Bild: The big overdraft scandal / Die große Dispo-Sauerei
FAZ: Europeans insist on an unconditional ceasefire / Europäer pochen auf bedingungslosen Waffenstillstand
Funke: After ruling: Many Berlin civil servants can hope for more money / Nach Urteil: Viele Berliner Beamte können auf mehr Geld hoffen
Handelsblatt: Friedrich, the driven one / Friedrich, der Getriebene
RND: Challenge to US tech giants: How European developers want to reinvent social media / Kampfansage an US-Tech-Konzerne: So wollen europäische Entwickler Social Media neu erfinden
SZ: Trump’s Ukraine plan alarms Europeans / Trumps Ukraine-Plan schreckt Europäer auf
Tagesspiegel: US push for peace in Ukraine: Europeans react skeptically and demand involvement / US-Vorstoß für Frieden in Ukraine: Europäer reagieren skeptisch und fordern Beteiligung
taz: Climate warriors / Klimakrieger
Welt: US push for Ukraine peace plan angers Europe / US-Vorstoß für Ukraine-Friedensplan verärgert Europa
US peace plan for Ukraine handed over: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has for the first time received a proposal drafted by the United States. After a meeting with a US delegation, the president’s office said both sides had agreed to continue working on the plan’s points to achieve a „dignified end to the war.“ Zelensky reaffirmed his readiness for constructive talks and announced that he planned to discuss the key elements directly with US President Donald Trump soon. Details of the plan have not yet been published. n-tv.de, zdfheute.de, tagesspiegel.de, tagesschau.de
- The peace plan from Washington is said to include far-reaching concessions by Kyiv, including territorial losses and the complete evacuation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as a reduction of the armed forces and limits on weapons ranges. The presidential office in Kyiv confirmed corresponding US proposals based on secret talks between Washington and Moscow.
- The Kremlin insists that any peace plan must take into account what it considers the „fundamental causes of the conflict.“ Moscow confirms contacts with the United States but denies any ongoing negotiations on an agreement.
- Putin appoints investment banker Kirill Dmitriyev as his top negotiator; he is said to have leaked the proposal.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has spoken with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan following the disclosure of the US initiative. Wadephul said Witkoff and Fidan considered close coordination with Germany and European partners important.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas stresses that a peace plan can only be viable with the involvement of Ukraine and Europe. The EU says it is pursuing a two-point plan aimed at weakening Russia and supporting Ukraine. - London stresses that only Ukraine can decide its own future. At the same time, the British government shares the US goal of ending the war as soon as possible and assures Ukraine of continued military support.
- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski calls for close European involvement in potential peace talks. He warns against curtailing Ukraine’s defensive capabilities; restrictions should target the aggressor, not the victim.
- France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warns that any potential peace plan must not amount to a capitulation to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
- Former top diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger calls for an independent European peace initiative. Europe should develop its own catalogue of principles and coordinate it with the US to avoid relying solely on Washington’s agenda.
More Afghan local staff arrive in Germany: The government has brought 52 Afghans with admission approvals from Islamabad to Germany. The groups landed in Hanover and Berlin. They belong to those who successfully sued for a visa under the federal admission program; around 1,900 people in Pakistan are still waiting to leave. tagesschau.de
Building Type E aims to reduce construction costs significantly. Key points presented by Construction Minister Verena Hubertz and Consumer Protection Minister Stefanie Hubig state that builders and companies may jointly deviate from certain construction standards. Suggested changes include more flexible rules on wall thicknesses, window sizes, and the outfitting of basements and parking garages. The aim is to relax high-quality standards considered cost drivers and thereby stimulate housing construction. The proposals will now be discussed with states and associations; a draft law is planned for late 2026. tagesspiegel.de, n-tv.de
Criticism of planned Bürgergeld reform due to social consequences: Welfare and aid organizations sharply criticize the planned transformation of Bürgergeld into basic security. In a joint appeal, they warn that stricter sanctions for missed appointments or job refusals would worsen poverty rather than reduce it. Many people already rely on volunteer help and donations to secure basic needs. Signatories include Diakonie, Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, and Doctors of the World. welt.de
Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer transfers shares of his publishing group to trustees: The Minister says the formal transfer should be completed by the end of the year. Weimer said he wanted to avoid any appearance of bias, even though no conflict had existed. Background reports suggest the publishing group may have offered companies exclusive access to government members at the Ludwig Erhard Summit in exchange for payment. Cultural committee chair Sven Lehmann called the move overdue but demanded further clarification.
Further reports:
- Defense Committee Chair Thomas Röwekamp: separation between internal and external security is no longer appropriate.
- Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder: improvements to rail services will take years.
- Economy Minister Katherina Reiche: make energy affordable and strengthen digital training.
- Search only with a court order: Constitutional Court limits police powers in deportations.
- Significant increase: mini-job income limit rises to 603 euros at the start of the year.
- Dispute over COVID-19 vaccine: expert report finds no discrimination in vaccine mandate for soldiers.
- Ambassador (ret.) Heinrich Kreft: Europe needs an ambitious space strategy.
New ESA spaceflight center to be built in Cologne: It will house the directorate for human and robotic exploration. Construction on the German Aerospace Center grounds will begin early next year. With the move to Cologne, ESA aims to better connect existing infrastructures, such as the European Astronaut Centre and the training facility with a simulated lunar surface. According to the state government, around 250 new jobs will be created. heise.de, rundschau-online.de
Berlin police intensify checks after clan shootings: Since 13 November, hundreds of officers in the special investigation unit „Ferrum“ have checked around 1,000 people and 700 vehicles. The police plan to continue controls in the coming weeks to prevent further armed clashes. stern.de
Further news:
- NRW: referendum on April 19 regarding Olympic bid.
- Bavaria: lawsuit over bed tax dismissed; Munich had hoped for more than 100 million euros per year.
- Rhineland-Palatinate: Education Minister Sven Teuber says problems at a Ludwigshafen school following a dramatic teacher SOS „cannot be solved in the short term.“
- NRW: rent cap extended until 2029.
- Saxony-Anhalt: AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund refuses to name the Holocaust as the worst crime against humanity.
- Brandenburg: CDU proposes aid program for village pubs.
- Brandenburg: Interior Minister René Wilke calls for more cameras in unsafe areas.
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: restrictions in courts due to IT transition.
COP30
Fire on conference grounds delays conclusion of UN climate talks in Belém: Although the UN climate conference was scheduled to end on Friday, an extension is expected. One reason is a fire that broke out Thursday afternoon local time in an event tent, prompting the temporary evacuation of the conference grounds. The fire was quickly extinguished; 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation. It remains open whether Brazil’s proposed roadmap for a global phase-out of fossil fuels will be included in the final declaration.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres had urged courage and willingness to compromise at the start of the final phase; states must follow scientific findings and put people’s well-being above economic interests.
EUROPE
New green-materials axis between EU and South Africa: Shortly before the G20 summit in Johannesburg, the EU and South Africa agreed on a partnership to make trade and investment more ecological and resilient. Joint projects were agreed to promote and process critical raw materials, particularly in green hydrogen and decarbonization. The initiatives are part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to strengthen its influence in the global raw materials sector. South Africa hopes the cooperation will bring new investment and jobs to resource-rich regions.
Further reports:
- Debate on sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet: EU countries want to further restrict oil deliveries.
- EU wants digital independence from China and the US.
- Companies to receive digital identities.
- New push: EU Commission wants to promote private pensions.
- EU weakens controversial forest-protection law.
- Austria files appeal against EU taxonomy ruling.
- EU imposes sanctions on deputy leader of RSF militia Abdelrahim Hamdan Daglo.
- EU states support higher weight limits for electric trucks.
- Amazon renews push to regain access for its lobbyists in the EU Parliament.
- G20 meeting in South Africa takes place for the first time without the US; Argentina and Mexico have also canceled.
Greenpeace finds dangerous chemicals in Shein textiles: In a sample of 56 garments from the online retailer Shein, chemicals were detected in 18 cases that in some instances significantly exceed the limits set by the European chemicals regulation. Among the substances identified were the plasticizers phthalates as well as the water- and dirt-repellent „forever chemicals“ PFAS. Shein announced it would proactively remove the affected items from sale.
Further news:
- Nearly 50,000 jobs in the automotive industry cut within one year.
- Eurowings: Flight attendants receive significantly more money.
- Minority stake: Lufthansa submits a bid for Portugal’s airline TAP.
- Susanne Schwarzbach becomes editor-in-chief of Deutschlandfunk.
Fatima Bosch from Mexico crowned Miss Universe in Thailand after scandal-hit competition: The 25-year-old Miss Mexico won the title despite a recent uproar at a preparation event in Bangkok, where the Thai organizer publicly reprimanded her for allegedly missing an appointment. Several contestants walked out in protest. Bosch, who comes from a well-known family in Tabasco, ultimately prevailed and was celebrated by fellow participants. n-tv.de
In Germany, Sparen (saving) is practically a national sport — but even the most disciplined savers are getting whiplash these days. From rising mini-job limits to new construction rules meant to cut costs, the country is tinkering everywhere to make everyday life a bit more affordable. Yet somehow, no matter how many reforms arrive, the classic German response endures: „Erstmal abwarten.“ – „Let’s wait and see.“
A cultural constant as reliable as the morning Brötchen.