Euro 2025: Germany beats France to reach Semifinals
The German women's football team won a dramatic game against France on Saturday to secure their spot in the semifinals. The next match is set for Wednesday this week.
READ ALSO: How you can watch the women's Euro 2025 tournament on German TV
Germany played most of the game with just ten players, down one after Kathrin Hendrich was sent off for a red card for pulling a French player's hair early on.
Germany's goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger, stole the show, making multiple stunning saves and scoring the last penalty in a 6-5 shootout.
@womensfootball Ann-Katrin Berger. WOW. ? #WEURO2025 #WomensFootball ♬ O MUNDO INTERIOR FUNK (Slowed) - 74blade
Weidel interview disrupted by noise from protesters
The ARD open-air “Summer Interview” with far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel, in Berlin on the Spree, was almost drowned out by the noise of whistles, horns, and anti-AfD slogans from the other side of the river.
The protest took place on the same day that the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) published a survey showing that a majority of Germans (52 percent) oppose a ban on the AfD
This number is higher in eastern Germany, where two-thirds of those polled were against a ban.
READ ALSO: Far-right AfD gets surprise over common names of German benefits recipients
According to the pollsters, people gave several reasons for rejecting a ban on the party, including familiarity with AfD sympathisers. Sixty-seven percent of western Germans and 88 percent of eastern Germans said they had AfD supporters among their acquaintances.
However, respondents did not view their acquaintances in the same way as they saw the party itself. While 54 percent of those polled classified the party as right-wing extremist, only five percent had this impression of the AfD supporters they knew.
Fireworks display injures 19 at Rheinkirmes in Düsseldorf
One of Germany's largest folk festivals, Rheinkirmes was struck by disaster Friday when several fireworks exploded too close to the ground, hitting people below and on the Rheinkniebrücke.
Emergency services were on the scene for around two hours, treating 19 injured people. According to the fire department, four of them were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The Rheinkirmes is held by the 700-year-old St. Sebastianus Schützenverein (St. Sebastianus Shooting Club) to celebrate the name day of its patron saint, St. Apollinaris (July 23rd). According to Sunday's figures, around 4.1 million visitors came to the fairground this year.
The cause of the accident is still unknown. Organisers have indicated they will wait for the results of the police investigation before making a final decision on whether to continue with the fireworks display in 2026.
Rheinkirmes had already caused a stir with Germany’s largest ever drone show, which took place for the second time immediately before the incident.
The 20-minute show, set to music, featured 1,000 drones which used their lights to form huge sculptures in the evening sky.
READ ALSO: What's on in Germany: Ten unmissable events this July
Steinmeier and Merz honour Central Council of Jews on 75th anniversary
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honoured the Central Council of Jews in Germany on its 75th anniversary on Saturday. He expressed his "deep gratitude" that the organisation's founders decided to "rebuild Jewish life in Germany after the Shoah (Holocaust)".
In addition to remembering the crimes of the National Socialists and fighting anti-Semitism, the Central Council "promoted the democratic development of German society after 1945 as an important driving force," said Steinmeier.
The institution, which functions as Germany's main political, societal and religious representative for Jews in the country, was founded in Frankfurt on July 19, 1950th.
"Only when Jews can feel completely safe in Germany will this country be completely at peace with itself," wrote President Steinmeier in a greeting that appeared in a publication of the Central Council to mark its 75th anniversary.
On X, Chancellor Merz wrote that: "Jewish life is a part of us. We owe its diversity, self-confidence, and audibility since 1950 to the Central Council of Jews." The organisation reminds us "of what should be self-evident: Germany must be a safe haven for Jews."
Animal rights activists chain themselves to fence at Nuremberg Zoo
Animal rights activists have chained themselves to the primate enclosure at Nuremberg Zoo in protest against the planned killing of healthy baboons .
“By planning to kill the baboons, the zoo is setting a precedent that will allow other zoos to kill healthy primates in the future, which is currently not permitted,” said Emilia Schüler from the organization Animal Rebellion.
In February 2024, the municipal zoo announced that it wanted to kill some of its Guinea baboons because the group had become too large for the facility, leading to conflicts in which the animals were injuring each other.
READ ALSO: In Pictures - Twin panda cubs to make public debut at Berlin zoo
According to its own statements, the zoo has been trying unsuccessfully for many years to reduce the size of the Guinea baboon group and find new homes for the animals.
No more combustion engines for company fleets and rental cars from 2030
The EU Commission is planning a ban on combustion engines for rental car providers and company fleets from 2030, according to Bild am Sonntag – a move which could affect up to 60 percent of new car sales.
Fassbender
According to Bild, the EU Commission intends to present the new regulation in late summer, which would then need to be approved by the EU Council and EU Parliament.
READ ALSO: Germany says it's 'unable to accept' EU mega budget
In order to achieve its climate targets, the European Union has already agreed on a general ban on new registrations of cars with combustion engines from 2035.
With additional reporting by DPA, AFP and Paul Krantz.
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