The Rhine’s water level at its most critical narrow point near Kaub in Rhineland-Palatinate is currently just 24 centimeters. Many cargo ships can no longer sail or only with a fraction of their usual load, which increases transport costs. Economist Thilo Schaefer from the Cologne Institute for Economic Research told SPIEGEL that the drought has the potential to make petrol and diesel more expensive. “If the low water persists, fuel could become scarcer in some regions. Then prices will also rise,” said Schaefer. He pointed to 2018, when petrol prices climbed from 1.34 euros to 1.42 euros.
Following recent events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the EU is striving for unity. According to the Spanish government, around 72,000 migrants from Morocco reached Ceuta last week, and many drowned during the attempt. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner stressed “full solidarity with Spain” after a video conference of European interior ministers. Earlier, 22 of the 27 EU members, including Germany, had accused Madrid of a too lax migration policy. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni suspended the Schengen Agreement with Spain.
The German government does not want to say how many speeches by its ministers were written with the help of AI. This is shown by answers to a parliamentary inquiry from the Left Party faction, which SPIEGEL has seen. In it, the government vaguely describes AI as a “supportive working tool.” Left Party MP Sonja Lemke criticizes this: “If tech bros sit in the ministries with their chatbots and influence all content, that is a danger to our democracy.”
Source: www.spiegel.de
