Sociologist Armin Nassehi challenges Friedrich Merz's claim that Germans are a chronically grumbling nation. In an interview with Tagesspiegel, he explains why criticism of the government can also be an expression of deep-seated elite criticism.
After a 0-1 loss in the World Cup final against Spain, Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes attacked several Spanish players. The incident has drawn massive criticism from experts and former professionals.
Ukrainian commentator Bohdan Vitvitsky warns that recent criticism from Polish politicians over Ukraine's honoring of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is endangering bilateral relations. Such disputes play into Russian propaganda, Vitvitsky argues.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are locked in a tight race for the all-time World Cup goal record, leaving Miroslav Klose far behind. Messi has 21 goals, Mbappé 20.
A journalist warns in an opinion piece for Zeit Online against sacrificing the welfare state for the defense budget. She credits her own career to the social benefits now at risk.
Hannover 96 has signed 23-year-old goalkeeper Pascal Loretz from FC Luzern. He signed a contract until 2030 and is expected to become the new number one.
Tensions between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are rising as both sides simultaneously wage war and negotiate. A military solution is considered unlikely.
Former German international Sami Khedira is set to return to Real Madrid as an assistant coach under José Mourinho, according to reports.
Schlager composer Ralph Siegel is in an induced coma due to pneumonia. His wife Laura Käfer told Bild that doctors plan to gradually wake him in two days.
At the conclusion of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented engraved revolvers as gifts. German Friedrich Merz (CDU) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not take the weapons home.
For the first time, a World Cup final will feature a halftime show. According to dpa, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is also expected to perform.
Tübingen's mayor Boris Palmer will serve as an independent advisor to state premier Cem Özdemir on modernizing the administration and reducing red tape.
Former RAF terrorist Klette would have been caught earlier if investigators had had certain programs. The question is not whether the police should use such programs, but from whom they buy them.
The Paschinger Schlössl in Salzburg, once a meeting place for Stefan Zweig and Thomas Mann, is up for sale. Artists are now calling on the state to buy it and make the building accessible to the public.
The head of German energy company EnBW, Georg Stamatelopoulos, is calling for a reduction in the country's offshore wind power expansion targets. Citing rising costs, he argues for postponing the 70-gigawatt goal, as reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Miroslav Klose has congratulated Lionel Messi in a phone call for breaking his record as the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. The 39-year-old Messi surpassed Klose's previous mark during the ongoing World Cup tournament.
After the World Cup round of 16 match between France and Paraguay, Kylian Mbappé was racially insulted by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla de Boccia. The French government and football federation have clearly distanced themselves from the remarks and announced legal action.
Raphael's Sistine Madonna is one of the world's most famous paintings. Originally, the altarpiece hung in a church in Piacenza before being sold to Dresden – but the pictorial program is still alive there, as FAZ reports.
The political crisis in Germany is escalating. The AfD is planning radical changes and preparing to use federal coercion. Democratic civil society must stand up against authoritarian tendencies.
The German government is holding a memorial ceremony at the Berlin Bendlerblock on July 20, 2026, marking the 82nd anniversary of the assassination and coup attempt against Hitler. Federal Minister Karin Prien will deliver the address, and Bundestag Vice President Andrea Lindholz will lay a wreath.
US Donald Trump is seeking a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ending Russia's war of aggression.
Trump's handling of the Iran war has severely damaged the United States' standing with its regional partners. Reports of a rift with Saudi Arabia highlight the political cost.
Naomi Osaka caused a surprise at Wimbledon by defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16. The Japanese player won 2:6, 6:7 (2:7) and reached the quarter-finals of the London Grand Slam for the first time.
This weekend, interested visitors can explore 25 rooftop gardens and terraces in Munich. Not only spectacular views await, but also some unexpected installations.
The Netherlands will host the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision as 'historic'.
Friedrich Merz (CDU) called on all parties to support the upcoming reforms in his government statement – but the balance is subdued. According to Zeit, the appeal reads like an admission of stagnation.
Reese Witherspoon produces the backstory of Elle Woods, taking the cult blonde back to high school. The Tagesspiegel asks whether the prequel is necessary – and reaches a clear conclusion.
The planned requirement for a doctor's note from the first day of illness reveals a questionable view of humanity by the federal government. Instead of relieving the sick, they are placed under general suspicion.
CDU and SPD have agreed on a reform package for the housing market in the coalition committee. It aims at affordable new construction and blocking the socialization of private housing corporations in Berlin.
The km5 Hp1 headphones recall the look of Sony Walkman and Discman models, blending 80s and 90s design with Bluetooth 5.4 and 24-bit audio.
The Kroschke Research Prize for Child Protection in Medicine has been awarded to two psychologists from Hamburg. Their work highlights the role of fathers in preventing child endangerment.
Following an urgent appeal by Munich's mayor, the city's utilities have asked residents to reduce water consumption to prevent shortages.
US Homeland Minister Markwayne Mullin openly rejoiced at the elimination of the Iranian national football team from the World Cup in the United States. Iran's foreign minister then accused Washington of poor hospitality.
Canadian director Daniel Roher, Oscar winner for the documentary "Navalny," makes his feature film debut with "The Piano Tuner." The thriller starring Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall opens in theaters this week.
Gitanas Nauseda has appointed Social Democrat Mindaugas Sinkevicius as Lithuania's new prime minister. The 42-year-old was previously elected by parliament in Vilnius with 80 votes.
Ximena Ramos Salas arrived in Sweden as a Chilean refugee in 1986 and immediately felt welcome. Her son Andres, who joined her eight years ago, now faces deportation alone – tightened asylum laws force him to leave.
The British government publishes its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (Dip) ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey. The plan aims to raise defence spending to 2.68% of GDP by the end of the decade – a figure criticised as insufficient by both the opposition and parts of the governing party.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced further reforms to the UK asylum system, including a means-tested scheme requiring asylum seekers to pay about £10,000 for state-funded living costs or face denial of settled status.
After attending his mother's funeral, Didier Deschamps is back with the French national team. The coach and midfielder Adrien Rabiot discuss the unique situation.
Images of bears staring pensively at mountain landscapes are spreading rapidly across social networks. Are humans projecting their own thoughts onto a predator, or is there more going on inside those furry heads than some might think?