Germany
Germany's cabinet approved an Aktivrente allowing retirees to earn up to €2,000 per month tax-free, aimed at encouraging work beyond retirement and taking effect January 1, 2026.
Analysts and consumer advocates warned German investors that heavy US concentration in MSCI World ETFs increased crash risk and urged portfolio rebalancing and retirement safeguards.
Germany recorded a rise in dementia deaths, particularly among women, a trend that intensified demographic pressures and fueled political debate over pension financing and social spending.
Prominent CDU and CSU figures in Germany urged abandoning the party’s "firewall" to engage the AfD; senior leaders Daniel Günther and Karin Prien vehemently rejected cooperation.
Germany's cabinet extended the motor-vehicle tax exemption for electric cars by five years, while Norwegian proposals would raise car taxes and cut EV VAT relief, local media said.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius blocked a compromise to introduce a lottery for selecting conscripts for a new Wehrdienst, deepening a coalition rift in Berlin and prompting Bundestag debate.
The Museum Wiesbaden saw a surge in visitors after a Jugendstil painting by Friedrich Heyser was noted to resemble imagery in Taylor Swift's new "The Fate of Ophelia" music video.
Germany's U21 side beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Belfast with two late goals, keeping their European Championship qualifying hopes alive.
