Bild: Russian gas returns to Germany? | Russen-Gas wieder nach Deutschland?
FAZ: Europeans want to draft peace plan | Europäer wollen Friedensplan entwerfen
Funke: Closing of ranks in London: Europe at the „crossroads of history“ | Schulterschluss in London: Europa am „Scheideweg der Geschichte“
Handelsblatt: Europe in search of peace and security | Europa auf der Suche nach Frieden und Sicherheit
RND: Trump’s fans rage against Zelensky: An outrageous stranger without a suit | Trumps Fans wüten gegen Selenskyj: Ein unverschämter Fremder ohne Anzug
SZ: EU states form „coalition of the willing“ | EU-Staaten bilden „Koalition der Willigen“
Tagesspiegel: Election in Hamburg: Tschentscher (SPD) can and wants to continue governing with the Greens | Wahl in Hamburg: Tschentscher (SPD) kann und will mit den Grünen weiterregieren
taz: United States without America | Vereinigte Staaten ohne Amerika
Die Welt: Europe pins hopes on a „coalition of the willing“ for Ukraine | Europa hofft auf eine „Koalition der Willigen“ für die Ukraine
SPD wins despite losses in Hamburg: After the election, First Mayor Peter Tschentscher spoke out in favor of continuing the red-green alliance as his first option. However, he also wants to talk to the CDU. Despite losses, the SPD remained the strongest party. Katharina Fegebank, the leading candidate of the Greens, was relieved by the election result and called for the continuation of the red-green coalition; she praised the unity of her party. The CDU became the second strongest party after significant gains. Leading candidate Dennis Thering said he offered the SPD a more pragmatic government cooperation than with the Greens. ndr.de, faz.net, tagesspiegel.de, web.de
Results of the simplified count: SPD 33.5 percent (-5.7), Greens 18.5 percent (-5.7), CDU/CSU 19.8 percent (+8.6), Left Party 11.2 percent (+2.1), AfD 7.5 percent (+2.2), FDP 2.3 percent (-2.7), Volt 3.3 percent (+2), BSW 1.8 percent (+1.8), other 2.1 percent. tagesschau.de
CDU and SPD to continue exploratory talks on Monday: CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann said on ZDF that Europe was waiting for Germany. The talks should be completed by Easter. The talks will continue on Monday. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said on ARD television that the first exchange on Friday had been constructive and confidential. He had sensed that there was a will to achieve something together. The talks on Friday lasted several hours. General secretaries Linnemann, Martin Huber of the CSU and Matthias Miersch of the SPD subsequently spoke of an „open and constructive atmosphere“. Finance Minister Jörg Kukies provided an overview of the budget situation as a guest. handelsblatt.com
CDU leader Friedrich Merz wants talks between Germany, France and the UK on joint nuclear deterrence: Germany currently has „nuclear sharing“ with the USA, Merz told the FAZ. He wants to discuss in the coalition negotiations and also with partners in the EU and NATO whether it could go in this direction with France or the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly offered Germany and other EU partners cooperation on nuclear deterrence. This was in response to statements made by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened not to stand by NATO countries in the event of an attack if they do not invest enough in defense. spiegel.de, tagesspiegel.de
Protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump: Several placards at the Berlin demonstration took aim at Trump’s pro-Putin stance. The widow of the dissident Alexei Navalny, who died a year ago in custody, also took part in the protest march from Potsdamer Platz to Unter den Linden. Yulia Navalnaya, together with other Russian opposition figures, had called for the demonstration. tagesspiegel.de
European allies back Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky: At an emergency summit in London, many European countries have backed Ukraine. European leaders have agreed to work out a peace plan for a ceasefire. This is also to be discussed with the US government and President Donald Trump. spiegel.de, handelsblatt.com
- Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer sees Europe at a „crossroads“ in history following recent developments. Prior to the meeting, he said that a coalition of the willing was needed to bring concrete European security guarantees for Ukraine. Starmer announced that Europe would bear the primary responsibility for securing a possible peace in Ukraine. Backing up his country’s resolve, Starmer announced that 1.6 billion pounds would be spent on supplying Ukraine with 5,000 anti-aircraft missiles. tagesschau.de, zeit.de
- French President Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer propose a one-month ceasefire for Ukraine. The ceasefire should apply „in the air, at sea and to energy infrastructure,“ Macron told Le Figaro. handelsblatt.com
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a drastic increase in defense spending in Europe. She wants to present a comprehensive plan for this at the EU special summit on Thursday.
Scandal at the White House: After a heated exchange in the Oval Office in which US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued in front of the cameras, Zelensky stressed that he respects Trump and does not want to lose the US as a partner. However, he said, he cannot change Ukraine’s position towards Russia. Zelensky refused to make a public apology as Trump demanded, but tried to soften the tone. On Platform X, he again thanked the American people for their support, as Trump had requested. The raw materials agreement between the US and Ukraine has not been signed as planned. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the commodities deal is off the table for now. tagesschau.de
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyi expects to be able to save his relationship with US President Donald Trump after the scandal at the White House; however, talks will have to continue in a different format, Zelenskyi said.
- US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CNN that the US expects Ukraine to have a president who is willing to seek peace with Russia. Waltz did not say whether Zelensky would fulfill this role from the US point of view. Waltz said that in return for security guarantees, the US government believes that Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, must make territorial concessions.
Russia reports further occupation of villages in Donetsk region: Sudne and Burlazke near the city of Velyka Novosilka in the south of the region have been claimed by Russian forces, the defense ministry in Moscow announced. The city itself had already been taken by the Russian army at the end of January. The invaders have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for months, capturing a whole series of towns and villages. The Ukrainian army is suffering from a lack of equipment and personnel. handelsblatt.com
Israel blocks aid deliveries to Gaza: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas‘ refusal to accept an extension of the ceasefire until mid-April. Hamas called it extortion. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had proposed the extension. According to his plan, Hamas is to hand over the remaining living and dead hostages to Israel during this time. Egypt has condemned Israel’s halt to aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. n-tv.de, handelsblatt.com, derstandard.at
BamS Sunday poll by Insa: CDU 30 percent (+1.5), SPD 15 percent (-1.4), Greens 11 percent (-0.6), FDP 4 percent (-0.3), AfD 22 percent (+1.2), Left Party 9 percent (+0.2), BSW 5 percent, others 4 percent. (compared to the election result). bild.de
Bundeswehr requires significantly more personnel: Lieutenant General Harald Gante emphasized the need for a new military service in order to meet the growing demands of the armed forces. The commander of the Bundeswehr argues that the current voluntary system is not sufficient to meet personnel requirements. Within the Bundeswehr, infrastructure urgently needs to be expanded and more accommodation created, as this is currently the limiting factor for taking on additional soldiers. Gante emphasizes the importance of a credible deterrent. He assures that Germany will keep its NATO promises, including the relocation of the „Division 2025“ to Lithuania. zdf.de
Few Syrian refugees take advantage of return assistance: According to the Ministry of the Interior, 40 people who had applied for return assistance had voluntarily left the country by mid-February. So far, the federal government has paid return assistance for 133 Syrians. The program includes, among other things, travel allowances of 200 euros per adult and a financial start-up allowance of 1000 euros. According to the information provided, the return assistance programs of the federal states were used in 85 cases last year and in eight cases this year. According to the Central Register of Foreigners, a good 975,000 Syrian nationals were living in Germany at the end of December, including more than 10,000 who are required to leave the country. welt.de
Ifo President Clemens Fuest recommends abolishing the parental allowance: The allowance is one of those things that are nice to have but not a priority, he told WamS. It raises the question of need, since many recipients are financially well off. The budget for the parental allowance is around eight billion euros per year. Mothers and fathers who temporarily work less or not at all after the birth in order to care for a child are entitled to it. The amount depends on the income previously earned and is capped at 1800 euros. rnd.de, t-online.de
Culture and creative industries on road to recovery: According to a report commissioned by the Ministry of Economics, the culture and creative industries are once again showing rising sales and a growing number of employees in almost all areas. In 2023, around two million people were employed in the industry, around 130,000 more than before the coronavirus pandemic. Even the heavily audience-oriented areas of music and the performing arts, which were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, have recovered noticeably. evangelische-zeitung.de
Shipping interrupted again after new breakage at the Carola Bridge in Dresden: The lesion in the steel was discovered on another pillar. Both remaining bridge spans are considered to be in acute danger of collapse. Since the beginning of last week, only urgently needed crossings registered in advance have been allowed. The Carola Bridge partially collapsed in September 2024 and will need to be demolished completely. zdf.de
High police presence at Carnival: After IS called for attacks in the past few days, this year’s parades are taking place under heightened security. However, the BKA sees no concrete plans for attacks. “Our security authorities are keeping a close eye on all current threats and are constantly adapting protective measures to ensure that the parades and events are given the best possible protection,“ said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. tagesschau.de, faz.net, tagesschau.de, tagesspiegel.de
More Germany News:
- Berlin: New arrest warrant issued against attacker for attempted murder after attack at Holocaust memorial. welt.de
- Hessen: Frankfurt battles Munich for return of the IAA. faz.net
- Sachsen-Anhalt: AfD expels Bundestag MP Kay-Uwe Ziegler from state executive committee. mdr.de
- Lower Saxony: Trial against entrepreneur for fraud in the millions after clan raid in Papenburg. noz.de
Drastic US government cuts have consequences for UN development programs: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in New York that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for example, would be forced to discontinue many of its programs; this includes the one to combat the fentanyl crisis. In addition, measures against human trafficking would have to be drastically reduced. Guterres also emphasized that the cuts in development aid would make the world less healthy, less safe and less prosperous. tagesschau.de
Europol dismantles first AI child pornography ring: The main suspect is a Danish national who operated an online platform for this purpose, Europol announced in Amsterdam. He granted users from all over the world access to the material, which was created with the help of artificial intelligence, in exchange for money. A total of 25 people were arrested. According to Europol, this is the first operation related to AI child pornography. zeit.de
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urges disarmament of the PKK: If there are delays in this process or promises are not kept, the Turkish military will continue the fight against the PKK, Erdogan said. The Kurdish organization PKK had said the ceasefire was effective immediately. This was in response to the latest appeal by the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. At the same time, the PKK is counting on Öcalan being released to lead the disarmament process. diepresse.com, zdf.de, stern.de
Finnish authorities release suspect tanker „Eagle S“: The ship is said to be responsible for cable damage in the Baltic Sea. Now that the technical investigations have been completed, the police have announced that the tanker can leave Finnish territorial waters. Three members of the crew, however, are still banned from leaving the country. n-tv.de
Tens of thousands demonstrate against Romanian government in favor of the right-wing extremist politician Calin Georgescu: The pro-Russian right-wing extremist and former presidential candidate Georgescu was arrested on Wednesday. The public prosecutor’s office accuses him, among other things, of inciting action against the constitutional order. faz.net
Pro-Russian candidate wins presidential election in the conflict region of Abkhazia in the South Caucasus: Badra Gunba won the runoff with 55 percent of the vote; Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin offered his congratulations. The EU does not recognize the election. Under international law, Abkhazia belongs to Georgia as an autonomous republic. Russia is one of the few countries to recognize Abkhazia’s independence from Georgia. suedostschweiz.ch
Federal judge rules dismissal of whistleblower protection chief Hampton Dellinger unlawful: The US government has suffered a legal defeat in the dispute over the dismissal of the head of the agency for the protection of whistleblowers. Federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that Dellinger’s dismissal was unlawful; she said that while the agency head could be dismissed in principle, it could only be for specific reasons. However, the corresponding email from the White House did not contain any justification at all. blogs.taz.de
Protests outside Tesla stores over Musk’s mass layoffs in government offices: In numerous cities, people demonstrated in front of stores belonging to the carmaker owned by Musk. There were rallies in New York, Jacksonville in the state of Florida and Tucson in Arizona, among other places. Among other things, the participants called for people to stop buying Tesla vehicles in order to put economic pressure on Musk. In New York, nine demonstrators were arrested by police. tagesschau.de, spiegel.de, web.de
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praises Uruguay as an important partner: Steinmeier took part in the inauguration of the new left-leaning President Yamandu Orsi in Montevideo. Steinmeier referred, among other things, to the cooperation in the fields of economy, science and, for some time now, climate protection. Uruguay has been a stable democracy for many decades, Steinmeier emphasized. n-tv.de
More news:
- Austria: First three-way coalition on its way after ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos committees sign off on agreement. n-tv.de
- Serbia: Train station accident in Novi Sad; major protest against the government. spiegel.de
- France: Paris wants to force the repatriation of Algerians obliged to leave the country and is threatening to terminate historical agreements. tagesspiegel.de
- Austria: Last two former IS supporters brought back from Syria. derstandard.at
- Denmark: Supermarkets introduce label for EU products in protest against Donald Trump. politik.watson.de
- Greece: Hundreds of thousands demonstrate for faster investigation of deadly train crash in 2023. deutschlandfunk.de
- Switzerland: Thousands are in the country with fake EU passports. tagesanzeiger.ch
- Sudan: More than 80 dead after cholera outbreak in the south of the country. zeit.de
- Syria: Committee of seven to draft interim constitution. orf.at
- Syria: US military kills senior leader of Al-Qaida offshoot Hurras al-Din. spiegel.de
- Iran: Parliament dismisses Finance Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati in the face of the severe economic crisis. faz.net
EU and India want free trade agreement this year: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in New Delhi that the negotiations would not be easy, but that she and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed that the treaty should be concluded in the next ten months. In addition to the free trade agreement, the EU is seeking closer cooperation with India on defense and climate protection. nzz.ch
Unemployment figures fell only slightly in February: The number of unemployed people in Germany was just under three million, according to the Federal Employment Agency. This is 3,000 fewer than in January, but 175,000 more than a year ago. Adjusted for seasonal variations, the number of unemployed people actually increased by 5,000 in February compared to the previous month. The unemployment rate remained at 6.4 percent. zeit.de
More news:
- Bosch plans further job cuts after profit slump. n-tv.de
- Sale of German Tennet electricity grid gets off the ground. faz.net
- German carmakers are struggling with price wars and a sales crisis in China. faz.net
- Lufthansa resumes flights to Tehran after months of interruption due to military tensions. aero.de
- Intel postpones start of major US plant. handelsblatt.com
- Landing craft from US company Firefly „Blue Ghost“ successfully lands on the moon. tagesschau.de
- Eurovision Song Contest: Duo Abor & Tynna will represent Germany. zdf.de
- European Central Bank: Chief Lagarde faces a dilemma – The bank would have to lower interest rates to avoid a new debt crisis, but is facing the threat of a trade war and high inflation sueddeutsche.de
- Digital workforce: Salesforce does not want to hire new developers because of AI golem.de
„Anora“ wins Oscar for best film: The screwball comedy about a young sex worker who falls in love with an oligarch’s son won a total of five awards; Mikey Madison was named best actress. The award for best actor goes to Adrien Brody for his role as a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor in „The Brutalist“. zdf.de
- Federal press conference demands self-determined media access to Trump horizont.net
- Trump cabinet meeting: Tagesspiegel correspondent Juliane Schäuble is banned from entering – „It’s about control and intimidation,“ she says kress.de
- Shock for fans and marketers: DFB Cup could only show nine games on free TV in the future meedia.de
- Charli XCX wins five Brit Awards deutschlandfunkkultur.de
- Oscar winners are announced wdr.de
- Siblings from Vienna: Abor & Tynna will represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest n-tv.de
- Rainer Maria Rilke’s 150th birthday: Towards eternal love fr.de
- Ukraine war: King Charles receives Selenskyj in London t-online.de
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- 4:1 in Frankfurt – The invincible away team: Leverkusen’s gala puts Munich on notice rnd.de
- Decision in the near future? FC Bayern in new talks with Kimmich sport.de
- Setback for Union Berlin: Holstein Kiel celebrates historic 1-0 win – first Bundesliga away win in history sport.de
- Next stop Wolfsburg? Goalkeeper Stina Johannes leaves Frankfurt’s women’s team sportschau.de
- Next medal in the world championships – German ski jumpers take bronze sportbuzzer.de
- Women’s Volleyball Cup final: Dresdner SC beat Münster to claim seventh cup victory sportschau.de
- Snowboard: Hofmeister misses overall World Cup victory sueddeutsche.de
Two employees didn’t notice: US bank accidentally transfers $81 trillion to customers rnd.de