The Day of the Expired Nuclear Treaty

Morning coverage focused on Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia, with editors highlighting a shift toward economic pragmatism over human rights. This coincided with domestic chaos as freezing rain paralyzed Berlin’s infrastructure and the BER airport. Simultaneously, media attention intensified on the 'Epstein Files,' evolving from general elite scandal to specific allegations regarding Ukrainian networks. By early afternoon, editorial priorities shifted to a crisis in public safety following a fatal assault on a train conductor in Hamburg. Reports focused on a scheduled 'security summit' and systemic violence against railway staff, while conservative outlets linked the incident to migration policy. At the same time, Russia’s expulsion of a German diplomat signaled a further breakdown in bilateral relations. By evening, the expiration of the New START treaty became the dominant geopolitical theme. Editors across the spectrum framed this as the end of the post-Cold War nuclear order, overshadowing reports of potential U.S. military strikes against Iran and internal friction within the CDU leadership.