GERMANY - An important transfer of power is approaching in Germany for the first time in 16 years, and Germans are already preparing for “Superwahljahr 2021.” Donald Trump’s long goodbye from the White House is proving to be as painful as anyone imagined, leaving the world little time to reflect on much else. But another important transfer of power is approaching in Germany for the first time in 16 years, and Germans are already preparing for “Superwahljahr 2021.” In this “super election year,” there will be federal elections for the Bundestag in September, regional elections in six of the country’s 16 Länder (states), and an all-important vote within the leadership of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The latter vote will determine Chancellor Angela Merkel’s successor as party leader, and that person will then be in a strong position to become the next chancellor. By the end of the year, Germany’s political leadership – and perhaps its broader political landscape – will be completely different than it is today.

GERMANY - The German foreign policy establishment is entering the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic with new plans for EU global power. Whereas in particular western powers and their allies have been overwhelmed by new waves of the pandemic, at times being confronted with rapidly increasing numbers of casualties, "Internationale Politik" (IP), Germany's leading foreign policy periodical, is debating the question of "what Europe lacks to assume global power." The demand that the Union must have more courage to assume global power had already been raised in several leading German media outlets last fall. According to a poll, nearly half of all Germans surveyed agree that the EU can "play a strong role in global policy," similar to that played by the USA and China…

USA - Members of Donald Trump's cabinet on Wednesday discussed the possibility of removing the US president from office after his supporters stormed the Capitol, three US news channels reported. The discussions focused on the 25th amendment to the US Constitution, which allows for a president's removal by the vice president and cabinet if he is judged "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." CNN quoted unnamed Republican leaders saying the 25th amendment had been discussed, saying they had described Trump as "out of control." It is not the first time during his presidency that the amendment has been mentioned in relation to Mr Trump. Two years ago, an explosive account from a senior official of Mr Trump's administration claimed the cabinet were so worried by the president’s erratic, impulsive behaviour they discussed using the 25th amendment to remove him from power.

USA - Experts on white supremacists say the rioters were provoked by online extremism and talk of 'civil war'. The storming of the US Capitol is a jarring but natural product of years of violence and hateful rhetoric stoked by disinformation and conspiracy theories, experts on far-right extremism said as they watched Wednesday’s riot. Members of far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, joined the crowds that formed in Washington to cheer on President Trump as he urged them to protest Congress’s counting of Electoral College votes confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s win.

UK - New intelligence law allows CHILDREN to work as secret agents for local councils, anti-fraud bodies and even the gambling watchdog - and even shop their own parents. Scores of Government bodies, the armed forces and even the gambling regulator will legally be allowed to use child spies - including against their parents. Police and the security services are among those who will be allowed to use under-18s as covert human intelligence sources (CHIS) under 'exceptional circumstances' according to official documents. But guidance for the Covert Intelligence Bill, currently going through the Lords, outlines other public bodies who will be allowed to employ them as undercover agents. As well as police, MI5, MI6 and the National Crime Agency, they include the Gambling Commission, county and district councils, the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency. The document, which has been published online, prohibits those under 16 from being used to inform on their parents or guardians. But it permits the use of older teenagers to be used against their own family under special circumstances. Anne Longfield, the children's commissioner, called for the use of child spies to be banned.

UK - Anyone who has seen the mysterious numbers and letters '20 + C + M + B + 21' scrawled above the doors of homes in recent days may fear that something mischievous is afoot. Perhaps it is burglars marking their next target? Or workmen marking up a property for demolition? The 'code' in fact marks the return of a centuries-old Christian practice of scrawling 'holy graffiti' to celebrate the festival of the Epiphany – the three Wise Men's visit to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem which many Britons know through the traditional Christmas nativity story. The trend, known as 'chalking the door', has seen a sudden revival in Britain in 2021 as Christians hit hard by the coronavirus crisis seek to lift community spirits. It is believed to have originated in Central Europe at the end of the Middle Ages before spreading to Britain. The initials in the code – C, M and B – commemorate the kings who are said to have visited Jesus - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The initials also stand for the Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which translates as: 'May Christ bless this house'. The '20' and '21' numbers in the code mark the numerals of the New Year.

USA - The final tally of electoral college votes was never in doubt. They'd already been confirmed by individual states but Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are now officially certified by the US Congress as the next president and vice president of the United States. After being delayed for several hours the proceeding finally ended in the middle of the night, with some Republicans unsuccessfully objecting to results from several states. In a statement Donald Trump said that while he totally disagreed with the outcome of the election, there would be an orderly transition on January 20th. The president made no reference to the violent protest at the Capitol building, which led to the deaths of four people. More than 60 legal cases by Trump's campaign team challenging the November result have failed.

GERMANY - That’s all Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer needed. The German defense minister, who at one stage was tipped to succeed Angela Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and potentially as Germany’s chancellor, has had ambitious plans to modernize the country’s armed forces. One of them included giving the almost 3,200 soldiers serving in missions abroad, particularly in Afghanistan and Mali, more protection.

RUSSIA - The Russian President made his first-ever public reference to the possibility of a Russia-China military alliance during a meeting with domestic and foreign experts. He said that although Moscow does not need a military alliance with China, “theoretically, it is quite possible,” sparking international concern. He told Express.co.uk: “Russia and China are not natural allies, but it’s because they have a common enemy now."

TURKEY - Turkey's Foreign Ministry called the events in Washington DC today 'worrying'. UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for peaceful transition of power. German foreign minister likened the scenes to events at the Reichstag in August. The Capitol has gone on lockdown after thousands of Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building in protest of Congress certifying the election for Joe Biden. Donald Trump addressed thousands of his supporters at his rally Wednesday just before Congress was to begin counting the electoral votes. Turkey's foreign ministry condemned Wednesday's siege of the US Capitol building by supporters of President Trump as America's global rivals seized on the chaotic scenes from Washington. The president still has not conceded the election and earlier Wednesday addressed a crowd at the ellipse spouting conspiracy theories that he still had a path to win - if Vice President Mike Pence did his bidding, as well as if GOP lawmakers revolted. Pence did no such thing.

IRAN - Day after upping uranium enrichment to 20%, Islamic Republic’s atomic chief announces steps to increase production further. “One thousand centrifuges are being installed inside the country,” Ali Akbar Salehi said, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. “This year, the production of yellowcake will be between 35 and 40 tons, which means that we have 8-folded the production of yellowcake.” Yellowcake is a uranium concentrate in powder form and an early step in uranium processing. It is produced by mining uranium ore from rocks and separating the uranium from the rocks by bathing them in acid. The yellowcake can then be converted, enriched to raise its purity, and then used for weapons or energy production. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has charged Iran’s latest nuclear move proves it is seeking to build an atomic bomb — a claim Iran has always strongly denied — and pledged the Jewish state “will not allow” it to do so.

USA - Franklin Graham, evangelical pastor and son of the late Billy Graham, called out Representative Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat for Missouri) for ending his opening prayer for the first day of the 117th Congress with “Amen and Awomen.” As Breitbart News reported Cleaver, who is also a pastor at St James United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, the lawmaker prayed to “The God known by many names and faith,” before concluding, “Amen and Awomen.”

UK - Much of the world may be in store for particularly intense winter weather in the coming weeks, according to a study just released by a team in the United Kingdom. Researchers report a major meteorological event is occurring high in the sky above the North Pole.

USA - The Capitol has gone on lockdown after thousands of Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building in protest of Congress certifying the election for Joe Biden. Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday he will not follow President Donald Trump's demand that he overturn the election, vowing he will heed to the constitution, adding 'So Help Me God'. Pence sent a letter to the 535 senators and representatives on Capitol Hill ahead of his presiding over the Joint Session that will certify Joe Biden's victory. He said vice presidents in the past have conducted 'the proceedings in an orderly manner even where the count resulted in the defeat of their party or their own candidacy'.

USA - Washington's Capitol Building has been placed into lockdown after Donald Trump supporters have clashed with police in the city. Politicians have now been ordered to stay inside after supporters swarmed the building, while some even entered the chambers of the US Congress. Due to the scenes witnessed at America's capital, the mayor of the city has now issued a curfew for the District of Columbia. Vice President, Mike Pence, has now been taken to a secure location according to US news sources. Other politicians are now being escorted to separate locations.