Bild: How bosses cheat their employees out of a pay rise / So bringen Chefs ihre Mitarbeiter um die Lohnerhöhung
FAZ: Germany sends soldiers to Greenland / Deutschland schickt Soldaten nach Grönland
Funke: Harsh criticism of Wegner’s conduct during the power outage / Harsche Kritik an Wegners Verhalten beim Stromausfall
Handelsblatt: Passive income / Passives Einkommen
RND: Tensions in transatlantic relations: Why Germany and other NATO states are sending soldiers to Greenland / Spannungen im transatlantischen Verhältnis: Warum Deutschland und andere Nato-Staaten Soldaten nach Grönland schicken
SZ: Mission: Keep Trump from going to extremes / Mission: Trump vom Äußersten abhalten
Tagesspiegel: Europe reinforces its claim to Greenland with troops / Europa untermauert Anspruch auf Grönland mit Soldaten
taz: Germany to Greenland: Help is on the way / Deutschland an Grönland: Help is on the way
Welt: Tax revenues exceed one trillion euros for the first time / Steuereinnahmen erstmals über einer Billion Euro
GREENLAND
German Armed Forces send reconnaissance team to Greenland: The mission marks the beginning of an increased European presence in the Arctic. The German reconnaissance team left on Thursday and is scheduled to fly to Greenland on Friday together with Danish and other partners. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius praised the mission as a signal that European NATO countries are taking their commitments seriously. The background to this is speculation about possible US claims to Greenland in the event of Donald Trump winning the election. Pistorius stated that if Trump were to make good on his threat and annex Greenland, it would be a historically unprecedented event that would certainly have consequences for the NATO alliance.zdfheute.de, n-tv.de, tagesschau.de (Pistorius)
- According to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, European soldiers in Greenland will not change Donald Trump“s stance. rp-online.de
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised Greenland increased EU support following failed talks in Washington. She emphasised the EU“s political, economic and financial backing and highlighted the importance of the Arctic for Europe“s security policy.web.de
- Left Party leader Jan van Aken calls for a German consulate in Greenland. spiegel.de
- Fear of US invasion: Some Greenlanders are planning to flee the Arctic island. n-tv.de
IRAN
Trump administration credits itself with stopping 800 Iranian executions: The White House attributes the cancellation of planned executions to its own pressure. Trump“s spokeswoman said Tehran had halted around 800 executions of protesters on Wednesday. However, she also emphasised that military action against Iran remained a possibility. All options were still on the table. n-tv.de, web.de
- In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has emphasised that arrested protesters should not be executed.
Iran has been blocking the internet throughout the country for seven days in response to the ongoing mass protests. According to experts, the information vacuum is leading to an increase in pro-regime accounts and AI fakes. rnd.de - The US has imposed new sanctions on leading members of Iran“s security agencies, including National Security Council Chairman Ali Larijani. According to Finance Minister Scott Bessent, they are responsible for their actions against demonstrators. tagesschau.de
- Turkey has criticised the US threat of military intervention in Iran and called for talks instead. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan demanded that tensions be resolved through diplomatic channels, either through mediation or direct contacts.
- Switzerland has offered to mediate between the US and Iran. The head of the security department at the Foreign Ministry in Bern, Gabriel Lüchinger, spoke with Iran“s Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani about this. Switzerland has represented US interests in Iran since 1980 and offers consular assistance through an interests section in Tehran.
- US President Donald Trump questions former Prince Reza Pahlavi“s future in Iran. focus.de
- Green Party leader Franziska Brantner calls for a halt to deportations to Iran. spiegel.de
- German aviation authorities advise airlines to avoid Iranian airspace until 10 February. This is due to US threats against Iran and the temporary closure of airspace by Tehran; Lufthansa is also currently flying around the region.
UKRAINE
The Kremlin hopes for talks with US negotiators: Moscow is reportedly preparing for a visit by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are expected to discuss a possible end to the war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Tass that talks with the Americans were already underway. Once dates have been agreed, it is hoped that the meeting will take place. Russia wants to make its position clear, following numerous talks between Americans, Ukrainians and Europeans. Peskov also emphasised that Ukraine has less and less ‘room for manoeuvre’ to end the conflict. Moscow continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories in the east and south as a prerequisite for a ceasefire.
- The EU tightens its sanctions against Russia and lowers the price cap for Russian oil to 44.10 US dollars per barrel in February. The new mechanism, which was already decided in the summer, is intended to reduce Moscow“s profits from rising oil prices and thus make it more difficult to finance the war. n-tv.de
Ipsos Sunday poll: CDU/CSU 23 per cent, AfD 26 per cent, SPD 15 per cent, Greens 13 per cent, Left Party 11 per cent (+1), BSW 3 per cent (-1), FDP 4 per cent, others 5 per cent. ipsos.com
German parliament debates new basic income reform in first reading:
- Labour Minister Bärbel Bas made clear that the citizens’ income reform aims to increase personal responsibility and active participation by job seekers. Those who are able to work should also actively contribute. web.de, tagesschau.de
- CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann welcomed the reform as a return to the principle of „supporting and demanding,“ and announced measures against abuse and organised crime within the welfare system.
- Green Party MP Timon Dzienus accused the CDU/CSU of lying about the expected savings linked to the reform.
- Left Party parliamentary leader Heidi Reichinnek criticised the reform for its high bureaucratic costs and questioned its overall usefulness, calling it the biggest „attack the welfare state has ever experienced.“ t-online.de
- AfD MP Gerrit Huy said the planned savings of 850 million euros were insufficient and called for foreign welfare recipients to be sent back to their countries of origin.
German parliament:
- German armed forces to procure weapons faster without public tenders: Defence contracts will increasingly be awarded without lengthy tender procedures. CDU/CSU, SPD and AfD voted in favour, while Greens and the Left warned of higher costs and less transparency. n-tv.de
- Mandatory animal welfare labels for meat purchases postponed to 2027: Parliament decided to delay the launch until January 2027 to allow for improvements and to later extend the system to restaurants. The labels are intended to provide more clarity about livestock conditions. zdfheute.de
- Harsher penalties for violations of EU sanctions: Companies will face fines of up to 40 million euros, and many violations will be prosecuted under criminal law. The law primarily targets enforcement of sanctions against Russia and Iran.
Berlin and Brussels agree on subsidies for new gas-fired power plants: The aim is to secure Germany’s electricity supply when renewable energy output is insufficient. The economy ministry announced that tenders totalling 12 gigawatts will be launched this year. Some plants are expected to be operational by 2031. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called it a key step for grid stability. spiegel.de, rnd.de
Government presents draft law on the „right to repair“: Manufacturers will be required to repair electronic devices and provide spare parts for several years. The bill implements an EU directive and is expected to enter into force at the end of July. Washing machines and dryers must be repairable for ten years, smartphones for at least seven. The justice ministry expects environmental and consumer benefits through less waste and cheaper repairs. lto.de, handelsblatt.com, heise.de
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlights agriculture and calls for new trade alliances: At the opening of the Green Week fair, Steinmeier stressed agriculture’s central role in society, pointing to growing tensions between consumer and producer prices and calling for stronger political support for smaller farms. He also defended the controversial EU–Mercosur trade agreement and advocated new economic and political partnerships. The Green Week celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, with around 1,600 exhibitors from over 50 countries.
- Environmental, agricultural and animal welfare groups warn against rolling back environmentally and animal-friendly reforms in agricultural policy. BUND chairman Olaf Bandt said progress made over the past two decades could be lost, especially for farms that invested in sustainable production.
- Wine consumption in Germany declined again in the past business year. According to the German Wine Institute, per-capita consumption fell to 21.5 litres between August 2024 and July 2025 — one bottle less than the previous year and significantly lower than four years ago.
- Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer plans to modernise Germany’s national food emergency reserve. Following the attack on Berlin’s power grid, he announced broader stockpiling of long-life canned foods, potentially using retail logistics structures.
NATO begins troop movements for a major exercise in Germany: Around 10,000 soldiers, vehicles and equipment will be relocated in the coming weeks. The first Italian units arrived at the port of Emden on Thursday. Germany is both host nation and logistical hub. n-tv.de, rnd.de
Further reports:
- Plans for a joint government authority centre to improve protection against hybrid threats. tagesschau.de
- German Hospital Federation proposes doubling patients’ daily co-payments from 10 to 20 euros and introducing a fee for unadvised emergency room visits. deutschlandfunk.de
- Opposition parties criticise Chancellor Friedrich Merz for considering abolishing the Working Hours Act. spiegel.de
- SED victims’ commissioner Evelyn Zupke calls for a legal framework for victims of forced doping. stern.de
- According to the interior ministry, right-wing extremists, Reichsbürger and „self-administrators“ legally own more than 4,000 weapons. rnd.de
Mayor Kai Wegner praises crisis management after power outage but admits communication errors. In a statement to Berlin’s state parliament, he commended emergency responders for limiting the impact of the suspected attack. He also acknowledged criticism for not initially mentioning a tennis match he attended during the crisis. rbb24.de, spiegel.de
- Berlin residents rate the Senate’s crisis management negatively. rbb24.de
Further news:
- North Rhine–Westphalia: Prosecutors investigate 26 local politicians in Menden over suspected fraud involving improper compensation claims. wdr.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Minister-President Daniel Günther refuses to sign a cease-and-desist declaration demanded by the right-wing platform Nius after a TV appearance. welt.de
- Bremen: 60 percent support fare-free public transport, according to a representative survey commissioned by the Left Party. weser-kurier.de
- Thuringia: BSW says it will show „less consideration for coalition partners.“ thueringer-allgemeine.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Günther rejects Bavaria’s proposal to merge federal states. spiegel.de
- Hesse: Frankfurt prosecutors investigate suspected election and document fraud linked to the Feldmann initiative. hessenschau.de
- Bavaria: Former CDU politician Axel Fischer remains in prison. n-tv.de
- North Rhine–Westphalia: Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen-Buer reopens its foyer after a robbery; the branch itself remains closed. newstime.joyn.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: Former IS member sentenced to four and a half years in prison. mdr.de
- Saxony-Anhalt: State keeps chemical plant Domo Chemicals in Leuna operating. t-online.de
- Brandenburg: AfD leaders seek to prevent an appearance by far-right activist Martin Sellner at party events. derstandard.de
EU
Frontex reports sharp decline in irregular border crossings in 2025: According to the EU border agency, irregular border crossings fell by around 25 percent. About 178,000 attempts were registered last year, the lowest level since 2021. Frontex described this as a „remarkable development,“ while warning that the situation at the EU’s external borders remains unstable despite the decline. handelsblatt.com, tagesschau.de
Further reports:
- The EU’s trade agreement with India is close to completion. handelsblatt.com
- International Maritime Bureau: Pirate attacks on ships worldwide are increasing. spiegel.de
- Following last year’s Europe-related controversy, US Vice President J.D. Vance will not attend the Munich Security Conference. focus.de
EUROPE
Greece takes delivery of first new frigate from French defence deal: Athens has received the first of four frigates ordered from France, strengthening its naval capabilities. Each ship costs around one billion euros and is considered a core project of Greece’s military modernisation. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it an important step for national deterrence. Greece plans to invest around 25 billion euros in new weapons systems, ships, jets and defence technology by 2036. onvista.de
Further European news:
- Serbia: 40 percent support President Aleksandar Vučić despite corruption allegations, election manipulation and the use of force. deutschlandfunkkultur.de
- Czech Republic: Supreme Court overturns blanket data retention without cause. heise.de
- Switzerland: Competition Commission investigates Microsoft. netzwoche.ch
- United Kingdom: Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch removes rival Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet. handelsblatt.com
- Czech Republic: Ban on communist symbols such as the hammer and sickle. deutschlandfunkkultur.de
- Greece: Outdated air traffic control technology is slowing air travel across Europe. handelsblatt.com
- United Kingdom: No mandatory digital ID required for job searches. handelsblatt.com
- United Kingdom: London Mayor Sadiq Khan warns of mass unemployment caused by AI, calling it a „weapon of mass destruction.“ n-tv.de
- Italy: Rome introduces a 30 km/h speed limit in the city centre. faz.net
- Spain: Record tourism year with 97 million visitors. vol.at
AFRICA
- Uganda: Parliamentary and presidential elections; victory for long-time president Yoweri Museveni is considered certain, while the opposition reports election fraud. faz.net
- Sudan: UN World Food Programme calls for additional funding to ensure food supplies for the population. haz.de
- Chad: Six people killed in fighting between the army and MPRD rebels in the southern town of Korbol.
MIDDLE EAST
Palestinian transitional government for Gaza begins talks in Cairo: Mediated by the US and Egypt, the new Palestinian technocratic government has convened its first meeting in Cairo. The 14-member cabinet is tasked with preparing future governance of the Gaza Strip and marks the start of the second phase of the peace plan negotiated by Donald Trump. Members were selected based on expertise rather than political affiliation. Key issues remain unresolved, including the disarmament of Hamas and the return of the body of an Israeli hostage. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the talks as an important step but stressed the need for a stable peace for both sides. web.de
UNITED STATES
US President Donald Trump threatens military intervention against protests in Minneapolis: On Truth Social, Trump announced he could invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota fails to contain the unrest. He accused state authorities of tolerating attacks on immigration officers. An ICE officer shot a man from Venezuela overnight on Thursday, one week after a fatal shooting of a woman. The incident has further escalated tensions in the city. focus.de, n-tv.de
Further US news:
- US President Donald Trump continues to slide in opinion polls. n-tv.de
- The US seizes another tanker in the Caribbean. handelsblatt.com
- Donald Trump expresses satisfaction with Venezuela’s current leadership following a lengthy phone call with acting president Delcy Rodríguez.
- The US Congress blocks a resolution requiring parliamentary approval for US military action in Venezuela, with the decisive vote cast by Vice President J.D. Vance. stern.de
- The US and Taiwan sign a trade agreement on semiconductors. table.media/china
- A Republican lawmaker calls AfD leader Alice Weidel „simply stupid“ after her criticism of the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. welt.de
Federal Statistical Office reports slight growth in the German economy 2025: After two years of recession, the German economy grew slightly again in 2025. The gross domestic product rose by 0.2 per cent after adjustment for price changes, according to preliminary calculations by the Federal Statistical Office. In the fourth quarter, economic output also increased by 0.2 per cent compared to the previous quarter. Economists expect growth of around one per cent in 2026, supported by additional working days and higher government spending on infrastructure and defence. handelsblatt.com, tagesschau.de
There is a shortage of 1.4 million homes nationwide: according to a new study by the Pestel Institute, the housing shortage will reach a record high by the end of 2024. The institute“s ‘Social Housing Monitor 2026’ and the ‘Social Housing’ alliance state that large cities, university towns and metropolitan areas are particularly affected. To meet demand by 2030, around 400,000 new buildings would be needed each year, but in reality only around 200,000 are expected to be built. tagesschau.de, zdfheute.de, spiegel.de
Amazon launches sovereign cloud infrastructure in Potsdam: With the launch of a new data centre in Brandenburg, Amazon Web Services is introducing its European Sovereign Cloud. The servers are physically and legally separated from the rest of the AWS network and are designed to protect sensitive data belonging to European authorities and companies. The service is designed in such a way that US authorities cannot access it under the American Cloud Act. AWS is thus responding to calls for greater digital sovereignty in the EU. rbb24.de
Further business news:
- Bitkom survey: More senior citizens are using the internet. ndr.de
- German games industry grows thanks to small studios. handelsblatt.com
- Renewable energies: Expansion of wind energy with a strong year. tagesschau.de
- Railway boss Palla does not expect more punctuality in 2026. n-tv.de
- The rich are getting richer: Germans“ private financial assets rise to record levels. tagesspiegel.de
Germany wants to make your appliances age more gracefully than most Berliners’ houseplants. With the new right to repair, washing machines are expected to stay fixable for a decade and smartphones for at least seven years. Translation: throwing something away because „it’s broken“ may soon require more effort than fixing it — very on brand for a country that still believes anything can be solved with the right manual and a screwdriver.