Journal du Club des Cordeliers - News from Marseille, the political, economic and cultural centre of southern France and the whole world

Germany is once again engaged in increasingly heated debate on an issue that has long since become much more than a mere traffic matter: have speed cameras actually become a convenient source of revenue for cash-strapped towns and municipalities, or are they a necessary means of protecting lives on Germany's roads? The outrage felt by many motorists is not without reason. When you see local authorities raking in millions from speeding and red light violations while at the same time complaining about austerity measures, deficits and budget shortfalls, you quickly get the impression that this is not just about monitoring, but above all about collecting money. It is precisely this suspicion that has further fuelled the debate in recent months.In fact, the sums speak for themselves. In a recent evaluation of major German cities, numerous local authorities once again generated millions in revenue from traffic monitoring. It is particularly striking that it is not just a few outliers reporting high amounts, but that a permanently lucrative level of revenue has become established in many cities. This is politically sensitive because, although fines are justified on regulatory grounds, many citizens perceive them as a fixed component of municipal financial planning. Mistrust grows even stronger in cities that like to refer to safety but at the same time do not make a clear distinction between prevention and revenue generation.Hamburg in particular is a prime example of this tension. The figures currently available there show the scale that traffic monitoring has now reached. In 2024 alone, stationary and mobile speed monitoring generated almost £47 million in revenue. By far the largest share came from mobile controls, while stationary systems generated significantly less, but still tens of millions. In addition, there was revenue from stationary red light monitoring. Even in the following year, the city remained at a very high level: speeding offences alone again generated more than 40 million euros. Anyone who reads such figures immediately understands why the term ‘rip-off’ is no longer a polemical exaggeration for many people, but a perceived finding.There is a second point that exacerbates the criticism: in many cities, these revenues are not earmarked for improving road safety, but rather flow into the general budget. This is not surprising from a legal perspective, but it is politically explosive. Anyone who expects money from speed cameras to be automatically invested in safe routes to school, intersection renovations, better lighting, cycle paths or accident prevention is often mistaken. This creates a fatal image for citizens: the local authority measures, collects and records – but whether the revenue is visibly returned to dangerous traffic spots often remains unclear. Where transparency is lacking, suspicion grows that a legitimate safety instrument has gradually become a fiscal business model.The situation becomes particularly explosive when the financial side effect is no longer just tacitly accepted, but openly discussed in consolidation debates. A current case from Halle an der Saale illustrates this problem precisely. There, the budget consolidation concept is to include additional revenue from traffic monitoring. Last year, the revenue there was already in the millions, and now further amounts are to be added. At the same time, it is officially emphasised that the primary objective remains traffic safety. It is precisely this double message that is at the heart of the problem: as soon as a city promises more safety on the one hand, but openly expects higher revenues on the other, every new measuring system becomes politically explosive.

About 10 vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have come under attack since Iran blocked the strategic waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, data analysis groups report.

The German market for electric cars is showing signs of life again. After the setback caused by the abrupt end of subsidies at the end of 2023, new registrations are now rising noticeably again. At first glance, this looks like the belated return of the upswing. At second glance, however, a much more complicated picture emerges: Government support is once again in the billions, the expansion of the charging infrastructure is progressing, tax advantages remain in place – and yet many buyers, especially in the private market, continue to react with remarkable caution.This is what makes the current figures so contradictory. Pure electric cars are on the rise again in terms of new registrations, but there is no sign of a broad wave of purchases. The market is growing, but not with the momentum that might be expected after years of political prioritisation, new purchase incentives and infrastructure programmes worth billions. This is precisely the core problem of German e-mobility: it is making progress, but it is not yet convincing across the board.It is true that significantly more battery electric vehicles have recently been registered. In 2025 as a whole, Germany once again proved to be an important growth driver within Europe. At the same time, the share of purely electric cars in all new registrations remains at a level that looks more like stabilisation than a breakthrough. It is also striking that the overall market is growing only moderately and that the commercial sector continues to dominate the new car business. Where company cars, fleet vehicles and tax-privileged company cars are strong, the figures often appear more dynamic than private demand actually is.This is precisely why industry observers are now looking less at the pure number of new registrations and more at the question of who is actually buying. And here, the situation is much more sobering. In the private sector, there is still a great deal of reluctance. Many households are postponing the switch, driving their combustion engines for longer or opting for petrol, diesel or a hybrid again when buying their next vehicle. This means that mass acceptance in the everyday market has not yet been achieved.

Iran's ruling clerics on Sunday appointed the slain leader's son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, defying threats from the United States and Israel to oppose him.

An improvised explosive thrown near anti-Islam protesters outside the New York mayor's residence was a viable device "that could have caused serious injury or death," police said Sunday.

India coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday praised his team's "bravery and courage" in racking up big totals to win a record third T20 World Cup title.

Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev had to go the distance to reach the fourth round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Sunday, holding off a determined Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4.

The war in Iran and the escalation in the Gulf region are no longer just foreign policy news from afar for Germany. They are having a major impact on people's everyday lives – and in the place where many feel the economic reality most directly: at the petrol pump. As soon as production volumes, transport routes and security situations in the Middle East start to slide, the price of oil jumps, traders factor in risk premiums, and ultimately the geopolitical turmoil ends up in motorists' wallets. That is exactly what is happening at the moment. What is a strategic crisis for governments, stock exchanges and commodity markets becomes a very real cost burden for commuters, families, tradespeople, delivery services and small businesses within hours.What is particularly explosive is not only the size of the price increases, but also their speed. Just a few days ago, fuel prices in Germany were already high enough for many people. But then a new dynamic set in: within a very short time, petrol and diesel prices shot up, with diesel even exceeding the two-pound-per-litre mark at times and, in some phases, exceeding the price of petrol. This picture alone reveals the nervousness of the market. Because when diesel – despite lower energy taxes – suddenly becomes more expensive than Super E10, it shows how strongly crisis fears, expectations of shortages and market mechanisms are influencing pricing.For millions of people, this is not a theoretical debate. Those who live in rural areas, work shifts, care for relatives, drive to construction sites, deliver goods or work in the field cannot replace mobility with Sunday speeches. In many regions of Germany, the car is not a convenient additional option, but a prerequisite for work, supplies and everyday life. If the price per litre rises by double-digit cents in a few days, this not only eats into purchasing power, but also directly impacts monthly budgets that are already under pressure. Those who have to fill up three times a week feel the difference not in abstract terms, but as a real additional burden. And those who drive commercially will sooner or later pass on these costs – to customers, to consumers, to the entire price chain.

Thousands of women marched through Istanbul to mark International Women's Day late Sunday defying a ban on demonstrations, with the rally passing without incident despite a heavy police presence, AFP correspondents said.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka powered past Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday to reach the fourth round at Indian Wells.

In the streets of Nuuk, Aaja Chemnitz normally goes almost unnoticed. But in recent days, locals have been stopping the Greenland MP to congratulate her on her Nobel Peace Prize nomination -- though some fear it could rekindle Washington's interest in the Arctic island.

A homemade incendiary thrown near anti-Islam protesters outside the New York mayor's residence was a viable improvised explosive device "that could have caused serious injury or death," police said Sunday.

Rapolas Micevicius' life was flipped upside-down in 2021 when a freak kitesurfing accident shattered his left leg, leaving doctors no choice but to amputate the lower half.

Cem Ozdemir of the German Greens pulled off a hard-fought victory in a key state poll on Sunday and is now set to become the country's first state premier of Turkish heritage.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across the world Sunday to mark International Women's Day and, in some cases, denounce the war in the Middle East.

India won a record third T20 World Cup title and became the first team to defend their crown with a 96-run thumping of New Zealand in a lop-sided final on Sunday.

"Hoppers," the latest original animated film from Disney's Pixar, easily topped the North American box office with $46 million in ticket sales in its opening weekend, industry estimated showed Sunday.

US President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that Iran's next supreme leader would not last long without his approval, as Tehran prepared to reveal the successor to the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

American rider Luke Lamperti won a bunch sprint on stage 1 of the Paris-Nice on Sunday after a late fall split the peloton in the run up.

Bundesliga strugglers Wolfsburg on Sunday announced that Dieter Hecking would replace the sacked Daniel Bauer as coach, with the club second last and in danger of being relegated from the top flight for the first time.

Lens clawed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday after beating bottom side Metz 3-0 to relaunch their unexpected title challenge.

Oslo police said Sunday an explosion at the US embassy in Norway overnight may have been an act of terror, but stressed they were also investigating other possible causes.

Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut on Sunday, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week.

Sunderland suffered an embarrassing FA Cup fifth round exit against third tier strugglers Port Vale, while Championship side Southampton stunned Fulham on Sunday.

Sanju Samson's blistering 89 off 46 balls helped India rack up a massive 255-5 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The United States will spare Iran's energy infrastructure as it wages war with Israel against the Islamic republic, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.

Villarreal beat Elche 2-1 on Sunday to keep pace with Atletico Madrid in the battle for third in La Liga.

Iran was preparing to name a successor to its slain supreme leader on Sunday, after US-backed Israeli strikes destroyed fuel depots in Tehran, sparking blazes that covered the city in acrid smoke.

Championship side Southampton reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a shock 1-0 win against Fulham on Sunday.

Colombians started voting Sunday in legislative elections that will shape the final months of left-wing President Gustavo Petro's term and test whether the once-powerful right wing is poised for a political comeback.

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath won his third World Cup slalom of the season at Kranjska Gora on Sunday, edging out compatriot Henrik Kristoffersen by the finest of margins.

Japan survived a scare to beat Australia 4-3 at the World Baseball Classic on Sunday as the defending champions booked their place in the quarter-finals as Pool C winners.

Residents of Tehran woke up on Sunday morning to find it was still dark outside, an apocalyptic sight created by thick black smoke billowing from oil depots hit by Israeli strikes.

Oslo police said Sunday an explosion at the US embassy in Norway overnight that caused no injuries and minor material damage may have been an act of terror, but stressed police were also investigating other motives.

Elena Curtoni claimed her first World Cup victory in more than three years on Sunday, winning the super-G in Val di Fassa to complete a weekend sweep on home snow for Italy.

Iran's players sang the national anthem and saluted before bowing out of the Women's Asian Cup with defeat in their last group match on Sunday in Australia.

Scotland started the Six Nations with a lacklustre 18-15 loss away to Italy last month where the only thing close about the game was the final scoreline.

Jon Rahm said he was "very relieved" after scoring a final-round 64 to win the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong by three shots on Sunday.

Iran was preparing to reveal its new supreme leader on Sunday, after US-Israeli air strikes destroyed fuel dumps and triggered fires that choked much of Tehran in a thick blanket of smoke.