Bild: The truth about my marriage to Jack White (†85) / Die Wahrheit über meine Ehe mit Jack White (†85)
FAZ: Macron fails with proposal for a G7 meeting in Paris / Macron scheitert mit Vorschlag eines G-7-Treffens in Paris
Funke: SPD pushes for Berlin Expo bid / SPD drängt auf Berliner Expo-Bewerbung
Handelsblatt: „A deal is a deal“ / „Ein Deal ist ein Deal“
RND: She must manage the Greenland crisis: Mette Frederiksen, the crisis queen / Sie muss die Grönland-Krise meistern: Mette Frederiksen, die Krisenkönigin
SZ: Von der Leyen counters Trump’s tariff threat / Von der Leyen kontert Trumps Zolldrohung
Tagesspiegel: Greenland crisis: Von der Leyen warns Trump against a downward spiral / Grönland-Krise: Von der Leyen warnt Trump vor Abwärtsspirale
taz: Rojava disappears faster than Greenland / Rojava schneller weg als Grönland
Welt: Resistance grows against the use of Palantir police software / Widerstand gegen Einsatz von Polizei-Software Palantir wächst
French President Emmanuel Macron called at the World Economic Forum in Davos for a firm EU response to US trade pressure. He said the EU has strong instruments to counter economic coercion by third countries and should use them now. Macron sharply criticized Washington’s „endless accumulation of new tariffs,“ calling them fundamentally unacceptable—especially when used to pressure territorial sovereignty. He warned that the world is drifting away from rules and international law and cautioned against a return to power politics, saying this is „not the time for new imperialism or colonialism,“ clearly directed at the US without naming Trump. handelsblatt.com, focus.de
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged so-called middle powers to cooperate more closely in response to global power shifts. He argued they should no longer rely on an outdated rules-based order but instead act in coalitions to counter the dominance ambitions of major powers. . t-online.de
- California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly criticized European governments for what he described as a submissive attitude toward US President Donald Trump. He called the praise and honors Trump received in Davos „pathetic“ and urged Europe to show more backbone toward the Republican leader. zdfheute.de
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must respond confidently to threats and view change as an opportunity. She announced a „fearless“ response to US tariffs in the Greenland dispute and highlighted plans for new free trade agreements, including with India. She stressed that the EU prefers partnerships over tariffs and said Trump had agreed last year not to impose additional tariffs on EU countries. t-online.de
- In response to the dispute over potential US tariffs and territorial claims, the European Parliament has suspended ratification of a trade agreement with Washington. Conservative, Social Democratic, and Liberal leaders said the parliament will not vote for now on lifting EU tariffs on US products. EPP leader Manfred Weber described this as a „powerful tool“ to respond to Donald Trump’s policies.
- US President Donald Trump plans to reaffirm his intention to annex Greenland in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, while still suggesting a solution may be possible. At the same time, he is portraying himself as a benefactor of NATO, claiming credit for increased defense spending by European allies. His Air Force One had to turn back after takeoff, but he still intends to deliver the speech.
- Germany’s CDU and SPD called for a decisive EU response to Trump’s tariff policy. David McAllister, head of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said escalation is not desired but Europe will defend itself if necessary. Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange emphasized that the US is also highly dependent on European products and warned that concrete action may be needed if talks fail.
- President Macron canceled a planned G7 meeting involving Russia, saying no such meeting was envisaged. This followed the publication of a personal message he had sent to Trump proposing an informal summit with Russia, Denmark, and Syria. Trump published the message and mocked Macron, continuing a pattern of public ridicule.
- Denmark is pushing for a permanent NATO presence in Greenland due to rising security tensions in the Arctic. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said a lasting NATO deployment should be established on the island, citing the alliance’s reinforced presence in the Baltic region as a model. The proposal has already been presented to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
UKRAINE
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his participation in Davos depends on concrete aid commitments and progress on agreements. Additional energy assistance or air defense systems could be decisive. He also suggested a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump if tangible arrangements are in place.
- In Davos, Ukrainian representatives held talks with security advisers from Germany, France, and the UK on military support and reconstruction. Further meetings on security guarantees, economic development, and rebuilding are planned, according to chief negotiator Rustem Umjerow.
- US envoy Steve Witkoff described talks with Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev in Davos as „very positive,“ though details remained vague and no concrete progress was visible. Jared Kushner also took part, and insiders say further meetings with US officials are planned.
- Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine received an invitation to a „peace council“ initiated by Trump but said participation would be very difficult, expressing skepticism about Russia and Ukraine sitting together in the same body.
RTL/ntv trend barometer by Forsa: Union 25 per cent (+1), AfD 26 per cent, SPD 14 per cent (-1), Greens 12 per cent (-1), Left Party 10 per cent (-1), BSW 3 per cent, FDP 3 per cent, others 7 per cent. n-tv.de
Germany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz says food security is again a political priority due to global crises. He warned that stable food supply chains can no longer be taken for granted and announced stronger support for farmers through reliable policy frameworks. Food security will also become a topic for Germany’s National Security Council. morgenpost.de
Germany’s armed forces have reached their highest personnel level in 12 years. By the end of 2025, the Bundeswehr counted 184,200 active soldiers, about 3,000 more than last year. The number of voluntary service members also increased significantly, marking the strongest recruitment result since compulsory service was suspended. . zeit.de, stern.de, tagesschau.de, rnd.de
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wants Germany to deepen partnerships with African countries in response to the US shifting toward protectionism. Ahead of trips to Kenya and Ethiopia, he stressed the need to diversify economic dependencies and expand trade relations. German industry is pushing for new free trade agreements as the EU negotiates deals with India following Mercosur. tagesschau.de
Germany’s domestic intelligence services warn that data collected by modern electric cars poses a growing security risk. Authorities say location, camera, and sensor data could be exploited for espionage, especially involving the military, police, or critical infrastructure. Many new vehicles are technically capable of transmitting sensitive data to manufacturers. n-tv.de
Other news:
- Germany has withdrawn about half of its admission commitments for Afghans. lto.de
- The environment minister rejects EV subsidies limited to new cars, citing a weak used-car market. deutschlandfunk.de
- Trade unions plan alternative proposals to pension reform results this summer. handelsblatt.com
- Doctors warn against abolishing phone-based sick notes. spiegel.de
- Cities support CDU demands for guaranteed administrative approvals. welt.de
- In Berlin, the city government plans to strengthen oversight of rent price controls. rbb24.de
- Brandenburg’s AfD parliamentary group backed an event involving far-right activist Martin Sellner. zeit.de
- Hamburg investors Dirk Roßmann and Klaus-Michael Kühne joined the Elbtower project, while the city is also preparing a financing plan for a possible Olympic bid. n-tv.de
- North Rhine–Westphalia will introduce free public transport tickets for apprentices in skilled trades. n-tv.de
The EU plans to legally require member states to remove Huawei and ZTE technology from mobile networks due to security concerns. A new regulation would allow the EU to ban equipment from high-risk suppliers across all member states, forcing gradual network replacements, including in Germany. spiegel.de
- Greece and Israel agreed to deepen cooperation on military technology, including drone defense systems and cyber security, emphasizing regional stability in the eastern Mediterranean.
- In the Netherlands, seven MPs left Geert Wilders’ party, citing an increasingly authoritarian leadership style. sueddeutsche.de
- Austria is debating a possible return to militia-style military service. faz.net
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Israel demolished UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem, saying the land will be transferred to state control. UNRWA called it an unprecedented violation of international law. Germany condemned the move as a dangerous escalation. web.de, faz.net
In northeastern Syria, Kurdish-led forces withdrew from the al-Hol camp holding relatives of ISIS fighters, including Germans. The withdrawal led to chaos and escape attempts. At the same time, ISIS members escaped from a nearby prison. Political talks with Damascus have collapsed. tagesschau.de
USA
Amnesty International accuses the US government of systematically undermining the rule of law. Its report cites intimidation of courts, pressure on universities and media, and the scapegoating of migrants. Amnesty also warns of rapidly expanding state surveillance under President Trump. zdfheute.de
Several reports highlight growing domestic backlash against Trump’s immigration raids, economic consequences of tariffs largely paid by US consumers, and legal actions against political critics. abendblatt.de, handelsblatt.com, businessinsider.de, zeit.de, n-tv.de
Employees in Germany were sick for an average of 19.5 days in 2025, a slight decrease from previous years but still historically high. The main causes were respiratory infections, mental health issues, and musculoskeletal problems. Health insurers are calling for deeper analysis and more flexible sick-leave models. rnd.de
German exports to the US fell sharply by 9.4 percent, with the automotive and machinery sectors hit hardest. The drop is largely attributed to US tariff policies. China has again become Germany’s most important trading partner. tagesschau.de
In Germany, food security is no longer just about farming — it’s officially a national security issue. When the chancellor starts talking about bread, supply chains, and crisis preparedness in the same breath as defense policy, it’s a very German reminder: stability is planned, regulated, and ideally crisis-proofed well in advance. Willkommen im Vorsorgestaat