 year old Abdul Ballout, rammed a vehicle into the crowd and allegedly attacked others with a machete before being shot dead by…

development
3 sources across 2 countries · Germany · Taiwan

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Taipei Times Taiwan · Centre-left · Liberty Times Group

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· morning

Former Tagesschau Moderator Constantin Schreiber to Leave Axel Springer

Former Tagesschau moderator Constantin Schreiber is leaving the Axel Springer media house at the end of the year. The journalist announced his departure in videos posted to Instagram and YouTube, stating that he decided some time ago to pursue new paths and focus on his own…

single-lean coverage
2 sources · Germany

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

Every source for this story reports from Germany.

· evening

Deutsche Bahn Reports First Profit in Seven Years Amid Ongoing Operational Struggles

Deutsche Bahn recorded a profit of 147 million euros for the first half of 2026, marking the company's first positive result since the start of the Corona crisis. This figure represents a significant shift from the first six months of 2025, during which the state owned…

3 sources · Germany

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

Every source for this story reports from Germany.

· evening

Extreme Heat and Drought Disrupt Central Europe

Central Europe is experiencing extreme heat and drought that have led to record low water levels in the Danube River and historic dryness across Germany. In Hungary, Romania, and Austria, these low river levels are forcing nuclear and hydroelectric power plants to reduce or stop…

development
4 sources across 2 countries · Germany · United States

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Associated Press United States · Centre · Non-profit news cooperative

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Drought Lowers Water Levels in Rivers and Lakes

Persistent heat and a lack of rain are putting pressure on water supplies across many regions. In Munich, the Isar river has reached water levels that are among the lowest seen in years. This drop in water has exposed gravel banks and turned an island into a walkable peninsula.…

2 sources across 2 countries · Germany · Switzerland

Who reported this

  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Germany's Heat-Related Death Toll Reaches Record Levels

Nearly 10,000 people have died in connection with high temperatures in Germany this year, according to estimates from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Between early April and July 19, the estimated death toll reached 9,800. This figure exceeds any single full year since 2016,…

development
2 sources across 2 countries · Germany · Indonesia

Who reported this

  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Tempo English Indonesia · Centre-left · PT Tempo Inti Media

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Germany Faces Severe Heatwave and Rising Environmental Risks

Germany is experiencing a severe heatwave with temperatures expected to reach between 39 and nearly 40 degrees Celsius, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). Official heat warnings have been issued across most of the country, with meteorologists warning that the extreme…

development single-lean coverage
2 sources · Germany

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

Every source for this story reports from Germany.

· morning

BMW Announces Thousands of Job Cuts Amid German Automotive Crisis

BMW is cutting thousands of jobs—potentially up to 8,000—primarily in Germany, through a voluntary redundancy program scheduled to begin in October. The cuts target employees in administrative and research and development roles, referred to as the "indirect area," while…

development
3 sources across 3 countries · Belgium · Germany · Switzerland

Who reported this

  • Politico Europe Belgium · Centre · Axel Springer SE
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Thorsten Frei Elected as Union Parliamentary Group Leader

Lawmakers from Germany's CDU and CSU elected Thorsten Frei as their new parliamentary group leader on Wednesday with 91.9 percent support, receiving 170 out of 185 votes. Frei, who previously served as the head of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Chancellery, succeeds Jens Spahn, who…

development
4 sources across 3 countries · Germany · Belgium · Spain

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Politico Europe Belgium · Centre · Axel Springer SE
  • El Pais Spain · Centre-left · Grupo PRISA

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Faces Leadership Crisis After Controversial Reshuffle

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing intensifying pressure and a crisis of authority following a contentious Cabinet reshuffle that has sparked anger within his own party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The political turmoil follows the abrupt resignation of party…

4 sources across 3 countries · Germany · Belgium · Singapore · 1 state-linked

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Politico Europe Belgium · Centre · Axel Springer SE
  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· morning

Berlin CSD Attack: Casualties, Perpetrator Ties, and Debate on Radicalization

A woman was killed and 31 people were injured, some severely, in an Islamist attack at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin. The suspect, Abdul B., reportedly used a machete and died after being shot by police the following day. Investigators found a video on his…

development
3 sources · Germany

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

Every source for this story reports from Germany.

· morning

Germany Deports 31 Afghan Nationals, Including First Non-Criminal Since Taliban Takeover

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that Germany has deported 31 Afghan nationals by plane. Of these individuals, 30 were convicted of serious or violent crimes, including rape and killing. One person on the flight was not a criminal but was liable for deportation…

4 sources across 3 countries · Germany · Singapore · United States · 1 state-linked

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA
  • Al-Monitor United States · Centre · Jamal Daniel

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

German Prosecutors Find ISIS Allegiance Video on Berlin Pride Attacker's Phone

German prosecutors have confirmed that a video pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) was found on the mobile phone of Abdul Ballout, the suspect in a deadly vehicle attack near Berlin's Pride parade. The video, recorded on July 25—the day of the incident—features a…

development
6 sources across 4 countries · Germany · France · Israel · Singapore · 1 state-linked

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Le Monde France · Centre-left · Fonds pour l'independance de la presse
  • The Jerusalem Post Israel · Centre-right · Mirkaei Tikshoret (Eli Azur)
  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

One Dead and 29 Injured in Islamist Attack at Berlin Pride Event

A suspected Islamist attack during the Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebrations in Berlin has left one woman from Poland dead and 29 others injured, some critically. The attacker, identified as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, drove a white van into crowds in the Tiergarten park near…

development
6 sources across 4 countries · Germany · Argentina · Hungary · Switzerland

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • elDiarioAR Argentina · Centre-left · Newsroom-majority owned, membership funded
  • Telex Hungary · Centre · Reader-funded, staff-owned
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· morning

Berlin Christopher Street Day Attack Leaves One Dead

Abdul Ballout, a 21 year old man, killed one person and injured 29 others during an attack on Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade. Ballout drove a transporter into the crowd and attacked participants with a machete before being shot and killed by police. Ballout had…

single-lean coverage
3 sources across 3 countries · Germany · Norway · Switzerland

Who reported this

  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Aftenposten Norway · Centre-right · Schibsted, Tinius Trust foundation
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Porsche to Cut 5,000 Jobs by 2035

Porsche will cut 5,000 jobs by 2035 as part of a restructuring program and savings package. The company plans to reduce staff through natural attrition, partial retirement, and voluntary severance; this strategy avoids compulsory redundancies. These measures aim to secure main…

4 sources across 4 countries · Brazil · Germany · Singapore · Switzerland · 1 state-linked

Who reported this

  • UOL Brazil · Centre-left · Grupo Folha
  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Gunther von Hagens, Creator of Body Worlds, Dies at 81

Gunther von Hagens, the creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions, has died at the age of 81. According to his family, he passed away on Friday in Heidelberg, Germany, after being admitted to a clinic with a brain haemorrhage; he had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for nearly two…

3 sources across 3 countries · Germany · Switzerland · United Kingdom

Who reported this

  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Neue Zuercher Zeitung Switzerland · Centre-right · Dispersed shareholders, no controlling stake
  • BBC News United Kingdom · Centre · Public · Licence fee, royal charter

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening

Suspect Shot Dead Following Deadly Islamist Attack at Berlin Pride

A suspected Islamist terror attack at Berlin's Pride celebrations killed a 65 year old Polish woman and injured 29 others on Saturday evening. The suspect, identified as 21 year old Abdul Ballout, was shot dead by police on Sunday in the Spandau district after he allegedly…

14 sources across 8 countries · 1 state-linked

Who reported this

  • Der Spiegel Germany · Centre-left · ~50% staff-owned
  • Sueddeutsche Zeitung Germany · Centre-left · Sudwestdeutsche Medien Holding
  • Frankfurter Allgemeine Germany · Centre-right · FAZIT-Stiftung (foundation)
  • Al-Monitor United States · Centre · Jamal Daniel
  • Associated Press United States · Centre · Non-profit news cooperative
  • Bloomberg United States · Centre · Bloomberg L.P. (Michael Bloomberg)
  • UOL Brazil · Centre-left · Grupo Folha
  • Folha de S.Paulo Brazil · Centre · Grupo Folha (Frias family)
  • Tempo English Indonesia · Centre-left · PT Tempo Inti Media
  • The Jakarta Post Indonesia · Centre-left · PT Bina Media Tenggara
  • France 24 France · Centre · Public · France Medias Monde (French state holding)
  • NRC Netherlands · Centre · Mediahuis
  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA
  • BBC News United Kingdom · Centre · Public · Licence fee, royal charter

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • Hatched: the outlet is state-affiliated or state-controlled

Lean is where the outlet sits in its OWN country's politics, never on one global scale.

Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.

Ownership is disclosed, never rated.

· evening