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Leading the 75th anniversary celebrations of Germany's constitution, President Steinmeier has spoken on the role of the "Basic Law" in bolstering a free democratic state. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday gave a speech at a state ceremony in Berlin to mark 75 years since the establishment of Germany's constitution, or Basic Law, warning that the democratic principles it enshrines are under pressure. His remarks on the importance of the rule of law and democracy for a peaceful society come as cases of violence against German politicians and politically motivated crimes are on the rise. Some 1,000 police officers were deployed to ensure security at the event.  What did the president say? In his speech, Steinmeier said that democracy in Germany was a success but was not perpetually guaranteed. "At present, there are forces gathering strength here as well that want to undermine and weaken it, that despise its institutions and insult and...

A new study shows Germany's population is expected to grow by only 0.6% by 2040, with large regional disparities. Concurrently, the number of working age people is expected to drop below 50% overall across the country. A study released by the Bertelsmann Foundation on Tuesday showed that Germany is expected to see a slight 0.6% increase in population by 2040. The forecast is based on births, deaths and migration provided by the Federal Statistical Office. Geographic disparities  The largest population increase is expected in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg with growth of 4.6%. The population of Berlin is expected to grow by 5.8%, and Hamburg, Germany's second-largest city, is projected to have 3.5% growth.  Conversely, the population in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt is expected to see a 12.3% decrease in population.  Population shrinkage is also projected in the eastern states of Thuringia with 10.9% and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 7.3%....

An Austrian far-right activist with hardline views on migration, Martin Sellner was allegedly the key speaker at a meeting of far-right figures in Potsdam. A court there has now made it illegal for him to enter Germany. German authorities in the city of Potsdam on Tuesday said they had obtained an entry ban against an "EU citizen." What do we know so far?   Several German news outlets reported that the ban was imposed on Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner. Sellner also confirmed the news in a post to the social network X, formerly Twitter. Sellner said he was no longer allowed to enter German territory for three years, otherwise he would pushed back and punished.   The 35-year-old holds hardline views on migration, and has also expressed racist and antisemitic beliefs Sellner was reportedly the key speaker at a meeting of far-right individuals in Potsdam in November last year. Sellner is believed to have proposed the mass deportations of people f...

Ah, German football! The land where the beer flows as freely as the goals and where the Bundesliga has carved its indelible mark in the annals of football history. But let's take a whimsical skip and hop down memory lane, shall we? Because the Bundesliga isn't just about football; it's a saga, filled with heroes, villains, and the occasional bratwurst. Buckle up, folks; it's going to be a hilarious ride through the Bundesliga's storied past, without the bore of a history lecture. In the Beginning, There Was Chaos...and Then Came the Bundesliga Imagine Germany in the early '60s, where football was about as organized as a soup sandwich. Clubs were scattered like confetti across various regional leagues, making any attempt at coherence look like a slapstick comedy routine. The system was an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, smothered in secret sauce. Then, in 1963, along came the Bundesliga, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of confusion. It was the much-...

  The list of inefficiencies plaguing Germany's national railway service keeps growing, causing Deutsche Bahn to fall increasingly behind its European competitors. Deutsche Bahn, one of Europe's largest rail companies, has seen a steady decline in performance over the last decades For the second time in a month, a nationwide strike has forced German commuters to choose between being stranded at a train station or stuck in a traffic jam. Deutsche Bahn (DB) employees have been on strike since Wednesday, leading to disrupted train schedules and congested roads in what's planned to be Germany's longest rail strike to date. While not uncommon in Germany, these rail strikes are only one facet of the many challenges facing the national railway service. Passengers regularly grapple with prolonged delays and cancellations for a variety of reasons that go beyond labor disputes. Frequent cancellations DB operates the majority of Germany's railways ...

  Renovations and repairs of the rail network were the main reasons behind German trains' continued impunctuality. Regional trains were a lot more punctual than long-distance trains The  German  rail network company Deutsche Bahn  (DB) has once again smashed the myth of German trains running on time, according to statistics published by the company on Friday. Just 64% of long-distance trains reached their destination on time — meaning less than six minutes late — last year. This was a similar share to 2022 when 65.2% could be considered punctual. For regional trains, the rate of punctuality was much higher, with 91% reaching their destination on time. Why are so many trains delayed in Germany? DB said that the reason for the widespread delays was the increasing number of short-term works and repairs on the rails. According to the rail operator's own data, around 75% of all long-distance trains had to slow down for construction sites by the end of the year. The p...

More than 350,000 people applied for asylum in Germany in 2023, the highest number since 2016. Opposition parties have blamed the government for not controlling what they call a "migration crisis." Altogether 352,000 people sought asylum in Germany in 2023, with some 329,000 putting in a first application — a rise here of 51%, or 111,000 people, compared with the previous year — the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has said. In response to the latest statistics, the opposition has accused the government of promoting illegal immigration with its policies. People fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, of whom there are more than a million in Germany, are not included in the figures, as they do not have to apply for asylum. What did the statistics say? The figures for 2023 show the most asylum applications since 2016, when 722,370 initial applications were filed.  Some 23,000 of the total of 352,000 applications lodged were follow-up attempts on fai...

  There is a Ukraine conference in Ramstein on Tuesday. The supporters meet there. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (63, SPD) has Corona! The diagnosis came on Monday evening. Now he cannot attend in person, but is sending representatives. And exclusively announces new weapons for Ukraine in BILD. BILD: Mr. Minister, how do we specifically help? Boris Pistorius: “Our help is complex. In addition to our extensive support with weapons and material, we train Ukrainian soldiers in Germany. By the end of the year there will be 10,000. In Ramstein, for example, we are checking whether we can provide more support with training.” There is no new weapons package from Germany? Pistorius: “Yes. We supply additional ammunition: explosive ammunition, mortar ammunition, mine rockets. Because ammunition is what Ukraine needs most in its defense against the brutal war of aggression. In addition, we will help with protected vehicles and demining systems. But we also have an eye on the approaching...

In Berlin the tasks are piling up, in Hesse she is having fun: Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (53, SPD)   She's playing truant again! Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (53, SPD) is skipping important appointments in Berlin - and is campaigning in Hesse instead! The new state parliament will be elected there on October 8th and she is the SPD's top candidate. In the federal capital, however, she is under a lot of pressure because of her performance as minister! Former cyber defense chief Arne Schönbohm (54) makes serious allegations of bullying, and the case will be clarified in special meetings of the Interior Committee. Without fibers! ▶︎ She was absent on Tuesday, citing “health reasons” (doctor’s appointment) – she actually gave the DPA an election campaign interview in Wiesbaden! ▶︎ On Thursday she canceled another special meeting at 7:30 a.m. and sent a state secretary. However, she was later in the Bundestag because of the important budget discussions. ▶︎ But ...

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (42, Green Party) is herself the mother of two daughters It is a tragedy that happened 14 years before she was born - and yet still affects Germany's foreign minister to this day. In the “Bunten” newspaper, Annalena Baerbock (42, Green Party) spoke about the tragic accidental death of her then 12-year-old aunt Erika, daughter of her beloved grandmother Alma Choroba (1926-2015). The drama that shook the family took place twelve days before Christmas near Hanover in 1966. Little Erika goes into town alone and wants to buy a set square. To protect herself from the weather, she pulls an umbrella close to her face. Erika misses a tram and is run over - accidental death! Alma goes to the child therapist with sister Sylvia, Baerbock's future mother. They talk about their sister's accident and deal with Erika's death as best they can. Baerbock's grandfather didn't find this strength. He fell apart over the loss of his little daughter a...

In Germany, the government has signed off on legislation that takes a step toward legalizing marijuana[1]. The law would permit adults to buy and possess small amounts of the drug, although parliament still has to vote on it. If passed, Germany will join several other European countries that have relaxed restrictions on marijuana use in recent years. While medical marijuana has been legal in Germany since 2017, this new proposal reflects a growing trend of countries adopting more permissive attitudes toward cannabis. The United States, Canada, Uruguay, and South Africa have all legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and several other countries are considering similar legislation[1]. Proponents of the move argue that legalizing marijuana would allow the government to regulate and tax its sale, generating revenue and taking power away from criminal organizations that currently control the marijuana trade. However, opponents worry that relaxing drug laws could lead to increased usage and...

It's been official since Monday: Germany's stagnation is below average European economic growth. Ironically, the largest economy in the euro area pulls the overall balance down. It can't stay that way. Employer President Rainer Dulger has found an apt picture of the state of the German economy . One can imagine the economy like Gulliver tied up with many thin threads - a strong giant tied up with many bureaucratic obstacles. Every single thread cannot harm the giant. All in all, however, they make him unable to move. It is not only the bureaucratic obstacles that ensure that Germany is currently being passed to the bottom of the table in Europe. All other problems are well known: The German economy also lacks a reliable infrastructure - both for transport and for the digital world. A boost and new economic growth also require affordable energy prices, more skilled workers from Germany and abroad, and planning security. These findings are not new. Unfortunately,...

A police station for Görlitzer Park, more security and fewer park entrances. After the brutal rape of a 27-year-old, the CDU is demanding clear consequences.  A couple is attacked by several men on June 21 in Görlitzer Park in Berlin-Kreuzberg . The 27-year-old woman is raped in front of her partner of the same age. He is also injured by the attackers. Both are robbed. The case also shakes up because the police initially did not want to make the case public for reasons of investigative tactics. According to the police, there are four suspects aged between 14 and 19 in the case . One of them, a 22-year-old man, has already been arrested. He is in custody.  The first parties are demanding severe consequences for this incident. The Berlin CDU made suggestions on Wednesday evening to make Görlitzer Park safer. The Kreuzberg CDU politician Timur Hussein wants the park to be temporarily closed. In addition, security should be placed at the entrances, he wrote on Twitter...