Klingbeil Keeps VAT Raise on the Table as Deficit Grows
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD made clear that he would not disclose whether the black‑red coalition plans to raise the value‑added tax to fill budget gaps. When asked at the editorial network Deutschland, he declined to speculate on individual measures. Klingbeil added that an increase of the VAT is not part of the coalition agreement. When challenged on…
March 7, 2026
German Justice Minister Announces Tenant Protection in New Heating Law
Justice and Consumer Protection Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) announced that, amid the debate over the proposed Heating Law, new measures will also be introduced to safeguard tenants from rising costs. “We are working intensively to translate the key points of the new Building Modernisation Act into concrete legislation” Hubig told the “Rheinische…
March 7, 2026
Gender Pay Gap Widening for Non-Union Workers While Unionized Employees See Decline
According to a federal government response to a written question from the Left parliamentary group-reported by the “Rheinische Post”-the gender pay gap for employees not covered by a collective agreement has grown over the past decade, while it has narrowed among those who are. In 2014, women without a collective agreement earned on average €3.76 less per hour…
March 6, 2026
US Stocks Slide as Iran War Tight Labor Market and AI Concerns Weigh on Markets
U.S. markets slipped again on Friday amid concerns over the fallout from the Iran war. The Dow ended at 47,502 points, down 1.0 percent. The Nasdaq fell 1.5 percent to 24,643 points for its 100 biggest names, and the broader S&P 500 closed at 6,740, a decline of 1.3 percent. Alongside rising energy prices and fears that inflation could be stoked, a weak labour‑market…
March 6, 2026
Bayern Clinch 4-1 Victory Over Gladbach to Seize Dominant Bundesliga Start
FC Bayern Munich opened the 25th matchday of the Bundesliga with an emphatic 4-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. From the kickoff the Bavarians showed clear dominance, but the first lead only arrived in the 33rd minute when Luis Diaz got on the scoresheet. Just before halftime, Konrad Laimer added a second goal after a quick counter‑attack, making the score 2-0. In the…
March 6, 2026
Germany Warns of Iranian Sleeper Cells Recruiting Criminals for Attacks
German security agencies are increasingly concerned that Iran could be using not only its own agents but also criminal helpers to carry out attacks on German soil. The intelligence community points to cases in which Iranian services have targeted members of organised crime, such as the earlier arson attack on a synagogue in Bochum. “The tighter the regime is under…
March 6, 2026
Taxpayers Association Demands Evacuees Pay Heavily for Gulf Flights and Calls for Fair Cost Share
The Taxpayers’ Association urges that evacuation flights from the Gulf region be financed in a “fair” manner. President Reiner Holznagel told the “Rheinische Post” on Saturday that while it is clear the state must step in in such situations, the people affected must also understand that they should share part of the cost to keep the burden…
March 6, 2026
Germany Pulls Embassy Staff and Soldiers Out of Iraq Amid Iran Conflict
German Armed Forces soldiers in Baghdad and staff of the German embassy there are being withdrawn because of the Iran conflict. The federal government informed members of the relevant parliamentary committees at midday on Friday. Accordingly, soldiers and embassy staff will relocate to Jordan, where two A400M military transporters are stationed. Soldiers who were in Bahrain…
March 6, 2026
AfD Drops Bid for New Party Headquarters in Berlin
According to a media report, the AfD has shelved attempts to buy a representative property for its national headquarters in Berlin. Instead, the party is expected to rent new office space in the capital until the fall, reports “Stern” and RTL/ntv. The preferred rental property is a commercial complex near Jannowitz Bridge, a much more central location than the…
March 6, 2026
Eurojackpot Friday 6 March 2026 Draw Reveals Winning Numbers
During Friday’s Eurojackpot drawing, the winning numbers were chosen in the evening. They were 8, 17, 26, 31, 47, with the two Euro numbers 1 and 6. These figures come with no guarantee of accuracy. The odds of winning the top prize, Prize Class 1, are 1 in 140 million. Gambling can be addictive. Every draw guarantees a minimum jackpot of €10 million. If nobody wins,…
March 6, 2026
Schalke 04 Holds Lead in 2nd Bundesliga with Narrow 1‑0 Win Over Arminia Bielefeld
At the start of the 25th round in the 2. Bundesliga, league leaders Schalke 04 kept their narrow advantage by winning 1-0 over Arminia Bielefeld. The match was decided early when Edin Džeko converted a corner in the 15th minute, giving Schalke the only goal of the game. Throughout the match Schalke had several chances to extend their lead-including opportunities from Kenan…
March 6, 2026
Asylum Authority Chief Champions Cuts to Integration Courses
Hans‑Eckhard Sommer, the head of Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), has publicly declared that integration courses should not be mandatory for all asylum seekers. In a statement to “Der Spiegel”, he said the law specifies that such courses are meant for “people who live legally and permanently in Germany”. “Asylum…
