Latest news with #SinaSchuldt
Local Germany
7 days ago
- Business
- Local Germany
How the 'tip button' is changing tipping culture in Germany
When paying by card, customers are increasingly encountering a 'tip button', or Trinkgeld button, on the card reader – and not only in bars and restaurants. The development has led directly to people tipping more and more frequently, but not everyone is happy. What is the 'tip button'? With the spread of digital payment options, card readers increasingly feature a screen that suggests three or four tip options – usually pre-set at ten, 15 or 20 percent of the bill. Ten percent is actually well above the average tip in Germany. A study by the Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen found that the average tip on a bill of €50 was €4.50 in 2024 (up from €3.50 in 2014). Presented alongside options for 15 and 20 percent, however, a tip of just ten percent looks reasonable. Another frequent complaint about the tip button is the relative invisibility of the 'no tip' option. This isn't always the case, but on some card readers the option is hidden in small text or even on another page behind a series of clicks. According to an article in the Rheinische Post , the tip button was introduced in the wake of the transition to digital payments. As cash use fell, staff feared (and initially saw) declining tips, leading restauranteurs to introduce tip prompts. How does tipping traditionally work in Germany? In Germany, tipping has traditionally been voluntary and dependent on good service, friendly staff or special attention. READ ALSO: Polite but not mandatory - The dos and don'ts of tipping in Germany In restaurants, cafes, bars, taxis and even at the hairdressers, traditionally it was not uncommon for German customers to simply round up their payments. To do so, you can say, " Stimmt so " (in this case meaning "keep the change") when handing over the cash – assuming the difference is somewhere between five and ten percent. Alternatively you might say something like, " Macht es bitte Zwanzig" ("make it twenty") when paying an €18 bill with a €50 note, for example. Advertisement Experts: The tip button is changing everything Payment by card rather than cash is becoming more and more popular in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa / Sina Schuldt According to experts, the introduction of the tip button is having a clear impact on tipping behaviour in Germany. "Many retailers say that guests tend to tip more than before when paying by card via the terminal," the Rheinische Post reported. The new systems act as a standard from which you have to consciously deviate. Industry experts refer to this as the 'decoy effect': as soon as one option is set particularly high, the others seem appropriate. Christian Traxler, professor of economics at the Hertie School in Berlin, told Die Zeit that some guests feel pressured by digital cash register systems to tip more than they had originally planned. In addition, the tip button isn't just causing consumers to tip in larger sums. It's also having a clear effect on the number of situations in which they're expected to tip. READ ALSO: Card over cash? Why Germany is seeing a new payment preference Whereas in the past only waiters, taxi drivers and hairdressers expected a tip, the tip button is now appearing as standard in coffee shops, bakery chains, fast food outlets, and hotel receptions and even in doctors' surgeries. Rebelling against tipping culture A study by the financial technology platform Adyen revealed that 75 percent of respondents don't like being told how much to tip, with Gen Z (people aged 18 to 29) in particular reportedly finding the new practices annoying, intrusive and against the original spirit of tipping. While older generations in Germany tip between ten and 14 percent on average, this figure is significantly lower among the under-30s. Nearly a quarter of Gen Z consumers don't tip at all, according to the study. Advertisement Unlike in the USA, where service staff often rely on tips, German labour law clearly states that employers are not permitted to use tips as a substitute for wages. READ ALSO: How much should tourists really tip in Germany? Section 107 (3) of Germany's Trade Regulation Act states that tips may not be offset against wages – minimum wages and collectively agreed wage floors apply independently of, and in addition to, tips received. In theory, therefore, no one should feel compelled to tip in Germany. Previously, customers had to make a conscious decision about whether, and how much, they wanted to tip waiting staff. Now the situation has been reversed. The easiest and most convenient option is to click ten percent, or more. Useful vocabulary: tip - das Trinkgeld tip button - die Trinkgeldtaste / der Trinkgeld button bill - die Rechnung Would you like to give a tip? - Möchten Sie ein Trinkgeld geben?
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Blueberry Recall Update as FDA Issues Most Severe Risk Level
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A recall of hundreds of boxes of blueberries due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes has now been issued the highest risk warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Alma Pak International LLC, based in Georgia, issued a voluntary recall for 400 boxes of its organic blueberries on June 9. The FDA subsequently issued its Class 1 risk classification on July 1. Newsweek contacted Alma Pak International LLC for comment by email outside of regular working hours. Stock image. Alma Pak International LLC issued a voluntary recall for 400 boxes of its organic blueberries on June 9. Stock image. Alma Pak International LLC issued a voluntary recall for 400 boxes of its organic blueberries on June 9. Sina Schuldt/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images Why It Matters A Class I risk classification represents "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," according to the FDA. Listeria infection, or listeriosis, may lead to a range of symptoms in infected individuals. For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, the FDA said. For more severe and potentially life-threatening infections, symptoms may include headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Severe infections are particularly dangerous for newborns, adults over age 65 and those with weakened immune systems. What To Know A total of 400 boxes of the firm's organic blueberries are impacted by the recall. Each box weighs 30 lbs. The blueberries were shipped to one customer in North Carolina, and can be identified by the Lot numbers: 13325 G1060 / 13325 G 1096. The recall was initiated after the firm obtained positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes during routine testing of the product. What People Are Saying Haley F. Oliver, a professor of food science at Purdue University, told Newsweek previously: "Listeria monocytogenes is a common microorganism that can be found in the natural environment, for example in soil. There are many factors that determine if someone gets listeriosis — a listeria infection. In most instances, an immunocompromised person, so young, old, pregnant or otherwise immunocompromised, must eat contaminated food. The number of bacteria resulting in infection and the amount of time before illness varies considerably. Symptoms vary among people but can include fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance." Mary O'Riordan, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School, told Newsweek previously: "Listeria has an unusual capacity to grow at refrigerated temperatures. Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods in stores or at home, are a place where listeria can keep growing. "Early symptoms of listeria infection look similar to other common foodborne infections, including fever, diarrhea and vomiting, so it's often not diagnosed right away. Unfortunately, sometimes listeria can spread into the brain and cause more serious illness, like meningitis. In those cases, if people experience headache, stiff neck or confusion, they should seek urgent medical attention." The FDA said on its website: "Pregnant women and their unborn or newborn baby, adults over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems, are all considered to be high-risk groups that are susceptible to the serious and adverse effects of listeriosis." What Happens Next The recall is listed as ongoing, according to the FDA. The agency advises anyone who suspects that they have developed symptoms resembling a listeriosis infection to contact their healthcare provider immediately.
The Hill
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
The 10 most livable cities in the world in 2025
Copenhagen just took the crown as the world's most livable city. The Danish capital knocked Vienna off its throne after three years at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) most livable cities rankings. The EIU's 2025 index, released Tuesday, scored 173 cities across five main categories: Stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Copenhagen earned a perfect score of 100 for stability, education and infrastructure, further cementing Western Europe's grip on the top of the rankings. Vienna, along with Zurich and Geneva, also landed in the top five. Three Australian cities — Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide — cracked the top ten, joined by nearby Auckland, New Zealand. Vancouver in Canada was the lone North American city to make the cut, coming in at No. 10. Overall, global livability remained flat over the past year, with an average city score of 76.1 out of 100. Stability scores continued to decline amid geopolitical tensions, but the report noted those losses were offset by modest gains in health care, education and infrastructure. Honolulu was the highest-ranked U.S. city on the list, coming in No. 23, followed by Atlanta at No. 29. Smaller cities tend to perform well on the index due to lower crime levels and fewer terrorism threats. New York City ranked 69th, for example. Miami and Portland, Oregon, tied for 44th — up three spots from last year. Charlotte, N.C. and Indianapolis also climbed three places, landing at 50th. Declining health care scores for the four Canadian cities included in the index helped drag down the overall average for North America compared to a year ago — a regional dip that researchers said could continue. 'With the Trump administration in the U.S. proposing to cut public spending on education and health care, the region remains susceptible to further downgrades in future editions,' researchers wrote in the report. On the other end of the rankings, Damascus, Syria, was ranked the world's least livable city, scoring particularly low for stability and health care. Tripoli, Lybia; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Karachi, Pakistan and Algiers, Algeria, also ranked in the bottom five. These are the 10 most livable cities in 2025. Downtown skyline in Vancouver, Canada. (Getty Images) The skyline of Adelaide. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images) The skyline of Auckland. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images) Tourists take photos in Shinsekai with Tsutenkaku tower in sight in Osaka, Japan, on December 12, 2024. Shinsekai, which means 'New World' in Japanese, is an old neighborhood located in a downtown area in the southern part of Osaka City and is famous for Tsutenkaku tower. (Photo by Kichul Shin/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Sydney Opera House and Sydney city center skyscrapers. (Photo by: Martin Berry/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) A general view of the city center of Geneva, the second largest city in Switzerland, which attracts tourists with its historical structure and tranquility, on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Hamza Onder Kuloglu/Anadolu via Getty Images) Rowers make their way along the Maribyrnong River towards the Melbourne skyline in the early morning light on April 18, 2023. – Melbourne has officially become Australia's most populous city after an adjustment to the city boundaries which saw its population jump to 4,875,400, almost 19,000 more than Sydney, according to Australia's Bureau of Statistics. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) A small police motor boat travels on the Limmat river, which church spires to the rear, in central Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Trams pass the State Opera House on Ringstrasse, Vienna, Austria. (Photo by: Andrew Michael/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – AUGUST 25: People paddle their stand-up paddleboards at Fisketorvet harbour bath in Copenhagen, Denmark, on August 25, 2022. On hot days, Copenhageners swim with the city's skyline in free view. During the week, many locals pass the pool for a quick dip on their way home from work. Harbour baths are very popular among both locals and visitors. (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
3 Ways Sport Is Supporting 'Our Power, Our Planet' This Earth Day
15 September 2022, Bremen: The Weser Stadium with the integrated solar cells of the photovoltaic ... More system. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images) "Our Power, Our Planet" is the rallying cry for Earth Day 2025, calling for a bold global effort to triple renewable electricity generation by 2030. The world of sport is emerging as a powerful ally in this transition. Despite challenging political headwinds in U.S. around clean energy investments, renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expected to grow at record rates globally through 2025. Sports organisations across the globe are harnessing their influence, infrastructure, and fan engagement to advance clean energy goals. From stadiums powered by solar energy, to partnerships with renewable energy companies, the sector is proving that athletic ambition can go hand-in-hand with climate action. Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA has long been a sustainability pioneer. Its roof has 4,200 solar panels, and a wind turbine 35km away supplies green energy to the stadium. Storing renewable energy in two large batteries, which have a capacity of 8.6 mega watt hours, enables the stadium to run some matches entirely on green energy. 'More than a stadium we are trying to be a frontrunner in sustainability and we do that in connection with our stakeholders, business partners and also our industry partners," shared director, innovation and advisory, Sander Van Stiphout. "After all, to shape our tomorrow, today we have to give import on sustainability because I believe that stadiums are like the living rooms of the society and create value to the society.' Johan Cruyff Arena , the main stadium in the Dutch capital and home of AFC AJAX and Netherlands ... More national football team in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The stadium was formerly named Amsterdam Arena but renamed in April 2018 in memory of Ajax legend Johan Cruyff. The capacity of the stadium is 55.000 for football games and 68.000 for concerts. It has a retractable roof and solar panels, photovoltaic sun collectors on the roof. The stadium is a 4 star, rated by UEFA. It is owned by Gemeente Amsterdam Stadion N.V.. Amsterdam, Netherland - August 13, 2019 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) In the U.K., Manchester City Football Club is rolling out a large-scale solar installation across its academy training complex and Joie Stadium. In November 2024, 2,800 of the 10,000 solar panel array had already been installed. "By transitioning to self-supplied renewable energy, we will guarantee a consistent flow of clean power that offsets the energy required to run the stadium and significantly reduce its environmental impact," said the club's director of sustainability, Pete Bradshaw. In the U.S., 32% of NFL stadiums are powered by onsite solar arrays. It is an NBA team that has the largest solar installation however. The NBA's Sacramento Kings stadium, Golden 1 Center, uses a mix of both onsite and offsite installations and represents 58% of the capacity installed at NBA arenas. Several major sports stadiums worldwide are now sponsored by renewable energy companies, signalling a growing commitment to sustainability in sport. UDINE, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: A general view outside the stadium before the Serie A TIM match between ... More Udinese Calcio and Hellas Verona FC at Bluenergy Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by) Italy's Bluenergy Stadium, home to Udinese Calcio, began a strategic partnership with Bluenergy Group in early 2024 to install solar panels on the roof of the stadium. 'Our goal is to become the first carbon free stadium in Italy within three to five years,' said Magda Pozzo, Udinese's chief commercial officer in an interview with Forbes. In April 2025 the 'Energia in Campo' project was launched, a system that features 2,409 solar panels on the stadium's roof, able to generate around 1.1 million kilowatt hours annually. Premier League football team Arsenal partner with Octopus Energy to run their stadium on 100% renewable electricity, with over 103 games being powered in this way. 2.32 million kg of CO₂ emissions per year are reportedly saved through this partnership, the equivalent of 844 double-decker buses. Arsenal's 3MW mega battery allows Arsenal to avoid the grid during peak times and store clean energy for match day use. Even fans benefit, with a special Arsenal green tariff offering 100% renewable power and prize draws. Earlier this year the Formula E Championship launched Pit Boost, a new electric vehicle recharging technology that provides a 10% energy increase through a 30-second, 600kW boost in the pit lane. This technological step forward in EV charging, deploys much more power than current consumer superchargers. 'It's fast charging on a mega level," NEOM McLaren chief engineer Albert Lau confirmed, 'probably two times faster than anything available on the road at the moment.' MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JANUARY 11: Oliver Rowland of Great Britain driving the Nissan Formula E Team ... More Nissan e-4ORCE 05 during the Mexico City E-Prix, Round 2 of the 2025 FIA Formula E World Championship at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on January 11, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images for Formula E) Formula E's "race-to-road" technology platform looks to apply innovations directly to the development of EVs for the public. Manufacturers use Formula E to push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology, ultimately improving the performance and efficiency of their road-going EVs, "What we learn on the racetrack through software enables us to transfer that information to our core engineering teams for our future vehicles," commented James Barclay, team principal of Jaguar TCS Formula E racing team. Teenager Gyeongyun Lily Min hopes 'acoustic energy harvesting' could someday convert the loud sounds of sports arenas into electricity. After building a working model of a basketball stadium in her garage to test how sound vibrations could power piezoelectric devices, she designed different energy harvesters to focus sound onto these devices. Her innovative project earned her a finalist spot at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Mechanical engineer at the University of Michigan, Daniel Inman, sees promise in the concept but notes that piezoelectric harvesting still faces efficiency and scalability challenges. Gyeongyun remains optimistic, saying, 'By advancing the quality of piezoelectric devices and optimizing their deployment, we can unlock a new avenue for sustainable energy production.' Earth Day 2025's goal to unite people around tripling renewable electricity by 2030 highlights the need for global collaboration and mobilization of communities. Sport has a unique role to play, both operationally and through its cultural influence. With its infrastructure and fan reach, the sporting world is perfectly positioned to accelerate awareness, innovation, and real-world impact. From powering stadiums sustainably through renewable energy, inspiring fans through visible green action, and innovating, sport can be a driving force in meeting Earth Day's mission for a cleaner, more resilient future.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Hummels 'very excited' with potential return to Dortmund
Then Munich's Mats Hummels thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena. Former Germany defender Mats Hummels will end his professional football career this summer, the Roma player said in a video posted on X on Friday. Sina Schuldt/dpa Mats Hummels is "very excited" with a potential return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, the Bild newspaper reported on Saturday. The newspaper said on Friday that Dortmund were considering bringing back their former defender as a standby player for the Club World Cup in the United States from June 14 to July 13. Advertisement Dortmund are said to be considering a short-term signing in view of their personnel problems, especially due to the long-term injury of defender Nico Schlotterbeck. In an additional transfer window from June 1 to 10, Club World Cup participants can register new additions in advance to have them available for the tournament. Hummels is currently at Roma, but earlier this month said he will end his professional career this summer. The defender played for Dortmund from 2008 to 2026 and returned for a second stint from 2019 to 2024. After the 2023-24 season, Dortmund didn't offer him a contract extension. Advertisement Asked about the matter in a news conference on Friday, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said: "Mats is certainly an extraordinary football player, that has achieved a lot in his life. He has a great value for Dortmund. "I personally hear about it (the speculation) too. But I have to face Bayern tomorrow and what will happen at the Club World Cup is too far away."
