Summer is here and it brings with it some real innovations.

But the overview begins with a farewell.

Bye-bye Internet Explorer

Microsoft is finally retiring its Internet Explorer browser - yes, it still exists - on June 15th.

If you have not already switched, you can use the newer software Edge from Microsoft, Chrome from Google or Mozilla Firefox.

Rock festivals are back

Concert fans can look forward to an extensive festival summer.

After a two-year break, many rock and pop festivals are planned again.

The twin festivals "Rock im Park" in Nuremberg and "Rock am Ring" in Rhineland-Palatinate will kick off from June 3rd to 5th.

Headliners are Volbeat, Green Day and Muse.

Both festivals - like most in the country - were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the corona restrictions.

Lower taxes on fuel

Fuel taxes are lower in June, July and August.

If the effects on VAT are included, the tax burden per liter of petrol falls by a total of 35.2 cents.

For diesel it is 16.7 cents.

However, it will probably take a while before the tax cut arrives at the pump, because the energy tax is already due in tank farms and refineries.

Simplified Hartz IV regulation for Ukraine refugees

Refugees from the Ukraine are entitled to Hartz IV benefits from June 1st.

These can then be approved for a maximum of six months.

So far, this group has received lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.

This means that people who fled to Germany before the Russian war of aggression could be advised by the job centers and put in contact with job applications.

The 9 euro ticket is coming

From June 1st, you can use the 9-euro ticket for all public transport in Germany.

The special offer is valid in June, July and August and costs 9 euros per month.

Subscribers also benefit from the discount.

Summer timetable again

For Deutsche Bahn and other transport companies, the summer timetable will apply from June 12th, which, however, only involves minor changes.

The train again offers a direct connection between Berlin and the North Sea island of Sylt.

In addition, Chemnitz will be connected to the long-distance network after a decade and a half and will have direct connections to Berlin and on to the Baltic Sea.

Finally summer vacation

For millions of schoolchildren, the school year is coming to an end: This time the children and young people in North Rhine-Westphalia are the first to start the summer holidays - their last day of school is June 24th (first day of holiday: June 27th).

Bavaria is the last federal state to start on July 29 (first day of vacation: August 1).

Until August 9th, all students in Germany will be on vacation for a week.