Bild: Higher pension for tradespeople! / Höhere Rente für Handwerker!
FAZ: Merz courts India as Germany’s „partner of choice“ / Merz wirbt um Indien als „Wunschpartner“ Deutschlands
Funke: Berlin’s interior senator warns of further attacks / Berlins Innensenatorin warnt vor weiteren Anschlägen
Handelsblatt: Endgame over the Fed / Endspiel um die Fed
RND: Images of corpses, threats and violence: Protests in Iran are subsiding / Leichenbilder, Drohungen und Gewalt: Proteste im Iran lassen nach
SZ: Investigations into the Fed chief / Ermittlungen gegen den Fed-Chef
Tagesspiegel: Trump threatens Iran’s leadership with „drastic options“ / Trump droht Irans Führung mit „drastischen Optionen“
taz: ICE rage / ICE Rage
Welt: Merz visits partner of choice India / Merz zu Besuch beim Wunschpartner Indien
Diplomatic tensions between Europe and Iran are rising: Tehran has summoned the ambassadors of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom to the Foreign Ministry. The move was justified as a response to „interference in internal affairs“ after the governments of the four countries expressed solidarity with the Iranian protests. French President Emmanuel Macron had described the actions of the security forces as „blind violence.“ According to Iranian state television, the ministry showed the diplomats videos of the unrest. sueddeutsche.de, n-tv.de
- The USA impose import tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social a punitive tariff rate of 25 percent on US imports from such states in order to increase economic pressure on Tehran. n-tv.de
- Iran’s regime has mobilized its own supporters following days of anti-government protests. State media showed images of tens of thousands of demonstrators in Tehran and other cities. The figures cannot be verified due to internet shutdowns and the lack of independent reporting.
- The death toll from the protests in Iran has risen to at least 648, according to the Norway-based organization „Iran Human Rights.“ The victims reportedly include minors. Estimates suggest that more than 6,000 people may even have been killed. On Sunday, there were no major demonstrations against the regime for the first time in days. The internet remains shut down. n-tv.de
- The EU Parliament bans Iranian government representatives from entering its buildings. President Roberta Metsola justified the step by citing the regime’s ongoing violence and said the parliament would not lend legitimacy to a system based on torture and repression.
- Germany continues to push within the EU for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to be designated as a terrorist organization. All member states must agree; Brussels confirmed that negotiations are ongoing. The Revolutionary Guards are accused of playing a central role in the violent suppression of the protests.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the violence used by Iranian security forces against demonstrators as disproportionate and a „sign of weakness.“ Green Party leader Franziska Brantner called for an international Iran meeting to discuss ways to restore communication and end repression. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the regime had clearly lost all legitimacy and threatened sanctions. welt.de
UKRAINE
The UN reports the highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine since the start of the war in 2025: Human rights monitors recorded 2,514 civilians killed and more than 12,000 injured last year as a result of Russian attacks. The UN organization attributes the increase to intensified fighting along the front and the increased use of long-range weapons. Most of the victims were confirmed in areas controlled by Kyiv as a result of Russian shelling. According to the UN, the intensified Russian offensives also led to destroyed infrastructure and new displacement movements.
The USA criticize the use of a Russian intermediate-range missile in Ukraine as a dangerous escalation: At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, Deputy US Ambassador Tammy Bruce spoke of a „dangerous and inexplicable escalation“ and warned of a possible widening of the war if attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure continue. The UK also expressed outrage: Ambassador James Kariuki called the impact near the Polish border „reckless“ and a threat to regional and international security. Ukraine had requested the meeting following the attack on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of a major Russian offensive in the coming days: According to intelligence information, Moscow is preparing an operation involving drones to disable air defenses, followed by missile attacks. Russia intends to deliberately use the winter cold as a tactical advantage. Zelenskyy urged the population to take air raid alerts seriously and remain vigilant.
- Norway supports Ukraine during the winter with aid totaling 400 million dollars. The funds are intended to cover urgent civilian needs and stabilize the state budget, including energy repairs and gas procurement. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized during his visit to Kyiv the importance of support for administration, education, and healthcare.
- Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with five Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles, financed by Germany. The first vehicles are scheduled to be delivered in early 2026. The contract value is in the mid double-digit million range. Further production in Ukraine is already planned.
Russian attacks knock out power supply in Odesa: At least 35,000 households are without electricity, according to the local energy provider, after an infrastructure facility and a residential building were hit. Two people were injured. In Kyiv, Dnipro, and other cities, the massive attacks have also caused widespread outages of electricity, heating, and water at temperatures of down to minus 18 degrees Celsius. Repair work is expected to take several days, according to authorities. tagesschau.de
SPD specifies plans for inheritance tax reform: According to an internal concept paper, a „lifetime allowance“ of around one million euros is to apply in the future, covering all inheritances a person receives over the course of their life. For business inheritances, an allowance of five million euros is planned; values exceeding this threshold are to be taxed at a higher rate. According to the SPD, this would allow most family-owned businesses to continue being transferred tax-free. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil justifies the reform with greater tax fairness and points to an imbalance in the current system. faz.net, handelsblatt.com
- „Major economic damage“: Top economists warn against the SPD’s plans. focus.de
SPD calls for lower prices for staple foods and state price supervision: The SPD wants retail chains to voluntarily offer certain foods produced in Germany at reduced and stable prices. A so-called „Germany basket“ is intended to provide noticeable relief for consumers, reports the Rheinische Post. SPD parliamentary deputy leader Esra Limbacher emphasized that food prices have risen by around one third since 2020. In addition, the SPD is calling for a state price monitoring authority modeled on those in other EU countries. tagesspiegel.de, faz.net
Farmers’ Association President Joachim Rukwied warns of sharply declining incomes for farmers: Despite high consumer prices, ever smaller shares are reaching producers, Rukwied told the Augsburger Allgemeine. He attributes this to developments driven by retail chains, international competition, and rising costs.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt wants to increase constitutional protection staff to combat left-wing extremism: Speaking at the annual conference of the civil servants’ association, Dobrindt said he had ordered an expansion of relevant positions at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He warned of a growing threat from left-wing extremist perpetrators and spoke of an „increased frequency“ of attacks. The reallocation, however, should not come at the expense of efforts to combat right-wing extremism. Dobrindt also called for greater protection of critical infrastructure, warning that attacks on energy or data networks could affect millions of people. n-tv.de, web.de, t-online.de
Germany shifts development aid in favor of the poorest countries: Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan wants future funding to focus on the poorest countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East. Emerging economies such as India, South Africa, or Mexico are to be supported only through credit programs. The background is budget cuts: the development ministry’s budget will fall by two billion euros in 2026 to around ten billion euros. In addition, the effectiveness of projects is to be reviewed more closely, and support more tightly aligned with German interests.tagesschau.de, web.de, faz.net
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasizes unity on security issues after meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Despite global tensions, transatlantic relations remain stable; after talks with Rubio in Washington, Wadephul spoke of a „continuing strong partnership.“ Both sides reaffirmed their shared goal of a just peace in Ukraine and pointed to the binding nature of NATO’s mutual defense commitment. With regard to the recently revived Greenland debate, Wadephul expressed confidence that a solution would be found within NATO. tagesschau.de
- Johann Wadephul reaffirms German support for the World Bank in reconstruction efforts in Gaza and Ukraine: After a meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga in Washington, it was said that the bank is „one of the key institutions for financing reconstruction.“ Wadephul referred in this context to projects in the Gaza Strip and in Ukraine.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil pushes for closer international cooperation on securing raw materials: Germany and Europe must conclude agreements more quickly to stabilize supplies of rare earths and safeguard supply chains, Klingbeil said after the meeting of G7 finance ministers and other countries in Washington. He described this as a central economic policy issue for growth and employment. He also signaled openness to minimum prices to support producers outside China, which dominates the global market and is increasingly using its position politically. spiegel.de
Further reports:
- Bundestag wants stricter oversight of Deutsche Bahn, ministry waves it off. sueddeutsche.de
- Federal government plans to acquire around 21.5 percent of grid operator Tennet for about 7.6 billion euros. rp-online.de
- Federal states push for a complete ban on speed camera warning apps. focus.de
- 400 Afghans with admission approval will soon be able to enter Germany. welt.de
- Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger: „More trust“ in the electronic patient record. zdfheute.de
CDU, SPD, and FDP in Saxony-Anhalt agree on early change of minister-president: Reiner Haseloff wants to hand over his office to CDU state leader Sven Schulze as early as the end of January. The CDU executive board in Magdeburg approved the plan, as did the state leaderships of the SPD and FDP. Haseloff himself proposed the change to enable an orderly transition ahead of the state election in September. The 71-year-old will not run again after more than twelve years in office. Schulze, currently economics minister, is to lead the government until the election and is also the CDU’s lead candidate. zdfheute.de, tagesspiegel.de
Halle suspects external attack after citywide siren alarm: Following the false alarm on Saturday around 10 p.m. in Halle, police are investigating a suspected attack on the city’s warning system. Neither the city, the state, nor the federal government had triggered the alarm. There was no danger situation, the city said. Criminal police and state security have taken over the investigation after a technical defect was ruled out.tagesschau.de
Further news:
- Bremen: CDU and FDP call for clear rules on religious symbols in the police force. weser-kurier.de
- Brandenburg: Former BSW lawmakers want to form their own group in the state parliament. nordkurier.de
- Berlin: Interior Senator Iris Spranger wants to invest more money in civil protection; further attacks feared. rbb24.de
- Bavaria: State government reportedly argues loudly over Microsoft contract. heise.de
- Thuringia: Internal police investigations unit dissolved. mdr.de
- Baden-Württemberg: Prosecutor seeks penalty order over suspected incitement against AfD state lawmaker Miguel Klauß. welt.de
- Hesse: Tax office prepares tax returns itself; pilot project receives strong support from central Germany. mdr.de
- Lower Saxony: Written long division abolished for primary school pupils. welt.de
- Brandenburg: Witness appeal after arson attack on property of antisemitism commissioner Andreas Büttner. n-tv.de
Genocide case against Myanmar over persecution of Rohingya begins in The Hague: The lawsuit filed by Gambia at the International Court of Justice is directed against the military regime, which carried out a so-called „clearance operation“ in Rakhine State in 2017. Hundreds of thousands of members of the Muslim minority were displaced. Reports document mass killings, rapes, and arson attacks. n-tv.de
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announces increased NATO presence in the Arctic: In the debate over Greenland’s security policy role, Mark Rutte is pushing for a stronger alliance presence in the far north. NATO is currently reviewing further steps to make the Arctic safer together. The alliance already expanded its engagement in the region last year at the request of the neighboring states the USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Rutte spoke of „good discussions“ on future cooperation.
Further reports:
- China and the EU reach agreement on Chinese electric car exports to Europe. zeit.de
Declining sales for VW, Mercedes, and BMW in China and the USA: Pressure on German carmakers abroad is increasing. According to figures from the Handelsblatt, VW, Mercedes, and BMW delivered only around 3.9 million vehicles in China in 2025—the lowest level in 13 years. The reason is tougher competition from new Chinese brands. Deliveries also fell in the USA: by ten percent for VW and twelve percent for Mercedes. The companies attribute this to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. By contrast, rising sales were recorded in Europe and South America. t-online.de
Further business news:
- Outmigration of nursing staff increases mortality in southwestern Germany. faz.net
- AOK and substitute health insurance funds also call for an end to the nursing care budget. faz.net
- Veterinarians call for an end to tethering of cattle. stern.de
- Ariane 6 launch vehicle is expected to fly up to eight times in 2026. stern.de
- Aldi plans to expand in the USA – 180 new stores planned. handelsblatt.com
- More objections and lawsuits against job center decisions. t-online.de
- Baden-Württemberg Higher Social Court: Post-traumatic stress disorder can qualify as a „quasi occupational disease.“ lto.de
In Germany, complaining isn’t negativity—it’s quality control. If a German tells you „It’s not ideal“, assume alarms are ringing internally. Conversely, „Kann man machen“ („you can do that“) is high praise. Welcome to a culture where emotional restraint meets Olympic-level standards—and somehow, everything still runs (mostly) on time.