Midnight fuel rebate of up to 17 cents dominated morning editions, with initial drops at pumps quickly followed by midday reports prices were climbing again. Consumer advocates and the Left warned of a corporate windfall, while Söder called the measure unjust.
By mid-morning fiscal disputes took over, as the Chancellery halted Finance Minister Klingbeil's planned sugary-drinks tax, triggering Union frustration, alongside the Taxpayers' Association Black Book listing a 24-million-euro fence and other waste.
Attention returned to the foiled Flydubai cockpit attack on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, with Netanyahu calling the pilot a hero and Israeli media describing a prevented 9/11, while German outlets questioned evidence for a jihadist motive.
The evening closed with NATO receiving the Westphalian Peace Prize and Germany's first win under Klopp.