Bild: Söder wants to radically reshape Germany / Söder will Deutschland radikal umbauen
FAZ: Health minister wants to restrict access to specialist doctors / Gesundheitsministerin will Zugang zu Fachärzten erschweren
Funke: Berlin public transport operator invests one billion euros / BVG investiert eine Milliarde Euro
Handelsblatt: The China shock / Der China-Schock
RND: German armed forces in Greenland: Germany sends soldiers to the Arctic / Bundeswehr auf Grönland: Deutschland schickt Soldaten in die Arktis
SZ: Eyes turn to Washington / Die Augen richten sich auf Washington
Tagesspiegel: Greenland dispute: Denmark and the US fail to reach agreement / Grönland-Streit: Dänemark und USA können sich nicht einigen
taz: Trump threatens help / Trump droht Hilfe an
Welt: Powerful CDU factions push for lower electricity tax / Mächtige CDU-Flügel pochen auf niedrigere Stromsteuer
GREENLAND
US maintains claim over Greenland : Talks in Washington ended without progress. US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeld to discuss Greenland’s future. Shortly before the meeting, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed the US claim to the island on Truth Social, stressing Greenland’s strategic role in the planned missile defense system „Golden Dome.“ Rasmussen spoke of fundamental disagreements and firmly rejected any US takeover of the island. The delegations agreed to set up a joint working group. faz.net, sueddeutsche.de, tagesschau.de, zeit.de
- The European Parliament condemned US statements on Greenland as violations of international law, arguing they undermine Denmark’s sovereignty and breach the UN Charter. Several UN experts issued similar statements.
- Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway are sending military personnel to Nuuk for a joint security assessment at Denmark’s invitation. The mission will explore possible contributions to regional security, including maritime surveillance. zdfheute.de
- France has opened a consulate in Greenland’s capital as a political signal. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that Greenland has clearly aligned itself with Denmark, NATO, and the EU and should not be subject to US pressure.
- In the US Senate, a bipartisan bill aims to prevent any US administration from annexing or controlling territory belonging to a NATO ally without consent. Its chances of passing remain unclear.
IRAN
Tensions rise over executions and US response: Iran has warned it would retaliate if the US responds to executions of protesters. US President Donald Trump claimed that executions had stopped and that no further ones were planned, without citing sources. Iran later announced a temporary pause in hangings. Authorities had previously said demonstrators would be tried in fast-track proceedings, some as public show trials. Trump threatened a strong US reaction if executions continued, prompting a warning from an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that Iran could respond militarily. n-tv.de
- Nationwide protests have declined following heavy police crackdowns. The regime is demonstrating strength by mobilizing supporters, with state TV showing large funerals for killed security personnel. web.de
- German CSU foreign policy spokesperson Stephan Mayer called for a more unified EU approach toward Tehran, including greater pressure and the designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
- The US has withdrawn part of its personnel from the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar as a precaution amid rising tensions with Iran. tagesschau.de
- After international criticism, Iran has sought diplomatic talks with France. EU countries have summoned Iranian ambassadors.
- Within Germany, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt rejects a general deportation freeze to Iran, while the state of Rhineland-Palatinate has suspended returns due to the worsening human rights situation. n-tv.de
- Around 1,000 people took part in a demonstration in Germany against the Iranian regime. rbb24.de
- Lufthansa is avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace. zeit.de
UKRAINE
Ukraine extends martial law and mobilization: Ukraine has extended martial law and military mobilization until May. Men aged 23 to 60 are generally required to remain in the country, with exemptions for certain groups. Men aged 18 to 22 may travel abroad, while front-line deployment begins at age 25.
- The European Commission has proposed a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, with two-thirds earmarked for military aid and one-third for budget support. Ukraine is expected to prioritize European arms manufacturers. The first tranche could be released in April pending EU approval. n-tv.de
- According to Bloomberg, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are planning a possible visit to Moscow to present a US peace plan to President Vladimir Putin, though neither side has confirmed this.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that any future reconciliation with Russia depends on peace and freedom, reiterating Russia’s responsibility for the war.
- The UK is considering seizing ships from Russia’s shadow oil fleet and using proceeds to support Ukraine.
Ukraine has reshuffled its government: former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal becomes Energy Minister, while former Digital Minister Mykhailo Fedorov takes over as Defense Minister, announcing reforms and highlighting major challenges with mobilization and desertion. sueddeutsche.de, hna.de
- Ukrainian drones reportedly destroyed six Russian air defense systems in eastern Ukraine within two days.
- Ukraine has declared its energy sector in crisis due to ongoing Russian attacks and plans to increase electricity imports.
- Russian regions near Ukraine reported deaths following drone attacks.
YouGov Sunday poll: CDU/CSU 25 per cent (-1), AfD 25 per cent (-1), SPD 16 per cent (+2), Greens 12 per cent, Left Party 10 per cent, BSW 3 per cent (-1), FDP 4 per cent, others 5 per cent. (Change compared to previous month) yougov.de
Inheritance tax debate: Chancellor rejects SPD proposal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected the SPD’s proposed reform of inheritance tax, saying the debate comes at the wrong time and creates unnecessary uncertainty — especially for small and medium-sized family businesses. He called on the governing coalition to wait for a pending ruling by Germany’s Constitutional Court before discussing changes. zeit.de, n-tv.de
- Conservative politicians and business groups warn that higher taxes on business assets could threaten family-owned companies during an economic slowdown. Employer representatives argue that tax increases would further weaken growth.
- The SPD, however, is standing by its proposal, saying most family-run businesses would remain exempt. Some regional leaders are calling for a balanced approach between social fairness and economic stability. tagesspiegel.de
The cabinet has approved a reform raising the minimum local business tax rate from 200% to 280%. The move aims to stop companies from relocating their registered offices purely for tax reasons and is expected to generate around €200 million annually for municipalities. boerse.de
Germany’s interior ministry has created a new post for a migration envoy, tasked with coordinating deportations to third countries and developing migration agreements outside the EU. tagesspiegel.de, noz.de
Applications for conscientious objection to military service rose by 72% in 2025, as Germany began implementing reforms to rebuild troop numbers. Men turning 18 are now receiving mandatory questionnaires; compulsory service could be reinstated if voluntary recruitment falls short. n-tv.de
EU politics
The European Parliament will again vote on a no-confidence motion against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A majority is considered unlikely. handelsblatt.com, stern.de
AI regulation
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has stopped generating sexual images of real people following international criticism. The EU Commission is reviewing the changes and has warned it may use the Digital Services Act if measures are insufficient. zeit.de
MIDDLE EAST
Gaza reconstruction phase begins: According to the US special envoy, the Gaza peace process has entered an implementation phase focused on reconstruction, demilitarization, and the establishment of a temporary technocratic Palestinian administration. Hamas has been warned to comply with disarmament obligations. sueddeutsche.de, welt.de
ASIA
China trade: Despite ongoing tariff disputes, China recorded a record foreign trade surplus. tagesspiegel.de
USA
Major visa restrictions announced: The US is suspending visa issuance for visitors from 75 countries, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Brazil, and Thailand. The policy is set to take effect on 21 January, following earlier statements by President Donald Trump on limiting immigration. tagesspiegel.de, tagesschau.de
Crisis preparedness on the rise: Following recent attacks and power outages in Berlin, a majority of people in Germany are preparing for emergencies. A YouGov survey shows 51% now stockpile food, water, or medicine for at least three days, reflecting growing concern over potential infrastructure disruptions.
Other trends
- More refugees are founding businesses in Germany. n-tv.de
- Women’s representation on company boards remains stagnant. sueddeutsche.de
- Trade conflicts continue to weigh on the global economy. zdfheute.de
Germany is debating who should pay more inheritance tax — and when. While politicians argue about fairness versus economic stability, the real German reflex kicks in: wait for the Constitutional Court. In few countries does a court ruling so reliably pause politics, calm tempers, and decide when it’s officially acceptable to argue again.