Rabea Rogge became Germany's first female astronaut early morning, yet political news dominated the day. AfD parliamentarians faced a speaking ban in the Bundestag, prompting legal action, while polling showed the party now just one percentage point behind the Union—a development characterized as an "Umfrage-Schock" for Merz.
Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil announced his resignation, with Economics Minister Olaf Lies set to succeed him in May. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser presented her migration policy review, claiming 50,000 persons were prevented from entering Germany.
International coverage focused on Trump's trade threats, with the White House developing a 20% tariff strategy that could harm his own supporters. Economics Minister Habeck announced plans to counter these threats with a "hockey" approach inspired by Canada.
The day concluded with a sports sensation as third-division Arminia Bielefeld defeated defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal.