BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government coalition partners presented a comprehensive reform package Thursday with the goal of getting the country’s sluggish economy back on track.

The 34 reform measures include an income tax reform with tax cuts for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees’ sick leave and a reduction of the country’s stifling bureaucracy.

“These reforms all have one goal: We’re setting out into the future,” Merz said Thursday. “We’re strengthening ourselves so that we can live well in these new times.”

Merz’s coalition of center-right and center-left parties took office just over a year ago with pledges to reform and turn around Germany’s sluggish economy, Europe’s biggest. It has since become deeply unpopular, in part because of perceptions that it has squabbled but so far achieved little.

Merz is trying to cut his government coalition free from that negative reputation.

“From the very beginning, we set an agenda with a single goal in mind: We want to get Germany back on track. It is now clear that this is possible,” the conservative chancellor said.

Germany’s economy returned to modest growth last year after shrinking for two years in a row. The government expects underwhelming growth of 0.5% this year, a figure that has been pushed down by the fallout from the war in Iran.

The country of 83.5 million people already faced increasing competition from Chinese companies, higher energy costs following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and issues including U.S. President Donald Trump ’s tariffs and trade threats. On top of that, it has deeper problems such as high production costs, lagging private investment and increasingly costly health and pension systems caused by an aging population.

On Thursday, the government coalition leaders said that the tax cuts, once fully implemented in 2028, would give an annual tax break for a family with two working parents, two children and a total taxable income of 60,000 euros ($64,416) of up to more than 600 euros. The total tax relief provided by the reform amounts to approximately 10 billion euros per year.

The pension system reform would include raising the retirement age gradually in line with life expectancy. The coalition leaders said they would implement the recommendations presented by a government-mandated panel of experts and politicians last month to stabilize the pension system. The aim is to prevent the level of pensions from falling and ward off the need for a big, long-term increase of the levy employees pay into the pension system.

Phil Mickelson has forcefully denied allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women after a report claimed he was no longer welcome at several exclusive golf clubs.

In a statement issued Wednesday to the New York Post, representatives for the six-time major champion dismissed the allegations published by Skratch Golf as an “anonymously sourced drive-by shooting” designed to create “a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one.”

The denial follows a Skratch Golf investigation alleging that Mickelson was barred from three California golf clubs for his conduct. The report also cited claims from Ashley Perez, the former wife of golfer Pat Perez, who alleged Mickelson showed her a nude photo of himself in 2015 and suggested she visit him after her husband had gone to sleep.

The allegations came weeks after Golf Digest reported that Mickelson’s membership at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe had been revoked over alleged nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with a female club employee.

Skratch also reported, citing anonymous sources, that Mickelson is no longer welcome at The Madison Club in La Quinta and The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, and alleged his wife, Amy Mickelson, played a role in the decisions.

Mickelson’s representatives denied the claims, saying, “Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club. Those decisions were his alone.”

His team also disputed Skratch’s account of his interaction with Ashley Perez, adding that while Mickelson had apologized for his conduct, “that should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him.”

The statement further noted that Skratch is affiliated with the PGA Tour, which Mickelson left in 2022 to join the rival LIV Golf circuit, suggesting readers should consider that relationship when evaluating the report.

Skratch editor-in-chief Ben Boskovich rejected the criticism, telling the Post that Mickelson and his representatives were given an opportunity to respond before publication but declined. He said the outlet “stands by its reporting.”

Mickelson, 56, is one of golf’s most accomplished players, with six major championships and 45 PGA Tour victories.

When you’re hungry, it’s normal to find yourself thinking about what you’re going to eat next.

But for some people, thoughts of food and eating can feel constant – even when they’re not physically hungry. This experience has been termed “food noise”.

For someone who struggles with food noise, this might mean thinking repeatedly about the next meal, feeling distracted by snacks in the house or finding it hard to ignore food cues such as adverts or supermarket displays. The experience can be exhausting.

But food noise should not be taken to mean that every thought or craving for food is a problem. Hunger, fullness, cravings, anticipation of eating and pleasure from food are all normal parts of our appetite system.

The goal for people who struggle with food noise should not be to eliminate all food-related chatter from their lives. Rather, it’s about reducing the harmful thoughts about food that are persistent, intrusive, distressing and disruptive.

Understanding food noise

In appetite science, “food noise” encompasses a mix of mechanisms and processes. This includes hunger and satiety, cravings, food reward, emotional eating, control over eating and cue-reactivity (a heightened, automatic reaction to seeing or smelling food).

So, food noise is not one single thing. Two people may both report experiencing “food noise”, but the underlying causes may be different.

For one person, food noise may reflect an internal hunger signal after skipping a meal. For someone else, it might be food cravings triggered by stress or tiredness. And for yet another, it may feel closer to distressing, intrusive thoughts or a fear of losing control over eating.

While it’s common to experience food noise, it becomes concerning if it starts to interfere with daily life. It may make it harder to concentrate, increase anxiety or shame around eating and leave people feeling as if they are constantly battling food thoughts.

Although research on the effects of food noise is limited as the concept is quite new, research on food cravings, cue reactivity and food thought suppression suggests these experiences can make it harder for some people to avoid overeating. In more serious cases, they may be linked with loss of control, binge eating or wider eating-related distress.

Reducing food noise

GLP-1 medications, such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), have become linked with the concept of food noise.

Scientifically, these drugs are shown to reduce hunger, increase fullness, reduce cravings, alter food reward and improve control over eating.

Anecdotally, many people taking these drugs report that they help reduce food noise. Food feels less demanding, less urgent and less mentally intrusive. For those taking these medications, a reduction in food noise may feel like a major improvement in their quality of life.

Food cravings can also intensify when dieting – at least in the short term. Cravings may be especially strong if someone skips meals, eats too little, cuts out favourite foods completely or uses very rigid food rules.

Trying not to think about certain foods can also sometimes make them more mentally prominent. This is one reason very strict diets can make appetite feel harder to manage.

But experiencing hunger or food-related thoughts doesn’t automatically have to be something negative. Hunger is not a defect. It’s one of the body’s normal biological cues, helping us recognise when we need energy.

This is also why the return of some food noise is not necessarily something to fear when GLP-1 medications are reduced or stopped.

The aim then, shouldn’t be to silence appetite or food noise completely. Most people don’t want a life in which they never feel hungry or fully enjoy their food. Eating is part of culture, identity and daily life.

A better goal is for appetite to feel manageable, so food can be enjoyed without taking up too much mental space. So if you’re someone who finds food noise feels too loud, here are some things you can do:

1. Identify the signal before reacting to it. Are you physically hungry, craving something specific or reacting to food cues around you? Hunger usually builds gradually and can be satisfied by a range of foods. A craving is often more sudden, specific and tied to a particular food. Different causes need different responses.

2. Reduce unnecessary food cues. If having snacks in your house makes food thoughts more intrusive, keeping those tempting foods out of sight or planning your meals before shopping may reduce avoidable triggers.

3. Pay attention to your emotions. Food noise can be linked with stress, anxiety, tiredness, loneliness or needing comfort. In such instances, what the body and mind might really need may not be food. Other coping strategies, such as rest or taking a short walk, may be more useful.

4. Physical activity may help reduce craving for unhealthy foods, reduce stress and improve mood. Being active may also make your hunger and fullness signals easier to interpret. This means that exercise can not only help you manage food noise in the short-term, it may also gradually improve your appetite system’s function over time.

5. Seek support if food thoughts become distressing or disruptive. If they’re linked with binge eating, shame, anxiety, loss of control or major disruption to daily life, speaking with a GP, dietitian, psychologist or eating disorder specialist can help you understand your eating patterns and develop safer coping strategies.

Food-related thoughts are part of a healthy, normal appetite system. Learning to detect, interpret and respond in tune with internal appetite signals is key for sustainable weight management.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Updated: 10:47 BST, 2 July 2026

Pubs across England face losing thousands of pounds as councils refuse to issue ultra-late licences for football fans to watch the World Cup match on Sunday night.

The Three Lions’ last-16 game against Mexico will kick off at 1am Monday UK time, with the potential for a 4am finish if the game goes to extra time and penalties.

Pubs have already seen licensing laws relaxed by the Home Office for England’s knockout games so they can continue serving punters beyond usual hours.

The tweak means they can stay open until 1am for knockout matches with kick-offs between 5pm and 9pm – including last night’s game against the Democratic Republic of Congo, which began at 5pm – and until 2am for kick-offs between 9pm and 10pm.

But no provisions have been made for games starting at 1am – meaning individual pubs must apply to their local council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) licence.

Officials have the power to block pubs from serving so late and can avert controversy in some areas where locals do not want the noise and hassle of an all-night party.

As the venues face a ‘Mexican standoff’ with councils, employers are bracing for a ‘mass sickie event’ on Monday morning as bleary-eyed workers sleep in.

In the past it has been common for schools and employers to allow England games in the latter stages of major tournaments to be shown when they clash with working hours, but Monday’s kick-off in the small hours poses a unique obstacle.

England fans celebrate a goal against Panama at Ultra Warehouse Derby on Saturday night

And England manager Thomas Tuchel wants families to put football before school, telling parents: ‘Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. Come on. There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years.

‘Let them watch. There will be a big, big match on in four days and we need the support of everyone, and especially of the children.’

England fans wishing to attend the match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off at 6pm local time, face a wallet-busting scramble for flights and tickets.

Those who bought early through the official release to the England supporters club paid $235 for a Category 3 seat, $605 for a Category 2 and $770 for a Category 1.

The official Fifa resale platform now has Category 1 tickets for up to $35,648.85, Category 2 for up to $11,845 and Category 3 from $4,082 and $19,453.40.

On the Seatpick resale platform, tickets are selling for between £2,378 and £97,164. 

The cheapest return flight from London Heathrow to Mexico City, leaving on Saturday and returning on Monday, is £3,041 with Aeromexico, according to Skyscanner.

Pub landlords are complaining that councils have refused a licence – including The Wharf Tavern in Solihull, which said other games had resulted in sales quadrupling.

Its operations manager Adam Cook said some other pubs in Solihull also had licences rejected, telling the BBC: ‘We count on these sales to help us for the rest of the year. Pubs are at the heart of the community, football is a community event, it is terrible.

On the Seatpick resale platform, tickets are selling for between £2,378 and £97,164 (above)

The cheapest return flight from Heathrow to Mexico City, from Saturday to Monday, is £3,041

‘We are fighting for every penny, with all the rising costs, we have all seen the headlines, it is hard but we are fighting back as much as we can’. 

But Solihull Council said the pub applied outside the working days condition required and the law left ‘absolutely no wriggle room’, meaning the application was refused.

Applications for TENs must be made to the council at least ten working days before the event, although late TENs are available for between five and nine days.

Jason Cleary, who runs The Hodcarrier in Leamington Spa, also said his application to stay open late was declined because he did not give five working days’ notice.

Mr Cleary told the BBC: ‘If we’re playing until 3 o’clock in the morning they need to allow us to show these games, allow us to have a drink and come together.’

Warwick District Council gave the same explanation as Solihull, saying it could not legally consider a TEN submitted outside the statutory notice period.

Home Office sources indicated to the Daily Mail that that they would be surprised if there was any national shift in the overall licensing hours permitted for the match.

Boxpark venues in Croydon, Wembley, Liverpool, Camden and Shoreditch are among hundreds of venues which have successfully got TENs allowing them to stay open.

England fans celebrate their second goal in the DR Congo game at Atlanta Stadium last night

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England fans sing at a screening of the match against Ghana at Boxpark Wembley on June 23

But some pubs may decide that a 1am kick-off is much less attractive financially if they need to pay staff to stay open all night, unless they expect a full house.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ‘We remain in close contact with Government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven’t got Temporary Event Notices in place.

‘It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren’t able to host such an important match.’

There are no published figures for how many pubs have applied for a Ten, and some venues would have waited for the outcome of the match against DR Congo last night.

But this will be too late for many given the notice period required. Based on previous tournaments, about 3,000 of the UK’s 46,000 pubs are likely to ask to stay open late.

Paul Crossman, chair of the Campaign for Pubs, said: ‘A lot of pubs will be trying to gauge the demand as the tournament progresses, rather than making a blanket commitment in advance.’

England were facing one of their most humiliating World Cup exits having fallen behind in the seventh minute last night to a goal from Brian Cipenga, who plays in Spain’s second division.

But they were saved by a remarkable late double from Kane whose goals resulted in a 2-1 win which sets up a difficult meeting with the co-hosts.

Three men have been arrested over an altercation outside a bar just before a mother-of-one was shot dead.

Shanice Brookes, 30, was fatally shot near the One Four One bar on West Street in Sheffield, in the city centre, shortly before 2.45am on 25 May.

Detectives have said “she was simply an innocent bystander”.

Jemele Rhone, of Outram Road, Sheffield, is due to go on trial next year charged with murdering Ms Brookes.

South Yorkshire Police said on Thursday they had arrested two 21-year-old men and a 31-year-old man, all from Rotherham, on suspicion of affray. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The arrests followed an investigation into the events leading up to the fatal shooting, the force said.

Detective Inspector Matt Bolger said: “We are determined to provide answers for Shanice’s family and friends who have had their lives shattered by this heartbreaking and devastating incident.

“Words cannot do justice to describe the unimaginable loss Shanice’s loved ones have experienced and we remain committed to securing justice for them.

“These arrests relate to an altercation that took place shortly before a firearm was discharged and Shanice was sadly fatally shot.

“We continue to explore every line of inquiry and will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get justice for Shanice.

“Since our investigation launched, two people have been charged in connection with the shooting and we are continuing to appeal to anyone that saw what happened and hasn’t come forward already to do so.

“I am also urging anyone with information on the weapon used to kill Shanice to contact us.”

Rhone is charged with murder, possession of a handgun and possession of criminal property, namely £10,000.

His co-accused, Deiryen Dyce, 32, of Ellesmere Road North, Sheffield, is charged with assisting an offender, possession of ammunition, possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property, namely £2,000.

Officers have released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with their investigation

Police are investigating a sexual assault at Carmarthen railway station. British Transport Police have released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to in connection with their investigation.

They said the incident saw a man approach a woman and make sexualised comments to her before then sexually assaulting her. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

A statement from British Transport Police read: “At around 8.30pm on Friday, May 15, a man approached a woman at the station and directed a series of sexualised comments to her.

“He then sexually assaulted her before she left the station.

“Detectives would like to speak to the man pictured, as they believed he may have information that could help their investigation.

“Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 703 of May 15.

“Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Victims of historical forced adoption will receive a formal apology from the prime minister on Thursday after years of campaigning.

Sir Keir Starmer will apologise on behalf of the British state for its role in the practice, which saw thousands of women pressured into putting their children up for adoption because they were unmarried.

“We all need this apology because we have always been accused of giving up our babies and we didn’t give them up,” said campaigner and Labour MP Ann Keen, who did not have a say over the adoption of her son in 1966.

An estimated 185,000 babies were taken from their mothers between 1949 and 1976. Campaigners are meeting the prime minister in Downing Street ahead of his statement in Parliament.

The apology comes after years of campaigning from mothers, adoptees, and their wider families.

In March, a parliamentary inquiry recommended the government urgently apologise for the state’s role in the practice.

The inquiry report, from the Education Committee, found that government decisions had “shaped the environment in which unmarried mothers were often shamed and coerced into having their children put up for adoption”.

It called for improved access to adoption records, as well as more support for people seeking to contact or reunite with their families.

It stopped short of recommending financial redress to victims, but called on the government to “rigorously assess” how other countries had responded to historical forced adoption, including Australia, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

A previous report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights report called for a state apology in 2022. The then-Conservative government said it was “sorry on behalf of society” in 2023, but said it did not think a formal apology was appropriate “since the state did not actively support these practices”.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed two weeks ago that a formal apology was on the way from the UK government.

“The prime minister will have more to say on this shameful period in our history, reflecting the gravity of what has happened,” she said at the time.

The apology will come three years after the devolved governments in Cardiff and Holyrood said sorry to victims of forced adoption in Wales and Scotland.

An apology is also expected in Northern Ireland, but not until after the completion of a public inquiry, following a 2021 report on mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses.

Previous BBC reporting into forced adoption led to the parliamentary inquiry.

Gaynor Weatherly, whose mother was 16 when she was born in 1963, told the BBC in 2021 that while she had found happiness through her own marriage and children, she felt “cheated out of a different life”.

Diana Defries, who was 16 when she became pregnant, had her baby taken from her moments after she gave birth.

Also speaking to the BBC in 2021, she said: “I yelled to bring her back, but the nurse then just walked past me and put my daughter on a table out of my reach.”

By ELEANOR MANN

Published: 21:41 BST, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 09:49 BST, 2 July 2026

At least four people have died after massive World Cup celebrations held in Mexico City on Wednesday descended into chaos. 

Over a million people gathered in crowds to celebrate the country’s national team advancing to the next round at the World Cup after their victory against Ecuador on Tuesday in the city’s Azteca Stadium – sending them through to play against England on Sunday, in the same stadium. 

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Three people suffocated to death at the heart of the huge crowds, including a 19-year-old woman, a 44-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, city health authorities said. 

A 30-year-old man also died in an epileptic crisis, officials said. 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed ‘our solidarity and support’ for the victims’ families. 

The celebrations came after Mexico beat Ecuador to record their first World Cup knockout win since 1986, sending the co-hosts into the round of 16.

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Crowds gathered in the streets of Mexico City, mainly around the Angel of Independence monument, according to estimates by the city government.

After the final whistle, celebrations erupted alongside the city’s Reforma avenue, where thousands of Mexicans gathered for the festivities.

At least four people died on Wednesday during massive celebrations in Mexico City

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Mexican football fans react during the Round of 32 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City

The health ministry said three people suffocated to death at the heart of massive crowds and a 30-year-old man also died in an epileptic crisis

An aerial view of Mexican fans gathered along Reforma Avenue to watch the round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador on large screens, in Mexico City, Mexico on June 30, 2026

Families and groups of friends erupted in cheers, while some fans tossed others into the air amidst the roar of the crowd. 

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The scene played out across dozens of neighbourhoods, bars, and parking lots transformed into fan zones to honour an undefeated national team. 

Footage showed thousands of people gathering in the streets of Mexico’s capital, cheering, jumping and waving their country’s flag as fireworks illuminated the sky. 

Tuesday’s victory comes as a massive win for Mexico, which has lost seven consecutive times at the same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn’t advance past the group stage in 2022.

Mexico will play another home match on Sunday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo.

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Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official losses at the venue – the last being a World Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on September 6, 2013.

With the win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss against Paraguay in November.

Mexico also became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a team from CONMEBOL in a World Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings.