SZ am Abend: News from February 25, 2025

Merz does not rule out new special funds for the Bundeswehr. The Union's candidate for chancellor believes that a quick decision would be difficult, but talks are taking place. However, he rejects a quick reform of the debt brake. The SPD wants its members to vote on a possible coalition agreement. Read the article (SZ Plus)

SPD leader Klingbeil reports that his plan to take over the leadership of the parliamentary group has been criticized. Despite the historically poor result of 16.4 percent in the federal election, the SPD politician wants to take over the leadership of the parliamentary group as well as the party - and to be elected as Mützenich's successor on Wednesday. However, the party leader says it is only an offer, according to SZ information. Read the article (SZ Plus)

What was important today

The Bundesbank is making a billion-euro loss - for the first time since 1979. The balance sheet shows a deficit of around 19.2 billion euros. This is the highest loss in the history of the Deutsche Bundesbank. President Nagel is calling for a reform of the debt brake and is warning against further zero growth. Read the article

Budget: New debt rises to 119 billion euros

Four suspected Hamas members in court in Berlin. The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the men of managing underground weapons depots for the Palestinian terrorist organization in order to prepare attacks in Europe. October 7, 2023 in Israel was apparently supposed to be accompanied by terror in Europe. Read the article (SZ Plus)

The Kremlin still does not want European peacekeepers. US President Trump had claimed that Russia would accept European troops to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Putin's spokesman Peskov now refers to a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Macron believes a ceasefire is possible in the coming weeks. To the live blog on the war in Ukraine

Where the front runs – Day 1098 (SZ Plus)

Huge crypto hack: North Korean hackers steal $1.5 billion Hackers from North Korea use elaborate tricks to steal around $1.5 billion from a Dubai-based crypto exchange. After a few detours, a large part of the money will probably end up with dictator Kim Jong-un. Read the article (SZ Plus)