Evening update: Heated climate


Good evening,

The average temperature in Germany has never been as warm as it will be in 2024. Actually, this no longer surprises anyone, climate change is becoming more and more evident, including through weather extremes. The German Weather Service will publish detailed results at the end of December. With this knowledge, you can already imagine the answer to a question that is currently becoming more topical again:

Will there be a white Christmas this year?

Statistically speaking: probably not. Because of climate change, snow is becoming increasingly rare between December 24th and 26th, according to the DWD. On average, you can still hope for snow on these three days around every ten years. This means that the probability has fallen by a good half compared to the years 1961 to 1990.

You can read in these articles why Europe is particularly affected by warmer days due to climate change and what impact this will have:

What happened today in the Ukraine war

Top Russian general Igor Kirillov has been killed in an explosion. The Russian Investigative Committee said an explosive device was planted near his home in Moscow that morning. According to the media, the Ukrainian secret service has now claimed responsibility for the attack. My colleague Oliver Klein researched who Kirillov was and what is known about the attack:

High-ranking Russian general Igor Kirillov was killed in an explosion in a building in Moscow.

12/17/2024 | 0:20 mins


You can find out more about the topic live on ZDFheute from 7.30 p.m. The colleagues talk about the attack on Kirillov with the secret service expert Dr. Adrian Hänni and ZDF correspondent Armin Coerper in Moscow.

Thick air between Scholz and Merz

The election campaign for the federal election in February is already heating up: After Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said yesterday that “Fritze Merz” likes to talk about “nonsense”, Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz was outraged.

I ask that the Federal Chancellor refer to me personally and attack me in this way.

Friedrich Merz, CDU

Scholz's statement again referred to a tip from Merz against him. You can read the whole story and why Green Party leader Felix Banaszak is also critical of the Chancellor's choice of words here:

Olaf Scholz (SPD), taken on December 16, 2024

12/17/2024 | 2:37 mins


The Union, SPD and Greens present election programs

One day after Chancellor Scholz lost his vote of confidence in the Bundestag, the CDU and CSU, the SPD and the Greens presented their election programs. Our capital correspondents looked at the programs and appearances::

What happens next in relation to Syria?

German government representatives are to hold talks with the Syrian transitional government. The USA and Great Britain also established contacts with the Islamist group HTS after the fall of the Syrian dictator Assad.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the talks will focus on the transition process and the protection of minorities. In addition, the possibilities of a diplomatic presence in Damascus would be explored.

number of the day

Proportion of women in DAX top management reaches record level

Source: ZDF


Something is moving in the management ranks of the major German stock exchange companies – albeit slowly. According to the Fidar index, there are more women there than ever before. But parity is still a long way away.

More headlines

Egg of the day

Almost perfect round EGG auctioned for £200

Source: ZDF


Have you ever seen an egg like this? In Dumfries, Scotland, the almost perfect round specimen captivated bidders at auction so much that someone was willing to pay £200 for it. By the way, it was bought in a local supermarket.

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Streaming tips for after work

An Icelandic glacier melts, revealing a World War II German plane wreckage. But hidden inside the wreckage is a dirty secret that brings a ruthless CIA agent to the scene. When a group of young people comes close to the “glacial grave”, their lives are soon in danger. (112 minutes)
Poster motif for the film with Wotan Wilke Möhring, Vivian Ólafsdóttir and Iain Glen.

12/16/2024 | 112:27 mins


Christmas time is also the time for mulled wine, gingerbread, cookies and all sorts of other sweets. In “besseresser: The tricks in mulled wine, gingerbread & Co.”, Sebastian Lege reveals how manufacturers use the cheapest possible additives to earn as much as possible from the Christmas business.
"better: The tricks in mulled wine, gingerbread & Co. - Sebastian Lege reveals": Product developer Sebastian Lege is standing at a Christmas market stall, wearing a gingerbread heart with the inscription around his neck "Chef"Next to him on the table are mulled wine bottles, chocolate Santa Clauses and dominoes.

12/17/2024 | 43:56 mins


Enjoy your evening!

Anna Grösch and the entire ZDFheute team

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