Bild: How much you get in old age for every year worked / So viel gibt’s im Alter für jedes Jahr Arbeit
FAZ: Europeans divided over response to Trump in the Greenland dispute / Europäer uneins über Antwort auf Trump im Grönland-Streit
Funke: Spranger wants to investigate riots involving Hertha fans / Spranger will Ausschreitungen bei Hertha aufarbeiten
Handelsblatt: Tariff dispute weighs on stock markets / Zollstreit drückt Börsen
RND: A city rises up against „Trump’s Gestapo“ / Eine Stadt erhebt sich gegen „Trumps Gestapo“
SZ: Merz wants to avoid escalation with Trump / Merz will Eskalation mit Trump vermeiden
Tagesspiegel: Government subsidizes purchase of new electric cars with up to 6,000 euros / Regierung fördert Kauf neuer E-Autos mit bis zu 6000 Euro
taz: America, what’s going on? / Amerika, was geht?
Welt: IMF expects stronger growth for Germany / Währungsfonds erwartet mehr Wachstum für Deutschland
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is responding cautiously to U.S. sanctions threats in the Greenland dispute. In the conflict with the United States over Greenland, Friedrich Merz sharply rejected the punitive tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. He emphasized the principle of territorial integrity, pointing to the foundation of international law underpinning Germany’s position. However, Merz refrained from announcing concrete countermeasures in order to avoid further escalation with Washington. According to the government, diplomatic channels are to remain open. Merz plans to speak with Trump about tariffs later this week in Davos. n-tv.de, spiegel.de
- Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and his French counterpart Roland Lescure announced a united European response to the threat of U.S. punitive tariffs in the Greenland dispute, stressing that Europe would not allow itself to be blackmailed. France is also advocating a robust response to Trump. Lescure proposed a meeting of the G7 finance ministers. Possible countermeasures could include the EU activating previously suspended tariffs or introducing new ones, while continuing dialogue on security interests and strategic raw materials in Greenland.
- SPD foreign policy spokesman Adis Ahmetovic said on MDR that a strategy of appeasing Donald Trump had failed. Trump, he argued, only understands the language of money, and EU counter-tariffs were the right response.
- BDI President Peter Leibinger also considers EU counter-tariffs plausible. spiegel.de
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for respect for the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark during a meeting with members of the U.S. Congress in Davos, stressing that this is of crucial importance for transatlantic relations.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned the U.S. against imposing punitive tariffs. State sovereignty, she said, is not a „trade commodity.“ Europe does not want to start a dispute but will stand by its position, Kallas emphasized.
- On Thursday, European heads of state and government plan to discuss a response to Trump’s threats at a special summit. faz.net
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned the EU against retaliatory measures against the United States on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, saying counter-tariffs would be a serious mistake. Donald Trump is serious about the planned takeover of Greenland, Bessent said. n-tv.de
- In a television interview, U.S. President Donald Trump urged EU countries to focus on the war in Ukraine rather than Greenland. He left open whether he would use force to annex the island.
- In light of the tensions over Greenland, Denmark and the Greenlandic government have proposed a NATO mission in the Arctic to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Both see this as a signal of unity in the face of growing U.S. threats. tagesspiegel.de
- Republican lawmakers are criticizing Trump’s Greenland plans, warning of military escalation and tariffs that could strain relations with European allies. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul called Trump’s approach „ridiculous,“ particularly the idea of using emergency powers. Congressman Don Bacon said military intervention could mean the end of Trump’s presidency.
- The SPD accuses CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn of showing understanding for Donald Trump’s position in the Greenland dispute. In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Spahn had said that U.S. questions about the island’s geostrategic position were „understandable.“ stern.de
U.S. President Donald Trump links the Greenland dispute to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump wrote to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that his country had denied him the award despite his role in ending several wars. He therefore no longer felt obliged to think primarily about peace at all times, even though peace remained important. He could now focus on what benefits the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, this is the first time Trump has explicitly linked his pursuit of a U.S. takeover of Greenland to the Nobel Prize; until now he had cited security policy reasons for U.S. interest in the Arctic island. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed any connection in Davos as „completely false.“ Støre said, according to the BBC, that he told Trump in his reply that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee, not by the Norwegian government. faz.net, focus.de
UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending special envoy Kirill Dmitriev to talks in Davos. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is expected to speak with members of the U.S. delegation on the sidelines of the meeting, Reuters reports. The trip coincides with the upcoming appearance of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected in Davos in person for the first time on Wednesday, accompanied by a large delegation. Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov had also said that talks on ending the war with Russia would continue in Davos. reuters.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered a sweeping overhaul of Ukraine’s air defense. In response to recent Russian attacks on energy facilities, Ukraine is preparing a comprehensive realignment of its air defense system. Zelensky announced that mobile air defense units and interceptor drones would be more closely networked and their deployment significantly expanded. He appointed Pavlo Yelizarov as deputy commander of the air force to oversee the implementation. Zelensky also warned of an impending massive Russian strike and urged the population to remain highly alert and ready to respond quickly. Every region must be prepared to react as fast as possible and help people. srf.ch
- A Russian airstrike on Kharkiv killed one woman and injured eleven others. According to regional authorities, Russian aircraft dropped three glide bombs on a residential neighborhood near the border.
Russia has failed to capture Huliaipole and is now resorting to extensive mining, deploying anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, according to Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for Ukraine’s southern defense forces. - Despite the new tactic, heavy fighting continues, with Russia making extensive use of kamikaze drones.
Around the contested city of Pokrovsk, heavy fighting continues, according to Ukraine’s military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The situation is difficult for Ukrainian defenders, and the battles are exhausting. Russia is attempting to break through Ukrainian defensive lines using additional reserves and varied attack tactics. - The Ukrainian prosecutor’s office is investigating a Russian divisional deputy commander accused of ordering drone strikes on energy and gas infrastructure. According to investigators, the attacks were launched from occupied Crimea and targeted facilities supplying the civilian population.
Russia’s budget situation is deteriorating due to falling energy revenues. Gas and oil revenues in January fell by 46 percent year-on-year, according to Reuters—the lowest level since 2020. Causes include low oil prices, a strong ruble, weak global economic conditions, and Western sanctions, all of which further restrict the Kremlin’s financial leeway. - Russia is tightening internet censorship. In 2025, regulator Roskomnadzor blocked nearly 1.3 million websites, an increase of 59 percent compared with the previous year. VPN sites and content related to LGBTQ+ issues, alcohol, and censorship circumvention were particularly affected.
- The number of serious crimes in Russia rose to its highest level in 15 years in 2025. Returning veterans, including former prisoners, as well as thousands of unfilled police positions are significantly worsening the internal security situation.
The federal government is launching a new electric car subsidy of up to 6,000 euros with a socially tiered bonus: households with a taxable annual income of up to 80,000 euros are eligible for subsidies; plug-in hybrids are set to receive 1,500 euros. Additional bonuses increase the premium for families and lower-income buyers. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider sees this as support for the environment, industry, and middle-income households. Criticism comes from the Greens, who object both to the income thresholds and to subsidizing hybrid vehicles. The metalworkers’ union IG Metall is calling for the scheme to be extended to used cars and for an EU-origin requirement for subsidized models. rnd.de, zdfheute.de, faz.net, t-online.de, zeit.de
Health Minister Nina Warken has announced a review of telephone-based sick leave certification. The aim is to prevent potential abuse, Warken told Tagesspiegel. Earlier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated his weekend criticism of what he sees as an excessively high level of sick leave in Germany, citing telephone sick notes as one of the causes. tagesspiegel.de
Hesse’s Minister President Boris Rhein is calling for longer weekly working hours modeled on Greece. Rhein sees extended working hours as a key to safeguarding prosperity. In an interview with RND, he referred to the debate in Greece, where Saturday work is being discussed, while Germany is debating a four-day workweek. Greece, he said, has made significant economic gains in a short time. Germany cannot afford to work less, Rhein argued. Someone who delivers performance is not a ruthless careerist or unscrupulous capitalist, but someone who enjoys working and contributing to the community. stern.de
Family Minister Karien Prien is calling for a debate on European nuclear weapons and defense capability. Prien urged a broader societal discussion about the defense capability of Germany and Europe. Far more people need to be involved, and deterrence must be discussed honestly – including the question of European nuclear weapons. It must be clear who would be authorized to decide on their use in an emergency, Prien said on n-tv’s „Blome & Pfeffer.“ Such a debate, she criticized, failed to take place after Scholz’s „Zeitenwende“ speech, stressing the importance of resilience against both military and hybrid threats. n-tv.de
The Greens are calling for security and strategic production to take precedence in major projects. In a resolution adopted at their parliamentary group retreat, they argue that IT security and secure supply chains in state-funded major projects should be weighted more heavily than the lowest price. At the same time, European companies should benefit more from expansion efforts. The Greens are calling for the development of strategic production capacities for wind turbines, heat pumps, battery technologies, and power grid components such as cables in Germany and Europe. tagesschau.de
Other reports:
- CDU discusses reducing dismissal protection for top earners. handelsblatt.com
- The CDU/CSU alliance wants to „fine-tune“ the medical cannabis law introduced by Health Minister Nina Warken. lto.de
- Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing steps down as chair of the German Bishops’ Conference. zdfheute.de
- Clear majority opposes reducing the number of federal states. stern.de
- Saxony’s Economics Minister Dirk Panter calls for a digital levy on online platforms such as Google and Facebook. saechsische.de
- Expulsion 80 years ago: Hungary commemorates expelled ethnic Germans. zdfheute.de
Eastern German agriculture ministers criticize EU plans to cut farm funding from 2028. The agriculture ministers of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia fear competitive disadvantages for high-performing farms with many employees subject to social insurance contributions. The European Commission plans to allocate around 300 billion euros to agriculture in the EU budget from 2028 to 2034, about 20 percent less than before. In addition, direct payments are to be reduced above a certain farm size. saechsische.de
After a power outage, Berlin SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach is calling for a state security council. Berlin needs a statewide body for crisis coordination modeled on the federal National Security Council. The state security council should operate under the leadership of the governing mayor and improve coordination in future crisis situations, he told Tagesspiegel.
- NRW Greens call for better protection of networks. rp-online.de
More news:
- Hamburg: Trial over Quran burning in front of the Islamic Center dropped in exchange for a monetary payment. ndr.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: Minister President Daniel Günther attacks Bild editor-in-chief Marion Horn over the Nius affair. kn-online.de
- Bavaria: State parliament sprayed with political slogans in connection with proceedings against alleged left-wing extremists. br.de
- Bavaria: Munich Regional Court acquits both defendants in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen train crash case. lto.de
- Bavaria: Prosecutors seek suspended sentence for former CDU MP Axel Fischer in Azerbaijan case. zeit.de
- NRW: Education Minister Dorothee Feller wants distance learning drills to be practiced. aachener-zeitung.de
- Baden-Württemberg: Ban on face coverings while driving is constitutional. lto.de
- Brandenburg: Potsdam AfD staffer Gerhard Vierfuß convicted over posts containing a banned SA slogan. tagesspiegel.de
- Berlin: Despite postponed visit, nearly 1,000 people protest against Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa; invitation still stands, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. rbb24.de
- Hesse: AfD barred from running in the local election in Bad Homburg. faz.net
- Saxony: Görlitz district council must lift advertising ban on the German armed forces; BSW fails. saechsische.de
- Schleswig-Holstein: SPD introduces debate on inheritance tax in the state parliament. abendblatt.de
- NRW: State campaign for the Olympic bid launches. wdr.de
- Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania: Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt wants to legalize dumpster diving. rnd.de
The IMF slightly raises its growth forecast for Germany: The International Monetary Fund expects the German economy to grow by 1.1 percent in 2026 – 0.2 percentage points more than forecast in October. One of the drivers is the debt-financed special fund for infrastructure, which is expected to provide short-term economic stimulus. This could initially cushion the impact of U.S. tariffs. In a G7 comparison, Germany ranks ahead of Italy, Japan, and France in terms of growth, but remains clearly behind the United States, for which the IMF forecasts growth of 2.4 percent. n-tv.de
Further news:
- AI euphoria disappointed: Executives see the future as bleak as they have in years. n-tv.de
- AI drone manufacturer Helsing pushes back against claims of failure. n-tv.de
- Number of private schools in Germany has increased. n-tv.de
- Network agency presents plan for shutting down the DSL network. handelsblatt.com
- Henkel confirms talks about acquiring Stahl Holdings. handelsblatt.com
- Fake video featuring Reinhold Würth promotes dubious investment schemes. tagesspiegel.de
- Italian fashion designer Valentino has died. zdfheute.de
Germany celebrates 1.1% growth like a cautious espresso: small, strong, and no refills promised. Everyone nods politely, checks the price of electricity, and agrees it could have been worse — which, culturally speaking, counts as optimism.