Bild: Rita Süssmuth loses battle against cancer / Rita Süssmuth verliert Kampf gegen den Krebs
FAZ: Klöckner urges ARD and ZDF to engage in „self-reflective correction“ / Klöckner mahnt ARD und ZDF zu „selbstreflektierender Korrektur“
Funke: Former Bundestag President Rita Süssmuth has died / Ehemalige Bundestagspräsidentin Rita Süssmuth gestorben
Handelsblatt: „It has to happen fast“ (Jens Spahn interview) / „Es muss schnell gehen“ (Jens-Spahn-Interview)
RND: Defence policy – A European nuclear shield: Is it possible? / Verteidigungspolitik – Ein europäischer Atomschirm: Geht das?
SZ: Iran seeks talks with the United States / Iran sucht Gespräche mit den USA
Tagesspiegel: Paying for the dentist yourself: CDU Economic Council proposal meets fierce criticism / Zahnarzt selbst zahlen: Vorstoß von CDU-Wirtschaftsrat stößt auf scharfe Kritik
taz: What drove Fanta Quraishi to the sea / Was Fanta Quraishi aufs Meer trieb
Welt: Left party calls CDU plans against child benefit fraud „malicious“ / Linke nennt CDU-Pläne gegen Kindergeldbetrug „bösartig“
Peace talks on Ukraine postponed: Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, originally planned for Sunday in Abu Dhabi, have been postponed to Wednesday and Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is ready for substantive talks to move closer to ending the war. Last week, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met directly in the United Arab Emirates for the first time to discuss a US-drafted ceasefire plan.
n-tv.de, tagesschau.de
Power outages in Ukraine and Moldova largely resolved: A technical emergency caused widespread power and water outages across central and northeastern Ukraine, temporarily halting Kyiv’s subway system. Authorities say energy supply has now stabilized. In Moldova’s capital Chisinau, electricity has also mostly been restored. President Zelensky ruled out cyberattacks or external interference.
n-tv.de
Russia accused of breaking ceasefire pledge: The EU’s ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, accused Russia of violating its promise to pause attacks on energy infrastructure. She reported 90 drone launches overnight, with multiple civilian casualties and damage to transport and energy systems. Russia had previously said it would suspend attacks due to cold weather.
n-tv.de
Civilian casualties continue in Ukraine: Russian drone attacks killed and injured civilians across multiple regions. At least 14 people were killed when a bus carrying miners was hit in the Dnipropetrovsk region. In Dnipro, two people died after a residential building was struck. Zaporizhzhia was also hit, injuring nine people and damaging a maternity hospital. Estonia’s foreign minister called the attacks a symbol of Russian brutality.
n-tv.de
Starlink access restricted for Russian forces: US company SpaceX has taken steps to block Russia’s covert access to the Starlink satellite network after Ukraine raised concerns. Russian forces reportedly used Starlink components obtained via third countries for drone operations. New user verification measures are intended to prevent further misuse.
n-tv.de
BamS Sunday trend by Insa: CDU/CSU 26 percent (+1), AfD 26 percent, SPD 16 percent (+1), Greens 11 percent, Left Party 10 percent, BSW 4 percent, FDP 3 percent (-1), Others 4 percent.
FAZ Sunday poll by Allensbach: CDU/CSU 27 percent, AfD 25 percent, SPD 15 percent (+1), Greens 11.5 percent (-1), Left Party 10 percent (+1), FDP 3.5 percent (-1), Others 8 percent. (Compared to December 11)
Rita Süssmuth dies at 88: Former Bundestag president and long-time CDU politician Rita Süssmuth has died. She was a key figure in German politics, known for advancing gender equality, advocating for AIDS patients, and pushing early reforms on immigration policy. Political leaders across parties praised her as a role model, reformer, and bridge-builder. n-tv.de, stern.de, spiegel.de, tagesspiegel.de
Germany and Saudi Arabia agree on energy partnership: Berlin and Riyadh signed a cooperation agreement focusing on energy, hydrogen, AI, and industrial innovation. A separate deal includes plans to export hydrogen from Saudi Arabia to Germany via the port of Rostock. The move reflects Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil. tagesschau.de
Debate over social cuts and healthcare costs intensifies: The CDU Economic Council proposed sweeping welfare cuts, including abolishing certain pensions, limiting unemployment benefits, and removing dental care from statutory health insurance. The proposals sparked sharp criticism from SPD, trade unions, and social organizations, who warn of serious impacts on low- and middle-income households. zdfheute.de, n-tv.de, tagesspiegel.de
Heating law uncertainty worries industry: Germany’s environment minister is pushing for a fast compromise on a new heating law after delays in presenting key reforms. Industry groups warn that unclear rules and funding conditions could lead to job losses, while heat pump sales have slightly increased despite an overall drop in heating system sales. stern.de
Berlin trams to run without passengers during strike: Despite a warning strike, Berlin’s tram system will operate without passengers to prevent overhead lines from freezing in cold weather. Wider transport strikes are expected across several federal states, with buses and trains cancelled in many areas. spiegel.de
Berlin sees sharp rise in antisemitic offenses: Authorities report hundreds of new antisemitic crimes in the German capital, raising concerns among Jewish communities and civil society groups. morgenpost.de
NRW and regional political developments: Internal complaints have been filed against North Rhine–Westphalia’s interior minister over rent disputes involving police property. Meanwhile, regional polls show the SPD recovering slightly in voter support.
tagesschau.de, wdr.de
European nuclear shield debate gains momentum: EPP leader Manfred Weber is urging EU leaders to discuss a European nuclear deterrent amid strained transatlantic relations. France has offered to include its nuclear arsenal in a broader European protection framework. Only France and the UK currently possess nuclear weapons in Europe. n-tv.de, faz.net
Mass protests in the Czech Republic: Tens of thousands demonstrated in Prague and other cities in support of President Petr Pavel after he refused to appoint a controversial environment minister nominee over racist and sexist remarks. The president accused members of the government of political pressure and blackmail.
Evonik CEO Christian Kullmann criticizes small and medium-sized companies for aligning themselves with the AfD: He expressed dismay at trends in the business community toward aligning themselves with the AfD’s positions. Industry must distance itself from the AfD in a united and unequivocal manner, Kullmann said in Der Spiegel. Many people apparently long for authoritarian “cleanup” instead of defending democratic discourse. spiegel.de
In Germany, even a warning strike comes with a contingency plan. Berlin’s trams are running this week — just without passengers — so the overhead lines don’t freeze. No service, but very much in service. Efficiency doesn’t strike, it just reschedules.