dpa international - German Press Agency

📰 The world next week: Million milestone reached: Germany and the Russian Federation signed the War Graves Agreement in 1992 to allow for the exhumation and proper reburial of soldiers killed in action, primarily in World War II. On Tuesday in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, the German War Graves Commission plans to rebury the millionth German body found since the agreement was signed, a #WWII soldier whose remains were recovered last year in a wooded area in north-west Lithuania. He is to be buried with 140 others in a ceremony in the Kaunas German War Cemetery. As #Germany and #Russia find themselves once again on opposing sides of a conflict, the milestone should give both sides pause for reflection on the utter devastation of the last time they clashed directly. 👉 The reburial ceremony takes place in Kaunas on Tuesday. Golden Lion up for grabs: The 81st #Venice International Film Festival starts next week with 21 international films vying for the top prize, the Golden Lion. The contenders range from star-studded films to promising arthouse cinema. Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix star in Todd Phillips' "Joker" sequel; Nicole Kidman is a businesswoman who begins an affair with a young intern in Halina Reijn’s "Babygirl," and Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar shows his first English-language film "The Room Next Door," which tells the story of two friends portrayed by Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Angelina Jolie portrays Maria Callas in "Maria" by Pablo Larraín, while her estranged husband Brad Pitt's film - "Wolfs" by Jon Watts - is shown out of competition. The decision on the Golden Lion lies with a nine-member jury led by French actress Isabelle Huppert. 👉 The Venice Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday and runs until September 7. ­ Slew of economic data: Several key German economic indicators are published next week, as Europe's largest economy struggles to find its mojo. Among the weak figures reported for Germany in the past seven days were retail, industrial orders, trade and construction numbers. The Frankfurt-based Bundesbank - the country's central bank - said in its latest monthly report that the expected revival of the German #economy will be further delayed. By the end of the week, we should have a clear view of any signs of improvement as various institutes release economic indicators, including business and consumer climate indexes; a more general economic barometer; further industrial orders, and a first estimate of the #inflation rate for August. 👉 The ifo German Business Climate Index is released on Monday; the DIW economic barometer and the GfK and NIM German consumer climate survey are published on Wednesday; German inflation data is out on Thursday.

✨ dpa celebrates its 75th anniversary and looks back on many significant milestones. The merging of the news agencies in the three western occupation zones created the national news agency dpa, organised on a cooperative model. The aim was to provide objective news and to understand 'news' as a 'public good'. 📰 🗓 Since its foundation on 18 August 1949, dpa has developed from a traditional news agency into a modern media company with a wide range of services. Today, dpa delivers news in several languages and through various channels - always with the aim of providing independent and reliable information. 💻 Learn more: https://dpaq.de/837QJ60

Five stories moving soon on dpa international: 🎤 ­­­­­Tense times for Taylor­: US pop star Taylor #Swift returns to London's #Wembley Stadium this week after her #Eras Tour concerts in #Vienna were cancelled over #terrorism threats. A 19-year-old who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State confessed that he planned to use home-made bombs and knives to kill people near the stadium. #Britain is already on edge following days of riots after three girls were killed at a Swift-themed dance event in #Southport. Security will be tight for her sold-out London shows. 👉 Taylor Swift performs the first of five concerts at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.­­­­­­­­ 📈 World awaits #US #inflation numbers: ­While the world might not care about the price of milk in San Francisco, US economic data matter greatly to the global economy, as wild stock market fluctuations have once again demonstrated. Investors worried that the Federal Reserve may have waited too long to drop interest rates as it tries to fight rising consumer prices. US inflation has been coming down, but the latest employment figures were disappointing. All that, economists say, bodes well for a rate cut in September. 👉 The US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases consumer price index data on Wednesday.­­­­­ 🌐 An international anniversary­: The #Geneva Conventions, which lay out international rules for protecting non-combatants during war, are turning 75. The four conventions, ratified in August 1949, are a cornerstone of international human rights. The conventions formed the basis of a report by the International Criminal Court which indicted leaders of the Palestinian Islamist #Hamas group and #Israel for war crimes.👉 The 75th anniversary of the Geneva conventions is on Monday. 🏅 Paris Olympics end: The Paris Olympics wind down this weekend in a gold medal frenzy, with 39 to be dished out on Saturday alone. It starts with the men's marathon where Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge seeks an unprecedented third straight gold medal. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan will aim to add to her 5,000m bronze with an extraordinary double, running the 10,000m on Friday and the marathon less than 36 hours later on Sunday. After the closing ceremony in the Stade de France, organizers turn their attention to the Paris Paralympics from August 28. 👉 The Paris Olympics end on Sunday. ⚽ English football returns: The English football season starts with the Community Shield in a duel between Premier League champions Manchester City and rivals Manchester United, who beat them in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag has surprisingly been retained as United manager after a very disappointing league campaign, while City's Pep Guardiola enters the final year of his contract. Saturday's game at Wembley will be a first indication of their form, with the Premier League kicking off a week later. 👉 The Community Shield is on Saturday. Photo: Marius Becker/dpa­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Five stories moving soon on dpa international: 🎤 ­­­­­Tense times for Taylor­: US pop star Taylor #Swift returns to London's #Wembley Stadium this week after her #Eras Tour concerts in #Vienna were cancelled over #terrorism threats. A 19-year-old who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State confessed that he planned to use home-made bombs and knives to kill people near the stadium. #Britain is already on edge following days of riots after three girls were killed at a Swift-themed dance event in #Southport. Security will be tight for her sold-out London shows. 👉 Taylor Swift performs the first of five concerts at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.­­­­­­­­ 📈 World awaits #US #inflation numbers: ­While the world might not care about the price of milk in San Francisco, US economic data matter greatly to the global economy, as wild stock market fluctuations have once again demonstrated. Investors worried that the Federal Reserve may have waited too long to drop interest rates as it tries to fight rising consumer prices. US inflation has been coming down, but the latest employment figures were disappointing. All that, economists say, bodes well for a rate cut in September. 👉 The US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases consumer price index data on Wednesday.­­­­­ 🌐 An international anniversary­: The #Geneva Conventions, which lay out international rules for protecting non-combatants during war, are turning 75. The four conventions, ratified in August 1949, are a cornerstone of international human rights. The conventions formed the basis of a report by the International Criminal Court which indicted leaders of the Palestinian Islamist #Hamas group and #Israel for war crimes.👉 The 75th anniversary of the Geneva conventions is on Monday. 🏅 Paris Olympics end: The Paris Olympics wind down this weekend in a gold medal frenzy, with 39 to be dished out on Saturday alone. It starts with the men's marathon where Kenyan great Eliud Kipchoge seeks an unprecedented third straight gold medal. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan will aim to add to her 5,000m bronze with an extraordinary double, running the 10,000m on Friday and the marathon less than 36 hours later on Sunday. After the closing ceremony in the Stade de France, organizers turn their attention to the Paris Paralympics from August 28. 👉 The Paris Olympics end on Sunday. ⚽ English football returns: The English football season starts with the Community Shield in a duel between Premier League champions Manchester City and rivals Manchester United, who beat them in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag has surprisingly been retained as United manager after a very disappointing league campaign, while City's Pep Guardiola enters the final year of his contract. Saturday's game at Wembley will be a first indication of their form, with the Premier League kicking off a week later. 👉 The Community Shield is on Saturday. Photo: Marius Becker/dpa­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Four stories moving soon on dpa international... ­­­­­­­Region on the brink: ­Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, days after being killed in a strike in Tehran, is being buried in his adopted homeland of Qatar today, as the warring sides in the Middle East plan their next moves. Haniyeh is the third prominent member of Iran-backed military groups to be killed in recent weeks, following a strike by Israel on Hezbollah top commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Israel's claim that it killed Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif in Gaza. Hamas and Iran have both threatened imminent retaliation against Israel, fuelling fears of further escalation in the region. 👉 Haniyeh's funeral takes place in Qatar on Friday (August 2)­­­­­­­­ VP Harris seeks VP running mate: ­Less than two weeks after taking over as Democratic presidential candidate, US Vice President Kamala Harris is now in the final stages of choosing her running mate for the elections in November. Her campaign is eyeing an announcement in the coming days, by Tuesday at the latest. This will be followed by a tour of key swing states by Harris and her newly unveiled vice presidential pick. 👉 Harris is expected to announce her running mate by Tuesday ­­­­­On trial for punching the PM: ­A man alleged to have punched Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the upper arm will face trial in Copenhagen. In a rare case of a national leader being physically attacked in public, the 46-year-old prime minister was hit by the man in the centre of the capital in June and suffered a minor whiplash injury. The Polish suspect, who was arrested immediately, has said he is not guilty. 👉 Copenhagen district court will hear the case on Tuesday and Wednesday ­­ Two Americans in Paris: ­The second week of the Paris Games is where the athletics takes centre stage, and the races to be crowned the fastest woman and man in the world will be the highlights. US sprinters Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles are the favourites for gold this weekend in the women's and men's 100 metres finals, the most iconic events of the Olympics. The duo are already the world champions over 100m but an Olympic gold is what matters most. Lyles is looking to reassert US hegemony over the race after Jamaican great Usain Bolt reigned supreme from 2008-2016 and Italian Marcell Jacobs pulled off a shock win three years ago in Tokyo. Richardson will be helped by the fact that Rio and Tokyo champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is missing through injury while fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is past her prime at 37 as she seeks a third sprint gold. The second week of the Olympics is packed with other big events such as the 400m hurdles, the track cycling beginning on Monday and the conclusion of the artistic gymnastics.  👉 The women's 100m final is on Saturday (August 3) and the men's on Sunday (August 4) Photo: Zuma Press Wire­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Four stories moving soon on dpa international: Warsaw Uprising commemorated: Next week marks the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, one of the largest acts of resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. For 63 days from August 1, 1944, the Polish resistance fought the Nazis as the Red Army was advancing on Warsaw, but the effort was ultimately unsuccessful and the Nazis destroyed the city in retaliation. While German-Polish relations have been strained at times, the presence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at this week's events in Warsaw shows that reconciliation has come a long way. 👉 The 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising is commemorated on Wednesday in Warsaw and on Thursday in Berlin. Tinkering with tradition: The annual Bayreuth Festival stages works by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner, as stipulated by Wagner himself. It is steeped in tradition - and former chancellor Angela Merkel is a well-known fan. When Germany's culture commissioner, Claudia Roth, dared suggest works by different composers for the festival in Bavaria, there were gasps and howls of protest. This year's director, Valentin Schwarz, is no stranger to the opprobrium of Wagner lovers, having been roundly booed in 2022. You tinker with Bayreuth at your peril. Against this backdrop, the least controversial issue is that Australian Simone Young will become the first woman in the festival's history to conduct Wagner's "Ring" cycle. 👉 The Bayreuth Festival has performances each day next week. Voting in crisis-hit Venezuela: As Venezuela's economy reels and social cohesion breaks apart, voters head to the polls this weekend either to deliver another term to President Nicolás Maduro, a former bus driver and protégé of Hugo Chávez, or to give the leading opposition candidate Edmundo González a chance to turn the South American country around. González was a compromise candidate rapidly put in place after the primary winner and an alternate candidate were barred from running. 👉 Venezuela votes on Sunday (July 28) with results expected by Monday. 🏁 Last F1 race before summer break: The iconic circuit of Spa-Francorchamps hosts the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, in the last Formula One race before the month-long summer break. Pressure is starting to show at Red Bull, with their long dominance seemingly under threat after a run of three races without a win. Defending champion Max Verstappen is set for a 10-place grid penalty after exceeding engine allowance, while Sergio Perez in the other car has so far disappointed this season. Red Bull's struggles could pave the way for a second consecutive McLaren victory, after Oscar Piastri claimed his maiden F1 win last weekend in Hungary, while Mercedes will be looking to provide further surprises after recent wins in Austria and Britain. 👉 The Belgian Grand Prix is on Sunday. ­ Photo (Warsaw, 1945): dpa archive Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Five stories moving soon on dpa international... ­­­­­­­Netanyahu faces Congress: ­Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu is to address the US #Congress at a critical moment amid the ongoing #Gaza war and strained relations with #Washington. Netanyahu's speech is sure to prove controversial. US President Joe #Biden’s Democratic Party is increasingly divided on the conflict, with several boycotting the speech in protest at Netanyahu's handling of the war. 👉 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address Congress on Wednesday.­­­­­­­­ Tourist tensions: As #Europe enters holiday season, many tourists are heading to popular destinations like #Mallorca, part of Spain’s Balearic Islands. However, resentment at mass #tourism is rife. The mayor of #Palma, Mallorca’s capital, has proposed limiting the number of tourists, rental cars and holiday flats to address housing shortages, pollution and noise. In recent #protests - echoed in Málaga and Barcelona - thousands chanted "Tourists go home!" and "Mallorca is not for sale!" 👉 A rally against mass tourism is planned in Palma on Sunday (July 21).­­­­­ Swiftmania in Germany­: #Gelsenkirchen, a working-class city in Germany's industrial Ruhr valley, may lack the glamour of major European cities, but it boasts one of the country's biggest and most modern arenas. Taylor #Swift's record-breaking #Eras Tour performances have transformed the city, which temporarily renamed itself "Swiftkirchen." With an overall seven shows in Germany, the Swift effect is set to inject millions into the economy. 👉 Swift performs her last show in Gelsenkirchen tonight, then Hamburg on July 23 and 24, and Munich on July 27 and 28. 🚴Tour de France finale­: Tadej #Pogačar only needs to arrive in Nice in one piece on Sunday to secure the first Tour de France and Giro d'Italia double in a singe campaign since Marco Pantani achieved the feat in 1998. The Slovenian effectively decided the race in the Pyrenees, where he rode away from main rivals Jonas #Vingegaard, the two-time defending champion from Denmark, and Belgium's Remco #Evenepoel. Barring any major late disaster, Pogačar will win his third Tour - but not in Paris, with the final stage being held away from the capital for the first time due to the #Olympics. 👉 The Tour de France concludes on Sunday.  ­🤾⚽🏉 The pre-Olympics­: The #Paris Games officially open next Friday (July 26), but some sports, including #football, #handball and #rugby sevens, get a head start on Wednesday as preliminary action begins to fit major tournaments into the tight Olympic schedule. Also on Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (#IOC) elects the next Winter Olympics hosts, expected to be the French Alps for 2030, and 2002 host Salt Lake City for 2034. 👉 The 2030 and 2034 host elections and first Olympic matches are on Wednesday. Photo: Abir Sultan/Pool EPA­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Five stories moving soon on dpa international... ­­­­­­­A tale of two campaigns: ­With under four months to go until the US election, the week ahead will be a pivotal one for President Joe #Biden and his rival Donald #Trump. In Milwaukee, thousands of Republicans gather for the party's national convention to officially select its nominee. Trump is assured of getting the nod — a formality likely to come on the fourth day of the often raucous event. He is also expected to announce his pick for vice president. The picture couldn't be more different for Biden, who is trying to stanch the flight of Democratic lawmakers and big-time donors in the wake of his disastrous debate performance. Biden has so far defied calls to drop out of the race, but the pressure on him increases daily.👉 The Republican National Convention begins on Monday.­­­­­­­­ Fresh start or false start?­ The political earthquakes in #Britain and #France will continue as lawmakers meet in their newly reconstituted legislatures. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to "reset" Britain begins in earnest with King Charles III opening Parliament and delivering the government's plans for the year ahead. Over the Channel, France's National Assembly holds its first session since the July 7 polls in which a broad — and fragile — leftist coalition beat back a far-right surge but failed to capture a majority of the seats, leaving the parliament fractured. The left believes it should be tasked with forming a government but is fighting over who could be prime minister, while parties across the spectrum puzzle over how to team up and take control. 👉 Britain's Parliament opens on Wednesday; the first session of France's National Assembly is on Thursday.­­­­­ Germany's hot political climate: ­It's summer in #Berlin, as thoughts drift to lakeside outings (nude or not), open-air cinemas, and the simple pleasure of hanging out at the local park. Alas, a smouldering 2025 budget dispute that has divided Chancellor Olaf #Scholz's coalition could flare again when last week's draft agreement on the main points is discussed by the Cabinet. 👉The German Cabinet is expected to discuss the budget on Wednesday. ⚽🎾 Final fever: ­Three major sporting finals take place on Sunday: the men's European Championship, the men's Copa America football tournament and at #Wimbledon, where the men's singles final concludes a fortnight of top tennis, following the women's showdown on Saturday. Having three such big sports events on the same day is unusual, but fans need not worry as they are spread out over several hours. #Spain take on #England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Over in the #US, world champions #Argentina and Lionel Messi must beat #Colombia in Miami to retain the trophy. Success could help settle whether #Messi is the greatest male footballer ever. 👉 The three finals are on Sunday. Photo: Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

­Five stories moving soon on dpa international: 🎂 75 candles: ­Leaders gather in Washington for a three-day summit to mark #NATO's 75th anniversary, with the war in #Ukraine dominating the agenda. The plan is to firm up €40 billion in aid for Kiev next year, while protecting NATO's support package in case former US president Donald #Trump returns to the White House. However, Trump could disrupt NATO's birthday bash, as the presidential race heats up. 👉 NATO leaders meet from Tuesday to Thursday in Washington. ❎ What next for France?­ All eyes will be on the French parliamentary election run-off after Marine Le Pen's far-right nationalist National Rally won the first round of voting. Centrist and leftist candidates have been dropping out in a tactical attempt to garner the necessary 289 seats needed to prevent a far-right majority. President Emmanuel #Macron, meanwhile, risks being left with his control of parliament in tatters, after his centrist camp came third in the first round.👉 France's run-off vote is on Sunday.­­­­­ 📜 Changing of the guard: ­In #Britain, after frenzied vote-counting has delivered a historic loss for the #Conservatives, the handover of power to #Labour is being completed. Next week starts with a new parliament and while many await policy changes in almost all areas, first on the agenda are formalities, with the election of the #Speaker. The State Opening of Parliament and King's Speech then follow a week later. 👉 Britain's new Parliament convenes on Tuesday. 🚀 Countdown: Europe’s space launcher #Ariane 6 blasts off on its inaugural flight next week, intended to mark the start of a new age of European space exploration. While experts behind the scenes say the technology cannot compare to Elon Musk’s #SpaceX, the European space community is extremely excited. The rocket is set to launch technology to measure #gamma rays, track #wildlife, and test self-healing #solar cells. Heading out into the wide blue yonder are a smart-farming satellite, a radio beacon demonstrator, and even capsules destined to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere to test new materials. 👉 Ariane 6's maiden flight is planned for Tuesday. ⚽ Quarter-finals: Euro 2024 has reached the quarter-final stage, with hosts Germany taking on Spain in a duel of record champions, France playing Portugal in another meeting of former winners while England play Switzerland and the Netherlands are up against Turkey. The rematch of the 2016 final France v Portugal is also Kylian Mbappé v Cristiano Ronaldo. England are still alive thanks to Jude Bellingham while opponents Switzerland want to add the scalp of the 2021 runners-up to that of title holders Italy. The Netherlands face a Turkish side enjoying huge support from Germany's large Turkish community. The quarter-finals are Friday and Saturday, followed by the semi-finals Tuesday and Wednesday Photo: Robert Michael/dpa­ Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB

Five stories moving soon: Snap election gamble: ­French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak face their moment of reckoning after calling snap elections. Opinion polls indicate that both are in for a drubbing: In France the far-right nationalist National Rally is well ahead, while Britain looks set to buck a European trend and shift left to the Labour Party. Will the opinion polls prove right? 👉 France votes over the next two Sundays (June 30 and July 7) and the United Kingdom votes on Thursday.­­­­­­­­ Thorn in Europe's side: ­Hungary takes over the six-month presidency of the European Union this week. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán - the hardline leader who has been in power since 2010 - has been the EU's black sheep for years, refusing to fall in line on many issues, primarily immigration, and blocking support for Ukraine. However, the presidency is largely bureaucratic, so while Orbán may be vexatious, he is unlikely to upend the EU. 👉 The EU presidency shifts to Budapest on Monday.­­­­­ Pragmatism over politics: ­A two-day UN conference on Afghanistan aims to increase international engagement with the hardline Islamist Taliban, the country's de facto government since international forces withdrew in August 2021. No country has officially recognized the Taliban government, although China has broken ranks by establishing formal bilateral diplomatic ties. The conference in Doha - the third such talks - will be attended for the first time by the Taliban authorities. 👉 The UN Afghanistan conference takes places on Sunday (June 30) and Monday. ⚽ Euro 2024 knock-out stage: ­The Euro 2024 round of 16 kicks off with Switzerland against the holders Italy and hosts Germany v Denmark. While Germany stepped up as potential title contenders after two wins and a draw, defending champions Italy seemed too flawed compared to the winning 2021 team. England, labelled "unwatchable" by some fans, face Slovakia, as three-time winners Spain, the only nation with a perfect record so far, meet debutants Georgia. Two disappointments in the group stage, France and Belgium, face off on Monday as Portugal take on Slovenia. And on Tuesday, an impressive Austria side play Turkey, while the Netherlands will challenge Romania. 👉 Euro 2024 knockout round starts on Saturday.  🎾 Wimbledon starts, but Djokovic doubtful­: The Wimbledon grass-court tournament starts on Monday but it's unclear whether seven-time winner Novak Djokovic can participate following knee surgery. Another potential absence is twice Wimbledon winner Andy Murray, after surgery on a spinal cyst. Both were named in Friday's draw but could still pull out. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner are among the favourites for the men's title. Iga Swiatek leads the way in the women's event. 👉 The Wimbledon tournament begins on Monday.­­­­­­ Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Want more stories? Register for our weekly newsletter: http://dpaq.de/bPfGB