Get your daily news here:
Protection of the Federal Constitutional Court + Support for returnees from Syria + Gaza ceasefire + Security guarantees for Ukraine

published by Sigrid Arteaga
Contributor: Imogen Goodman and Ulrich Kraus

Friday, 20th of December, 2024
Newspapers Headlines

Bild: She has defeated the devil! | Sie hat den Teufel besiegt!
FAZ: Up to twenty years imprisonment for all 51 defendants in Avignon | Bis zu zwanzig Jahre Haft für alle 51 Angeklagten in Avignon
Funke: Housing shortage in Berlin: BVG is now building homes for trainees | Wohnungsnot in Berlin: BVG baut jetzt Heime für Auszubildende
Handelsblatt: People of the Year – And who will be important in 2025 | Die Menschen des Jahres – Und wer 2025 wichtig wird
RND: The Kremlin chief in his own world: Putin is confident of victory – and suggests a duel with the West with Oreschnik rockets | Der Kremlchef in seiner eigenen Welt: Putin gibt sich siegessicher – und schlägt Westen Duell mit Oreschnik-Rakete vor
SZ: Trump and Musk are risking a shutdown | Trump und Musk riskieren den Shutdown
Tagesspiegel: Her victory against shame | Ihr Sieg gegen die Scham
taz: All 51 men guilty | Alle 51 Männer schuldig
Welt: Majority fear unstable government after new election | Mehrheit fürchtet instabile Regierung nach Neuwahl

Top-News

Amendments to the Basic Law to protect the Federal Constitutional Court: 600 members of parliament voted in favor of the joint draft of the SPD, Greens, FDP and CDU/CSU; thus reaching the necessary two-thirds majority. The Bundesrat still has to give its consent. The aim is to better protect the court from extremist parties. Justice Minister Volker Wissing said that the Constitutional Court, as an independent body, safeguards democracy and the rule of law. He said that enshrining this achievement in the constitution was an important step. tagesschau.de, n-tv.de, lto.de

Polls

ARD-Deutschlandtrend by Infratest-Dimap: CDU/CSU 33 percent (+1), SPD 14 percent (-2), Greens 14 percent, FDP 3 percent (-1), AfD 19 percent (+1), Left Party 3 percent, BSW 5 percent, others 9 percent. tagesschau.de

  • Leadership of the next federal government: CDU/CSU 33 percent (-5), SPD 15 percent, AfD 13 percent, Greens 10 percent (+2), BSW 3 percent (-1), FDP 1 percent (-1), Left Party 1 percent, others 3 percent, none of these 21 percent (+5).
  • Chancellor preference: Olaf Scholz 31 percent, Friedrich Merz 43 percent, don’t know 17 percent.
  • Arms support for Ukraine: Not enough 18 percent (-1), appropriate 36 percent (-2), too much 39 percent (+3).
Politics

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees wants to provide more support for returnees from Syria: According to Der Spiegel, the agency plans to open the existing REAG/GARP return assistance program to Syrian asylum seekers „in the near future“. The aim is to promote the voluntary return of migrants, to provide start-up assistance and to enable the control of an orderly departure. The German government and federal states will cover travel expenses of up to 200 euros per person and a start-up allowance of up to 4,000 euros per family from the program’s funds. spiegel.de

US government hopes for Gaza ceasefire: The US remains hopeful that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and an agreement on the release of hostages held by the militant Islamist Palestinian organization can be negotiated before Joe Biden leaves office in January, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Despite several false starts, negotiations are continuing. tagesspiegel.de

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky does not consider European security guarantees for his country to be sufficient: He said after the EU summit in Brussels that support from the United States was needed and called on the EU to coordinate with the future president, Donald Trump. At the same time, he rejected Trump’s call for a ceasefire and negotiations with Russia, saying that President Putin could not be trusted. Zelenskyy warned that if Trump cut military aid, it would pose an immediate crisis in Ukraine support. derstandard.at , rnd.de, zdf.de

Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin is confident of victory in the war against Ukraine. He said at the annual largely staged press conference in Moscow that progress was being made on the entire front and that the Russian region of Kursk would also be reconquered. He emphasized that Russia should have started the war against Ukraine earlier than 2022. Putin threatened to use the new medium-range missile „Oreschnik“ in further missions. He challenged the West to test its air-defense capabilites against the new Russian rockets in a ‚duel‘ in Ukraine. tagesspiegel.de, derstandard.at, spiegel.de

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has again spoken on the phone with US President-elect Donald Trump. The main topic of the conversation was the war in Ukraine. Both agreed that Russia’s war against Ukraine has been going on for far too long and that it is important to move towards a fair, just and sustainable peace as soon as possible, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. Scholz reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine in its defensive struggle for as long as necessary. It was the second conversation between Scholz and Trump since the latter’s election victory on November 5. rnd.de, handelsblatt.com

Federal Constitutional Court approves Berlin rent control: The judges said the measure was justified in view of the tense housing market in the capital and did not violate landlords‘ property rights. Berlin had enacted an initial rent control in 2015. After the Federal Constitutional Court overturned this, the state created the necessary legal basis and extended the regulation of rent levels until May 31, 2025. rbb24.de

Bundeswehr to modernize Taurus cruise missiles: A framework agreement has been signed to this end in order to maintain the operational capability of the system, the procurement office in Koblenz announced. The aim is to ensure the system’s operational and enforcement capability in modern conflicts. The Bundeswehr has been equipped with the Taurus since 2005. rnd.de

Hundreds of prisoners to be released early: In the course of so-called „Christmas amnesties“, hundreds of prisoners will be released from German prisons in the next few days. According to a dpa survey of the federal states, there are more than 800 people nationwide. The early releases are subject to certain conditions: the individuals in question must have behaved well behind bars, and the official release date must fall between the end of November and the beginning of January anyway. In addition, the prison term must not exceed two years. Bavaria is the only state that never grants amnesties at the end of the year.

More Regional:

  • Berlin: House of Representatives approves austerity budget. tagesspiegel.de
  • Rhineland-Palatinate: state parliament approves two-year budget. n-tv.de
  • Bremen: CDU calls for stricter home supervision. butenunbinnen.de
  • Sachsen-Anhalt: Corona emergency extended to 2025; pandemic continues to have an impact. n-tv.de
  • Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Mayor of Neubrandenburg Silvio Witt has submitted his resignation with effect from May 31, 2025. ndr.de
  • Baden-Württemberg: Accusations against police leaders; committee demanded. n-tv.de
  • Brandenburg: The voter group „Die Andere“ (The Others) also speaks out in favor of replacing Potsdam’s Lord Mayor Mike Schubert; enough votes for a vote of no confidence. rbb24.de
  • Berlin: Commemoration of victims of the Islamist terrorist attack at Breitscheidplatz in 2016. rbb-online.de
  • Brandenburg: Former integration commissioner Doris Lemmermeier leaves SPD in protest against migration policy. maz-online.de
  • Berlin: Police see no suspicion of attempted homicide after Nowitschok false alarm. tagesspiegel.de
  • Hessen: Man charged after hug with Scholz at Frankfurt Airport. faz.net
  • Lower Saxony: Court rejects lawsuit against LNG terminal in Wilhelmshaven; use of chlorine for cleaning lawful. zeit.de
  • Rhineland-Palatinate: Moselle lock could reopen at the beginning of February. tagesschau.de
Around the World

Main perpetrator in rape trial in Avignon found guilty on all counts: Dominique Pelicot had repeatedly drugged his former wife and offered her for rape on the internet for almost ten years; he was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 20 years. The 50 co-defendants were also found guilty, but the court imposed milder sentences in some cases than those demanded by the public prosecutor. Gisele Pelicot said she accepted the judges‘ decision. The 71-year-old added that she had not regretted her decision to have the trial conducted in public. However, she said it had been „very difficult“ for her. At the same time, Gisele Pelicot expressed her gratitude for the great support she received. derstandard.at, spiegel.de, zdf.de

Observers from the neighboring countries are allowed to board a suspicious Chinese ship after damage to two communication cables in the Baltic Sea: China has allowed representatives from Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark to board the freighter, said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Swedish police said they would not take any action of their own. Chinese officials want to conduct the investigation themselves. The Chinese ship is anchored in the Kattegat between Denmark and Sweden. rnd.de, n-tv.de

EU Commission apparently open to dialogue over car crisis: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a structured dialogue with the automotive industry, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the conclusion of the two-day EU summit. The results are to be presented at an EU Council meeting in March. Scholz also emphasized his demand that car companies not be fined billions despite the fact that CO2 limits will soon be tightened. heise.de, handelsblatt.com

Concern in Libya over transfer of Russian weapons: Following reports of a possible transfer of Russian weapons from Syria to Libya, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has warned that his country could be transformed into a „battlefield“. Russia is said to be moving military equipment from the Russian naval base at Tartus and the Russian airbase at Hmeimim in Syria to eastern Libya, where Russia has been supporting a rival government led by General Khalifa Haftar for years. diepresse.com

Democrats outraged by US President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention on the budget: Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, said that the Republicans in parliament had received orders from Trump to bring the government to a standstill and harm Americans across the country. Trump had called on his Republican colleagues in Congress to block the budget deal with the Democrats. They should vote against the already agreed package of laws for transitional financing, Trump said; otherwise, Republican MPs would face difficulties in their re-election campaigns. n-tv.de

More News:

  • EU: Number of refugees in the EU has almost halved; debate continues. sueddeutsche.de
  • France: President Emmanuel Macron on Mayotte; national mourning and support announced. faz.net
  • Kosovo: Country loses almost twelve percent of its population within 13 years; better job opportunities in EU countries. spiegel.de
  • Poland: Right of asylum could be suspended if necessary. sueddeutsche.de
  • Austria: Procedure to withdraw asylum initiated after the fall of Syria’s ruler. tt.com
  • Romania: Dispute over annulled election blocks government formation. faz.net
  • Poland: Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy minister in the PiS government who is wanted for corruption, has been granted asylum in Hungary. tagesspiegel.de
  • Austria: Climate plan adopted and submitted to EU. derstandard.at
  • Georgia: Member of parliament shot dead in Abkhazia. spiegel.de
  • France: Child pornography network dismantled. zdf.de
  • Nigeria: 35 children killed in stampede at school party. derstandard.at
  • Somalia: Turkey wants to build rocket launch pad in the Horn of Africa. faz.net
  • USA: Hundreds of cows affected: California declares bird flu emergency. tagesschau.de
  • USA: Court of Appeal in the US state of Georgia withdraws chief prosecutor Fani Willis in Trump trial for election interference; inappropriate relationship with special prosecutor. tagesschau.de

Business

Rheinmetall has secured a share of two major orders for the digitization of the Bundeswehr: according to the arms company, a total order volume of around 1.7 billion euros will be allocated to it. Together with the Blackned company, Rheinmetall is to integrate the IT systems of all vehicle and platform systems of the land forces. In a second contract, Rheinmetall and another company are to equip around 10,000 Bundeswehr vehicles with new digital communications equipment. t-online.de

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems wants to invest at least 100 million euros in its subsidiary shipyard in Wismar: The company said that the aim was to make the site fit for the construction of several submarines. Four of them are to be delivered to the German Navy. The total cost will be almost five billion euros. The headquarters of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is located in Kiel. rnd.de

Shortage of skilled labor remains a major problem for many companies in Germany despite the economic crisis: According to the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), 43 percent of companies have recently been unable to fill vacancies because they cannot find suitable applicants. The DIHK reported that the shortage of skilled labor exists across all sectors. The situation is particularly difficult in the construction industry, but there is also a lack of suitable candidates in the service sector. zeit.de

People are going to the cinema, theater and museum more: According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of cinema visitors rose to almost 96 million in 2023; this is an increase of 23 percent compared to 2022. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the number of cinema visits was almost 119 million. There has also been a significant increase in visits to museums and theaters. faz.net

More from Business, Tech and Science:

  • German Federal Criminal Police Office warns companies of Russian sabotage. zeit.de
  • Green energy providers Naturstrom and HKD merge. sueddeutsche.de
  • Verdi strikes at Amazon’s Christmas business. n-tv.de
  • Economy: More and more companies want to cut jobs. wiwo.de
  • The economy complains about absenteeism: Where employees call in sick particularly often – especially in raw materials processing, but also a major issue in the transport industry and among cleaning staff. n-tv.de
  • Würth expects a sharp drop in profits. wiwo.de
  • New study published – Federal Environment Agency confirms: Autobahn speed limit would do a lot for climate protection. rnd.de
  • Amazon co-founder Scott: the sixth richest woman in the world has donated 19.2 billion US dollars in five years. t-online.de
Lifestyle

Ex-BSI boss Arne Schönbohm wins case against ZDF Magazin Royale: The Munich Regional Court ruled that four statements in the program were „untrue factual claims that violate personal rights“. The program suggested that Schönbohm was close to Russian actors and portrayed him as a security risk. In response, Bavarian Interior Minister Nancy Faeser banned Schönbohm from conducting official business and transferred him. She justified this by stating that the Böhmermann program had damaged public trust in the office of BSI president, among other reasons. However, ZDF does not have to pay any compensation. rnd.de, lto.de, spiegel.de, heise.de

More from Lifestyle:

  • Deadly search for truth: What dangers do media professionals face in crisis areas? table.media
  • Fight for TV duels: ARD and ZDF emphasize the independence of their decision. table.media
  • Attack in Berlin court: Clansman Fadie Al-Zein knocks out SPIEGEL TV reporter. spiegel.de
  • Lanz makes Elmar Theveßen the talk-show king of the year, Kevin Kühnert wins among top politicians. meedia.de
  • Cuts in culture – the mission of art for all: unfortunately aborted. monopol-magazin.de
  • Star conductor Kent Nagano is leaving Hamburg to lead Spain’s national orchestra and choir. www1.wdr.de
  • John Lennon: Yoko Ono releases song rights. feed.laut.de
  • He’s got beautiful hair: does Donald Trump have a new hairstyle? n-tv.de
  • „He’s not a father“: Trinity Rodman settles scores with father Dennis Rodman. spiegel.de
Community News

Life in Germany is for anyone navigating life in Germany. Whether you’re figuring out how to handle paperwork, looking for housing tips, or just trying to understand the culture better, this space is here to make things easier for you. Packed with practical advice, personal insights from my own experiences, and resources that help you feel more at home—whether you’re new to the country or have been here for years. You’ll find everything you need about making your transition an easy one on lifeingermany.com and all my social networks — helping you truly enjoy your experience in Germany.

Sports
  • Defeat in London: Bayern women miss out on group victory in the Champions League after losing 3-2 to WFC Arsenal. rnd.de
  • Max Eberl confirms: Neuer set for contract extension at FC Bayern. sportschau.de
  • Ten Premier League clubs in US ownership: After turbulent months, the Friedkin Group takes over Everton FC. kicker.de
  • Farewell tour before retirement: Timo Boll attracts thousands of table tennis fans. sportschau.de
  • „Ready to take on the next challenge“: Wladimir Klitschko is ready for a spectacular boxing comeback. sport.de
Gedöns

Curious name dispute: Ex-Royal Pavlos is not allowed to be called „of Greece“. spiegel.de

Nach oben scrollen