Bild: Mieses Spiel mit unseren Steuern | Bad game with our taxes
FAZ: Moderate Republikaner kritisieren Wahl des Justizministers | Moderate Republicans criticize choice of justice minister
Funke: Protest in 30 Metern Höhe | Protest at 30 meters
Handelsblatt: Klimaschutz ohne Denkverbote | Climate protection without taboos
RND: Lösung für Deutschlandticket in Sicht – Bleibt die Schiene auf der Strecke? Was der Bahn nach dem Ampel-Aus droht | Solution in sight for Germany ticket – Will rail be left behind? What threatens the railways after the traffic light is switched off
SZ: Habeck und die K-Frage: Grüne setzen bei Neuwahl auf „Spitzenduo mit Baerbock“ | Habeck joins Baerbock in the lead duo
Tagesspiegel: Habeck and the K-question: Greens back “lead duo with Baerbock” in new election
taz: Zartgrün hinter den Ohren | Half-baked
Welt: Karl Lauterbachs Projekte stehen vor dem Aus | Karl Lauterbach’s projects are on the brink of collapse
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in favor of easing the debt brake: It does not make sense to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Germany that is debt-free but therefore less capable of defending itself. The minority government will do everything it can to have the upcoming armaments projects approved by parliament before the election planned for February. The finance minister has been consulted on this matter. If the United States focuses less on Europe in the future, Germany will have to strengthen its defense role all the more, Pistorius emphasized.
- SPD leader Saskia Esken and Secretary General Matthias Miersch have proposed talks to the CDU/CSU about possible changes to borrowing. Esken said she agreed with CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s argument that the debt brake should not be used for consumptive spending, but for investments. handelsblatt.com
- CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has rejected an offer from the SPD to discuss reforming the debt brake. The CDU stands by the debt brake, without any ifs or buts. Merz said nothing different, even if the SPD is trying in vain to read something into it. tagesschau.de
CDU faction signals approval of Deutschlandticket. However, CDU faction vice-chairman Ulrich Lange said that the resolutions would only be passed after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s vote of confidence in mid-December. This would ensure the financing of the Deutschlandticket in the coming year. Isabel Cademartori, SPD transport policy expert, was pleased that the CDU is not allowing the Deutschlandticket to become a pawn in political negotiations. n-tv.de, zdf.de
Union votes with red-green coalition for the first time after the traffic light is abandoned: On Thursday, members of parliament from the SPD, Greens, CDU/CSU, FDP and BSW voted in favor of a change in the legal situation regarding the inheritance of farms. This will reform the compensation for those heirs who get nothing when a farm is handed over. The change only applies to Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. The other federal states have their own regulations. The farms order was linked to an extension of telecommunications surveillance in the case of home invasions in a so-called omnibus law, which was thus also passed. faz.net
Several dead after Israeli attacks in Syria and Lebanon: A representative of the terrorist organization Islamic Jihad said that an organization office in the Syrian capital Damascus had been hit and several members killed. Israel accuses Islamic Jihad of being involved in the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. At least three people were killed in Israeli air strikes on a neighborhood of the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon. There were also renewed attacks on Hezbollah facilities in Beirut’s suburbs. puls24.at
- UN wants to strengthen the Unifil peacekeeping mission in Lebanon in order to better support the Lebanese army as soon as a ceasefire has been agreed with Hezbollah. The blue helmets would not directly enforce such a ceasefire, said the head of the UN peacekeeping force, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
- Unknown persons have shot at Unifil soldiers in Lebanon. The attack occurred after soldiers on patrol discovered a hidden ammunition cache near the southern Lebanese town of Kalauija. Two or three unknown persons fired about 30 shots at the blue helmets; the soldiers returned fire from their vehicle. kurier.at
- In the center of the Gaza Strip, a desalination plant is once again supplying more drinking water for the people after the plant in Deir al-Balah was connected to the Israeli power grid, reports the Israel Defense Forces. Previously, the plant was only in operation for three to four hours a day. n-tv.de
- Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suspected of having falsified official telephone records in connection with the Hamas attacks of October 7 in favor of his boss. He is said to have changed the timestamp of a conversation the prime minister had with his military secretary in the first few minutes of the attack.
Military observers report the advance of Russian troops in the east: they gained ground in the small town of Kurachove in the Donetsk region and advanced into the city of Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s general staff said the attack had been largely repelled; the strategically important railway junction is completely under Ukrainian control. gn-online.de
- A woman was killed in a massive Russian drone attack on the port city of Odessa on Wednesday night. At least two other people were injured, writes military governor Oleh Kiper. Fires broke out in several places as a result of the strikes. In addition, a district heating pipe was hit. stern.de
- Ex-Governor of the Russian border area Kursk Roman Starowoit admits that soldiers sent from Moscow to the region have plundered. Starowoit, who has since become Minister of Transport, met with residents of the Gluschkowo district, which borders directly on Ukraine. The state news agency Tass has long accused the Ukrainians.
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appears to be drawing not only North Korean ammunition and soldiers, but also artillery. Photos posted on social media show the “Koksan” artillery piece being loaded onto trains in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk.
- Poland’s President Andrzej Duda believes in Donald Trump’s support for Ukraine; Trump is a “born fighter” who doesn’t like to lose. He therefore assumes that the newly elected US president will not give up on the country attacked by Russia so easily.
- For the first time, Europeans are using the regular EU budget to finance arms purchases, which are primarily intended to support Ukraine. So far, the EU has financed arms purchases for Ukraine with funds outside the regular budget. Brussels is providing 300 million euros in budget funds for around 20 member states. n-tv.de
Chancellor Olaf Scholz urges the Afghanistan Investigation Committee to set realistic goals for foreign missions: It is important to assess one’s options correctly. For example, the establishment of state institutions and structures in Afghanistan has not been particularly successful. Scholz was questioned because he was Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor of the Grand Coalition at the time of the withdrawal of the Bundeswehr three years ago. The then Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer was also heard. She expressed regret over the slow pace of the admission of former Afghan Bundeswehr local staff in Germany after the Taliban came to power. rp-online.de, haz.de
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasizes the importance of cross-border cooperation in the fight against climate change: In a question period on the World Climate Conference, Baerbock said that global climate protection is also an example of what can be achieved together if you want it. If the US withdraws from the Paris Climate Agreement under the future president Donald Trump, Europe will have to do even more than before. sueddeutsche.de
representatives of the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party have introduced a motion to abolish Section 218 of the Criminal Code: in future, abortions up to the twelfth week of pregnancy are no longer to be punishable. However, the applicants want the obligation for women to seek counselling to remain. The costs of the abortion are to be covered by health insurance. The proposal is supported by a total of 236 members of parliament. SPD politician Carmen Wegge said that with the changes, women would be decriminalized. However, the protection of unborn life remains a top priority. tagesschau.de, handelsblatt.com
- CDU announces opposition to abortion reform. n-tv.de
SPD federal party conference provisionally scheduled for January 11: Secretary-General Matthias Miersch has proposed this date to the executive committee; the delegates‘ meeting is to take place in Berlin. It is unclear whether the decision on whether Olaf Scholz should run again for chancellor will be made then or possibly at an earlier date. Leading SPD politicians support Scholz’s candidacy.
- Former SPD campaign manager Matthias Machnig advises against “chancellor election campaign”. handelsblatt.com
- SPD in Bamberg calls for Pistorius to run for chancellor. handelsblatt.com
Federal party conference of the Greens with election of the executive board: Among other things, a new party executive is to be elected at the three-day meeting of delegates in Wiesbaden. In addition, a debate is planned on the future path of the Greens after the end of the traffic light coalition. Economics Minister Robert Habeck is running to be the top candidate for the federal election on February 23. Habeck is to compete in a top duo with Annalena Baerbock. rnd.de, faz.net
More Politics:
- Comparison with Angela Merkel: Volker Wissing praises the leadership style of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. n-tv.de
- No increase in child benefit? Child protection agency warns of “fatal signal” to families. rnd.de
- Police union calls on parliamentary groups to work together. rp-online.de
CDU and SPD in Saxony to start coalition talks: The state executive committees have agreed on the main points of a minority government. The CDU and SPD want to approach the other parliamentary groups in order to coordinate motions and legislative proposals at an early stage. According to a policy paper, there should be no cooperation with the AfD. Talks about a possible three-way alliance between the CDU, SPD and BSW had previously failed. mdr.de
More Regional:
- NRW: Black-green state government forced to admit major blunder in judiciary affair. sueddeutsche.de
- Thuringia: SPD leader Georg Maier “strictly against AfD deputy in the state parliament”. tlz.de
- Berlin: Interior senator Iris Spranger wants to consider revoking the driving licenses of knife offenders. rbb24.de
- Sachsen-Anhalt: Chipmaker Intel won’t give up on Magdeburg project. n-tv.de
- Berlin: Police investigate protest for banned PKK at Brandenburg Gate. rbb24.de
According to the OECD, industrialized countries are once again seeing record immigration: Last year, around 6.5 million people settled permanently in one of the OECD countries. Almost a third of migration continues to be due to family reunification. However, humanitarian migration has also increased significantly. With 1.2 million new permanent immigrants, the United States remained the most important country. Germany, with 700,000, ranks behind Great Britain in third place. zeit.de
Argentina withdraws delegation from World Climate Conference: The instruction came from the Foreign Ministry in Buenos Aires, the Argentinean Secretary of State for the Environment, Ana Lamas, told the Guardian. This affects more than 80 Argentinean representatives. On Wednesday, Argentina’s President Javier Milei had a phone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump. zeit.de
- Open letter to the UN: Prominent climate researchers and politicians want to prevent climate summit in oil-producing countries. spiegel.de
- Almost 1800 oil, gas and coal lobbyists at UN climate summit. handelsblatt.com
Greek military to increase presence on eastern border and expand cyber capabilities: Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced corresponding restructurings with the aim of expanding barracks in the Evros region, particularly along the border with Turkey. To do this, more than 130 bases in the interior of the country would be closed. The army should also expand its capabilities for drone defense and in cyber warfare. n-tv.de
Iran assures readiness to negotiate nuclear program: Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has spoken with Iran’s President Massud Peseschkian for the first time. According to the presidential office, Peseschkian assured that the nuclear projects were peaceful and in line with international regulations. Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also stated after a meeting with Rossi that his country was willing to negotiate about the nuclear program. However, Iran would not allow itself to be put under pressure. n-tv.de
- Women without headscarves should be “cured” in re-education institutions. stern.de
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated anti-vaccination advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his health minister. Kennedy will end the epidemic of chronic diseases and make America healthy again, Trump wrote on Twitter. The citizens have been confronted with deception and disinformation for far too long, he added. The 70-year-old Kennedy is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, and a son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was also assassinated in 1968. Before defecting to the Republican Trump camp, he was a member of the Democratic Party for decades and later a non-partisan presidential candidate. n-tv.de
- New York Times: Musk meets Iran’s UN ambassador at secret location for talks. stern.de
- Tesla supports abolition: Donald Trump wants to abolish tax credits for electric cars. n-tv.de
- US bishops against Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations. kurier.at
More News:
- EU Parliament votes to postpone law against deforestation. faz.net
- Fight for EU commissioners: Ursula von der Leyen faces crisis. spiegel.de
- Google is demonstrating its power over newspaper publishers in the EU. heise.de
- EU Commission imposes 800 million euro competition penalty on Meta for online classifieds service Facebook Marketplace. heise.de
- Commission sets stricter rules: EU bans Booking.com’s best price clause across Europe. rnd.de
- Climate plan: further EU infringement proceedings against Austria. derstandard.at
- EU Parliament calls for action against Russian ‚phantom fleet‘ de.euronews.com
- European Medicines Agency recommends approval of Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi. rnd.de
- Pharmaceutical policy: German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPI) announces legal action against EU wastewater directive. aerztezeitung.de
- Inflation: ECB to cut interest rates again. faz.net
- IMF study: prosperity gap between EU and USA widening. tagesschau.de
- France: minor clashes during the Israeli national team’s match in Paris; game ends goalless. tagesschau.de
- Georgia: Protests against election fraud have no effect. zdf.de
- Great Britain: British government announces law to ban new coal mines. de.nachrichten.yahoo.com
- Spain: State of emergency in Valencia and Malaga after floods. spiegel.de
- France: Nestlé must pay a million-dollar fine in water scandal. lessentiel.lu
- Czech Republic: Ban on selling energy drinks to children on the way. deutsch.radio.cz
- France: Notre Dame reopens with pomp, polemic and parade. derstandard.at
- Denmark: the royal family is phasing out the “supplier to the royal court” award; bad luck for more than a hundred companies. spiegel.de
- India: New Delhi closes all primary schools due to air pollution from particulate matter. spiegel.de
- North Korea: Leader Kim Jong Un orders mass production of kamikaze drones. zeit.de
- USA: Fed chief Jerome Powell puts a damper on the good mood on Wall Street: “No rush to cut interest rates.” n-tv.de
- USA: The Onion satire magazine buys Infowars portal from US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. zeit.de
- Brazil: Authorities assume explosions in Brasilia were an act of terrorism. tagesschau.de
- Chile: Former top official accused of raping female employee, President Gabriel Boric under pressure. spiegel.de
Excessive bureaucracy costs Germany 146 billion euros in economic power annually, according to calculations by the Ifo Institute, which explained that this magnitude illustrates the urgency of the need for reform. With digitized public administration alone, economic output would be almost 100 billion euros higher. The study was commissioned by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria. augsburger-allgemeine.de, handelsblatt.com
- Too much bureaucracy: Sweden shows the way out. zdf.de
More from Business, Tech and Science:
- Dispute between two gas giants: Europe’s gas prices rise to annual high. spiegel.de
- ZF works council criticizes “never-ending loop of uncertainty”. faz.net
- SMA Solar cuts every fourth job – pressure from cheap imports. n-tv.de
- Startup founder Christian Reber and former startup association head Christian Miele call on Friedrich Merz to form a coalition with AfD. wiwo.de
- Crisis-ridden Baywa group posts 640 million euro loss. handelsblatt.com
- Defense contractor Diehl can expand munitions production in Troisdorf. handelsblatt.com
- Amazon ends “Fresh” delivery service in Germany. handelsblatt.com
- Flugtaxi startup Volocopter on the verge of a potential sale to China. heise.de
- Expensive wave of bankruptcies: Insolvency payments climb to up to 1.75 billion euros wiwo.de
- China: Aircraft construction – new Airbus competitor finds first buyer table.media/china
- New high-tech wheelchair can climb curbs and stairs welt.de
- Number has quadrupled since 1990: More and more people have diabetes – the problem is particularly increasing in poorer countries rnd.de
- Fake QR codes on parking meters – Lower Saxony State Office of Criminal Investigation warns of fraud t3n.de
- Wrong address: Copy-paste error costs crypto trader around 24.7 million euros golem.de
- A public without journalism – Dwindling titles, shrinking editorial offices, ever-decreasing numbers of subscribers to local journalism mmm.verdi.de
- TV advertising slump depresses ProSiebenSat.1 sales new-business.de
- Top ratings in the afternoon: debate in the Bundestag boosts ntv and Phoenix dwdl.de
- Out of the red: Disney’s streaming business is increasingly profitable dwdl.de
- Historical donation: British Museum receives Chinese porcelain worth billions monopol-magazin.de
- Before the European Capital of Culture year in 2025: Chemnitz is increasing admission prices for art museums monopol-magazin.de
- 75th Berlin International Film Festival: Todd Haynes to be President of the Berlinale Jury web.de
- Band Aid celebrates 40th anniversary with new vinyl and CD release musikexpress.de
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- First Bosnia-Herzegovina, then Hungary: DFB team has group victory in sight kicker.de
- Curiosity about South Korean ace: Bayern star Min-Jae Kim is doing his military service on the computer sport.de
- ATP Finals in Turin: Fritz gives Sinner an early spot in the semi-finals sportschau.de
- Comeback of boxing icon – Mike Tyson gets fortune for fight against spurned influencer Jake Paul ksta.de
- German Masters: Isabell Werth in Stuttgart – “Involving people through good sport” swr.de
- The world’s largest Christmas tree shines in Italy – 750 meters high rnd.de