Germany news: Childfree adults to pay more for elder care

4 hours ago

The German Health Ministry plans to increase elder care contributions for childfree adults, with rates rising by 0.7% to 2.5% of income for those without children, while rates for parents remain lower based on number of children.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is on a five-day trip to Canada to strengthen defense cooperation and advocate for a German shipbuilder to secure a submarine contract, reflecting Europe's pivot away from U.S. reliance.
A class-action lawsuit has opened in Munich against TÜV Süd over the 2019 Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil, which killed at least 270 people and caused environmental disaster, with TÜV engineers among those accused of negligence.
German authorities are investigating actor Christian Ulmen for allegations of digital violence, including creating deepfake pornography and fake social media profiles, related to incidents in Spain from 2022-2023.
Germany summoned the Russian ambassador over continued threats and escalation in Ukraine, reaffirming support for Kyiv amid Kremlin calls for Berlin to abandon its embassy there.
A police union in Germany has raised alarms about dilapidated police stations, citing significant defects in nearly one-third of facilities and calling for better infrastructure, including gender-inclusive spaces.
Germany is experiencing an unseasonal May heat wave as part of broader climate change impacts, though it has not set records like some other European countries.

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