Latest news with #Tagesschau
Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Why the German chancellor cannot celebrate his 100 days in office
The international agenda has hardly given German Chancellor Friedrich Merz a breather this summer. Almost every day, Germany's position has to be coordinated with its European partners - such as on Russia's war on Ukraine or Israel's against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Most recently, Friedrich Merz was even heavily criticised within his own ranks. Apparently, the Chancellor had not discussed the decision to suspend the export of weapons that Israel could use in the war in Gaza with his sister party, the CSU. The majority of people in Germany are in favour of limiting arms exports to Israel, which the SPD had also spoken out in favour of, but the single-handed decision caused displeasure. The Left and the Greens criticised Merz's partial ban on arms exports as being "too little, too late" - in view of the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip. Now - days after the decision - Friedrich Merz wants to justify it in a TV interview on public broadcaster ARD's Tagesschau programme. Following fierce criticism from some conservative members of parliament, Merz's foreign policy adviser Günter Sautter was also due to hold a video call with CDU and CSU foreign policy experts this Sunday in order to calm the waters. Friedrich Merz is not only Federal Chancellor, but has also been Chairman of the CDU since 2022. Only 28 % satisfied with the government in recent poll The polls do not look good for the black-red coalition. According to the ARD Deutschlandtrend , 69 per cent of respondents in Germany are dissatisfied with the work of the federal government. Only 28 per cent are satisfied in the Infratest-Dimap survey. This is hardly surprising to seasoned pundits: a majority of Germans (61%) do not consider the new chancellor's communication style to be convincing, with only 34% viewing it positively. In addition, only 26% cent of respondents believe that Merz is someone who can be trusted. The summer break in Berlin had already officially begun when the federal government launched more than 20 bills at its meeting on 6 August: from the pension package to new regulations on small savings, on gas prices and on the Germany Ticket for rail and other public transport. Not focussing enough on people's concerns? The coalition dispute over the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has stirred up the political scene in Berlin. The failure of CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn to keep his own ranks together raised doubts about his suitability for the post. According to reports, the criticism of the SPD's proposed judge Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf was also orchestrated by right-wing populist circles on social media. Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer now wants to ban gendering (i.e. asterisks or other special characters for female persons) not only in his ministry, but also in public broadcasting. This has not only been criticised by the media; many in Germany consider the policy of paternalism to be a concept of the past. In times of Donald Trump's punitive tariffs, people are worried about the economy in Germany and their personal financial situation. The positive effects of the announced massive investments in infrastructure and digitalisation have yet to materialise. It's not only the construction work at Deutsche Bahn that is taking years, seems to be the general impression.
Express Tribune
30-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
When forever chemicals enter period products
The name sounds almost poetic: forever chemicals. But these are perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which get their name from the fact that they practically never decompose — and stay in our environment forever. As per DW, they also have serious consequences for humans. Some PFAS are carcinogenic, while others have an effect on the immune system or reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations. "PFAS can affect fertility, sperm quality or even the development of the child in the womb," toxicologist Marike Kolossa-Gehring told the German TV show Tagesschau. Forever chemicals have also been linked to thyroid disorders and high blood pressure. Now, a research team in the US has found that these chemicals can be found in reusable period products. Almost a third of the period underwear, menstrual cups and reusable pads tested by the scientists were made using these toxic chemicals. The team, led by Alyssa Wicks and Graham Peaslee at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, tested 59 reusable period products from North America, South America and Europe. The researchers found low levels in some products, which were most likely packaging residues. But in some products, the levels were so high that PFAS must have been used in the manufacturing process - even though they would work just as well without the toxic chemicals. "We found PFAS in some, but not all of the products," Peaslee, a physicist and professor emeritus at Notre Dame University, told DW. "So it's not necessary. Some don't have PFAS, and they sell fine." Chemicals everywhere The chemicals can harm humans in two ways. The direct route is absorption through the skin of the wearer. "The skin absorbs between 1 per cent and 50 per cent of PFAS in the product," said Peaslee. "Even if only 1 per cent or 2 per cent are absorbed, that's still bad." The indirect route endangers not only the individual using the item, but everyone else, too. When the products are disposed of, the chemicals end up in our water cycle, where, as their name suggests, they do not decompose. People then wind up absorbing PFAS via their drinking water or food that has been irrigated with contaminated groundwater. "These products are sold as eco-friendly, because they produce less waste than single-use products," said Peaslee. "But this chemical class is particularly terrifying, because they're everywhere and don't go away." Growing awareness PFAS are widespread. They are water – and dirt-repellent, as well as resistant to pressure and heat. This makes them attractive for companies like clothing and packaging manufacturers. Forever chemicals can be found in water-repellent jackets or shoes, in tents and in food packaging. PFAS are even used in cosmetics to alter the consistency of the product, or as a colourant, for example. With the study, Wicks, Peaslee and their team want to raise awareness of the dangers of PFAS in menstrual products, both among companies and consumers. They do not mention brand names in their published report. "We didn't want to be sued," said Peaslee, adding that could easily happen in the US. The researcher said it would be more cost-effective for producers to omit PFAS from their products, as these materials are expensive. However, at the end of the day, he expects any industry move away from PFAS will primarily be driven by consumers. "Consumers have a lot of market power," said Peaslee. "Consumers should ask [whether products are manufactured without PFAS] and be vocal about their choices. If there's demand, companies will start to test for [the chemicals] and say when their products don't contain PFAS. And companies won't lie, because they don't want to get sued, either."
Local Germany
08-07-2025
- Local Germany
EXPLAINED: How German schools are including more and more AI
AI products have been disrupting classrooms since they became publicly available. Since the release of ChatGPT – a chatbot that can write essays on command in German or English and many other languages in a matter of seconds – teachers have warned the tools are being abused by students. AI use among students is not only about 'cheating'. Experts have voiced concern that AI dependence is robbing young people of the chance to develop crucial skills for themselves. On the other hand, there are educators who insist that AI has a place in the classroom, and who argue that trying to ban or ignore the technology would be to fail to train students for the world in which we live. Here's a look at why some German schools are already bringing AI-powered tools into the classroom, and what it suggests about the future role of AI in education. 'A new era' A report in Tagesschau about a high school ( Gymnasium ) in Cologne which has embraced an in-class AI tool begins with the words: 'A new era has begun at Thusneldastraße…' The high school uses an AI program called 'Study Buddy', which is based on ChatGPT and designed to support students in the classroom. Students quoted in the report suggest that the tool is helpful: one notes that AI has endless patience for answering the same question in different ways to help them understand, another suggests they feel more engaged while interacting with the chatbot. But of course the tool still needs a fair amount of fine tuning. A mathematics teacher who uses the tool in her classroom noted that not all of the chatbot's answers are suitable for her students' level of understanding. Chatbots are also notorious for spitting out false answers. READ ALSO: What is Germany's digital pact for schools and how does it affect pupils? The Cologne high school says its staff assess and discuss where and when AI use makes sense in the classroom and where it would be counter productive. But the headmaster suggests that keeping up with the times is important: "Students use AI anyway…it's important to us they do it reflectively…in a way that promotes learning." Advertisement 'Telli' Meanwhile, the city-state of Bremen has announced plans to adopt the use of a particular AI tool in its schools state-wide. German tech news outlet Heise recently reported that schools in Bremen will make use of a specially designed chatbot called 'Telli', and that the tool will later be used in schools across the country. Telli is a large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT and other mainstream chatbots, but it differs from commercial AI products in its approach to data protection. Because Telli is hosted entirely in the European Union, it's possible to prevent personal data about its users from being transferred to other AI companies. Advertisement The system is also designed not to collect user data to train underlying models, and it allows teachers to upload documents so that students can get context-specific answers. Sascha Aulepp, Bremen's Senator for Children and Education told Heise , 'We want to prepare pupils for a future in which dealing with artificial intelligence will be a matter of course.' OPINION: German school grading is unfair on foreign students and it's maddening Not well regulated or understood While some schools strive to integrate AI in the classroom with care, the us of AI by students in Germany is not generally well monitored. A recent survey by Germany's digital association (Bitkom) found that less than a quarter of German schools have school-wide rules for the use of AI in lessons. The survey, which polled about 500 German students between the ages of 14 and 19, also found that nearly half of students said their teacher wouldn't notice if they used AI without permission for class assignments and that 29 percent assume they are better at using AI than their teachers. Advertisement That last finding appears to be backed up by research from the Robert Bosch Stiftung, which found that nearly two-thirds of teachers (62 percent) feel insecure in using AI tools like ChatGPT. READ ALSO: How to find mental health resources in Germany for children Advocating for more programs such as those being introduced in Bremen or at the Thusneldastraße high school in Cologne, researchers maintain that the use of AI can't effectively be banished – instead educators and students alike need training, they say. 'ChatGPT and similar applications have long been part of young people's lives,' Dagmar Wolf of the Robert Bosch Stiftung said in a press release, adding that 'systematic training…is the only way to enable pupils to deal with each other in a reflective and responsible manner.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Europe must prepare for US scaling down support for Ukraine, Pistorius says
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Europe must begin preparing for a gradual reduction in U.S. military support for both the continent and Ukraine, Tagesschau reported on June 13. "Yes, that's right. That would be so, and we have to deal with that," Pistorius told journalists in response to a question about the U.S. potentially scaling down its support. He noted that the discussions focus on a reduction in U.S. backing rather than a full halt. The comments come after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Washington would reduce the assistance allocated to Ukraine in the next year's federal budget. "We now have to look at how much support drops and whether Europeans can compensate for it," Pistorius added. While the U.S. has been Ukraine's leading military backer under former President Joe Biden, the Trump administration has yet to approve any aid packages and has become increasingly disengaged from peace talks. Pistorius's comments come amid increasing uncertainty in transatlantic relations. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker confirmed on May 16 that the United States plans to begin discussions with European allies later this year about reducing its military presence on the continent. Speaking at a security conference in Estonia, Whitaker said the talks would begin after the NATO summit in The Hague in June. "Nothing has been determined," Whitaker said, according to Reuters. "But as soon as we do, we are going to have these conversations in the structure of NATO." Whitaker emphasized that any drawdown would be closely coordinated to avoid creating security gaps. Still, he reiterated U.S. President Donald Trump's position that long-standing U.S. efforts to reduce its European military footprint must now be implemented. "This is going to be orderly, but we are not going to have any more patience for foot-dragging in this situation," he said. In February, Hegseth reportedly told NATO allies that "stark strategic realities" prevent the United States from being primarily focused on Europe's security. Leaks reported by the Atlantic in March revealed that both Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance privately criticized European defense spending, with Hegseth allegedly expressing his "loathing of European free-loading." Trump called on NATO member states to increase defense spending up to 5% of GDP. Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that member states will have agreed to a new goal of increasing defense spending. "We are headed for a summit in six weeks in which virtually every member of NATO will be at or above 2%, but more importantly, many of them will be over 4%, and all will have agreed on a goal of reaching 5% over the next decade," Rubio told Fox News on May 15. Such a move would mark a historic shift, with NATO partners collectively accounting for more than half of the alliance's military capacity, according to Rubio. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, NATO members have significantly increased their defense spending, with countries like Poland and the Baltic nations aiming to reach the 5% target in the coming years. Read also: Ukraine bracing for 'painful' reduction in US military aid after Hegseth announces cuts We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German defence minister arrives in Kyiv to discuss support for Ukraine's Armed Forces
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on 12 June to discuss further military aid to Ukraine with representatives of the Ukrainian government. Source: European Pravda, citing German TV news service Tagesschau Details: On the morning of 12 June, Pistorius arrived in Kyiv to discuss further military aid to Ukraine with its government officials. "We are doing everything we can to support Ukraine so that it can defend itself and get into a position where Russia is ready for serious negotiations," the German defence minister said. German TV news channel Welt reports that upon his arrival in Kyiv, the German defence minister condemned the intensified Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, which he described as "extremely brutal and threatening, with a large number of cruise missiles and drone attacks". "This is a clear signal from Moscow: there is currently no interest in a peaceful solution; instead, the strikes continue with unabated cruelty and, above all, are increasingly targeting civilian areas of Ukraine," Pistorius said at the railway station in Kyiv. Background: Notably, the visit comes after a document signed by more than 100 figures associated with the Social Democratic Party sparked significant controversy in Germany. It concerns changes in security and defence policy and negotiations with Russia. In the document, entitled "Manifesto", the "peace circles of the SPD" call for negotiations with Russia and an end to the deployment of new US medium-range missiles in Germany. Pistorius has said that the authors of the "Manifesto" are denying reality in their pursuit of peace. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
