Stories from Stuttgart · Germany

The new coalition government in Baden-Württemberg presented a coalition agreement exceeding 160 pages in Stuttgart. The plan, described as a 'Green-Black' agreement by Knut Bauer, prioritizes economic interests.

The state of Baden-Württemberg plans to support new companies and startups through a future fund using state and private capital. The CDU party, led by Manuel Hagel, is also proposing a mandatory and free final year of kindergarten.

Baden-Württemberg has fallen to fifth place in digital education rankings, according to Bitkom data. The state lost a position despite maintaining strong values in economy and society.

The German mechanical engineering industry recorded an unexpected surge in orders during March. According to the industry association VDMA, real orders nationwide were 27% higher in March compared to February. The announcement was made by the VDMA on Wednesday.

Daimler Truck reported an 80% decline in profit during the first three months of the year compared to the previous year. Radström indicated the group is well-positioned following this surge in orders. This information was conveyed by Tokyo FM. Mercedes-Benz also reported a profit fall of 300 million Euros in Q1. The company's first-quarter profits were impacted by these trade measures. The Chinese economy has shown a strong start to the year. The decline follows price increases in precious metals, rare earths, and industrial metals such as lithium and tungsten. Brossard, the association's managing director, noted in Munich that almost no industry remains unaffected by these rising costs. The ongoing conflict in Iran is reportedly exacerbating these economic pressures. The company's earnings fell to just under 500 million euros.

The CDU parliamentary group in the Baden-Wurttemberg state parliament has nominated former Interior Minister Strobl for the position of state parliament president. The nomination occurred during the group's first parliamentary group meeting of the new legislative period.

Customs officials at Stuttgart Airport discovered 250 kilograms of bratwurst during a search of a travel bus.

The 12th International Gospel Church Day concluded in Stuttgart with a record attendance of more than 5,000 participants. Over 200 choirs from more than 20 countries gathered in the state capital over the weekend.

Rubnik, a former star within the Catholic Church, faces serious allegations of spiritual and sexual abuse. He is accused of abusing 20 nuns. The new Deutschlandfunk podcast 'Heilsverbrechen - Der Fall Rubnik' details the stories of the victims and how they encountered Rubnik.

The Baden-Württemberg fire department responded to more than 128,000 calls last year, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Emergency services extinguished nearly 22,000 fires, a figure higher than previous years.