Bild: Danger to life! Stay at home from this evening / Lebensgefahr! Ab heute Abend zu Hause bleiben
FAZ: Bundeswehr to help secure Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire / Bundeswehr soll Ukraine bei Waffenstillstand absichern
Funke: Power outage in the southwest – Kai Wegner played tennis / Stromausfall im Südwesten – Kai Wegner spielte Tennis
Handelsblatt: More major insolvencies / Mehr große Insolvenzen
RND: What lessons Xi Jinping is drawing from the US attack on Venezuela / Welche Lehren Xi Jinping aus dem US-Angriff auf Venezuela zieht
SZ: US special forces seize Russian tanker / US-Spezialkräfte kapern russischen Tanker
Tagesspiegel: Berlin’s Governing Mayor lied: Wegner played tennis during Saturday’s power outage / Berlins Regierender hat gelogen: Wegner spielte Tennis während des Stromausfalls am Samstag
taz: „Volcano group“ distances itself from „volcano group“! / „Vulkangruppe“ distanziert sich von „Vulkangruppe“!
Welt: Attack in Berlin: confusion caused by new claim-of-responsibility letters / Anschlag in Berlin: Verwirrung durch neue Bekennerschreiben
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees chances of the war ending by mid-2026. During a visit to Cyprus, he spoke of significant progress in talks with the United States, European partners, and the „Coalition of the Willing.“ A new milestone had been reached on the path toward a possible peace agreement. Zelenskyy made the remarks on the occasion of the start of Cyprus’s six-month EU Council presidency in Nicosia, where the EU leadership also convened. He suggested that an end to the fighting could be possible during this presidency. At the same time, he called for sanctions against Russia to be further tightened to maintain political pressure on Moscow.n-tv.de
- Following the Paris Ukraine summit, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clear commitments from European partners regarding military assistance in the event of a new Russian attack. While he acknowledged political will, he said there were still no binding guarantees, as these would first need to be approved by national parliaments and the US Congress.
- After consultations in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot and Germany’s Johann Wadephul within the „Weimar Triangle“ format, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he was open to the presence of Bundeswehr soldiers in Poland to help secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Such deployments would already take place within the framework of existing missions. At the same time, Sikorski praised Germany’s support to date, for example in protecting the airport in Rzeszów. tagesspiegel.de
- The SPD parliamentary group signals willingness for the Bundeswehr to participate in a European peace mission following a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, the concrete form of such participation would need to be decided in later steps, emphasized deputy parliamentary leader Siemtje Möller and foreign policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetović. SPD defense policy expert Falko Droßmann told Tagesspiegel that key questions would need to be clarified before any deployment, including command structures, the scope of the mandate, and potential war risks in the event of a military confrontation with Russia. spiegel.de
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius calls on Ukraine’s supporting states to provide concrete military contributions to secure a possible peace settlement. He warns against repeating the mistake of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and calls for reliable security guarantees for Kyiv.
- CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann stresses that any possible German contributions to peacekeeping would be limited to NATO territory. Deployment directly in Ukraine is ruled out, but securing a ceasefire at the border would be right and necessary.
- The Left Party opposes a purely NATO-led peace mission and advocates for a UN blue helmet force that would also be accepted by Russia. Parliamentary group leader Sören Pellmann calls for the participation of „neutral“ states to create a credible security guarantee, citing China as an example.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces that Parliament will vote on the scope of a possible British troop deployment to Ukraine. Together with Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Starmer signed an agreement in Paris intended to create the legal framework for a future deployment.
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A government commission is to present proposals for reforming the pension system by mid-2026. The 13-member panel appointed by Labor Minister Bärbel Bas has begun its work. Chaired by social law professor Constanze Janda and former head of the Federal Employment Agency Frank-Jürgen Weise, the commission is examining statutory, occupational, and private pension provision. In addition to three Bundestag members from the CDU, CSU, and SPD, the group includes eight academics. Decisions are to be made by consensus wherever possible, though majority decisions remain an option. stern.de, t-online.de
The SPD wants a lifetime tax-free allowance for private inheritances. This lifelong allowance would cumulatively cover all inheritances received by a person and replace the current system of allowances that can be used every ten years. Deputy parliamentary leader Wiebke Esdar did not specify the amount of the allowance. At the same time, the SPD wants to tax business inheritances more heavily, which are currently often transferred largely tax-free, in order to reduce wealth inequality. SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch told the Rheinische Post that wealthy heirs must contribute more to the common good, calling the reform a matter of justice. tagesspiegel.de
- The CSU firmly rejects the plans. Parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann speaks of a performance-hostile tax reform and categorically rules out any increase in inheritance tax.
CSU demands lifting the EU ban on combustion engines from 2035. At its retreat at Seeon Abbey, the CSU parliamentary group called for a comprehensive realignment of European automotive regulation. The EU Commission’s proposal to partially move away from the combustion engine ban was described as „complicated and catastrophic.“ The resolution states that only technological openness can secure Germany as an industrial location. rnd.de
- CSU wants to curb rising violence among children and lower the age of criminal responsibility. sueddeutsche.de
CDU plans to bring forward the corporate tax cut if there is sufficient fiscal leeway. The cut is currently scheduled for 2028. Bringing it forward is intended to support the economy. A draft resolution for the party leadership retreat in Mainz states that implementation would depend on the financial situation of the federal government and the states. The CDU also calls for relief on trade tax and tax cuts for small and medium incomes. Overtime bonuses are also to be made tax-free. n-tv.de, n-tv.de, rnd.de
Emissions trading generates €21.4 billion for the federal government. This represents an increase of around €3 billion compared to the previous year, according to the German Emissions Trading Authority at the Federal Environment Agency. All funds flow into the Climate and Transformation Fund, which finances key projects for the energy transition and climate protection. haufe.de, agrarzeitung.de, zdfheute.de
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warns of the need to defend international law. Speaking at a symposium in Berlin marking his 70th birthday, he said respect for international law had eroded significantly. The world was at risk of becoming a „den of thieves“ in which the most unscrupulous take whatever they want. Without naming Donald Trump, he accused the United States of violating shared values. Germany and Europe must counter such developments with strength and unity, including militarily. His warning was also directed at a power vacuum in the international order that authoritarian states could exploit. bz-berlin.de
- Steinmeier turns 70: the last of his era. faz.net
Further reports:
- Germany voices cautious criticism for the first time of the US military operation in Venezuela; the US government did not sufficiently explain in the UN Security Council why the action was compatible with international law. tagesschau.de
- CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann calls for an „economic miracle 2.0.“n-tv.de
- SPD opposes Söder’s proposal to abolish the „pension at 63.“ handelsblatt.com
- Germany recognizes the South Pacific island of Niue as a state.. tagesschau.de
Power supply across Berlin fully stabilized again: Following the attack on a cable bridge in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, electricity supply in Berlin has been fully restored since Wednesday afternoon. A left-wing extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which on Saturday morning caused outages affecting around 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses in the southwest of the city. Reconstruction was completed faster than expected. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner thanked the emergency services and technicians who worked at full speed to repair the damage. The attack has reignited debate about protecting critical infrastructure. Security experts are now calling for better protection of particularly exposed energy facilities. zdfheute.de
- The German Hospital Federation is calling for stronger investment in the security of critical infrastructure. CEO Gerald Gaß warned that emergency generators only function for a limited time and said resilience must become a permanent part of hospital structures.
- Doctors’ representative Andreas Gassen criticized inadequate crisis preparedness and the lack of a concept for integrating outpatient structures in the event of mass casualties, in comments to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.
- After the attack in Berlin, the governing coalition sees renewed need for discussion regarding the Critical Infrastructure Umbrella Act. tagesspiegel.de
Critical infrastructure expert Manuel Atug: „The political helplessness surprises me.“faz.net - Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has rejected criticism of his conduct during the blackout. He said he had briefly relaxed by playing tennis after the power outage began, but had remained reachable at all times, he told Welt TV. welt.de
Further news:
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Incendiary device found in Erkrath; „Angry Birds Command“ failed in an attempted attack on a substation. n-tv.de
- Brandenburg: Federal prosecutor takes over investigation after arson attack on antisemitism commissioner Andreas Büttner. sueddeutsche.de
- Brandenburg: Minister President Dietmar Woidke defends coalition breakup; coalition partner had dismantled itself. n-tv.de
- North Rhine-Westphalia: Copycat crimes follow bank robbery in Gelsenkirchen; phone fraud attempts reported. zdfheute.de
- Bavaria: Trial begins against AfD state parliament member David Halemba on charges of incitement to hatred. n-tv.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: Offender convicted of violent and drug-related crimes deported to Syria. rnd.de
- Brandenburg/Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania: Significant traffic disruptions expected on motorways A10, A11, A19, and A24 on Thursday due to farmers’ protests.
Italy abandons resistance to the Mercosur agreement: Two days before the decisive EU vote, Rome signals its approval. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke of „enormous benefits“ of the agreement, while Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida stressed that Italy would „of course“ support the signing, provided domestic farmers are protected. Poland, Hungary, and France had also raised concerns about free trade with South America; together they could form a blocking minority in the Council. The European Commission is pushing for a conclusion by January, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to travel to Paraguay on Monday for the signing. handelsblatt.com
UN Human Rights Office accuses Israel of apartheid-like policies toward Palestinians: In a report, the High Commissioner’s Office refers to assessments by the International Court of Justice, according to which there are „reasonable grounds“ to suspect that Israel is pursuing permanent oppression and exclusion of the Palestinian population. In the occupied territories, different legal systems reportedly apply to Israeli settlers and Palestinians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk spoke of a particularly severe form of discrimination and called for an end to Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories. tagesschau.de
EU Commission awards 40,000 DiscoverEU tickets for the Schengen anniversary: The tickets allow young adults to travel free of charge through EU countries for up to one month. In Germany, more than 6,800 18-year-olds received approval. The program also offers discounts on cultural activities, accommodation, and other services. The initiative is part of the EU’s „DiscoverEU“ program, which aims to strengthen mobility and European identity among young people. kleinezeitung.at
BSW leader Fabio De Masi sues EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over insufficient information on defense industry contacts: He accuses the Commission of inadequately answering his inquiry about von der Leyen’s meetings with arms manufacturers. In March 2025, De Masi requested information on all such contacts since mid-2024; the Commission’s response came only in October and, in his view, was too vague. With the lawsuit before the European Court of Justice, De Masi says he aims to obtain a landmark ruling on the Commission’s duty to provide information to the European Parliament. tagesspiegel.de
Further reports:
- Inflation in the eurozone fell to 2.0 percent in December. boerse.de
Agora Energiewende reports emissions target met: Germany’s CO₂ emissions stood at 640 million tons in 2025, 1.5 percent below the previous year’s level. According to Agora’s calculations, the national reduction target was thus achieved, although the decline was only half as strong as in 2024. The main reason was weak demand in energy-intensive industry. A record level of solar power generation also had a positive effect. In the transport and buildings sectors, however, emissions continued to rise — according to Agora due to slow progress in e-mobility and heat pumps. tagesschau.de
Economic growth in eight federal states: In the third quarter of 2025, the economic situation varied regionally, according to the Ifo Institute. Hamburg and Bavaria recorded the strongest growth at 0.6 and 0.5 percent respectively, while Saarland declined by minus 0.6 percent and Rhineland-Palatinate and Schleswig-Holstein by minus 0.4 percent each. The eastern German states were overall in the middle range. The divergence is attributed to differences in economic structure: while the ongoing industrial weakness hit some regions particularly hard, others were able to cushion the downturn through the services sector. In the previous quarter, economic output had fallen in eleven federal states.
Further economic news:
- Continued slump: unemployment rises at year’s end. n-tv.de
- From lecture hall to job center: Gen Z can’t find work. zdfheute.de
- Social welfare association warns of “acute danger to life” for homeless people amid freezing temperatures. rnd.de
- Climate change in the seas: the North Sea is getting ever warmer. zeit.de
- Statistics: apartments are getting smaller again. zdfheute.de
- Fintech Solaris records a €103 million loss in 2024.
When temperatures plunge into the extreme, Germany quietly switches into Kälteschutzmodus. If you’re heading out, think layers, not style points: thermal base, windproof outer layer, hat and scarf (heat escapes faster than you think). Keep your phone close to your body — batteries die fast in deep cold. And if you see someone sleeping rough, cities like Berlin activate emergency night shelters (Kältehilfe). A quick call to local outreach services can genuinely save a life. Cold here isn’t dramatic — it’s efficient.