Hubig Defends SPD’s Social Media Ban for Children Under 14
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig defended the SPD position paper she co‑signed, which calls for a ban on social media for children under 14, against criticism. She told the “Rheinische Post” (Monday issue) that while social media are a permanent part of young people’s reality, their use can be harmful, especially for children and adolescents. “We need…
February 16, 2026
Laschet Warns Mullahs Facing Collapse as Regime’s Future in Question
Armin Laschet, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the CDU, believes that the Mullahs in Tehran have little future left. “The days of the regime are numbered. Even if the overthrow does not happen tomorrow, that is clear, because the people who were brave now will not be coaxed back” he told RTL and ntv. Laschet’s main question…
February 16, 2026
DAX Opens Higher Despite No Trading in the US Markets
The DAX opened Monday with gains, trading at about 24,970 points – roughly 0.2 % above the Friday close. The top of the sector list featured Scout24, Deutsche Bank, and Commerzbank, while MTU, Brenntag and Symrise sat at the bottom. No U.S. market activity was expected during the day, as the U.S. exchanges were closed for Washington’s Birthday. Thomas Altmann of…
February 16, 2026
JU Leader Johannes Winkel Announces Plan to Cut Pension Expenditures by Over 50 Billion Euros
Johannes Winkel, chairman of the Junge Union (JU) and a member of the CDU, says that a broad pension reform could cut Germany’s annual pension spending by more than €50 billion. He argues that future pension increases should be linked to inflation rather than wage growth. According to the International Monetary Fund, adjusting pensions to inflation alone could save up…
February 16, 2026
Owner Association Rings Alarm Over 15% Rent Hikes From SPD’s Insurance Plan Shift
According to the owners’ association Haus & Grund, the SPD’s plan to levy health‑insurance and nursing‑care contributions on rental income would cause significant rent increases.The newspaper “Bild”, citing several Haus & Grund calculations, says that the proposal could push rents up by as much as 15 %. The reason, explained by…
February 16, 2026
German Housing Market Climate Slightly Improves at Start of Year
The mood in Germany’s residential construction sector has edged up at the beginning of the year. In January, the Ifo institute’s business climate index rose from -22.7 to -20.9 points, indicating a slight lift in confidence among firms. Companies reported being a bit more content with their current operations, and expectations for the future have also brightened.…
February 16, 2026
Police Union Champions ID Photo Requirement for Nationwide Deutschlandticket to Boost Train Safety
The Police Union (GdP) backs a proposal from Rhineland‑Palatinate Minister‑President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) to introduce a nationwide, photo‑verified Germany ticket for train travel. In a statement to the “Rheinische Post” (Tuesday edition), GdP’s federal police chief Andreas Roßkopf noted that many passengers become confused when train staff compare…
February 16, 2026
Berlin SPD Candidate Demands More Federal Support for Capital City
Berlin’s SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach has called for a stronger federal commitment to the capital. He told the “Tagesspiegel” that Berlin’s roles in security, research and culture have grown to a point where they should receive more comprehensive federal support. “Karl‑forter, from my perspective, the capital’s security and the Charité…
February 16, 2026
Germany Prepares to Force Conscripts for Lithuanian Brigade
The chairman of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag, Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), said that the Bundeswehr would be compelled to deploy soldiers to Lithuania if voluntary enlistments continue to fall short. “The Bundeswehr relies on voluntarism, and that remains the right principle” he told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” adding, “but…
February 16, 2026
Former RWI Chief Urges Major Minijob Reform After Criticizing Tax Freedom Incentives
The head of the RWI Leibniz Institute in Essen, Christoph Schmidt, calls for a fundamental reform of the mini‑job system.Schmidt told the “Rheinische Post” (Monday edition) that mini‑jobs are “problematic from an economic‑policy standpoint, because their tax‑ and fee‑exempt status creates perverse incentives”. He argues that they especially…
February 16, 2026
Klingbeil to Unveil Plan to Cut Income Tax for Small and Middle Earners
Bundesfinanzminister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD is reportedly working on a plan to reduce income tax for low‑to‑middle‑income earners, according to a Monday edition of “Bild”.The reform, according to the minister’s spokesman, is expected to be unveiled in the coming months. The spokesman confirmed that, in line with the coalition agreement, Klingbeil intends…
February 16, 2026
Dobrindt Extends German Border Checks Six More Months, Intensifies Security Across All Borders
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) will continue the checks at all German land borders. According to “Bild”, the temporary internal border controls will be extended by another six months beyond 15 March 2026. The federal government says it is responding to the ongoing security situation. According to the newspaper’s government sources, a…
