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Coalition delays sugar tax and scraps electricity relief

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The governing coalition has pushed back its planned sugar tax to 2028 and abandoned a promised reduction in electricity taxes. The Union parties are finding it difficult to explain the missing relief to their base, while the government is simultaneously drafting plans for a gas reserve funded by a new surcharge on consumers.

Economic advisors have suggested a less comfortable path for the workforce, recommending the abolition of minijobs and a higher long-term care insurance surcharge for the baby boomer generation. Meanwhile, the air force is under investigation after its special flight unit was found to be conducting numerous government flights without any politicians on board.

A fatal shooting in a Mannheim café and an incident in Ronnenberg, where a car drove into a crowd and injured three people, led a violent news day. In Baden-Württemberg, hundreds of officers were deployed in a large-scale raid against a local biker club.

Top stories

Coalition Postpones Sugar Tax, Drops Electricity Cut

The German grand coalition government, led by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has decided to postpone the introduction of a sugar tax until January 2028 and will not implement a proposed reduction in the electricity tax. This agreement, which also covers housing benefits, has led to dissatisfaction within the Union party regarding missed tax relief.

Germany Plans Gas Reserve at Customer Expense

The German government is making plans to establish a gas reserve as a precautionary measure for potential crisis situations, with the costs for this reserve to be covered by customers.

n-tv Germany to Plan Gas Reserve at Customer Expense ↗

Economic Advisers Recommend Minijob Abolition and Higher Boomer Contributions

Economic advisors have issued a report recommending the abolition of minijobs, a change that could impact millions of workers. They also propose that baby boomers should contribute a significantly higher additional amount to long-term care insurance.

Fatal Shooting in Mannheim, Car Drives into Crowd in Ronnenberg

A shooting incident in a café in downtown Mannheim has resulted in one fatality. Separately, in Ronnenberg, an unknown individual drove a car into a group of people, injuring three individuals.

DER SPIEGEL Shooting in Mannheim café leaves one dead ↗
DER SPIEGEL Car drives into group of people in Ronnenberg, three injured ↗
t-online Major Operation: Car Drives into a Crowd of People ↗

Police Conduct Massive Operation Against Rocker Club

Hundreds of police officers were deployed in Baden-Württemberg in a large-scale operation targeting a biker club.

WELT Massive Police Operation Against Rocker Club in Baden-Württemberg ↗

Concerns Over German Air Force Special Flight Unit

An investigation is underway regarding the German Air Force's special flight unit, with questions being raised about why numerous government aircraft are flying without politicians on board, prompting concerns about their purpose and efficiency.

DER SPIEGEL German Air Force's special flight unit flies without politicians ↗

Berlin's Rising Costs and Gymnasium Debate

Berlin is becoming more expensive in various ways, with rising costs beyond just rent. Separately, a commentary argues that ideology is overshadowing public opinion and common sense in the ongoing debate about the future of high schools (Gymnasium).