Lights, mulled wine, vigilance - Germany’s Christmas markets open under high security!
Germany has opened its Christmas markets, and between strings of lights, mulled wine and bratwurst, the new reality is unmistakable. The memory of the Berlin attacks in 2016 and of Magdeburg last year is still raw, with additional barriers and security teams everywhere. In Berlin, the market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is once again drawing thousands, as are the stands at the Red City Hall, Gendarmenmarkt and Charlottenburg Palace. In Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne, visitors move through the narrow lanes of wooden stalls, drinking punch, buying candles, hats and handmade stars. The market in Magdeburg is under particular observation after five women and a boy were killed there one year ago. Cities and police point to close cooperation, and private security services have increased their presence. Despite the caution, the atmosphere remains warm, filled with music, laughter and that familiar feeling many have known since childhood and refuse to give up.
Christmas markets defy fear - cities respond with new security concepts
Crowds also packed tightly between the stands at the Cologne Cathedral over the weekend, with the market traditionally considered one of the country’s most popular. Organizers speak of “many smiling faces,” especially because global events weigh heavily. After the attack in Magdeburg, the city developed a new security plan that includes additional barriers and significantly more personnel. In Berlin, mobile protection walls and checkpoints have become standard without suffocating the atmosphere. The markets remain places where families, tourists, seniors, children and artisans come together. In a year full of uncertainties, they send a message: that life, joy and tradition will not be driven away.
Justice Department announces immediate appeal - Bondi backs the ousted special prosecutor!
“Lindsey is a great U.S. Attorney... The indictment against Comey is going to be just fine. I have also signed onto that, backing up what Lindsey Halligan did because they are coming after her... She is doing a great job.”
The ruling that toppled the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James has sent a political shockwave through Washington. Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department would “pursue all legal options,” including an immediate appeal. The case is legally sensitive: the judge concluded that Lindsey Halligan was appointed illegally. Still, Bondi strikes a confident tone and tries to portray the defeat as a temporary setback. The fact that the department is taking such an aggressive line shows how much is at stake for the administration and how determined it is to salvage its failed attempt to prosecute two of the president’s most prominent opponents.
New clash over education reform - Trump’s loan plans alarm America’s nursing professions!
Resistance is growing against Trump’s planned restrictions on student loans. Nurses in particular warn that the new loan caps will hit entire professional groups and worsen the already severe staffing crisis. The Education Department claims lower loan limits will lead to long-term reductions in tuition. Professional associations strongly disagree, calling it an approach that will hold back students in health care fields. If the changes take effect in July as planned, hospitals and care facilities could be even more understaffed than they are today.
Oil wins, the climate loses - how the Belém summit became a warning to the world
The climate conference in Belém ended with a document that left many delegations stunned. No clear reference to fossil fuels, no commitment to a concrete exit, no joint plan worthy of the name. It was a success for Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil-producing states - and a setback for the rest of the world that darkens the political climate as much as the atmosphere itself. Behind closed doors, tensions hardened on Friday night. The result was a text full of warnings but devoid of mandates. Nearly half the participating countries demanded a binding strategy to phase out oil, gas and coal. But the major economies did not join them. The United States was absent entirely - for the first time in three decades. Trump deliberately skipped the conference and declared at home that he would not sacrifice the American economy for “vague climate goals.” That absence changed everything. Without Washington, the pressure that had previously forced China, Saudi Arabia and others into even minimal concessions vanished.
China, long the global leader in producing solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles, remained passive. Beijing did not assume the role many expected and blocked any wording that might be interpreted as a trade barrier. It became clear that Belém would not launch a global shift. Not even Brazil, the host, could push through its agenda. President Lula had called for a “road map” to move away from fossil fuels - but all that remained was a note that earlier agreements should be “taken into account.” Nothing more was achievable. The effort to protect the world’s forests also fell far short. Lula’s flagship project, a multibillion-dollar fund to preserve tropical rainforests, received only a fraction of the needed pledges. Many delegations made it clear that their priorities lie elsewhere. Some privately cited tight budgets. Others openly pointed to historical responsibility: those who have filled the atmosphere since industrialization, they argued, should pay now.
The disillusionment was unmistakable. Panama, Colombia, EU representatives - all criticized an agreement that “ignores the science.” Activists called it a “victory for the oil states.” Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said political forces were “doing everything to stop progress.” And as exhausted delegates departed, one realization lingered: the world is heading into a century of extremes without a unified approach. Heat, droughts, fires, floods - all of it will intensify because too many governments are protecting the present while sacrificing the future. Belém was an attempt to bring the world together - but instead became a mirror of its divisions. Global warming does not yield to diplomatic compromises. It marches on. And the summit showed how little time remains before even the minimum becomes impossible to save.
Trump shifts new focus to Muslim Brotherhood - intelligence agencies ordered to deliver report within 45 days
With a new directive, Trump is pushing to designate parts of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. The State and Treasury Departments must examine within 45 days which national branches might be affected and what consequences such a move would have for U.S. security. The Brotherhood has existed for nearly a century and is deeply rooted in many countries. The order is politically explosive because it pressures allies in the Middle East and is viewed in Europe as another step by Trump to cast Islamic organizations broadly as security threats.
Turning Point and the 2028 election - Erika Kirk hints at supporting Vance and new rumors emerge und neue Gerüchte …
Erika Kirk, who took over leadership of Turning Point after her husband's murder, is openly suggesting for the first time that the organization will support JD Vance for the 2028 presidential race. In an interview with Megyn Kelly, she said “it is already in the works.” Her remark that her late husband saw Vance as the future of the party shows how far strategic planning has progressed within the conservative movement. For Trump’s circle, such support is a key element in the post-Trump power struggle. Meanwhile, rumors of a separation persist since Usha Vance was seen without her wedding ring during a visit to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. While comment sections speculate wildly, the clarification does not come from her personally but from her circle. In a statement to People, they say Usha Vance is the mother of three young children, washes many dishes, gives many baths, and sometimes simply forgets her ring. That is all, nothing more.
White House defends Pentagon investigation of Senator Mark Kelly
Karoline Leavitt joined the debate over a possible military proceeding against Senator Mark Kelly, accusing him of undermining military discipline with a video in which he urged service members not to follow unlawful orders. The Pentagon is examining whether Kelly violated military law. Kelly rejects the intimidation attempts and points to his decades of service. The case shows how far the administration is willing to go to target critics. Mark Kelly rejects intimidation: “I have given too much to be silenced now.” Kelly responded sharply to the investigation and the president’s threats, recalling his years of service, his deployments and his wife’s injury. His message is clear: he will not be silenced - even as Trump publicly threatens him with fantasies of execution.
Comey after acquittal: “Trump will come after me again”
James Comey reacted with relief to the judge’s decision but warned that his battle with Trump is far from over. In a video message, he said he fully expects to be targeted again. Comey emphasized his innocence and praised the independent judiciary - a stark contrast to the president’s recent threats, in which he called him a traitor.
Democrats demand legal basis for Venezuela airstrikes
Senators are calling for the release of the legal memo the administration used to justify lethal airstrikes in the Caribbean. Their letter stresses that using deadly force must rest on a clear, reviewable legal foundation. Notably, several signatories were recently labeled “traitors” by Trump. The conflict between the executive and legislative branches is intensifying.
Epstein files: Justice Department pushes for immediate release of grand jury records
The administration is moving quickly. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton is requesting an expedited ruling to release the Epstein materials. The new law forces the Justice Department to disclose the documents within 30 days. The question is how complete the release will be - and which names will appear.
United States ends protected status for people from Myanmar
Kristi Noem justifies the decision by claiming the situation in Myanmar has “improved.” Human rights groups disagree, warning that returnees face severe danger in a country still marked by violence. The move follows the abrupt termination of protected status for Somalis - another signal of Trump’s hard line on migrant communities.
Letitia James: “I remain fearless”
After the case against her was dismissed, Letitia James struck a defiant tone. In her first reaction, she thanked people in New York and across the country for their support - and made clear she will not be intimidated by the administration’s attacks. James heads the top law enforcement office in New York State - similar to a state justice minister with expanded investigative powers. She has held the position since 2019 as the first Black woman in the state’s history. Her reputation, even among critics, is that she is relentless against corruption, financial crime and abuses of power. Her targeting by the White House came as no surprise. James had put Trump under significant pressure in multiple cases, taken the NRA to court and forced major corporations into steep penalties. The indictment against her relied on claims that even conservative legal experts called politically motivated. The federal judge who dismissed the case confirmed not only that the appointment of the special prosecutor was unlawful, but also that the administration’s accusations rested on shaky grounds. For the Trump administration, the ruling is a major setback. For James, it is a signal to continue: she will, she said, keep fighting for the people of New York - against intimidation, against the political misuse of justice and against those who believe they can use the state for personal vendettas.
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