Thursday's top story: Bundestag to vote on citizen's allowance reform
On Thursday the Bundestag will decide on the restructuring of Germany's long-term unemployment benefit, formerly known as "citizen's allowance" (Bürgergeld), into what would then be called "new basic security" (Neue Grundsicherung).
The reform, brought by the federal black-red government coalition, provides that benefit recipients must meet stricter obligations to cooperate with the job centres. People who miss meetings, or refuse to take up suggested work roles, could see their benefits cut more quickly or severely.
READ ALSO: Who will be affected by Germany’s Bürgergeld reform?
In the parliamentary procedure so far the draft had been supplemented, but not fundamentally changed.
Among other things, the job centres could now be able to order a medical certificate if there is a suspicion of mental illness when someone fails to show up.
Social associations and trade unions have criticized the planned changes.
Germany tells US, Israel 'force alone' won't resolve conflicts
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday said it was "illusory" to think that conflicts in the Middle East can be resolved "by military force and unilateral action alone".
"We must emphasise this repeatedly to our American and Israeli friends, and we will continue to do so," Pistorius told the German parliament.
"History teaches us that starting wars is much easier than ending them," Pistorius said, adding, "This means that a robust exit strategy is needed. I do not see one at present."
After visiting US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that he wanted to see an end to the war triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran "as soon as possible".
But Merz, who had criticised Iran's ruling clerics sharply over their deadly crackdown on protests in January, also said that he and Trump "are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away".
READ ALSO: Where Germany and the US are aligned and where they aren't after Merz's visit to Trump
Schools across Germany strike against military service
Thousands of school pupils across Germany were prepared to skip classes Thursday as part of a nationwide protest against plans to reintroduce compulsory military service.
The “Schulstreik gegen Wehrpflicht” movement has called for coordinated walkouts in dozens of cities, warning that the government’s new Military Service Law could pave the way for full conscription.
The protests have been triggered by legislation passed last December amid rising defence spending, as well as mandatory questionnaires already being sent to 18‑year‑olds.
READ ALSO: German parliament passes military service law as school students protest
Demonstrations are planned from Hamburg to Munich, with further rallies announced in Thuringian cities including Jena, Erfurt and Weimar.
Campaigners are calling for an end to Bundeswehr recruitment in schools and are demanding greater investment in education rather than the military. The movement builds on earlier protests that drew around 55,000 participants in December.
First Middle East evacuation flight landed in Frankfurt
The first evacuation flight of the German government from the crisis region of the Middle East landed at Frankfurt Airport in the morning.
The Lufthansa plane had taken off from Oman's capital Muscat during the night.
On board the Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 were people who had been selected by the German government.
Like tens of thousands of others, they were stranded in the Gulf region as a result of the US attack on Iran and now had to be brought to Muscat by land.
According to Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, particularly vulnerable groups should be selected, such as pregnant women, the sick or children.
Further evacuation flights are planned. The aircraft has 279 passenger seats in the Lufthansa configuration.
Ketamine gnomes seized by customs officials at Cologne Airport
Customs officials at Germany's Cologne/Bonn Airport found around 25 kilograms of the drug ketamine hidden in five gold-coloured garden gnomes.
The drugs were worth around €1 million, the German customs agency said.
The garden gnomes were checked at the airport in western Germany on their way from southern Germany to Canada and Australia.
Officials said they became suspicious when x-ray images revealed that the gnomes feet had been altered.
CDU takes interior ministry in new Brandenburg coalition deal
The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are set to take control of the interior ministry in Brandenburg under a new coalition agreement with the Social Democrats (SPD), following the collapse of the previous SPD–BSW alliance.
The “red-black” deal was presented on Wednesday in Potsdam by Minister President Dietmar Woidke.
Under the agreement, the CDU will also assume responsibility for the ministries of education and economic affairs, while the SPD will provide six ministers.
CDU state leader Jan Redmann is expected to become interior minister, although other CDU appointments will only be finalised after a party membership vote concluding on March 13th.
The coalition follows weeks of political instability triggered by internal disputes within the BSW, which led to resignations and a shift in parliamentary majorities. Woidke said negotiations had been guided by a shared commitment to defending democracy and tackling extremism.
READ ALSO: Who can vote in the upcoming elections in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria?
Adidas shares slump though Mideast war impact is uncertain
Adidas's shares slumped Wednesday after its 2026 outlook disappointed investors, while the German sportswear giant said any potential impact on its business from the Middle East war was still unclear.
The maker of Gazelle and Samba trainers forecast operating profit would rise to €2.3 billion in 2026, despite a €400 million hit from US tariffs and negative exchange rate effects.
The group's shares fell about eight percent on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to around €137 euros, adding to a steady slide in the stock in recent months.
Deutsche Bank said guidance for both operating income and profit margins for the group, second only to Nike among global sportswear companies in terms of sales, were "slightly weaker than expected".
With reporting by DPA, AFP and Tom Pugh.
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