Bild: Finally stop left-wing terror! / Stoppt endlich den linken Terror!
FAZ: Trump threatens Venezuelan interim president / Trump droht venezolanischer Interimspräsidentin
Funke: „Inhumane attack“: Senate speaks of left-wing terrorism / „Menschenverachtender Anschlag”: Senat spricht von Linksterrorismus
Handelsblatt: Concern over Greenland / Sorge um Grönland
RND: From ruler to defendant in three days: Maduro insists on his innocence in court / Vom Machthaber zum Angeklagten in drei Tagen: Maduro beteuert Unschuld vor Gericht
Tagesspiegel: SPD–BSW coalition in Brandenburg on the brink of collapse / Koalition von SPD und BSW in Brandenburg vor dem Aus
taz: Blackouts in Berlin getting worse and worse / Blackout in Berlin immer schlimmer
Welt: Federal government reminds the US of international law / Bundesregierung erinnert die USA ans Völkerrecht
US prosecutors accuse captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro of narco-terrorism: At his first appearance before a New York court, Maduro pleaded not guilty. He is accused of using his office to enable large-scale cocaine smuggling operations into the United States. According to US investigators, he allegedly allied himself with drug cartels and used state structures to support them. The charge is narco-terrorism, an offense that can carry long prison sentences. During the hearing, Maduro stated that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela. The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17. handelsblatt.com, zeit.de, n-tv.de, zdfheute.de
Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council: Venezuela’s UN ambassador accused the United States of violating international law. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed similar concerns and warned of further destabilization of Venezuela. Russia’s UN ambassador described the US operation as an act of aggression and called for Maduro’s release, warning of a return to an era of lawlessness and US dominance through violence, chaos, and arbitrariness. China stated that no country should act as the world’s police. Both countries demanded the release of Maduro and his wife. The US justified its actions as a law enforcement measure. n-tv.de, rnd.de, tagesschau.de
Venezuela signals willingness to talk to Washington: Interim head of state Delcy Rodríguez said she was open to cooperation with the United States and was seeking „respectful relations“ based on non-interference. She invited Washington to pursue an „agenda of cooperation.“ This follows recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who said the US would temporarily take control of Venezuela, without specifying the legal basis for such a move. Trump most recently threatened Rodríguez with another military strike if she failed to cooperate. spiegel.de
- Delcy Rodríguez appointed acting president of Venezuela by the Supreme Court following Maduro’s arrest. At her swearing-in, administered by her brother, parliamentary speaker Jorge Rodríguez, she announced her intention to restore stability and calm in the country.
- Following Maduro’s removal from power, the European Commission is urging the inclusion of opposition representatives Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado in the next political steps. Brussels sees this as an opportunity for a democratically supported transition. González is currently living in exile in Spain, while Machado is operating underground in Venezuela. González ran against Maduro in last year’s presidential election. Authorities declared Maduro the winner, while the opposition alleged electoral fraud.
- Edmundo González Urrutia welcomed Maduro’s arrest by the United States as a decisive step toward political change in Venezuela. He called for further measures to return the country to normalcy and to recognize the 2024 election results.
- US President Donald Trump ruled out a top position for María Corina Machado in a future Venezuelan government, saying she lacked support and respect within the country. Trump also said that new elections in Venezuela were not a priority for now. Instead, economic stabilization was the main focus, which he said would require extensive investment from the oil industry to make the country „functional again.“
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul defended Germany’s lack of sharp criticism of the US intervention in Venezuela. He emphasized the complexity of the situation while calling on Washington to provide a legal justification for the operation. At the same time, he described Maduro’s government as an „unjust regime.“ tagesspiegel.de
- French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the manner in which the United States arrested the Venezuelan president. A government spokesperson said Paris does not support this approach, without clarifying whether Macron opposed the entire operation or only the method used.
- Switzerland has frozen funds and assets belonging to the ousted Venezuelan president and his associates following the US military action. The move is intended to prevent assets from being transferred abroad. No official information has yet been provided on the scope or value of the frozen assets.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned Trump’s threats against his country as illegitimate. If Washington were to act against him as president, „the people’s jaguar would be unleashed,“ Petro wrote, a symbolic warning of popular resistance. He also called on Colombia’s security forces to remain united and loyal.
- Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum does not believe that the United States will launch an invasion.
EU and allies oppose US claim to Greenland: The European Commission pointed to the principle of territorial integrity and called on Washington to respect the sovereignty of other states. A spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the EU’s solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom also rejected Trump’s statements, stressing that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the island’s future. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he stands with Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the US claim „unacceptable.“ Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that threats and annexation rumors among friends were inappropriate. Trump had stated that the US needs Greenland for reasons of national security and defense. faz.net, rnd.de, zeit.de
Talks on Ukraine in Paris: At a meeting of the „Coalition of the Willing,“ heads of state and government aim to coordinate next steps in the Ukraine conflict together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Germany is represented by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The goal of the talks is to make progress in the ongoing peace negotiations and explore a possible path toward a ceasefire. Russia continues to stay away from the talks and is maintaining its maximalist demands for ending the war. table.media/berlin, wiwo.de
- CDU foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt defends the cautious approach toward US President Trump on Venezuela by pointing to ongoing coordination on Ukraine. „On Greenland, the matter is completely clear. On Venezuela, I believe it is more complex than one might think,“ Hardt said on RTL/ntv. An open conflict with Washington would harm the peace talks, which he said must remain the priority.
- In a letter to the governing parliamentary groups, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns of an impending humanitarian energy crisis in Ukraine. Russia is deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure; Merz speaks of war crimes and calls for robust security guarantees from the United States and Europe.
- US President Donald Trump casts doubt on Russia’s claim of an alleged Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence. He said he does not believe such an attack took place; the CIA also sees no evidence to support the claim.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiates a restructuring of the security apparatus: Zelenskyy has dismissed the head of the domestic intelligence service SBU, Vasyl Maliuk. Maliuk is to remain within the SBU system and will in future be responsible for „asymmetric special operations“ against Russian targets. Under his leadership, the service carried out several high-profile operations since 2023, including attacks on the Crimean Bridge and Russian air force bases. There had been pressure within the military to keep Maliuk in office because of his successes. Zelenskyy has since met with potential successors, including Major General Oleksandr Poklad of Ukraine’s security service and Denys Kylymnyk, first deputy head of Special Operations Center A. According to Zelenskyy, the talks focused on the future strategic direction of the service. tagesschau.de, n-tv.de
GMS Sunday poll: CDU/CSU at 24 percent (–1), AfD at 27 percent (+1), SPD at 15 percent (+1), Greens at 12 percent, Left Party at 10 percent (–1), BSW at 4 percent (+1), FDP at 3 percent, Free Voters at 2 percent (+2), Others at 3 percent. (Comparison to three months ago) welt.de
Pressure on local services – possible impact on childcare, care, and social support: Germany’s Association of Cities and Municipalities is calling for a major overhaul of how social costs are funded. Municipalities say they are financially overstretched and warn that local budgets are in „desastrous“ shape. The proposal: child and youth services, disability support, and care costs should be split evenly between federal, state, and local governments. This could significantly stabilize local services many families rely on — from Kita places to social care — but also signals ongoing strain at the municipal level. zdfheute.de, tagesschau.de
Economic policy tensions inside the coalition: A draft of Germany’s annual economic report reveals deep disagreements between the CDU/CSU and SPD on economic direction. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is pushing for a more market-oriented approach with less state intervention, while SPD-led ministries had tried to soften this line. For internationals, this debate matters because it affects taxation, regulation, business conditions, and Germany’s attractiveness as a place to work or invest. handelsblatt.com
2026 set to be a major reform year Chancellor Friedrich Merz has told coalition partners that 2026 will be a decisive year, citing challenges in the economy, migration, and security. While highlighting stricter migration policies as a success, he also warned of weak productivity and heavy tax and bureaucracy burdens. His goal: improve Germany’s „location conditions“ to secure growth and jobs. For expats, this signals potential changes in migration rules, labor markets, and administrative processes. spiegel.de
Germany pushes for tougher stance on Iran Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour is urging the German government to push for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to be listed as a terrorist organization at EU level. The move is framed as a response to repression and economic hardship in Iran. This is relevant for internationals as it could affect EU sanctions policy, diplomatic relations, and asylum debates. boerse.de
Growing concern over instability in Iran Reports suggest Iran’s leadership may be considering extreme steps amid rising unrest, while the death toll from protests continues to climb. These developments contribute to global instability that also shapes EU foreign policy and migration discussions.
Security and defense increasingly central. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling for stronger European defense capabilities in response to Russian hybrid attacks, which include cyber operations, economic pressure, and disinformation. The German government has also condemned threats made by Dmitri Medvedev against Chancellor Merz and plans to better protect critical infrastructure. For expats, this underscores why security, defense spending, and resilience are becoming dominant political themes in Germany.
Power supply security becomes a top concern: Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner has announced stronger protection for the city’s electricity supply after a targeted attack. He stressed that this was not a random incident but the work of professional perpetrators, highlighting how vulnerable state infrastructure remains. While 99 percent of Berlin’s power lines already run underground, the remaining one percent is now set to receive special protection, including video surveillance and private security services. Authorities are also reviewing security measures for all critical infrastructure, not just energy. zdfheute.de
Sensitive infrastructure data under review : Berlin’s energy senator Franziska Giffey is calling for stricter protection of sensitive infrastructure information. She warned that transparency has often been prioritized over security and said this approach must change. For internationals, this signals tighter controls around infrastructure data and a stronger security-first mindset in city governance.
Political consensus on condemning the attack: Left Party leader Jan van Aken clearly condemned the suspected left-wing extremist attack on Berlin’s power supply, calling it irresponsible and warning that such actions endanger lives — especially elderly residents in affected neighborhoods.
Emergency response and support for vulnerable residents: Following the attack, the Bundeswehr stepped in to support emergency power supplies, delivering around 18,000 liters of diesel to keep generators running, with a focus on care facilities. After initial hesitation, the Berlin state government has also agreed to cover hotel costs for residents affected by prolonged power outages. tagesspiegel.de
Other news
- Saxony-Anhalt: AfD parliamentary group expels state treasurer Matthias Lieschke after secret recordings at a party meeting. rnd.de
- Brandenburg: Death threat sent to the state’s antisemitism commissioner, including a letter with an unknown substance. rnd.de
- Baden-Württemberg: FDP promises “disruptive” cuts to bureaucracy. faz.net
Germany’s growing military role in Eastern Europe: Germany has underscored its long-term security commitment in Eastern Europe with the permanent deployment of a Bundeswehr brigade to Lithuania. During a visit near Vilnius, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the stationing of Panzer Brigade 45 as a clear signal of NATO’s resolve toward Russia. The brigade, formally commissioned in April 2025, is expected to be fully operational by 2027 with around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff. It is the first permanently stationed German brigade abroad, highlighting how security and defense have become central pillars of German foreign policy — a development expats may increasingly feel through budget priorities and political debates. faz.net
Other news
- United Kingdom: The Palestinian embassy has been officially inaugurated in London, reflecting shifting diplomatic signals in Europe amid the Middle East conflict. faz.net
- Latvia: Authorities say an undersea cable was not damaged by a suspicious vessel, easing concerns about sabotage of critical infrastructure in the Baltic region. rnd.de
- United Kingdom: A ban on junk-food advertising on television and online before 9 p.m. has come into force — a move that may influence future EU-wide debates on public health regulation. n-tv.de
- France: Eight men and two women have been convicted of cyberbullying French First Lady Brigitte Macron, underlining Europe’s growing focus on online harassment and digital accountability.
Fireworks ban petition with millions of supporters submitted: The „Böllerciao“ alliance has handed over a petition backed by 1.04 million people to the Interior Ministry, calling for a ban on the private use of pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve. The petition was initiated by German Environmental Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe). The Police Union and the campaign organization Campact had previously also collected several million signatures in favor of such a ban. zeit.de
Other news:
- Power generation 2025: Solar power overtakes lignite for the first time. sueddeutsche.de
- Aviation industry association ADV: Airports expect more passengers in the new year. stern.de
- Defense companies Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland launch joint venture for naval lasers. n-tv.de
- Alcohol prices in Germany at rock bottom — consumption is down as well. zdfheute.de
- ZDF schedules next director-general election for mid-March; Norbert Himmler seeks a second term. dwdl.de
- Deutsche Bahn executive Evelyn Palla sells her former flagship project „on-demand shuttles“ to automotive supplier Benteler. handelsblatt.com
A quick note from me: the year has started at full speed in the news. Still, I hope you were able to switch off for a bit, feel safe, and enjoy some well-deserved time off.