{"id":1794146,"date":"2026-02-26T06:42:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T03:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1794146"},"modified":"2026-02-26T06:42:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T03:42:24","slug":"a-cashless-society-dream-or-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1794146","title":{"rendered":"A cashless society \u2014 dream or reality?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZa<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Physical and verbal attacks on German train conductors have been increasing in recent years [FILE: Oct 17, 2025]<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Annegret Hilse\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Authorities are pressing charges against a passenger in another violent attack on a train conductor<\/li>\n<li>Plans for renovating Bellevue, the federal president&#8217;s official residence, have been made public<\/li>\n<li>Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Merz<\/a> resumes his trip to China<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here are the headlines, reports and analyses from across <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, February 26:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76129046\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76129046\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Germany most reliant on cash payment in Europe, survey finds<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Germany most reliant on cash payment in Europe, survey finds<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Germany is the country most reliant on cash in Europe, a new survey shows, with Austria a close second, making the neighbors Europe&#8217;s cash strongholds.<\/p>\n<p>The survey by market research institute YouGov was conducted on behalf of consulting firm BearingPoint.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 2,026 adults surveyed in Germany, 73% said cash was their most common payment method. This is even higher than last year&#8217;s 69%.<\/p>\n<p>In Austria, 71% of the 1,000 surveyed also said they mostly use cash.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cash-hoarding-can-germany-ditch-its-billions-of-1-and-2-cent-coins\/a-72216366\">Coins and banknotes are used<\/a> much less frequently in the seven other European countries surveyed.<\/p>\n<p>Frequent cash use stood at 61% in Switzerland, 58% in Ireland, 51% in France and 46% in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p>Nordic countries were even less reliant on cash, with Finland at 42%, Denmark at 32% and Sweden at 25%.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of the respondents in Sweden said they don&#8217;t use cash at all, alongside 18% in Denmark. In Germany, this stood at a meagre 2%, with only 1% in Austria saying they don&#8217;t use cash.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 A cashless society \u2014 dream or reality?\" class=\"headline\">A cashless society \u2014 dream or reality?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-70374713\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"70374713\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/70372735_605.webp\" data-duration=\"05:25\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/me\/me241001_HistoryPayment_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59Qdq<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76129032\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76129032\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section German companies losing momentum for climate protection, report shows<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">German companies losing momentum for climate protection, report shows<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/climate-change\/t-18614374\">Climate<\/a> protection and sustainability are losing momentum among policies of German companies, a new report showed on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The report, published by the Bertelsmann Foundation, said companies blamed political uncertainty and weak market incentives for the drop.<\/p>\n<p>Over 800 companies were surveyed for the report. Almost 60% cited an internal decline in sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>Some 73% of firms in the real and financial economy are still adhering to responsibility for sustainability at board and executive level. The figure is unchanged from last year.<\/p>\n<p>However, many companies seem to be slowing their efforts. The share of companies planning new sustainability initiatives was down by 7 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Jakob Kunzlmann, sustainability expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, warned that sustainability risks entering a phase of stagnation, amid the absence of clear and reliable signals from policymakers and markets.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, 59% of companies were setting their own climate targets, up from 53%, with banks also up to 65%, from 46%.<\/p>\n<p>The German government has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, standing by that declaration despite <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-rail-service-dealt-major-blow-by-government\/a-75590884\">rolling back projects<\/a>\u00a0and laws that would make it possible to reach that goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59Qdc<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76128789\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76128789\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Chancellor Merz visits Beijing&#8217;s Forbidden City on second day of China trip<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Chancellor Merz visits Beijing&#8217;s Forbidden City on second day of China trip<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is on the second day of his official visit to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, he visited Beijing&#8217;s Forbidden City, which served as the palace of China&#8217;s emperors for over 500 years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Merz<\/a> also visited the Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday, accompanied by a delegation of German entrepreneurs including representatives of auto giants Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes.<\/p>\n<p>Follow <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merz-in-china-german-chancellor-xi-seek-more-cooperation\/live-76110529\">our blog here<\/a> for more on Merz&#8217;s state visit to China.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Resetting ties \u2013 Chancellor Merz on his first visit to China\" class=\"headline\">Resetting ties \u2013 Chancellor Merz on his first visit to China<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76125529\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76125529\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76122121_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:34\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260225_MERZCHINAday_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZh<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76128788\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76128788\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section President&#8217;s official residence in need of renovations worth some \u20ac600 million<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">President&#8217;s official residence in need of renovations worth some \u20ac600 million<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"75162008\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75162008_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A red carpet laid out at the entrance to Bellevue ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Dec 15, 2025\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Though its public appearances show little wear, President Steinmeier agrees his Bellevue official residence is in dire need of renovation<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Michael Kappeler\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Plans for a long-overdue renovation of the Bellevue palace, the official residence of the German president, have been made public, with the makeover set to cost around \u20ac600 million (roughly $709 million), ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Citing the Federal President&#8217;s Office, the broadcaster\u00a0said the \u20ac601-million figure includes a \u20ac71 million contingency for construction price increases and a \u20ac188 million for risk reserve, including potential pollutants that could be found at the building&#8217;s structure.<\/p>\n<p>The renovations could begin as early as the summer, with eight years considered a &#8220;realistic&#8221; timeline, according to Petra Wesseler, head of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning responsible for the project.<\/p>\n<p>President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frank-walter-steinmeier\/t-17345761\">Frank-Walter Steinmeier<\/a> would have to move to a temporary residency, probably an office tower block near the residence.<\/p>\n<p>Steinmeier himself commented on the renovations, suggesting they were overdue. The president mentioned not being able to use the residence to its full capacity while hosting events due to safety risks, as well as plumbing leaks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZg<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76128785\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76128785\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Passenger injures conductor of ICE train during trip to Berlin<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Passenger injures conductor of ICE train during trip to Berlin<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A passenger punched a train conductor\u00a0on a long distance InterCity Express (ICE) train\u00a0to the capital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/berlin\/t-18967759\">Berlin<\/a>, public broadcaster ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>A 35-year-old female passenger showed an invalid ticket during a routine train inspection and then was asked to get off the train. She then proceeded to attack the conductor, who suffered abdominal pain, prompting him to cut his shift short.<\/p>\n<p>The incident forced some 100 passengers to prematurely get off the train and wait for a replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Criminal proceedings have been launched against the attacker, including for fraud, trespassing, assault and property damage.<\/p>\n<p>The incident comes after the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">death of another train conductor<\/a> in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate sparked a debate over whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security measures are necessary<\/a> aboard German trains. The conductor was also attacked by a passenger during a ticket check. He later died of his injuries.<\/p>\n<p>According to official figures from national rail operator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/deutsche-bahn\/t-19021273\">Deutsche Bahn (DB)<\/a>, an average of five staff members are <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-train-conductors-death-highlights-rise-in-violence\/a-75836876\">physically assaulted<\/a> every day, with four more facing threats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZd<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76128783\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782#post-liveblog-post-76128783\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome to our coverage!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">02\/26\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">February 26, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome to our coverage!<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"no-link m1ho1h07 l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Rana Taha<\/span><\/span><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning from our newsroom in Bonn, where sunshine is returning\u00a0after a dark, cold winter.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we look into the conversation over\u00a0whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security is needed<\/a> on Germany&#8217;s trains, after <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">another conductor<\/a> was attacked and injured by a passenger during a ticket check.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, plans for renovating the official residence of the federal president have been revealed and could be set in motion as early as the summer.<\/p>\n<p>This blog will bring you the latest news, background, videos and analyses on all things Germany. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZb<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"h4zlaoh bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 disabled sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Authorities are pressing charges against a passenger in another violent attack on a train conductor<\/li>\n<li>Plans for renovating Bellevue, the federal president&#8217;s official residence, have been made public<\/li>\n<li>Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Merz<\/a> resumes his trip to China<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here are the headlines, reports and analyses from across <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, February 26:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Here are the headlines, reports and analyses from across <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, February 26:<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Germany is the country most reliant on cash in Europe, a new survey shows, with Austria a close second, making the neighbors Europe&#8217;s cash strongholds.<\/p>\n<p>The survey by market research institute YouGov was conducted on behalf of consulting firm BearingPoint.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 2,026 adults surveyed in Germany, 73% said cash was their most common payment method. This is even higher than last year&#8217;s 69%.<\/p>\n<p>In Austria, 71% of the 1,000 surveyed also said they mostly use cash.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cash-hoarding-can-germany-ditch-its-billions-of-1-and-2-cent-coins\/a-72216366\">Coins and banknotes are used<\/a> much less frequently in the seven other European countries surveyed.<\/p>\n<p>Frequent cash use stood at 61% in Switzerland, 58% in Ireland, 51% in France and 46% in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p>Nordic countries were even less reliant on cash, with Finland at 42%, Denmark at 32% and Sweden at 25%.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of the respondents in Sweden said they don&#8217;t use cash at all, alongside 18% in Denmark. In Germany, this stood at a meagre 2%, with only 1% in Austria saying they don&#8217;t use cash.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 A cashless society \u2014 dream or reality?\" class=\"headline\">A cashless society \u2014 dream or reality?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-70374713\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"70374713\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/70372735_605.webp\" data-duration=\"05:25\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/me\/me241001_HistoryPayment_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Germany is the country most reliant on cash in Europe, a new survey shows, with Austria a close second, making the neighbors Europe&#8217;s cash strongholds.<\/p>\n<p>The survey by market research institute YouGov was conducted on behalf of consulting firm BearingPoint.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 2,026 adults surveyed in Germany, 73% said cash was their most common payment method. This is even higher than last year&#8217;s 69%.<\/p>\n<p>In Austria, 71% of the 1,000 surveyed also said they mostly use cash.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cash-hoarding-can-germany-ditch-its-billions-of-1-and-2-cent-coins\/a-72216366\">Coins and banknotes are used<\/a> much less frequently in the seven other European countries surveyed.<\/p>\n<p>Frequent cash use stood at 61% in Switzerland, 58% in Ireland, 51% in France and 46% in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p>Nordic countries were even less reliant on cash, with Finland at 42%, Denmark at 32% and Sweden at 25%.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of the respondents in Sweden said they don&#8217;t use cash at all, alongside 18% in Denmark. In Germany, this stood at a meagre 2%, with only 1% in Austria saying they don&#8217;t use cash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/climate-change\/t-18614374\">Climate<\/a> protection and sustainability are losing momentum among policies of German companies, a new report showed on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The report, published by the Bertelsmann Foundation, said companies blamed political uncertainty and weak market incentives for the drop.<\/p>\n<p>Over 800 companies were surveyed for the report. Almost 60% cited an internal decline in sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>Some 73% of firms in the real and financial economy are still adhering to responsibility for sustainability at board and executive level. The figure is unchanged from last year.<\/p>\n<p>However, many companies seem to be slowing their efforts. The share of companies planning new sustainability initiatives was down by 7 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Jakob Kunzlmann, sustainability expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, warned that sustainability risks entering a phase of stagnation, amid the absence of clear and reliable signals from policymakers and markets.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, 59% of companies were setting their own climate targets, up from 53%, with banks also up to 65%, from 46%.<\/p>\n<p>The German government has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, standing by that declaration despite <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-rail-service-dealt-major-blow-by-government\/a-75590884\">rolling back projects<\/a>\u00a0and laws that would make it possible to reach that goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/climate-change\/t-18614374\">Climate<\/a> protection and sustainability are losing momentum among policies of German companies, a new report showed on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The report, published by the Bertelsmann Foundation, said companies blamed political uncertainty and weak market incentives for the drop.<\/p>\n<p>Over 800 companies were surveyed for the report. Almost 60% cited an internal decline in sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>Some 73% of firms in the real and financial economy are still adhering to responsibility for sustainability at board and executive level. The figure is unchanged from last year.<\/p>\n<p>However, many companies seem to be slowing their efforts. The share of companies planning new sustainability initiatives was down by 7 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Jakob Kunzlmann, sustainability expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, warned that sustainability risks entering a phase of stagnation, amid the absence of clear and reliable signals from policymakers and markets.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, 59% of companies were setting their own climate targets, up from 53%, with banks also up to 65%, from 46%.<\/p>\n<p>The German government has committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, standing by that declaration despite <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-rail-service-dealt-major-blow-by-government\/a-75590884\">rolling back projects<\/a>\u00a0and laws that would make it possible to reach that goal.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is on the second day of his official visit to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, he visited Beijing&#8217;s Forbidden City, which served as the palace of China&#8217;s emperors for over 500 years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Merz<\/a> also visited the Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday, accompanied by a delegation of German entrepreneurs including representatives of auto giants Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes.<\/p>\n<p>Follow <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merz-in-china-german-chancellor-xi-seek-more-cooperation\/live-76110529\">our blog here<\/a> for more on Merz&#8217;s state visit to China.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Resetting ties \u2013 Chancellor Merz on his first visit to China\" class=\"headline\">Resetting ties \u2013 Chancellor Merz on his first visit to China<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76125529\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76125529\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76122121_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:34\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260225_MERZCHINAday_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is on the second day of his official visit to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, he visited Beijing&#8217;s Forbidden City, which served as the palace of China&#8217;s emperors for over 500 years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Merz<\/a> also visited the Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday, accompanied by a delegation of German entrepreneurs including representatives of auto giants Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes.<\/p>\n<p>Follow <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merz-in-china-german-chancellor-xi-seek-more-cooperation\/live-76110529\">our blog here<\/a> for more on Merz&#8217;s state visit to China.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"75162008\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75162008_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A red carpet laid out at the entrance to Bellevue ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Dec 15, 2025\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Though its public appearances show little wear, President Steinmeier agrees his Bellevue official residence is in dire need of renovation<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Michael Kappeler\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Plans for a long-overdue renovation of the Bellevue palace, the official residence of the German president, have been made public, with the makeover set to cost around \u20ac600 million (roughly $709 million), ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Citing the Federal President&#8217;s Office, the broadcaster\u00a0said the \u20ac601-million figure includes a \u20ac71 million contingency for construction price increases and a \u20ac188 million for risk reserve, including potential pollutants that could be found at the building&#8217;s structure.<\/p>\n<p>The renovations could begin as early as the summer, with eight years considered a &#8220;realistic&#8221; timeline, according to Petra Wesseler, head of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning responsible for the project.<\/p>\n<p>President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frank-walter-steinmeier\/t-17345761\">Frank-Walter Steinmeier<\/a> would have to move to a temporary residency, probably an office tower block near the residence.<\/p>\n<p>Steinmeier himself commented on the renovations, suggesting they were overdue. The president mentioned not being able to use the residence to its full capacity while hosting events due to safety risks, as well as plumbing leaks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Plans for a long-overdue renovation of the Bellevue palace, the official residence of the German president, have been made public, with the makeover set to cost around \u20ac600 million (roughly $709 million), ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Citing the Federal President&#8217;s Office, the broadcaster\u00a0said the \u20ac601-million figure includes a \u20ac71 million contingency for construction price increases and a \u20ac188 million for risk reserve, including potential pollutants that could be found at the building&#8217;s structure.<\/p>\n<p>The renovations could begin as early as the summer, with eight years considered a &#8220;realistic&#8221; timeline, according to Petra Wesseler, head of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning responsible for the project.<\/p>\n<p>President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frank-walter-steinmeier\/t-17345761\">Frank-Walter Steinmeier<\/a> would have to move to a temporary residency, probably an office tower block near the residence.<\/p>\n<p>Steinmeier himself commented on the renovations, suggesting they were overdue. The president mentioned not being able to use the residence to its full capacity while hosting events due to safety risks, as well as plumbing leaks.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A passenger punched a train conductor\u00a0on a long distance InterCity Express (ICE) train\u00a0to the capital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/berlin\/t-18967759\">Berlin<\/a>, public broadcaster ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>A 35-year-old female passenger showed an invalid ticket during a routine train inspection and then was asked to get off the train. She then proceeded to attack the conductor, who suffered abdominal pain, prompting him to cut his shift short.<\/p>\n<p>The incident forced some 100 passengers to prematurely get off the train and wait for a replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Criminal proceedings have been launched against the attacker, including for fraud, trespassing, assault and property damage.<\/p>\n<p>The incident comes after the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">death of another train conductor<\/a> in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate sparked a debate over whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security measures are necessary<\/a> aboard German trains. The conductor was also attacked by a passenger during a ticket check. He later died of his injuries.<\/p>\n<p>According to official figures from national rail operator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/deutsche-bahn\/t-19021273\">Deutsche Bahn (DB)<\/a>, an average of five staff members are <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-train-conductors-death-highlights-rise-in-violence\/a-75836876\">physically assaulted<\/a> every day, with four more facing threats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A passenger punched a train conductor\u00a0on a long distance InterCity Express (ICE) train\u00a0to the capital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/berlin\/t-18967759\">Berlin<\/a>, public broadcaster ARD\u00a0reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>A 35-year-old female passenger showed an invalid ticket during a routine train inspection and then was asked to get off the train. She then proceeded to attack the conductor, who suffered abdominal pain, prompting him to cut his shift short.<\/p>\n<p>The incident forced some 100 passengers to prematurely get off the train and wait for a replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Criminal proceedings have been launched against the attacker, including for fraud, trespassing, assault and property damage.<\/p>\n<p>The incident comes after the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">death of another train conductor<\/a> in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate sparked a debate over whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security measures are necessary<\/a> aboard German trains. The conductor was also attacked by a passenger during a ticket check. He later died of his injuries.<\/p>\n<p>According to official figures from national rail operator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/deutsche-bahn\/t-19021273\">Deutsche Bahn (DB)<\/a>, an average of five staff members are <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-train-conductors-death-highlights-rise-in-violence\/a-75836876\">physically assaulted<\/a> every day, with four more facing threats.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Good morning from our newsroom in Bonn, where sunshine is returning\u00a0after a dark, cold winter.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we look into the conversation over\u00a0whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security is needed<\/a> on Germany&#8217;s trains, after <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">another conductor<\/a> was attacked and injured by a passenger during a ticket check.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, plans for renovating the official residence of the federal president have been revealed and could be set in motion as early as the summer.<\/p>\n<p>This blog will bring you the latest news, background, videos and analyses on all things Germany. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Good morning from our newsroom in Bonn, where sunshine is returning\u00a0after a dark, cold winter.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we look into the conversation over\u00a0whether <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-deutsche-bahn-calls-safety-summit\/live-75944470\">more security is needed<\/a> on Germany&#8217;s trains, after <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-train-conductor-dies-after-attack-by-passenger\/a-75797068\">another conductor<\/a> was attacked and injured by a passenger during a ticket check.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, plans for renovating the official residence of the federal president have been revealed and could be set in motion as early as the summer.<\/p>\n<p>This blog will bring you the latest news, background, videos and analyses on all things Germany. Stay tuned!<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-passenger-attacks-conductor-on-ice-train\/live-76128782&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/74402599_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59QZa Physical and verbal attacks on German train conductors have been increasing in recent years [FILE: Oct 17, 2025]Image: Annegret Hilse\/REUTERS Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Authorities are pressing charges against a passenger in another violent attack on a train conductor Plans for renovating [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1794146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1794146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1794146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1794146\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1794146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1794146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1794146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}