Stories from Berlin · Germany

Approximately 530,000 apprenticeship positions were offered in Germany last year, representing a 4.6 percent decrease from 2024. The number of unfilled applicant positions reached nearly 40,000, the highest level since 2009. These findings were reported by Politico and are being discussed by the German federal cabinet. The data reflects the training balance for the year 2025. For academic professions, the percentage decrease was almost twice as high during the same period. Dirk Werner from the IW described the situation as paradoxical, noting 1.2 million unemployed individuals with professional or academic qualifications, while many open positions cannot be filled due to a mismatch in qualifications.

The registration authority DENIC is currently fixing a nationwide disruption affecting numerous websites in Germany. The broadcast confirmed the resolution of the outage.

BSI President Claudia Plattner is traveling across Germany to address nationwide activities. The move follows a need for the agency to operate on a federal level. No specific details regarding the nature of the cybersecurity threats were provided in the broadcast. Plattner stated that while 100% protection is unachievable, reaching 90% security would be a goal. She said the need to close digital vulnerabilities to make attacks more difficult for intruders. The initiative aims to ensure network operators are no longer left largely unprotected. The move aims to expand the agency's operations nationwide. The report was shared by multiple German broadcasters including MDR Aktuell, NDR Info, and SWR Aktuell. The move aims to increase the agency's presence and effectiveness throughout the country. No specific dates or locations for the travel itinerary were provided.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Rubio to discuss the bilateral agenda and exchange views on the current international situation and Russia-US relations.

The practices employed are described as common competitive tactics that will directly disrupt the normal development environment for US AI, and also impact the normal ecosystem of AI globally. This development was reported by CNR Voice of China.

Widespread internet connectivity problems are currently affecting Germany. No specific cause for the outage was provided in the report. The issues have been noted in both Cologne and Berlin. The problems have been noted in multiple cities, including Berlin.

A draft for a new heating law from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs has been obtained by the ARD capital studio. The event was reported by multiple sources. The proposal is based on shared German security interests. The law is intended to keep technology options open for developers and owners. The draft indicates that a total ban is no longer being considered. The legislation is currently under review as part of energy policy discussions. The development was reported by multiple German news outlets including BR24, MDR Aktuell, NDR Info, and SWR Aktuell. The news was reported by Jan Busche. A new draft proposal aims to overturn the previous heating law implemented by the Ampel government. The source did not specify the exact nature of the ban or the specific timeline for the legislative change. CDU Economy Minister Reiche is reportedly seeking to influence the final decision.

The A115 highway in Berlin has been closed in the direction of the city center. The A115 highway in Berlin is closed inbound between Kreuz, Seelendorf, and Spanischer Allee until 6:00 AM due to construction work.

Stefania Maurizi does not believe WikiLeaks is dead, according to a report from Leipzig. She suggested that if John Götz were to communicate with his son, it could lead to a 'WikiLeaks 2.0' that would be new and groundbreaking.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed Germany's readiness to participate in ensuring safe maritime transit.