Bild: SNAP – Back to citizen’s allowance: how badly job placement is really going / ZACK, zurück ins Bürgergeld – So schlecht läuft die Job-Vermittlung wirklich
FAZ: Chancellor promises aid to the steel industry in an „existential crisis“ / Kanzler sagt Stahlbranche Hilfe in „existenzbedrohender Krise“ zu
Funke: Referendum „Berlin autofrei“ to start in January 2026 / Volksbegehren „Berlin autofrei“ startet Anfang Januar 2026
Handelsblatt: The fairy tale of climate protection / Das Märchen vom Klimaschutz
RND: Tesla shareholders approve mega stock package for Elon Musk – could be worth a trillion dollars / Tesla-Aktionäre stimmen für Mega-Aktienpaket für Elon Musk – könnte eine Billion Dollar wert sein
SZ: Merz wants to support the steel industry / Merz will Stahlindustrie unterstützen
Tagesspiegel: Better patient management: Health minister wants to relieve emergency rooms / Bessere Steuerung der Patienten: Gesundheitsministerin will Notaufnahmen entlasten
taz: New „Mitte“ study proves: We are more! / Neue Mitte-Studie beweist: Wir sind mehr!
Welt: These reforms are now coming to Germany / Diese Reformen kommen jetzt auf Deutschland zu SNAP
Middle East
Body of Hamas hostage killed in Gaza identified: The remains handed over to Israel on Wednesday evening are those of a Tanzanian student. According to the Hostage Families Forum, the agricultural student had arrived in Israel only three weeks before the Hamas attack to gain practical experience in farming.
Israel tightens security along Egyptian border: A new restricted zone aims to stop weapons smuggling into Gaza via drones. The army says it recently intercepted two drone deliveries carrying firearms. Defense Minister Katz announced tougher engagement rules and all necessary measures to prevent further smuggling.
Israeli army halts attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon: The strikes had targeted weapon depots of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit, reportedly located in residential areas in violation of the ceasefire. Lebanese sources reported attacks in Taiba, Tir Dabba, and Aita al-Jabal. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun called it a „blatant crime,“ accusing Israel of displacing civilians.
Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine dispute situation in Pokrovsk: Russian troops claim new territorial gains and heavy Ukrainian losses in the embattled city, while Kyiv denies this, insisting its forces are not encircled and continue fighting. Independent Ukrainian sources describe Pokrovsk as largely a „grey zone,“ with both sides holding positions and relying heavily on drones.
AfD politicians to attend conference in Sochi: MPs Steffen Kotré and Rainer Rothfuß will take part in the „International Symposium in the BRICS-Europe format“ (Nov 13–17), with Rothfuß as a speaker. Saxony’s party leader Jörg Urban and MEP Hans Neuhoff are also expected. The trip is seen as another signal of the AfD’s closeness to Moscow.
- AfD bans members from meeting Medvedev during Russia trip.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urges arms industry to ramp up production faster: At a meeting in Bucharest, he stressed that demand, political will, and funding are in place. Companies should invest boldly rather than wait for long-term contracts. NATO will support quicker procurement and innovation, as the threat from Russia extends beyond the current war. n-tv.de
ARD Germany Trend by Infratest-Dimap: CDU/CSU 27 percent (+1), AfD 26 percent, SPD 14 percent, Greens 12 percent, Left 10 percent, BSW 3 percent, FDP 3 percent, Others 5 percent.
Satisfaction with the federal government: Very satisfied 1 percent (+1), Satisfied 21 percent (+1), Less satisfied 45 percent (+2), Not satisfied at all 31 percent (–3).
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announces EU initiative to protect the steel industry: After a high-level meeting with industry and unions, Merz unveiled new measures to stabilize Germany’s struggling steel sector. Facing an existential crisis, import quotas for cheap steel are to be reduced and additional tariffs considered. Merz will push for these measures at EU level and also advocate for a reduced industrial electricity price currently under negotiation in Brussels. He also expressed openness to favoring European and German steel production. Industry representatives described the situation as dramatic, calling for robust trade protection and predictable energy costs. bloomberg.com, sueddeutsche.de, faz.net, tagesschau.de, handelsblatt.com
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt proposes uniform protection standards for critical infrastructure: A new law presented in the Bundestag aims to establish binding nationwide rules for the physical protection of critical infrastructure. Operators of energy and water supply systems as well as power plants would be required to implement uniform security measures. Dobrindt spoke of a paradigm shift in light of increasing hybrid attacks, sabotage, and espionage attempts against Germany. He pointed to the new National Security Council, which on Wednesday adopted an action plan against hybrid threats.
- Law on explosion risks adopted: Police may now use state trojans to track down ATM bombers. heise.de
- Gas storage levy to be abolished at the turn of the year: The federal government will take over costs of around €3.4 billion annually, easing the burden on households and industry. The CDU/CSU and SPD voted in favor, while the Greens and AfD opposed and the Left abstained. zeit.de
- Bundestag approves legal framework for underground CO₂ storage: Planning and permits will be accelerated, primarily for storage under the seabed. On land, storage remains generally prohibited, though states may lift the ban.
- New nursing reform allows qualified caregivers to independently perform medical tasks such as blood sampling or wound care. Health Minister Nina Warken said the goal is to cut bureaucracy and make the profession more attractive. The reform still requires Bundesrat approval.
- Bundestag passes savings package to stabilize statutory health insurance: The €2 billion plan aims to prevent contribution increases next year, mainly through hospital sector savings.
- Farmers and foresters will again receive a tax rebate on agricultural diesel: CDU/CSU and SPD reinstated the refund, which had been scrapped by the traffic-light coalition. The measure will cost the state around €430 million annually. zeit.de
Declining sense of security in Germany: According to the latest ARD-Deutschlandtrend, more people feel unsafe in public spaces. Around half fear being insulted, harassed, or robbed, while one-third fear physical violence or an attack. Over 70 percent also believe Germany’s social stability is at risk. tagesschau.de
Eastern German state premiers press in Brussels for greater participation in EU funding: Meeting with EU commissioners for budget, cohesion, and migration, they warned that planned reforms to EU fund allocation could disadvantage structurally weak regions. They demanded that funding continue to reflect regional needs rather than being centralized at the national level. In a joint statement, they emphasized the need for targeted support for eastern Germany and maintaining their say in fund distribution. Thuringia currently chairs the East German Premiers’ Conference. stern.de, rnd.de
Digital vehicle registration certificate now available via app: With the launch of the i-Kfz smartphone app, the vehicle registration document is now digitally accessible. Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder and Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger officially presented the app on Thursday. „The vehicle registration certificate is now always at hand on your smartphone — no more wondering where you left it,“ said Schnieder. zdfheute.de
Other news
- Former Constitutional Court judge Peter Huber contradicts Merz: „Asylum for politically persecuted Syrians.“ focusplus.de
- Left Party again fails to win a seat on the intelligence committee; MP Clara Bünger did not reach the required majority. rnd.de
- SPD politician Rolf Mützenich urges coalition discipline. zdfheute.de
- Iranian intelligence increasingly active: Exiled opposition warns of growing threats in Germany. tagesspiegel.de
- Letter to SPD leadership criticizes treatment of Afghan local staff who were denied entry.
- Delivery issues threaten equipment for the Lithuania brigade.
- Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger: „Germany could become Europe’s strongest conventional army.“
- Bundeswehr to support Belgium in countering drone threats.
- Federal government supports states and municipalities with €118 billion.
Weapons cache discovered in Vienna after Hamas arrests: Following the arrest of three suspected Hamas members in Berlin, Austrian intelligence uncovered a weapons depot in Vienna containing five pistols and ten magazines linked to Islamist terror networks. According to Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the weapons belonged to the three men arrested in Berlin in early October. Another suspect was detained in London, allegedly responsible for transferring the weapons from Berlin to Austria. The investigation remains cross-border. rnd.de
Other news
- Bavaria: Suspected Russian spies file appeal.
- Berlin: Referendum for a wide-ranging car ban in the city center to start in early 2026.
- Berlin: Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson admits lack of funding criteria; CDU denies political interference.
- Brandenburg: Memorial unveiled for Jewish prisoners at Ravensbrück concentration camp.
- Hessen: Publicist Michel Friedman warns against the „party of hate“ at an event in Darmstadt.
- Hessen: Swastika graffiti made with blood found on cars, walls, and mailboxes in Hanau; suspect arrested.
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Green Party top candidate Constanze Oehlrich faces harassment allegations.
- Saxony: Democracy award goes to an initiative in Pirna.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticizes global climate policy as a failure, accusing world leaders of missing the goals of the Paris Agreement. At the opening of a summit in Belém, Brazil, he declared that the world had failed to limit global warming to below 1.5°C. Guterres called for an immediate end to new coal, oil, and gas projects, as well as a halt to global deforestation by 2030. The summit brings together around 50 heads of state and government; Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to attend on Friday. n-tv.de, tagesschau.de
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the importance of upholding the Paris Agreement and called the upcoming COP30 a decisive turning point. A newly relaunched rainforest protection fund aims to mobilize investments and financially incentivize conservation efforts in affected countries.
EU emissions continue to fall by 2.5 percent: According to the European Environment Agency, member states remain on track to meet the 55 percent reduction target by 2030 compared with 1990 levels—provided that all planned climate measures are fully implemented. n-tv.de
- Falling emissions: Green energy boom keeps the EU on climate track.
Other news
- European Court of Human Rights dismisses lawsuit by Catalan activists against their pre-trial detention.
- The European Commission launches an antitrust investigation against Deutsche Börse and Nasdaq for potential competition law violations.
- Egyptian Khaled El-Enany elected new UNESCO Director-General.
- UN Security Council lifts sanctions against Syria’s interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
- Digital euro: Development continues despite parliamentary disputes.
- SAP reportedly seeks to settle EU antitrust dispute with concessions.
- EU consumption of lightweight plastic bags falls to 65 per person in 2023.
Indictment against former president Mikheil Saakashvili deepens Georgia’s break with EU standards: The prosecution has charged eight opposition figures, including Saakashvili, with alleged coup plotting—charges that could carry long prison terms. Opposition parties call the case politically motivated and warn of an authoritarian shift following the Russian model. The indictment comes amid growing tensions with the EU, which recently criticized Georgia’s severe democratic and rule-of-law backsliding in its enlargement report.
German Tenants’ Association warns of growing housing cost burden on the middle class: President Melanie Weber-Moritz said the housing crisis now affects large parts of society; around twelve percent of the population spent more than 40 percent of their income on rent and utilities last year. The association believes the market is unable to correct this trend and is calling for political countermeasures. A survey found that about seven million tenants fear losing their homes. The landlords’ association Haus & Grund meanwhile points to major rent gaps between new and existing contracts, especially in metropolitan areas. handelsblatt.com
Google and the German government to unveil multibillion-euro infrastructure project: Google plans to significantly expand its presence in Germany, with new and expanded data centers in Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. According to Handelsblatt, the project will be presented next Tuesday together with Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. The investment also includes projects for renewable energy use and waste heat recovery. The expansion responds to rising demand for cloud and data services in Europe. Google currently employs around 2,500 people in Germany, most of them in Munich. handelsblatt.com
Tesla shareholders approve mega-compensation plan for Musk: Three-quarters of shareholders backed a pay package granting Elon Musk stock options worth up to one trillion dollars. The plan depends on Tesla reaching a market capitalization of $8.5 trillion within ten years, Musk remaining at the company, and the production of one million robotaxis and one million AI robots. Musk had previously suggested he might leave the company if the plan failed. handelsblatt.com, rnd.de
Other business news
- BaFin imposes record fine of €45 million on JPMorgan for inadequate anti–money laundering measures. zeit.de
- Europe’s largest battery storage facility planned in Lusatia. n-tv.de
- Third-quarter figures: Higher postage boosts Deutsche Post’s results. tagesschau.de
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