Fuel Relief Deal: Germany’s federal government and states have reached an in-principle agreement on a fuel tax cut and a price cap to tackle record-high petrol and diesel prices, with the tax effectively reduced by about 17 cents per liter and relief expected to run through end-2026, ahead of key elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. Defense Modernisation: Germany received its first F-35A stealth fighter jet from the US as part of a broader NATO-driven military buildup, replacing the ageing Tornado fleet and supporting Germany’s nuclear-sharing role. Political Pressure on Merz: A new YouGov survey finds nearly half of Germans expect Chancellor Friedrich Merz to leave office before the end of 2026, as approval ratings hit record lows amid economic stagnation and stalled reforms. Social Security Reform: The government is proposing a new “New Self-Employment” status to reduce misclassification risk for freelancers and external contractors, with mandatory pension insurance and clearer criteria. Anti-Semitism Response: Hamburg’s CDU unveiled a 12-point plan to combat rising antisemitism, including calls to make the antisemitism commissioner role full-time with more staffing and stronger school-focused measures. NGO/Nonprofit Angle: UNESCO urged stronger global cooperation on AI literacy and ocean science ahead of UNGA discussions, positioning education and critical thinking as safeguards for human-centered AI.