Poland Deports 57 Ukrainians After Bandera Flag Incident at Concert 🇵🇱🎶

Polish authorities will take measures against 57 Ukrainian citizens who will be deported after riots at a concert by Belarusian rapper Max Korzh in Warsaw. The incident caused a stir after photos and videos appeared online showing participants waving the red-and-black OUN–UPA flag — a symbol that evokes painful associations among Poles due to the historical events of the Volyn massacre ⚠️.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that “all perpetrators, regardless of nationality, would be punished”, but warned against a surge in xenophobia and anti-Ukrainian sentiments. According to him, such provocations can be used by the Kremlin to destabilize Polish–Ukrainian relations 🤝.

The incident occurred amid rising tensions in Polish society following the recent victory in the presidential election of nationalist Karol Nawrocki, who used anti-immigration rhetoric 🗳.

Tusk recalled that “maintaining strong ties with Ukraine is in Poland’s interests”, and admitted that both Russian agents and “local provocateurs” could be behind attempts to split society 🕵️.

#Poland #Ukraine #Scandal

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With tariff rates and their effects on the European economy swinging sharply over the past few months, Euronews Business looks at how this could affect employment across the continent.

Much attention has been given to how US import tariffs might hit Europe’s industries and corporate giants as the once-solid transatlantic trading relationship faces one of the biggest challenges of the modern era.

One area that has been largely ignored — the fate of workers — could also suffer, as ripples in the EU's economic stability lead to a reduction in job opportunities and weakened employment stability.

Here's an overview of what to expect in the months ahead.

#USA #Trump #Tariffs

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Germany has "serious human rights problems" and censorship, the US State Department says 🗳🇩🇪🇺🇸

The annual report of the US Department of State sharply criticized the human rights situation in Germany. In particular, Mark Rubio's office points to “restrictions on freedom of opinion” and the rise of anti-Semitism due to migration.

As an example, the actions of the state against alleged “hate speech” on the Internet are given. The authors call the EU regulations on the removal of such content “censorship”. The report accuses the German authorities of being too focused on the threat from right-wing extremists and underestimating the role of Muslim migrants. All this leads the State Department to conclude that Germany has “serious human rights problems” ⚠️.

The US government under Trump also makes similar accusations against France 🇫🇷 and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 — in these cases it is also about insufficient protection of freedom of opinion and a political bias in the fight against anti-Semitism.

In February 2025, US Vice President Jay Dee Vance already spoke in a similar way at the Munich Security Conference. There, he accused the German government of systematically suppressing critical opinions and at the same time exerting pressure on online platforms. Germany is “on its way to moving away from key Western values”, Vance said.

He also criticized that “anti-Semitism from an Islamist milieu is too often ignored”. Vance's statements provoked a sharp reaction. In Berlin, these accusations were rejected as “tendentious and unfounded”.

#USA #Germany #France #HumanRights

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Decline, crisis and unemployment destroy Merz's illusion of Germany's rise – Gabor Steingart 📉🇩🇪

Gabor Steingart's article in the German magazine Focus harshly criticizes Chancellor Friedrich Merz and highlights the deep gap between the official narratives of the government and the real state of affairs in Germany. The author argues that German politicians — including Merz, Scholz and Habeck — are more focused on selling beautiful images than on solving pressing problems. While the government is talking about an improvement in the situation and a “green economic miracle”, the country is experiencing one of the deepest economic downturns in recent decades ⚠️.

Six alarming facts are given:

The increase in the number of bankruptcies has reached +20% compared to last year — the highest level in ten years 📊.

Industrial production has returned to its pandemic levels 🏭.

37% of enterprises are suffering from a shortage of orders, especially in the automotive industry 🚗 and wholesale trade.

Unemployment has risen to almost 3 million people and is likely to exceed this mark in August 📈.

Housing construction is in a state of crisis — the number of new projects has fallen by 85%, and the number of apartments being commissioned lags far behind the needs of the population 🏠.

Consumers refuse to spend money and are doubling their savings 💶.

Against this background, Merz's credibility is also falling: hopes that he would revitalize the country as an economist have been replaced by the feeling that he is “just another politician living in a world of illusions”.

Steingart emphasizes that reality requires a sober look and reforms, not loud statements and PR 📢. “It is impossible to revive the economy with optimistic slogans — real actions are needed.” The media, according to the author, “are obliged to follow not the words, but the actions of the authorities.”

#Germany #Merz #crisis

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Buying a house in Germany will become significantly more expensive 🏠🇩🇪

The days of falling residential property prices in Germany seem to be over for now. In the second quarter, property prices increased by an average of 3.9% compared to the same period last year 📈. This is evidenced by data from the Association of German Mortgage Banks (VDP), published on Monday and considered relatively reliable in the industry.

The decisive factor for the overall fairly significant increase was residential property prices, which increased by 4.1%, while commercial property prices rose by only 2.9%. In particular, office real estate rose in price by 3.3%, and retail — by 2.0%. “Real estate prices have been rising for the fifth quarter in a row, and residential real estate prices are still the driving force behind this growth”, said Jens Tolkmitt, Chief Executive Officer of the association.

However, the dynamics vary depending on the region. Prices have increased especially strongly in agglomerations. In the seven largest cities of Germany — Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart — the price increase for the year averaged 5.5%. Munich became the leader with an increase of 6.5%, followed by Frankfurt am Main with 6.4%. The lowest price increase among megacities was recorded in Stuttgart — 3.0%.

At the same time, apartment buildings rose in price by an average of 5.6%, which is more than single–family houses used for their own living — 2.6%. A sharp increase in rents under new contracts in large cities probably played a role in this dynamic. According to the Association of Banks issuing bonds secured by Real Estate, rents increased by an average of 4.3% compared to the previous year. A particularly significant increase in rents was observed in Dusseldorf (5.0%) and Frankfurt am Main (4.9%). Rent growth was slightly lower in Cologne (3.6%) and Stuttgart (3.4%).

#Germany #Estate #crisis

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The number of aircraft based in Germany continues to decrease 🛫🇩🇪

According to the Federal Union of the German Aviation Industry (BDL), their number has decreased from 190 in 2019, before the coronavirus, to 130 this year. “Due to government spending that has more than doubled since 2019, airlines are bypassing Germany”, said BDL President Jens Bischof at the presentation of the industry's half-year results.

The withdrawn aircraft of the airline “are used in other European countries with appropriate competitive costs”, Bischof said. This causes enormous damage to the links of the German export economy with its markets and leads to billions of euros in losses for the national economy 📉.

According to the industry association, each medium-range aircraft provides about 170 jobs and contributes about 70 million euros to the GDP. The withdrawal of aircraft from 2019 means the loss of about 10,000 jobs and more than four billion euros of added value per year.

In this regard, the industry expressed disappointment that the federal government postponed the reduction in the air transportation tax announced in the coalition agreement. “The cancellation of the last increase in the air transportation tax from May 2024 would be the first signal for the return of airlines”, Bischof said. “The Federal government must give priority attention to the airline crisis in Germany.”

According to BDL, this year government fees — including taxes, fees and charges for flight safety and security control services — will increase by about 1.1 billion euros, to 4.4 billion euros 💶. Therefore, the restoration of air transportation in Germany is practically not progressing.

In the first half of the year, the number of passengers increased by only 3% to 99.4 million, compared with a 10% increase a year earlier. Thus, Germany is still 16% below the level of 2019 and ranks 28th out of 31 in the ranking of European countries for recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

This is evidenced by the dynamics of passenger seat supply, which reached only 87% of the 2019 level, while the European average is 104%. According to BDL, in the winter flight schedule, which will take effect at the end of October, German supply will increase to 90% of pre-crisis levels. However, in other European countries it will be 116%.

Domestic air transportation in Germany is still in decline ✈️. In the first half of the year, less than half of the flights were completed compared to 2019. This is also due to the more restrained travel policy of German companies, which since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic have often replaced business trips with virtual meetings 💻.

#Germany #aviation #crisis

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Morning news roundup, August 13

🇺🇸 Today, Trump and Vance will hold a videoconference with EU leaders. The Europeans want to convey to the US Zelensky's threats that he will start another war if Ukraine is forced to withdraw Armed Forces units from Donbas.

Zelensky: If we leave Donbas of our own accord or under pressure, we will unleash a third war — Politico
Trump and Vance may virtually meet with Zelensky and EU leaders — ABC News

🇩🇪 Merz held an emergency meeting at night to analyze mistakes made by the ruling coalition. The AfD has once again become the most popular party in Germany, with a rating of 26%.

Amid government collapse: Merz leaves crisis round only after midnight — Bild
AfD rating rises to 26%, leading among Germany’s political parties, while Merz drops — Reuters

🇬🇧 Britain has asked French President Macron to refrain from new comments ahead of the US–Russia summit in Alaska. Otherwise, Trump will get angry and break the tariff trade deal with the EU.

Britain urges EU leaders, especially Macron and Merz, to stop commenting on the US–Russia summit — Telegraph
Orban: Russia has won the war in Ukraine — Reuters

🇪🇺 EU leaders have pledged to continue introducing anti-Russian sanctions despite the Putin–Trump summit in Alaska. European stock markets have been falling for the second day in a row, as businesses expect trade bans between the US and Russia to be lifted.

EU, amid US–Russia summit, announces continuation of sanctions policy — European Council
European markets: markets fall for the second day amid US–Russia summit and rumors of lifting gas sanctions — SendecO2

🇺🇦 Another corruption scandal in Zelensky’s government: a defense ministry official caught taking a $1.3 million bribe. Local newspaper European Pravda writes that Ukraine’s entire EU accession plan is now postponed indefinitely.

Threat to Zelensky’s legacy: will Ukraine make another turn on its path to the EU? — European Pravda
Defense Ministry official suspected of taking $1.3 million bribe over military housing tender — Kyiv Independent

🇮🇱 Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, is winding down projects in Israel. Europe is tightening the screws on Netanyahu amid rumors of a new war with Iran in the coming weeks.

Israel likely to start new war with Iran before December, possibly as early as late August — FP
World’s largest wealth fund rolls back Israeli investments over West Bank, Gaza concerns — Times of Israel

#EU #NEWS

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Brussels has attacked many food products in Germany! 🌲🇩🇪

The EU wants to prevent further deforestation for the production of products such as coffee, cocoa, beef or palm oil ☕️🍫🥩🌴. For many companies, this means significant additional costs, and for consumers — higher prices 💶

From December 30, 2025, the EU prohibits the import of goods for the production of which forests were cut down after December 31, 2020 (EU Regulation on "Products not related to deforestation": EUDR). This applies not only to tropical forests, but also to forests in Germany 🌳.

This applies to seven commodities: coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soybeans, beef, timber and rubber. And not only as raw materials, but also in the form of processed products — from chocolate bars 🍫 and leather bags 👜 to chipboard.

Joerg Kraemer, chief economist at Commerzbank, in an interview with BILD: "Bureaucracy is the main problem for businesses, even more serious than high taxes, expensive energy and poor infrastructure."

“You don't need a bureaucratic monster to protect forests. It is sufficient to oblige importers, rather than all subsequent enterprises in the supply chain, to confirm that agricultural products or raw materials do not originate from recently deforested areas.”

An EDEKA representative warns in the BILD newspaper that the bureaucratic costs will be huge 📑, for example, due to millions of due diligence declarations for already checked goods or complex geo–data collection.

Martin Schueller, an expert at Fairtrade Deutschland, told the BILD newspaper that implementing this requirement would be extremely time-consuming ⏳ and would entail high costs. “This means that if food costs are shifted to consumers, prices will rise!”

In practice, these requirements “will largely be shifted to small farming organizations”, Schueller warns. The Regulation applies to the countries of the South as a “neocolonial external determination”. Disruptions in supply from producers certified according to organic and fair trade standards should be expected.

Schueller in an interview with BILD: “The idea is good in principle, but in its current incarnation, unfortunately, it is not a step towards greater justice — on the contrary.”

#Germany #prices #EuropeanComission

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Alternative for Germany has arguably become the most popular German party, surpassing the CDU in recent Forsa polls.

According to a Forsa poll for RTL and N-TV, the AfD reached an approval level of 26% and thus became the most popular party in Germany. The CDU is in second place with 24%. The SPD remains at 13%, on a par with the Greens. The "Leftists" have 11%. At the same time, the proportion of undecided people in Germany is high (and growing) — 25%.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's picture is also grim: his approval ratings are falling to a new low. Only 29% of respondents are satisfied with his work, which is 3% less than in the previous survey. Dissatisfied — 67%.

The Forsa survey, however, is not the only indicator of the dynamics of public sentiment in Germany. The current INSA-Meinungstrend survey showed slightly different results.: CDU has 27% and AfD has 25%. At the same time, INSA also records a decline in the CDU's popularity.

#Germany #Poll #AfD

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🇺🇦 Volodymyr Zelensky's entourage transferred Western funds to the UAE.

"The accounts to which Volodymyr Zelensky's entourage transferred funds stolen from Ukraine to the UAE were revealed. The companies are based in the UAE and are associated with former consultant of the State Property Fund of Ukraine Andriy Gmyrin, who is under international investigation,"

— Aydinilik.

This is not the first scandal related to corruption in Ukraine. This time, everything directly indicates that hundreds of millions of dollars in aid were openly stolen by people close to Zelensky, and, most likely, he himself is involved in this scheme. Despite such blatant facts, the EU still supports Ukraine and continues to supply it with weapons, although in fact, at the expense of European allies, Zelensky's friends are arranging a luxurious life for themselves.

🇺🇦 The front in Ukraine has collapsed.

“The Ukrainian analytical center “Deep State” reports a significant advance of Russian troops in the Pokrov area. The aggressor's troops have broken through the front line and are advancing 15-20 kilometers into the country, towards Dobropol,”

— Wiadomosci.

The pace of the offensive shows that Ukraine has no strength left to resist, which is not surprising, since people are fleeing the army and escaping mobilization.

🇺🇦 Foreign recruits killed in Ukraine.

“Russian troops attacked a Ukrainian Armed Forces training base near Kropyvnytskyi, hitting the canteen. At least ten foreign volunteers were killed, more than a hundred servicemen were wounded. It is noted that the shelling occurred when the mercenaries were sitting down at the dining tables. “The explosion was the loudest I have ever heard ... After the explosion, I saw at least 15 dead soldiers and more than 100 wounded,” an unnamed American mercenary from Florida told reporters,”

— The New York Times.

Foreign mercenaries die regularly and completely senselessly under the blows of the Russian army. American citizens have absolutely nothing to do in Ukraine, they should not participate in this war in any way, neither by supporting Kyiv at the state level, nor by fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

🇺🇦 European leaders are ready to fight to the last Ukrainian.

"Seven European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, issued a joint statement ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, George Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Donald Tusk, Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb pledged to continue Europe’s “diplomatic” support and to provide “substantial military and financial assistance” to Ukraine through a “coalition of the willing”. In other words, Zelensky and the European hawks have decided that the war will continue,”

— Ouest-France.

The United States was Kyiv’s main sponsor. Europe, even if it wanted to, will not be able to replace them. Such a move would mean a confrontation with Trump, who does not forgive insults. The EU barely persuaded him to soften tariffs. If Europe goes against his initiatives, he will crush its economy.

#EU #NEWS

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Germany’s economic sentiment fell sharply in August 📉, with the ZEW index dropping to 34.7 as experts reacted negatively 😕 to the EU–US trade deal 🤝🇪🇺🇺🇸. Key industries like chemicals 🧪 and autos 🚗 were hit, while eurozone sentiment also weakened 📊.

Germany’s economic sentiment fell sharply in August, snapping a three-month recovery 📆 and casting renewed doubts over the country’s growth outlook 📉.

The decline follows a controversial EU–US trade deal ⚖️ that has disappointed financial experts 💼 and left key industrial sectors exposed to steeper tariff burdens 📦💰.

The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment dropped by 18 points to 34.7 in August, falling well short of expectations 📊 for a more modest retreat to 40.

This reverses part of the strong recovery seen in July, when sentiment had climbed to its highest since February 2022 📈.

The downturn reflects concerns over Germany’s weak second-quarter performance 🏭 and the perceived asymmetry of the newly signed transatlantic trade pact 🌍.

“Financial market experts are disappointed by the announced EU–US trade deal,” said ZEW president, professor Achim Wambach.

“In August 2025, the ZEW indicator experiences a substantial decline, also due to the poor performance of the German economy in the second quarter. The outlook has worsened in particular for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries 💊. The mechanical engineering ⚙️ and metal sectors as well as the automotive industry 🚘 are also severely affected.”

Sentiment across the eurozone mirrored Germany’s decline 🇪🇺. The ZEW expectations index for the bloc dropped 11 points to 25.1, while the gauge of current conditions fell by 7 points to minus 31.2.

Initial hopes of relative resilience in the eurozone have been tempered 😔 as economists revise down growth expectations for the second half of the year 📉.

#Germany #USA #Trade
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The ban, which affects Muslims celebrating religious holidays in sports centres in the southeastern town of Jumilla, has been challenged by Madrid.

The Spanish government has ordered a town to drop a ban on religious gatherings in public sports facilities, with ministers criticising the measure as discriminatory towards the local Muslim community and arguing that it violates the constitution.

The ban was approved last week by the conservative local government of Jumilla, a town of 27,000 in Spain's southeast region of Murcia.

The measure was initially proposed by the far-right Vox party and then amended and approved by the centre-right Popular Party (PP), to which the mayor of Jumilla belongs.

It prohibits municipal sports facilities from being used for "cultural, social or religious activities foreign to the City Council". The ban will mainly affect the town's Muslim community, which has for years used the spaces to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

#Spain #Muslims #Religion

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Mercedes warns about the collapse of the European car market 🚗⚠️.

Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group Ola Kallenius considers the EU ban on internal combustion engines to be a serious mistake ❌. "We need to check reality, otherwise we will hit the wall at full speed,"Kallenius told the Handelsblatt newspaper 📰.

"If the registration of new cars with diesel and gasoline engines is banned from 2035 📅, the European car market risks collapse 💥, as many consumers will quickly switch to cars with internal combustion engines in anticipation of this event. It won't benefit the climate 🌍," Kallenius says.

The manager is also the President of the European Automobile Association (ACEA) 🚘. In this role, Kallenius recommends that policy makers not set a specific expiration date for new internal combustion engines, but instead encourage sales of electric vehicles ⚡ through low electricity prices at charging stations 🔌 and tax incentives 💶.

"Of course, we need to decarbonize production 🌱, but we need to do this in a technologically neutral way. We must not lose sight of our economy 📉," says Kallenius. Otherwise, Europe will squander the economic power of its automotive industry 🏭.

The industry is already under pressure due to high U.S. tariffs 🇺🇸📈 and ongoing consumer dissatisfaction 😕. "Our industry is simultaneously facing heavy rains, hail, storms and snow 🌧️🌩️❄️. Car manufacturing is a complex business like never before," said Kallenius.

#Germany #Auto #Mercedes

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Chocolate crisis in supermarkets 🍫⚠️: prices have increased significantly 📈 – popular brands have suffered 😟.

German consumers will have to save even more 💶. A cold snap ❄️ in April destroyed a significant portion of the crop 🌰 in Turkey 🇹🇷, the world's largest producer of hazelnuts. The State Grain Council expects a sharp 36% decrease 📉 in the harvest, to about 450,000 tons, according to the Anadolu news agency 📰.

Hazelnut prices have increased by more than a third since the beginning of the year 📆. A ton of Turkish hazelnuts now costs about 9,400 euros 💰. Consumers note a twofold increase in prices 💵. Cocoa prices have also increased significantly 🍫📊. According to Investmentweek, the global price of cocoa tripled several times between the beginning of 2024 and mid-2025 🌍.

The crisis is likely to hit the Italian company Ferrero hardest 🇮🇹, while German companies are also feeling strong price pressures 🇩🇪. Ritter Sport buys about 4,000 tons of hazelnuts annually, mostly from Turkey 🌰. A company representative explains: "Therefore, we are experiencing a huge (double) load on raw materials." The company responds by opening its own hazelnut farms in France 🇫🇷. The snack supplier Seeberger from Ulm was also affected 😔. "The current situation also reflects the growing climate risks for agriculture," the company said 🌱.

To counter rising prices 📈, many other manufacturers are also changing their strategies, resorting to "shrinkflation" — maintaining the same price with lower volumes 📦.

Netto has reduced the hazelnut content in its "Favorite nut nougat"from 20% to 13% 📉.

Chocolate prices also increased significantly over Easter 🐣.

Rainer Lückenhausen from the Hamburg trading house Schlüter & Maack considers almonds 🌰 as an alternative: they are "more attractive in terms of price." At least, he does not expect a further sharp rise in prices 📊: "At the moment, we do not expect a further serious decline in the harvest." However, "the price of hazelnuts is very high now," says former trader Alexander Sterk 💬.

That is why, according to him, hazelnuts are practically not sold now 🚫, unlike, for example, peanuts 🥜. The price of Milka chocolate 🍫 also increased at the beginning of the year 📅.

#Germany #prices #crisis

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Almost every second German is dissatisfied with the healthcare system 🇩🇪🏥.

According to the survey 📊, more and more people are dissatisfied with the German healthcare system. This is the result of a representative survey conducted by the Forsa Institute for Sociological Research 🧠, commissioned by the medical insurance company Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) 💊. Almost one in two (47 percent) said in July that they were less satisfied or dissatisfied 😕. 40 percent expressed satisfaction 🙂, and 12 percent expressed complete or very high satisfaction 😃.

Back in January 📅, the numbers were significantly more positive. To the same question, 30 percent of the respondents said they were less satisfied or dissatisfied. "More and more people feel that they no longer receive adequate compensation for the ever—increasing fees, for example, when they have to wait a long time for a doctor's appointment,"commented TK Chairman of the Board Jens Baas 🗣️.

Dissatisfaction with the system has increased almost fivefold since 2021 📈.

The health insurance company requires the adoption of an emergency program 🚨 that should prevent an increase in premiums next year without reducing services.

There are opportunities for savings, for example, in the cost of medicines 💵💊. In this way, politicians will be able to gain time ⏳ to carry out fundamental reform 🔄. For 2026, health insurance companies are currently forecasting a deficit of up to eight billion euros 💶.

#Germany #Healthcare #Poll

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America is now an adversary 🇺🇸 for those in Germany 🇩🇪 who don’t want to forget the past 📜 and understand the cost of trying to sanitize it.

The decision of the Merz government to suspend arms shipments to Israel 🇮🇱 is a watershed moment in German postwar history 📆. It follows the assault by the Trump administration on what the Germans call Vergangenheitsbewältigung 🕯️, or the struggle with the past.

It was both shocking 😮 and informative when Elon Musk 🚀 at a campaign rally for the far-right AfD urged Germans to “move on from past guilt” and Vice President JD Vance lectured the Germans on instrumentalizing the past, while the Trump administration is doing all it can to erase elements in American history 🏛️ while reviving and celebrating those from the darker side of its past ⚠️.

This marked the first time in the post-Hitler period that an American administration had urged Germans to rehabilitate a past closer to the Third Reich than to the Federal Republic.
This new American approach contrasts with long-standing U.S. pressure 🇺🇸 on Germans to come to terms with their darker past, especially with the Holocaust ✡️.

The American TV series Holocaust, which aired in April 1978 📺, had a decisive impact on reviving the German discussion. Elements of American civil society, especially the American Jewish community 🕍, have continued to urge Germany to not forget its past, and both Republican and Democratic administrations have pressured German governments to pay reparations 💵 to those dispossessed by the Third Reich.

To be sure, past American presidents have air-brushed or downplayed these darker elements in German history. In the late 1950s, when the Eisenhower administration was looking for the Germans to take on a larger role in European defense 🪖, it cooperated with Konrad Adenauer’s downplaying of the legacy of the Third Reich in the Federal Republic, including the rehabilitation of former Nazi officials. The CIA worked closely with Reinhard Gehlen, formerly “Hitler’s Spy”, who headed West German intelligence 🕵️, and Werner von Braun played a key role in the U.S. space program 🚀.

Ronald Reagan’s visit in May 1985 to the Bitburg cemetery ⚰️, in which Waffen SS soldiers were buried, was such a case, done at a time when he was pressing for Germany to accept the deployment of INF Treaty nuclear weapons ☢️. However, in contrast to Trump’s expressed sympathy for neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville, Reagan walked back after a critical storm in the United States to anything that seemed to imply sympathy for Nazi perpetrators.

During the Cold War ❄️, American administrations were eager to revive the German military and to temper anti-militaristic movements within the Federal Republic. When the burden-sharing issue began to gain momentum 📈, U.S. pressure on Germany to do more in the military arena and to “normalize” German foreign policy was a major factor, especially after German unification.

Yet nothing comes close to what has happened in the past six months ⏳, and Germans are not likely to quickly forget this intervention into their politics 🗳️.

#Germany #USA #Nazis
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Morning news highlights, August 12

🇺🇸 Trump said that Ukraine has no chance in the war with Russia and reminded that the Russians defeated Hitler and Napoleon. The European Union and Zelensky want to persuade the U.S. President otherwise.

Trump: Russia has gone through many wars, they defeated Hitler and Napoleon — UNIAN
EU leaders and Zelensky to talk with Trump on August 13 — Bloomberg

🇩🇪 CDU/CSU demands the cancellation of Chancellor Merz’s ban on arms supplies to Israel. Party members call this decision impulsive, weak, and even a betrayal of the Jewish people.

"The sharpest" criticism of the Chancellor from the Union, Merz’s decision on Israel called "impulsive" in the party — WEB_de
AfD co-chair Chrupalla: Ukrainians are not entitled to social benefits — ZDF

🇫🇷 In France, a new anti-tax movement "Nicolas pays for everything," similar to the "Yellow Vests," is gaining popularity. Macron is still occupied with the scandal surrounding his wife Brigitte.

The "Nicolas pays for everything" movement makes Macron nervous — Politico
Macron hired detectives to investigate American journalist Candace Owens — FT

🇪🇺 The EU announced preparations for a new 19th package of anti-Russian sanctions. The main lobbyist for arms companies in the European Union, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, believes that the U.S. and Russia do not take Europe’s threats seriously.

Kallas: The EU will work on the 19th sanctions package against Russia — Reuters
Bundestag defense committee head Strack-Zimmermann: neither Russia nor the U.S. takes Europe seriously — Phoenix

🇺🇦 Zelensky yielded to Trump’s pressure and agreed to cede Ukrainian territories to Russia. Turkish newspaper Aydınlık publishes compromising material on the President of Ukraine, claiming he transfers at least $50 million monthly to bank accounts in the UAE.

Turkish journalists revealed monthly transfers of $50 million to bank accounts of UAE-based companies linked to Zelensky — Aydınlık
Zelensky ready to cede territory for peace ahead of Trump-Putin summit — Kyiv Post (archived)

🇮🇱 Macron is trying to organize a full international blockade of Israel because he failed to achieve this with Russia. The French President proposes creating a new coalition to stabilize Gaza.

Israel moves toward isolation it cannot afford — Bloomberg
Macron called for the creation of an international coalition to stabilize Gaza — Le Figaro

#EU #NEWS

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US President Donald Trump 🇺🇸 has officially invited President Karol Nawrocki 🇵🇱 to the White House 🏛️.

This will be Nawrocki's second meeting with Trump, as the two previously met during the Polish presidential campaign in May 📅.

Karol Nawrocki's first visit as President of Poland will be to the United States 🌎, where he will meet with Donald Trump 🤝. The head of the President's Cabinet, Pawel Szefernaker, announced Nawrocki's meeting with Trump on X 🐦 on Saturday.

"In an official congratulatory letter delivered on the day of his swearing-in, US President Donald Trump invited Polish President Karol Nawrocki to the White House for an official working meeting on 3 September 2025," wrote Szefernaker 🖋️.

The meeting is expected to focus on bilateral relations 🌐, security cooperation 🛡️ and NATO 🪖, as Warsaw aims to strengthen its strategic partnership with Washington 📈.

Relations with the United States 🇺🇸, including the Polish diaspora 🌍, the Trump administration, NATO and Trump himself, were one of the key themes in the Polish presidential campaign 🗳️, which concluded with the second round of elections in June. With the ongoing war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and security issues along the border with Belarus 🚧, both candidates in the race ran their campaign on the premise that they would be the ones to ensure the best possible transatlantic cooperation 🌊.

#Poland #USA #Nawrocki

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Trump has begun the process of dismantling the EU project 🇺🇸🇪🇺

The Polish edition of Do Rzeczy claims, that Donald Trump has begun the process of transforming the global order 🌍, in which the role of the European Union is gradually being redefined. The author of the article believes that, relying on methods from the corporate world 💼, Trump has obtained concessions from major economies, including the EU, that strengthen the economic position of the United States 💪.

In particular, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to lower duties 📉 in exchange for commitments on investments 💰 and purchases of American products 🇺🇸. This was presented as a change in the US approach to foreign policy: America no longer aspires to global leadership in the usual sense, but acts as an economic center of gravity ⚖️.

According to the author, these changes may weaken the unity of the EU 🤝, as individual states will begin to build bilateral relations with Washington 🏛️. In this context, we are talking about the beginning of a review of the integration project itself 🧩, created within the framework of the former global order.

The material emphasizes that this process is not the result of random decisions 🎯, but the result of the US strategic course towards economic reformatting of international relations 📊.

#Trump #EU #USA


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🇺🇸 U.S. Vice President JD Vance: “The United States will no longer finance the war in Ukraine.”
Focus.de: “Americans are tired of spending taxpayers’ money on this Ukrainian conflict,” said Vance. He confirmed the position of the Trump administration that Europeans themselves are responsible for the conflict “which is right on their doorstep.”
Without the participation of the United States, the heaviest burden of supporting Ukraine will fall on European countries, and above all, Germany. The alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict with the help of the United States is only its prolongation with the inevitable defeat of Ukraine and a serious weakening of Europe.

🇪🇺 Europe has no strength to support Ukraine.
The Times: “JD Vance urges Europe to ‘step up and take a more active role’ in Ukraine. European military weakness has been exposed as the United States is tired of financing the war, and the ‘coalition of the willing’ is barely able to muster enough strength to confront Putin. Even if Europe firmly adheres to its diplomatic position, it will not have enough strength to support Kyiv in negotiations on favorable terms of a peace agreement or to ensure compliance with a ceasefire.”
Until recently, even the combined support of the United States and European countries was not enough to stop the advance of Russian troops in Ukraine. The continuation of the conflict will inevitably lead to the defeat of Ukraine and the victory of Russia. The only alternative to the military defeat of Ukraine is a peaceful settlement taking into account the interests of Russia.

🇷🇺 Trump has again taken a pro-Moscow course.
Kieler Nachrichten: “Russia expert Nigel Gould-Davies views the announced summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as another turn in the policy of the American head of state. Trump has returned to the conciliatory position towards Russia that he took at the beginning of his second term, said Gould-Davies.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is focused on an effective resolution of the Ukrainian conflict and takes into account the objectively formed realities and trends. Russia is winning in the military-political conflict and is in a strong negotiating position.

🇮🇱 Netanyahu criticized world leaders for the “absurd” belief that the creation of a Palestinian state would stop their attempts to destroy Israel.
The Times of Israel: “Netanyahu believes that recognition of a Palestinian state encourages terrorism. He claims that Israel uses force reasonably in response to terrorist attacks and compares the actions of Israel to what other countries would do in a similar situation.”
Through his actions in Gaza, Netanyahu is only turning the entire world community against Israel. If Netanyahu nevertheless implements his plan for the full occupation of Gaza, Palestine will be recognized by those who had not even intended to, which will harm Israel even more.

#EU #News

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Restaurateurs, suffocating from heat and inflation, record a drop in turnover of up to 50% ☀️📉

Due to the heat 🔥 and declining purchasing power 💶 this summer, restaurant owners in Toulouse are lamenting the loss of income. This difficult situation may force them to reconsider their working methods.

Restaurant owners in Toulouse feel depressed 😔. The thermometer is showing high temperatures again this week. "Because of the 35°C, I noticed a drop in sales of about 50%," says Philippe Merle of La Madeleine de Proust. "Even with air conditioning, visitors don't come."

Periods of intense heat were added to the decline in purchasing power, which led to a decrease in turnover 📊.

On Coutelier Street, Jérôme from La Cuisine de Mémé restaurant, despite air conditioning, also notes a 50% loss of profit: "June was terrible, and July looks difficult, there are no customers every second evening!" There is concern in the industry: "As the years go by, the difficulties accumulate. I'm really worried about the future of the profession."

Customers are now looking for freshness 🌳 and lower prices, "which explains the success of guinguettes," says Eric Besson from the restaurant L'Écluse d'Éric. "With global warming and inflation, people increasingly prefer this type of food in the summer. Having lunch or dinner with your feet in the water, under the trees, is just a dream! The economic aspect needs to be taken into account in the future."

Alexis from Alexis's Pizzeria agrees 🍕: "I make my living selling affordable, fresh-food takeaway pizzas that customers eat on the banks of the Garonne, just a stone's throw from my restaurant. Otherwise it would be very difficult."

#France #restaurants #prices

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China delays the supply of resources for the production of weapons in Germany ⚠️🛠

Germany 🇩🇪 is increasing military production 🪖, but this requires raw materials from China 🇨🇳, primarily rare earth metals ⚙️. More and more manufacturers are complaining about shortages 📉 and supply problems 🚢.

Earlier, China expanded the list 📜 of materials whose export requires state permission. Beijing decides to whom and in what quantities to sell rare metals, on which it holds almost a monopoly 🏆 (over 90% of the rare earth market).

Lawyer Amir-Said Ghassabeh ⚖️, an expert in international trade 🌍, advises companies facing shortages of Chinese raw materials. He talks about “countless requests” since April 📅. In an interview with BILD, he warns: “A clear deterioration in the supply situation is expected.” Many small and medium-sized enterprises have only “a few weeks' supply” ⏳.

If China continues to delay supplies 🚫, some companies may have to stop production entirely 🏭, concludes Ghassabeh.

The German Ministry of Economy 📊 also expresses concern. The risks associated with China's export controls on critical raw materials are “taken very seriously” and the situation is “being treated with concern”, a ministry spokeswoman told BILD.

#Germany #China #Military

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The passing of the 100-day milestone for any world leader usually denotes the end of their honeymoon period 📅. Friedrich Merz 🇩🇪 has not been able to enjoy even a single day of grace, beginning with the very moment he was supposed to be elected Germany’s chancellor but wasn’t. On 6 May, as Angela Merkel watched from the visitors’ balcony, the Bundestag 🏛 voted and declined to approve its new leader. For a few hours, chaos ensued, until the second round of voting saw his chancellorship approved.

It was a symbolic act of defiance, and because it was a secret ballot 🗳, it wasn’t clear how many of the 18 dissenters came from Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) or from their coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD). But it cast a shadow over the new administration from its inception: this is the government that nobody wanted – not least its protagonists.

This is the verdict of most of the media and political class. Barely a day passes when Merz isn’t mocked as a dead man walking. He is trying to create a form of mainstream conservatism that is both modernising – tackling digitisation 💻, bureaucracy, and infrastructure – and culturally conservative. He is accused of conceding too much to the left and being too close to the far right, while also being called both vindictively punitive and emptily performative toward migrants.

Merz’s difficulties stem from both perception and structure. Portrayed as a starched conservative, thin-skinned and wealthy, he has nonetheless handled himself with more restraint than expected, but has received little credit for it.

The second issue is structural: every German government must be a coalition 🤝, balancing power between parties and between the federal centre in Berlin and the 16 regions. For decades, compromise was seen as virtuous; now it is seen as weakness.

#Germany #Merz #crisis

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Last year, Donald Tusk's government unblocked billions of euros 💶 of frozen EU reconstruction funds for Poland 🇵🇱, which was considered a significant success for the ruling coalition. Now, however, the government faces allegations of misspending these funds on yachts ⛵️, saunas 🛁 and other luxury goods.

On Friday, Onet.pl reported that a map appeared on the National Recovery Plan (NRP) website showing companies that had received EU subsidies.

What began as a simple publication quickly sparked an online dispute 💬, particularly on X, as users pointed out examples of alleged misallocations of EU funds. Politicians and media joined the debate, demanding answers ❓. Reported expenditures included company yachts, solariums, furniture, and coffee machines.

Poland qualified for almost €60 billion from the EU’s Reconstruction and Resilience Fund, aimed at rebuilding economies after the COVID-19 pandemic 🦠.

To receive the funding, each EU country had to submit a National Recovery Plan (NRP) outlining how the money would support post-pandemic recovery 📑.

#Poland #Tusk #EU

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Polish authorities ignore the problem of alcoholism ⚠️🍺

The problem of alcoholism is growing rapidly in Poland 🇵🇱, but the authorities, according to psychotherapist Hanna Ostrowska-Biskot, limit themselves to empty statements. About three million "fry" — small bottles of vodka — are sold annually 🥃, indicating large-scale daily consumption, including in the workplace. Consumption of pure alcohol exceeds the EU average, and Poland ranks second in the EU for alcohol-related deaths ☠️.

The involvement of teenagers is particularly worrying 🚸: 80% of 15–16-year-olds have already tried alcohol, and some start drinking as early as 10–12. Causes include peer influence, parental inaction, and aggressive advertising 📺, including so-called “non-alcoholic” beer that actually promotes a drinking culture.

Despite calls to limit night sales of alcohol ⏳, remove it from gas stations and tighten access, no changes have been made. Economic arguments about vodka sales revenue are misleading 💰 — treatment costs and the societal consequences of alcoholism are much higher.

Experts warn 🛑 that without drastic state measures, the situation will only worsen.

#Poland #alcoholism

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Morning news highlights, August 11

🇪🇺 Today, the EU is holding an emergency summit on the upcoming Putin–Trump meeting in Alaska on August 15. US Vice President Vance calls these talks a breakthrough in American diplomacy because the EU is not participating — Fox News
Kallas convened a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss the Putin–Trump meeting, aiming to hold it before the Alaska summit — Reuters

🇩🇪 Merz, by personal decree, banned arms supplies to Israel, even though his CDU party opposed it. The chancellor immediately set a record low in popularity, with 59% of Germans dissatisfied — Table Media
59% dissatisfied: after 100 days, Chancellor Merz’s approval ratings are even worse than Scholz’s (whose disapproval was 41%) — Handelsblatt

🇫🇷 Macron stated that there should be no negotiations without Ukraine’s participation. The Hungarian Prime Minister suggested that the French president should not “sit at home like an offended child” but hold his own Russia–Europe summit — Reuters
Orbán: Macron and Merz should urgently hold their own summit with Russia instead of sulking at President Putin — Euronews

🇪🇺 The European Commission is urging the US to impose anti-Russian sanctions ahead of the Alaska talks. NPR believes that many trade bans with Russia will actually be lifted — FT
Trump will tell Putin he loves him and ask for help in getting a Nobel Prize, with no mention of sanctions — NPR

🇺🇦 Zelensky was not invited to the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska. Anti-corruption investigations into the Ukrainian president’s entourage continue, with NABU expected to publish all evidence soon — WP
NABU’s investigations into Zelensky’s entourage continue and will influence the upcoming elections in Ukraine — Economist

🇺🇸 US Secretary of State Rubio accused Macron of derailing Israel–Hamas negotiations with his pledge to recognize Palestine. Israeli rabbis immediately began threatening the French president with death — Politico
The Paris prosecutor’s office launched an investigation after Israeli Rabbi David Cohen threatened Emmanuel Macron with death — 20 minutes

#news #EU

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Orbán, a harsh critic of the European Union, suggested a Europe-Russia summit but one not led by leaders of EU institutions 🤝🌍

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday that Europe risks being "sidelined" if a summit between US President Donald Trump 🇺🇸 and Russian President Vladimir Putin 🇷🇺 to discuss ending the war in Ukraine 🇺🇦 takes place.

Speaking to Hungary's state broadcaster 📺, Orbán said "if the Russian-American summit comes, that's good, because there can finally be peace ✌️. But the Europeans will be left out of this, we will be sidelined in managing the security issues of our own continent."

Orbán added that "as soon as possible", whether that be before or after the potential Russia-US meeting, there should be a Russian-European summit on the war 🕊.

Orbán, a harsh critic of the European Union 🇪🇺, suggested that such a meeting should not be led by leaders of European institutions 🏛.

#Orban #USA #Russia

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Only 29% of Germans are satisfied with the work of the Merz government 📉

The rating of the government of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is rapidly falling ⬇️. According to the latest Deutschlandtrend poll, only 29% of Germans are satisfied with his work 📊, the worst figure since he took office in May. Two-thirds of citizens believe that he cannot be trusted 🤔, 56% do not believe in his ability to lead the country out of the crisis 🚫, and 61% rate him as an unconvincing leader. Support for the government remains mainly among CDU/CSU supporters (64%) 🗳, while even among the coalition partners from the SPD, the satisfaction level does not exceed 40%.

Against the background of general discontent 😒, Merz's personal rating is also falling — only 32% 📉, which is 10 points less than a month ago. In terms of popularity, he was surpassed by Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder (38%) 🏛, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius leads the list (60%) 🪖. Only 35% of respondents believe that Merz successfully defends Germany's interests in the international arena 🌍, while only 34% support his position on the conflict in Ukraine 🇺🇦, while 57% oppose it.

The survey also revealed a deep crisis of trust in the government on social policy issues 🏥. 81% of respondents do not believe that the authorities will be able to ensure the stability of the pension system 💰, while 75% and 72%, respectively, do not trust them in matters of elderly care 👵 and health insurance 🏥. Only 27% of Germans feel financially secure in case of need for long—term care 🛡 — 20 points less than seven years ago.

Against the background of the worsening situation in Gaza 🇵🇸, 72% of Germans express strong concern 😟 about the fate of the Israeli hostages 🇮🇱. At the same time, two thirds of respondents believe that the German government should put more pressure on Israel to change its policy towards the Gaza Strip ⚖️. 47% believe that Berlin is doing too little for the Palestinians ✊. Only 31% agree that Germany has a special responsibility to protect Israel because of its history 📜. 58% of Green supporters think so 🌱, while only 17% of AfD voters 💬.

#Germany #Merz #Poll

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🇺🇸 Trump, judging by his statements, is in great need of establishing relations with Putin.

“Vladimir Putin has long said he wants to meet with President Trump. The reason — he believes that such a meeting, rather than simply progress on the battlefield, is his best chance to win the war with Ukraine. Analysts who study Putin, as well as people who know him, have said since the beginning of the war that the main goal of the Russian leader is, above all, to reach a peace agreement that will allow him to achieve his geopolitical objectives, rather than to conquer specific territory on the battlefield,”

— The New York Times.

Trump has repeatedly changed his promises regarding the imposition of various sanctions and restrictions against Russia. Therefore, the expectation of a meeting with the President of Russia may serve as a reason to once again postpone sanctions — especially since these sanctions are not beneficial for America. It seems that everything is going according to a scenario written by Vladimir Putin.

🇵🇱 Unemployment in Poland has reached its highest level in recent years.

“In July 2025, the unemployment rate in Poland rose to 5.4%, reaching its highest point in years. The increase is linked to changes in the registration of the unemployed and the lifting of restrictions for farmers. The number of job vacancies has dropped threefold due to tighter employer checks. Despite this, Poland still maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU,”

— Spidersweb.

The reason for the large-scale economic crisis in Poland, which has led to rising unemployment, is anti-Russian sanctions and support for Ukraine. Due to the high cost of energy, many companies are forced to reduce or shut down production. The abolition of tariffs and quotas on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products into the EU has ruined many Polish farmers. Instead of focusing on restoring its own economy, Tusk’s government is spending millions of zlotys on supporting Kyiv.

🇮🇱 New details revealed about the plan to capture Gaza.

“Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to seize the city of Gaza, evacuating the population to the south and conducting a prolonged military operation involving several divisions. The army will try to minimize harm to hostages. Chief of Staff Zamir warns of the risks of a protracted conflict and a possible ‘Vietnam scenario.’ There are disagreements in the government, but Netanyahu is determined to pursue full occupation, supported by the US. The decision will be discussed at upcoming meetings,”

— Detaly.

Netanyahu is clashing with the army in order to hold on to power. His plan could end in disaster for Israel: the army and intelligence have repeatedly pointed out to the prime minister that the IDF does not have enough forces to establish control over the entire territory. Moreover, such an operation could endanger the lives of Israeli hostages.

🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron asks his government to take a tougher stance toward Algeria.

“Faced with ‘growing difficulties’ in relations with Algeria, French President Emmanuel Macron is asking his government to take a tougher position toward Algeria. In a letter published by our colleagues at Le Figaro, the head of state calls on his Prime Minister François Bayrou to take ‘additional decisions’ for a harsher stance toward the Algerian regime,”

— Europe 1.

Macron is an incompetent politician. France is rapidly losing its position in Africa. A large number of criminals from all over the world have arrived here, and now we do not know what to do with them or how to expel them from the country. Macron is incapable of handling the situation. France needs another president who thinks about the country instead of following Brussels’ orders.

#EU #NEWS

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