Germany

Von der Leyen slams rise of antisemitism as 'old evil' at Brussels Hanukkah event<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//12//04//lithuanian-court-convicts-leader-of-a-governing-party-of-inciting-hatred-against-jews/">Lithuanian court convicts leader of a governing party of inciting hatred against Jews<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>'Unity that saves lives is needed'<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many leaders also reflected on the upheaval in today's world.<\/p>\n<p>Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, warned about rising antisemitism and new threats.<\/p>\n<p>She noted that AI-generated content is now being used \"to blur the line between fact and fiction, distort historical truth, and undermine our collective memory.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"2016086035982155861\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been under attack from Russia for almost four years, said that just as the world united to defeat the Nazis in 1945, it \"must act the same way now.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"Whenever hatred and war threaten nations, unity that saves lives is needed,\" Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769530663,"updatedAt":1769970039,"publishedAt":1769533197,"firstPublishedAt":1769533197,"lastPublishedAt":1769970039,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"White roses placed on a concrete slab of the Holocaust memorial to mark the International Holocaust Memorial Day in Berlin, 27 January, 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"caption":"White roses placed on a concrete slab of the Holocaust memorial to mark the International Holocaust Memorial Day in Berlin, 27 January, 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/84\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_64517943-5a87-5a8b-94cd-c50184801bc9-9628428.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":911},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Names inscribed on the Victims' Wall during a memorial service in the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest, 27 January, 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Names inscribed on the Victims' Wall during a memorial service in the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Budapest, 27 January, 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/84\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_eb5a64e6-4846-5966-a510-2d43f437a704-9628428.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci from Italy speaks on International Holocaust Memorial Day at the European Parliament in Brussels, 27 January, 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci from Italy speaks on International Holocaust Memorial Day at the European Parliament in Brussels, 27 January, 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/84\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_692f5ab0-e2d4-5ff7-a8ef-7b0b4546920e-9628428.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"People leave a building after a ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp museum in O\u015bwi\u0119cim, 27 January, 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"People leave a building after a ceremony marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp museum in O\u015bwi\u0119cim, 27 January, 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/84\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1a1fd1d6-1d74-5bb6-83b6-acb0fb2220a5-9628428.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","twitter":null,"id":2972,"title":"Gavin Blackburn"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"holocaust","titleRaw":"Holocaust","id":7749,"title":"Holocaust","slug":"holocaust"},{"urlSafeValue":"nazism","titleRaw":"Nazism","id":10075,"title":"Nazism","slug":"nazism"},{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"jews","titleRaw":"Jews","id":12854,"title":"Jews","slug":"jews"},{"urlSafeValue":"israel","titleRaw":"Israel","id":157,"title":"Israel","slug":"israel"}],"widgets":[{"count":3,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2864543},{"id":2854707},{"id":2842149}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/27\/world-pauses-as-it-observes-annual-international-holocaust-remembrance-day","lastModified":1769970039},{"id":2864543,"cid":9626730,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"STOLPERSTEINE HOLOCAUST REMEBRANCE DAY","daletPyramidId":4004324,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Berlin honours Levi family with memorial 'stumbling stone' plaques","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Berlin honours Levi family with memorial 'stumbling stone' plaques","titleListing2":"On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the victims of the Nazi regime are commemorated throughout Germany. At the same time, anti-Semitism in Germany is rising at an alarming rate.","leadin":"On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the victims of the Nazi regime are commemorated throughout Germany. At the same time, anti-semitism in the western European country and across the continent is rising at an alarming rate.","summary":"On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the victims of the Nazi regime are commemorated throughout Germany. At the same time, anti-semitism in the western European country and across the continent is rising at an alarming rate.","keySentence":"","url":"berlin-honors-levi-family-with-memorial-stumbling-stone-plaques","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/27\/berlin-honors-levi-family-with-memorial-stumbling-stone-plaques","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Four brass memorial plaques were installed in Berlin-Johannisthal to commemorate the Levi family, who fled Nazi Germany for what is now Israel between 1934 and 1935, as new figures show antisemitic offences in Germany have more than quadrupled in recent years.\n\nThe stolpersteine or \"stumbling stones\" \u2014 small brass plaques embedded in pavements at victims' last addresses \u2014 mark the former home of Frieda and Moritz Levi and their sons Siegbert and Chaim at Greifstra\u00dfe 16. Chaim was the first to flee in 1934, with the rest of the family following a year later.\n\n\"It's very moving. We have been working on it for over two years now,\" said Dana Yeshouroune, Siegbert Levi's granddaughter, who travelled from Israel for the installation alongside relatives from Italy.\n\n\"We were able to find out some facts that we didn't know before. We never knew that our grandfather had served in the German army during World War I.\"\n\nAfter fleeing Germany, the family built a new life running a small poultry farm near Tel Aviv.\n\nYeshouroune said her grandfather maintained complicated feelings about Germany. \"He admired many things about Germany \u2014 his origins, his roots, the way he grew up. But at the same time, he was also angry and disappointed that he was forced to leave this country.\"\n\nThe memorial project, created by artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, has seen more than 116,000 brass plaques embedded in pavements across Europe, most of them in Germany.\n\nThe stones commemorate people, predominantly Jews, who were murdered, deported or expelled by the Nazis during the Holocaust.\n\nDemnig deliberately chose \"slow and continuous laying of the stones\" to counteract what he described as the factory-like mass extermination of the Nazi era.\n\n\"It is very important to make the names of the victims visible and also to show that these people were our neighbours and where they lived,\" said Sabine Karten from the Treptow Association of Anti-Fascists, which organised the installation.\n\nViolence against Jewish community on the rise\n\nThe commemoration comes as antisemitic incidents in Germany have risen sharply.\n\nThe federal association RIAS reported that antisemitic offences more than quadrupled between 2020 and 2024. The organisation counts violence, property damage, threats, offensive behaviour, meetings and mass mailings as antisemitic incidents.\n\nOfficial figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office show recorded antisemitic offences rose from 2,351 in 2020 to 6,236 in 2024.\n\n\"Antisemitism in Germany has exploded since 7 October 2023,\" Dr Josef Schuster, chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told Euronews. \"All the figures indicate that it is now consolidating at an alarmingly high level.\"\n\nSchuster said security measures alone were insufficient. \"This is symptom-fighting that will not drive antisemites off our streets,\" he said, calling for stronger action against root causes.\n\nIn Berlin's Kreuzberg district, residents hold weekly vigils outside the Fraenkelufer synagogue to protest the need for police protection at Jewish sites.\n\n\"It's a scandal that Jewish people in our country need police protection when they want to go to their synagogue,\" said Julia Ertl, who regularly attends the vigils.\n\nThe stumbling stones project extends beyond Germany to France, the Netherlands, Italy and other countries where Nazi persecution occurred.\n\nAround 6 million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during the rule of Adolf Hitler, many at the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp.\n\nTuesday marks the 81st anniversary of the camp's liberation by Allied soldiers on 27 January 1945.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Four brass memorial plaques were installed in Berlin-Johannisthal to commemorate the Levi family, who fled Nazi Germany for what is now Israel between 1934 and 1935, as new figures show antisemitic offences in Germany have more than quadrupled in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>The stolpersteine or \"stumbling stones\" \u2014 small brass plaques embedded in pavements at victims' last addresses \u2014 mark the former home of Frieda and Moritz Levi and their sons Siegbert and Chaim at Greifstra\u00dfe 16. Chaim was the first to flee in 1934, with the rest of the family following a year later.<\/p>\n<p>\"It's very moving. We have been working on it for over two years now,\" said Dana Yeshouroune, Siegbert Levi's granddaughter, who travelled from Israel for the installation alongside relatives from Italy. <\/p>\n<p>\"We were able to find out some facts that we didn't know before. We never knew that our grandfather had served in the German army during World War I.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//35//93//808x454_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg/" alt=\"Members of the Levi family at the laying of the Stumbling Stones, Berlin, 23.01.26\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/384x216_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/640x360_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/750x422_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/828x466_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/1080x608_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/1200x675_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/1920x1080_cmsv2_bed50851-1844-5767-aa43-3f1a8cc0bda1-9623593.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Relatives of the Levi family at the laying of the Stumbling Stones, Berlin, 23.01.26<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Donogh McCabe, Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>After fleeing Germany, the family built a new life running a small poultry farm near Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n<p>Yeshouroune said her grandfather maintained complicated feelings about Germany. \"He admired many things about Germany \u2014 his origins, his roots, the way he grew up. But at the same time, he was also angry and disappointed that he was forced to leave this country.\"<\/p>\n<p>The memorial project, created by artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, has seen more than 116,000 brass plaques embedded in pavements across Europe, most of them in Germany. <\/p>\n<p>The stones commemorate people, predominantly Jews, who were murdered, deported or expelled by the Nazis during the Holocaust.<\/p>\n<p>Demnig deliberately chose \"slow and continuous laying of the stones\" to counteract what he described as the factory-like mass extermination of the Nazi era.<\/p>\n<p>\"It is very important to make the names of the victims visible and also to show that these people were our neighbours and where they lived,\" said Sabine Karten from the Treptow Association of Anti-Fascists, which organised the installation.<\/p>\n<h2>Violence against Jewish community on the rise<\/h2>\n<p>The commemoration comes as antisemitic incidents in Germany have risen sharply. <\/p>\n<p>The federal association RIAS reported that antisemitic offences more than quadrupled between 2020 and 2024. The organisation counts violence, property damage, threats, offensive behaviour, meetings and mass mailings as antisemitic incidents.<\/p>\n<p>Official figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office show recorded antisemitic offences rose from 2,351 in 2020 to 6,236 in 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart u-min-height-375\" data-src=\"visualisation\/27345662?92060\"><\/div>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Number of antisemitic incidents 2020-2024, source: Annual Report 2024, Federal Association RIAS e.V.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"Antisemitism in Germany has exploded since 7 October 2023,\" Dr Josef Schuster, chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told Euronews. \"All the figures indicate that it is now consolidating at an alarmingly high level.\"<\/p>\n<p>Schuster said security measures alone were insufficient. \"This is symptom-fighting that will not drive antisemites off our streets,\" he said, calling for stronger action against root causes.<\/p>\n<p>In Berlin's Kreuzberg district, residents hold weekly vigils outside the Fraenkelufer synagogue to protest the need for police protection at Jewish sites.<\/p>\n<p>\"It's a scandal that Jewish people in our country need police protection when they want to go to their synagogue,\" said Julia Ertl, who regularly attends the vigils.<\/p>\n<p>The stumbling stones project extends beyond Germany to France, the Netherlands, Italy and other countries where Nazi persecution occurred.<\/p>\n<p>Around 6 million Jews were systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during the rule of Adolf Hitler, many at the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp. <\/p>\n<p>Tuesday marks the 81st anniversary of the camp's liberation by Allied soldiers on 27 January 1945.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769443878,"updatedAt":1769540384,"publishedAt":1769525799,"firstPublishedAt":1769525799,"lastPublishedAt":1769525851,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Donogh McCabe, Euronews","altText":"Stumbling stones of the Levi family, Berlin, 23 January 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Stumbling stones of the Levi family, Berlin, 23 January 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/35\/93\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_dab679d9-b459-55af-834c-c67f332ec022-9623593.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"laura.fleischmann@euronews.com","twitter":null,"id":3533,"title":"Laura Fleischmann"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"holocaust","titleRaw":"Holocaust","id":7749,"title":"Holocaust","slug":"holocaust"},{"urlSafeValue":"synagogue","titleRaw":"Synagogue","id":10917,"title":"Synagogue","slug":"synagogue"},{"urlSafeValue":"jews","titleRaw":"Jews","id":12854,"title":"Jews","slug":"jews"},{"urlSafeValue":"antisemitism","titleRaw":"antisemitism","id":12942,"title":"antisemitism","slug":"antisemitism"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"flourish"}],"related":[{"id":2827763},{"id":2854707}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"S8852Tuhp5o","dailymotionId":"x9ymrye"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":124480,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":19643820,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/34\/89\/48\/04\/ED_PYR_3489484_20260127185945.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":124480,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":28954526,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/34\/89\/48\/04\/SHD_PYR_3489484_20260127185945.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":124480,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":96687981,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/34\/89\/48\/04\/FHD_PYR_3489484_20260127185945.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"urlSafeValue":"europe","id":104,"title":"Europe"},"country":{"urlSafeValue":"germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9623593,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/27\/berlin-honors-levi-family-with-memorial-stumbling-stone-plaques","lastModified":1769525851},{"id":2865526,"cid":9627729,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY BLACKOUT INFO REWARD","daletPyramidId":4013206,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany offers \u20ac1 million reward for information on Berlin power grid attack","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany offers \u20ac1 million bounty over Berlin power grid attack","titleListing2":"Germany offers \u20ac1 million reward for information on Berlin power grid attack","leadin":"Police are searching for members of the far-left \"Vulkangruppe\" or Volcano Group, which claimed responsibility for the blackout in early January.","summary":"Police are searching for members of the far-left \"Vulkangruppe\" or Volcano Group, which claimed responsibility for the blackout in early January.","keySentence":"","url":"germany-offers-1-million-reward-for-information-on-berlin-power-grid-attack","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/27\/germany-offers-1-million-reward-for-information-on-berlin-power-grid-attack","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany is offering a \u20ac1 million euro reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected far-left militants whose arson attack caused a massive blackout in Berlin earlier this month, the interior minister said on Tuesday.\n\nAbout 45,000 homes and 2,200 businesses were left without power for nearly a week in the middle of winter in the southwest of the German capital. It was the longest blackout in the city since the end of World War II.\n\nGerman police are searching for members of the far-left \"Vulkangruppe\" (Volcano Group), which claimed responsibility for the blackout in several online statements. The group said the aim was to strike the fossil fuel industry, not to cause power outages.\n\nAnnouncing the bounty, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt vowed to \"strike back\".\n\n\"Our security agencies will be significantly reinforced in the fight against left-wing extremism,\" he said. \"I think it's appropriate to underscore the seriousness of the situation with a reward of this magnitude.\"\n\nDobrindt said police would launch a publicity campaign to solicit tips and tout the reward, including leaflets and posters in Berlin's subway system.\n\nThe Self-styled Volcano Group has been active since 2011 and has carried out arson attacks in and around Berlin, according to Germany's domestic intelligence agency.\n\nThe group claimed responsibility for a 2024 arson attack that halted production at Tesla's Berlin car factory.\n\nInfrastructure security concerns\n\nThe outage caused by a fire targeting a set of high-voltage cables starkly revealed gaps in the security of critical infrastructure in the German capital at a time when Berlin is concerned about sabotage attacks coming from Russia.\n\nBerlin officials also came under fire over the speed and scale of their response to the blackout.\n\nFor many years, Germany has faced what officials describe as a Russian campaign of sabotage, espionage and disinformation aimed at destabilising the country, a major supplier of military support to Ukraine and a key NATO logistics hub.\n\nMoscow has denied the allegations.\n\nOn Tuesday, Dobrindt vowed that the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, would this week adopt a new law to better protect critical infrastructure.\n\nBut the initial draft of the legislation has already faced criticism from some in the energy sector and business community as being too bureaucratic to be effective.\n\nSome have also warned that the legislation risks mandating excessive transparency about vital infrastructure facilities, which could be exploited by malicious actors.\n\nDobrindt acknowledged that \"we already disclose too much public information about our critical infrastructure\".\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany is offering a \u20ac1 million euro reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected far-left militants whose arson attack caused a massive blackout in Berlin earlier this month, the interior minister said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>About 45,000 homes and 2,200 businesses were left without power for nearly a week in the middle of winter in the southwest of the German capital. It was the longest blackout in the city since the end of World War II.<\/p>\n<p>German police are searching for members of the far-left \"Vulkangruppe\" (Volcano Group), which claimed responsibility for the blackout in several online statements. The group said the aim was to strike the fossil fuel industry, not to cause power outages.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//77//29//808x454_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Bonnie uses a cell phone light as she walks through the Wannsee public transport station in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025,\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/384x216_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/640x360_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/750x422_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/828x466_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1080x608_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1200x675_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1920x1080_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Bonnie uses a cell phone light as she walks through the Wannsee public transport station in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025,<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Michael Kappeler\/(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Announcing the bounty, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt vowed to \"strike back\".<\/p>\n<p>\"Our security agencies will be significantly reinforced in the fight against left-wing extremism,\" he said. \"I think it's appropriate to underscore the seriousness of the situation with a reward of this magnitude.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//07//power-restored-to-thousands-of-berlin-homes-after-attack-on-lines-caused-outage/">Power restored to thousands of Berlin homes after attack on lines caused outage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2026//01//12//fact-check-why-did-berlins-power-outage-take-so-long-to-fix/">Fact check: Why did Berlin's power outage take so long to fix?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Dobrindt said police would launch a publicity campaign to solicit tips and tout the reward, including leaflets and posters in Berlin's subway system.<\/p>\n<p>The Self-styled Volcano Group has been active since 2011 and has carried out arson attacks in and around Berlin, according to Germany's domestic intelligence agency. <\/p>\n<p>The group claimed responsibility for a 2024 arson attack that halted production at Tesla's Berlin car factory.<\/p>\n<h2>Infrastructure security concerns<\/h2>\n<p>The outage caused by a fire targeting a set of high-voltage cables starkly revealed gaps in the security of critical infrastructure in the German capital at a time when Berlin is concerned about sabotage attacks coming from Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Berlin officials also came under fire over the speed and scale of their response to the blackout.<\/p>\n<p>For many years, Germany has faced what officials describe as a Russian campaign of sabotage, espionage and disinformation aimed at destabilising the country, a major supplier of military support to Ukraine and a key NATO logistics hub.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow has denied the allegations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//77//29//808x454_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: The Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2022.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/384x216_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/640x360_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/750x422_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/828x466_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1080x608_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1200x675_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/1920x1080_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: The Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2022.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Michael Sohn\/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>On Tuesday, Dobrindt vowed that the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, would this week adopt a new law to better protect critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>But the initial draft of the legislation has already faced criticism from some in the energy sector and business community as being too bureaucratic to be effective.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//04//45000-homes-in-berlin-without-power-after-politically-motivated-attack-by-left-wing-extrem/">45,000 homes in Berlin without power after politically motivated attack by 'left-wing extremists'<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//06//german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout/">German prosecutors launch terrorism probe into far-left attack behind Berlin blackout<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Some have also warned that the legislation risks mandating excessive transparency about vital infrastructure facilities, which could be exploited by malicious actors.<\/p>\n<p>Dobrindt acknowledged that \"we already disclose too much public information about our critical infrastructure\".<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769512707,"updatedAt":1769516540,"publishedAt":1769516515,"firstPublishedAt":1769516515,"lastPublishedAt":1769516515,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_616eced9-1bc1-559a-8772-ffbcba565289-9627729.jpg","altText":"FILE: Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025","caption":"FILE: Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Sebastian Gollnow\/(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da5d67f7-8a10-5835-8c00-c3facc143cac-9627729.jpg","altText":"FILE: Bonnie uses a cell phone light as she walks through the Wannsee public transport station in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025,","caption":"FILE: Bonnie uses a cell phone light as she walks through the Wannsee public transport station in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025,","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Michael Kappeler\/(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/77\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_be040448-d471-5bdf-83ba-9201d7193fc5-9627729.jpg","altText":"FILE: The Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2022.","caption":"FILE: The Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2022.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Michael Sohn\/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3238,"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","title":"Kieran Guilbert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":28704,"slug":"blackout","urlSafeValue":"blackout","title":"blackout","titleRaw":"blackout"},{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":19440,"slug":"sabotage","urlSafeValue":"sabotage","title":"sabotage","titleRaw":"sabotage"},{"id":13008,"slug":"power-outage","urlSafeValue":"power-outage","title":"Power outage","titleRaw":"Power outage"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2865259},{"id":2864525},{"id":2864118}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AFP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/27\/germany-offers-1-million-reward-for-information-on-berlin-power-grid-attack","lastModified":1769516515},{"id":2865356,"cid":9626977,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"HAMBURG KNIFE ATTACKER HOSPITAL","daletPyramidId":4007015,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Woman who stabbed 15 at Hamburg train station confined to psychiatric hospital, court rules","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Woman who stabbed 15 at Hamburg train station must remain in hospital","titleListing2":"Woman who stabbed 15 at Hamburg train station confined to psychiatric hospital, court rules","leadin":"The woman stole a knife from a drug store and attacked passengers waiting on a platform in the busy station during the Friday evening rush hour, severely injuring at least four of her victims.","summary":"The woman stole a knife from a drug store and attacked passengers waiting on a platform in the busy station during the Friday evening rush hour, severely injuring at least four of her victims.","keySentence":"","url":"woman-who-stabbed-15-at-hamburg-train-station-confined-to-psychiatric-hospital-court-rules","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/26\/woman-who-stabbed-15-at-hamburg-train-station-confined-to-psychiatric-hospital-court-rules","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A woman who stabbed 15 people in an attack at Hamburg's central train station in northern Germany last year was ordered on Monday to be held permanently in a psychiatric hospital.\n\nA court ruled that the 39-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, could not be held criminally responsible for the 23 May attack, according to a court spokesperson.\n\nThe woman stole a knife from a drug store and attacked passengers waiting on a platform in the busy station during the Friday evening rush hour, severely injuring at least four of her victims.\n\nTwo bystanders and police officers managed to subdue her and end the rampage.\n\nThe woman had been homeless since October 2024 and was sent to a psychiatric hospital shortly after her arrest, according to the court.\n\nEvidence presented at the trial indicated that she suffered from delusions, believing that the waiting passengers had intended to kill her, the court spokesperson said.\n\nProsecutors had sought to have the woman permanently committed to a psychiatric hospital and the defendant reportedly accepted Monday's verdict and does not plan an appeal.\n\nThe stabbings in Hamburg came amid a series of violent attacks across Germany, many of which had jihadist or far-right extremist motivations.\n\nIn response to previous attacks, Germany had already tightened weapons laws to ban the carrying of knives on trains and in specific areas, including Hamburg's central train station.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A woman who stabbed 15 people in an attack at Hamburg's central train station in northern Germany last year was ordered on Monday to be held permanently in a psychiatric hospital.<\/p>\n<p>A court ruled that the 39-year-old woman, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, could not be held criminally responsible for the 23 May attack, according to a court spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p>The woman stole a knife from a drug store and attacked passengers waiting on a platform in the busy station during the Friday evening rush hour, severely injuring at least four of her victims.<\/p>\n<p>Two bystanders and police officers managed to subdue her and end the rampage.<\/p>\n<p>The woman had been homeless since October 2024 and was sent to a psychiatric hospital shortly after her arrest, according to the court.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//69//77//808x539_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg/" alt=\"A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/384x256_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/640x427_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/750x500_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/828x552_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/1080x720_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/1200x800_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/1920x1280_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Evidence presented at the trial indicated that she suffered from delusions, believing that the waiting passengers had intended to kill her, the court spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors had sought to have the woman permanently committed to a psychiatric hospital and the defendant reportedly accepted Monday's verdict and does not plan an appeal.<\/p>\n<p>The stabbings in Hamburg came amid a series of violent attacks across Germany, many of which had jihadist or far-right extremist motivations.<\/p>\n<p>In response to previous attacks, Germany had already tightened weapons laws to ban the carrying of knives on trains and in specific areas, including Hamburg's central train station.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769453860,"updatedAt":1769454545,"publishedAt":1769454533,"firstPublishedAt":1769454533,"lastPublishedAt":1769454533,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f949b371-db6b-5e1a-9f87-1d4d1bbe697f-9626977.jpg","altText":"Travellers wait for their train on a full platform at the main station in Hamburg, 22 December, 2023","caption":"Travellers wait for their train on a full platform at the main station in Hamburg, 22 December, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1686,"height":948},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_64be4ffb-5e42-5ab4-af20-22286973c0dd-9626977.jpg","altText":"A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023","caption":"A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/69\/77\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_daa8413f-0cff-517f-bb84-5b220e102f75-9626977.jpg","altText":"A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023","caption":"A clock shows the time at Hamburg Central Station, 7 December, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1332}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":455,"slug":"hamburg","urlSafeValue":"hamburg","title":"Hamburg","titleRaw":"Hamburg"},{"id":14192,"slug":"knife-attack","urlSafeValue":"knife-attack","title":"Knife attack","titleRaw":"Knife attack"},{"id":13518,"slug":"stabbing","urlSafeValue":"stabbing","title":"stabbing","titleRaw":"stabbing"},{"id":12313,"slug":"violence","urlSafeValue":"violence","title":"Violence","titleRaw":"Violence"},{"id":12087,"slug":"court","urlSafeValue":"court","title":"Court","titleRaw":"Court"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2803969},{"id":2816727},{"id":2564918}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AFP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":455,"urlSafeValue":"hamburg","title":"Hamburg"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/26\/woman-who-stabbed-15-at-hamburg-train-station-confined-to-psychiatric-hospital-court-rules","lastModified":1769454533},{"id":2864803,"cid":9624727,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"AFD BAVARIA WANTS AN AGENCY LIKE ICE IN DE","daletPyramidId":3986704,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Bavarian AfD proposes ICE-style police unit for deportations","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Bavarian AfD proposes ICE-style police unit for deportations","titleListing2":"Bavarian AfD proposes ICE-style police unit for deportations in Germany","leadin":"Bavaria's AfD suggests a police unit similar to US immigration agency ICE for tracking asylum seekers and deportations, amid criticism of ICE's harsh tactics and recent deadly incidents.","summary":"Bavaria's AfD suggests a police unit similar to US immigration agency ICE for tracking asylum seekers and deportations, amid criticism of ICE's harsh tactics and recent deadly incidents.","keySentence":"","url":"bavarian-afd-proposes-ice-style-police-unit-for-deportations","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/26\/bavarian-afd-proposes-ice-style-police-unit-for-deportations","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's far-right Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland or AfD party in Bavaria is proposing a specialised police unit modelled on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track asylum seekers and coordinate deportations, according to internal documents.\n\nAt the press conference following the winter conference of the Bavarian state organisation, AfD parliamentary group leader Katrin Ebner-Steiner initially avoided questions about this model.\n\nWhile Ebner-Steiner explained that the unit's organisational structure was still open, the fact that the concept paper envisages an orientation \"similar to the ICE\" only became known later, when the documents were made available to media outlets after repeated requests.\n\nICE, or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been strongly criticised for its increasingly tough approach to arrests, deportations and other operations.\n\nRecently, several incidents have triggered attention and protests.\n\nOn Saturday, a 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot dead by an ICE officer seconds after being sprayed with a chemical irritant and thrown to the icy ground.\n\nRenee Good, also 37, was killed by an immigration officer while sitting in her car on 7 January. Trump's administration has excluded local investigators from examining her death.\n\nAnother ICE operation in Minnesota caused demonstrations when federal officers took a five-year-old boy and his father into custody.\n\nIn a separate case, a detained man died in custody after reportedly being strangled.\n\nCurfew for asylum seekers\n\nBeyond the deportation unit, the Bavarian AfD's position paper calls for mandatory community service for all asylum seekers and an evening curfew, which Ebner-Steiner said would \"lead to an increase in public safety.\"\n\nThe party also proposes removing immigrant children struggling with German from mainstream schools and placing them in separate institutions.\n\nReligious education for these students would be replaced with \"cultural education and values education\" to prevent \"a lack of discipline and violence in our schools,\" according to state parliament member Markus Walbrunn.\n\nThe Bavarian AfD has been classified as a suspected right-wing extremist organisation by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2022, a designation upheld by Munich's Administrative Court in June 2024.\n\nThe court found sufficient evidence of efforts against Germany's free democratic basic order, particularly regarding human dignity and democratic principles.\n\nAuthorities cited the party's ethno-cultural understanding of nationhood, anti-foreigner and anti-Muslim positions, occasional antisemitism, systematic disparagement of state institutions, and calls for \"remigration\" including of German citizens with immigrant backgrounds.\n\nSeveral Bavarian AfD functionaries have maintained ties to the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement and its leader Martin Sellner, with multiple party representatives publicly promoting Sellner's remigration concept or attending networking events.\n\nIndividual AfD members of parliament are now under surveillance, including state legislator Ren\u00e9 Dierkes, whom authorities view as a \"hinge function\" between the AfD and the far right due to potential anti-constitutional activities.\n\nThe party is challenging the surveillance through legal proceedings that remain pending.\n\nIn Germany's 2025 federal election, the AfD became Bavaria's second-strongest party with approximately 19% of the vote, doubling its 2021 result. The Christian Social Union under Markus S\u00f6der retained first place with 37.2%.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's far-right Alternative f\u00fcr Deutschland or AfD party in Bavaria is proposing a specialised police unit modelled on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track asylum seekers and coordinate deportations, according to internal documents.<\/p>\n<p>At the press conference following the winter conference of the Bavarian state organisation, AfD parliamentary group leader Katrin Ebner-Steiner initially avoided questions about this model. <\/p>\n<p>While Ebner-Steiner explained that the unit's organisational structure was still open, the fact that the concept paper envisages an orientation \"similar to the ICE\" only became known later, when the documents were made available to media outlets after repeated requests.<\/p>\n<p>ICE, or United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been strongly criticised for its increasingly tough approach to arrests, deportations and other operations. <\/p>\n<p>Recently, several incidents have triggered attention and protests. <\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, a 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot dead by an ICE officer seconds after being sprayed with a chemical irritant and thrown to the icy ground. <\/p>\n<p>Renee Good, also 37, was killed by an immigration officer while sitting in her car on 7 January. Trump's administration has excluded local investigators from examining her death.<\/p>\n<p>Another ICE operation in Minnesota caused demonstrations when federal officers took a five-year-old boy and his father into custody.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate case, a detained man died in custody after reportedly being strangled.<\/p>\n<h2>Curfew for asylum seekers<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond the deportation unit, the Bavarian AfD's position paper calls for mandatory community service for all asylum seekers and an evening curfew, which Ebner-Steiner said would \"lead to an increase in public safety.\"<\/p>\n<p>The party also proposes removing immigrant children struggling with German from mainstream schools and placing them in separate institutions. <\/p>\n<p>Religious education for these students would be replaced with \"cultural education and values education\" to prevent \"a lack of discipline and violence in our schools,\" according to state parliament member Markus Walbrunn.<\/p>\n<p>The Bavarian AfD has been classified as a suspected right-wing extremist organisation by the state's Office for the Protection of the Constitution since 2022, a designation upheld by Munich's Administrative Court in June 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The court found sufficient evidence of efforts against Germany's free democratic basic order, particularly regarding human dignity and democratic principles. <\/p>\n<p>Authorities cited the party's ethno-cultural understanding of nationhood, anti-foreigner and anti-Muslim positions, occasional antisemitism, systematic disparagement of state institutions, and calls for \"remigration\" including of German citizens with immigrant backgrounds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//06//lawmakers-accuse-afd-of-spying-on-german-army-on-behalf-of-russia/">Lawmakers accuse AfD of spying on German army on behalf of Russia<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//29//mass-protests-in-the-central-german-town-of-giessen-against-new-afd-youth-group/">Mass protests in the central German town of Giessen against new AfD youth group<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Several Bavarian AfD functionaries have maintained ties to the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement and its leader Martin Sellner, with multiple party representatives publicly promoting Sellner's remigration concept or attending networking events.<\/p>\n<p>Individual AfD members of parliament are now under surveillance, including state legislator Ren\u00e9 Dierkes, whom authorities view as a \"hinge function\" between the AfD and the far right due to potential anti-constitutional activities.<\/p>\n<p>The party is challenging the surveillance through legal proceedings that remain pending.<\/p>\n<p>In Germany's 2025 federal election, the AfD became Bavaria's second-strongest party with approximately 19% of the vote, doubling its 2021 result. The Christian Social Union under Markus S\u00f6der retained first place with 37.2%.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769252373,"updatedAt":1769428009,"publishedAt":1769428002,"firstPublishedAt":1769428002,"lastPublishedAt":1769428002,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/47\/19\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5b79ddc5-b123-599a-ab3d-f870009d9dba-9624719.jpg","altText":"AfD merchandise at the founding congress of the new youth organisation \"Generation Deutschland\"","caption":"AfD merchandise at the founding congress of the new youth organisation \"Generation Deutschland\"","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3520,"urlSafeValue":"sonja.issel@euronews.com","title":"Sonja Issel","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":447,"slug":"usa","urlSafeValue":"usa","title":"USA","titleRaw":"USA"},{"id":13450,"slug":"migration","urlSafeValue":"migration","title":"migration","titleRaw":"migration"},{"id":13986,"slug":"right-wing-populism","urlSafeValue":"right-wing-populism","title":"right-wing populism","titleRaw":"right-wing populism"},{"id":15208,"slug":"asylum-seeker","urlSafeValue":"asylum-seeker","title":"asylum seeker","titleRaw":"asylum seeker"},{"id":17206,"slug":"afd","urlSafeValue":"afd","title":"Alternative for Germany","titleRaw":"Alternative for Germany"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9624719,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/26\/bavarian-afd-proposes-ice-style-police-unit-for-deportations","lastModified":1769428002},{"id":2863767,"cid":9619842,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"german former nato ambassador op-ed","daletPyramidId":3941712,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"When the US looks elsewhere, what happens to Europe?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"When the US looks elsewhere, what happens to Europe?","titleListing2":"When the US looks elsewhere, what happens to Europe?","leadin":"The latest rifts in the transatlantic relationship show that Europe's security can no longer rest on the assumption of US reliability, writes Dr Hans-Dieter Lucas, former German ambassador to NATO, in an opinion article for Euronews.","summary":"The latest rifts in the transatlantic relationship show that Europe's security can no longer rest on the assumption of US reliability, writes Dr Hans-Dieter Lucas, former German ambassador to NATO, in an opinion article for Euronews.","keySentence":"","url":"when-the-us-looks-elsewhere-what-happens-to-europe","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/26\/when-the-us-looks-elsewhere-what-happens-to-europe","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"It did not take US President Donald Trump's push for the acquisition of Greenland to recognise that the transatlantic relationship itself has entered a period of profound change.\n\nVice President JD Vance's speech\u00a0at the 2025 Munich Security Conference had already set the tone for a new US approach to Europe \u2013 one that at times treats Europe less as an ally bound by shared values and interests than as a rival.\n\nThe aggressive, zero-sum tariff policy directed at the EU, compounded by the implicit linkage of trade demands to Washington's security guarantees, was a clear expression of this mindset.\n\nThe same applied to the so-called US-Russian 28-point peace plan\u00a0for Ukraine, which included provisions that came at the expense of European security.\n\nFinally, the new US national security strategy\u00a0also illustrates this shift: with its focus on the western hemisphere and its portrayal of Europe as a continent on the brink of civilisational decline, it reveals where the Trump administration believes America\u2019s long-term interests lie.\n\nNotably, NATO is scarcely mentioned as a defence alliance; Russia and China barely feature as security threats to either the United States or Europe.\n\nDeep rifts in the transatlantic relationship\n\nThe depth of today's rifts in the transatlantic relationship\u00a0was laid bare by Trump's unprecedented bid to seize control of Greenland against the will of Denmark and all European allies.\n\nThat a military option was initially left on the table, and that trade threats were used as leverage, speaks volumes about the administration's respect for both the spirit and the letter of the North Atlantic treaty.\n\nThe treaty binds all allies to uphold international law, including respect for territorial integrity. Even if a compromise now appears to be taking shape \u2013 one that, by granting extensive US basing rights while preserving Danish sovereignty, would likely be in the alliance's interest \u2013 trust in the United States as a dependable partner, and in the overall direction of US alliance and Europe policy, has been badly shaken.\n\nThat trust has long been the glue holding NATO together, its centre of gravity and the foundation of credible deterrence.\n\nThe Greenland episode is therefore likely to confirm Russian President Vladimir Putin in his belief that NATO may ultimately unravel under the strain of its own internal contradictions \u2013 and may encourage him to test the alliance's unity and resolve.\n\nA double challenge for Europe\n\nEurope faces a double challenge this year. It must continue to support Ukraine and push back against Russia\u2019s imperial ambitions \u2013 something that will be extremely hard to sustain without substantial US backing.\n\nAt the same time, it must preserve NATO's cohesion and credibility, the bedrock of European security. In the coming months, debate within the alliance will focus on three questions: how efforts to end the war in Ukraine should proceed, what role the United States intends to play militarily in Europe in future, and how to deal with the \"Greenland question\".\n\nAll three will shape the NATO summit due to take place in Turkey this summer.\n\nOn Greenland, recent events have shown that European unity, coupled with a willingness to combine diplomacy with pressure \u2013 including the threat of counter-tariffs \u2013 can have an effect.\n\nEuropeans can also take some reassurance from the fact that a clear majority in the US Congress remains committed to NATO, and that Trump's Greenland demands have met resistance across party lines.\n\nThat includes many Republicans, as well as the wider US public. Yet even if the Greenland issue has been temporarily contained, the damage to the alliance's credibility is real.\n\nThe risk of NATO being hollowed out from within by the US president's policies has not gone away \u2013 and Europe should expect further unwelcome surprises from Washington.\n\nThis is all the more troubling because Europe has a clear and enduring interest in preserving NATO with the United States as a co-guarantor of European security. This is particularly true of the extended nuclear deterrence, which remains irreplaceable for the foreseeable future.\n\nSafeguarding it must therefore remain a central objective of European policy.\n\nAt the same time, Europe has to take seriously both the swings of American domestic politics and the long-evident trend towards a gradual US disengagement from Europe in favour of Asia.\n\nIt remains to be seen which concrete conclusions will be drawn in that respect from the new US defence strategy.\u00a0That makes it all the more urgent for Europe to accelerate efforts to strengthen its own defence capabilities \u2013 on land, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace and in space.\n\nGiven the US president's sometimes unclear statements on America's nuclear guarantee, Europe must also confront the question of how the French and UK nuclear arsenals could, over time, make a greater contribution to deterrence.\n\nThese are complex and politically sensitive issues. Yet the agreement between Paris and London to deepen nuclear cooperation, as well as the ongoing Franco-German dialogue on nuclear matters, mark tentative but important steps forward.\n\nFinally, as efforts to end the war gather pace, Europe must work to prevent a US-Russian deal struck at the expense of Ukraine \u2013 and of Europe's own security.\n\nEuropeans must therefore continue to engage proactively in these talks in order to safeguard both their own interests and those of Ukraine.\n\nWhat is at stake is not merely the terms on which the war may end, but the foundations of Europe\u2019s future\u00a0security.\n\nThis requires a shared understanding of Europe's \"red lines\": the conditions under which the conflict could be brought to an end, and the respective European and American roles in securing either a peace settlement or a ceasefire.\n\nAt the same time, Europeans need to develop a clearer view of the basic contours of a future European security order.\u00a0\n\nEurope is in the midst of its most profound upheaval since the end of the Cold War. Unlike in 1989\u201390, this moment is not defined by hopes of peace and stability, but by the return of hard power politics.\n\nYet European defeatism would be misplaced. It is not the case that Europe has no cards to play.\n\nThe more united Europe is in its words and actions \u2013 and the more effectively it mobilises its own strength \u2013 the greater the chances that its security and its future will not be negotiated or decided over its head.\n\nDr Hans-Dieter Lucas is former permanent representative of Germany to NATO and former German ambassador to France, Monaco, Italy and San Marino.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>It did not take US President Donald Trump's push for the acquisition of Greenland to recognise that the transatlantic relationship itself has entered a period of profound change.<\/p>\n<p>Vice President JD Vance's <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com//?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fmy-europe%2F2025%2F02%2F14%2Fin-munich-the-eu-seeks-common-ground-with-the-us-the-us-admonishes-the-eu&data=05%7C02%7Cjohanna.urbancik%40euronews.com%7C51b62a8dd7fe4340bfc208de5bfda91a%7Ce59fa28a32ed49aca5a09c46118cfecf%7C0%7C0%7C639049342082649847%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7b93X2ry5rHDL%2BRJevrTMdymd4%2BABefcIy1T7MS1Vn4%3D&reserved=0\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">speech<\/a> at the 2025 Munich Security Conference had already set the tone for a new US approach to Europe \u2013 one that at times treats Europe less as an ally bound by shared values and interests than as a rival.<\/p>\n<p>The aggressive, zero-sum tariff policy directed at the EU, compounded by the implicit linkage of trade demands to Washington's security guarantees, was a clear expression of this mindset.<\/p>\n<p>The same applied to the so-called US-Russian <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com//?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2F2025%2F11%2F20%2Fexplainer-what-is-new-in-the-us-russia-plan-for-ukraine&data=05%7C02%7Cjohanna.urbancik%40euronews.com%7C51b62a8dd7fe4340bfc208de5bfda91a%7Ce59fa28a32ed49aca5a09c46118cfecf%7C0%7C0%7C639049342082667938%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AyLzujtDcwYALiXYoJaXf%2BSLhZtIzqUX4p9WXMixjIY%3D&reserved=0\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">28-point peace plan<\/a> for Ukraine, which included provisions that came at the expense of European security.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the new <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com//?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fmy-europe%2F2025%2F12%2F05%2Ftrump-administration-warns-europe-of-civilisational-decline-in-new-national-security-strat&data=05%7C02%7Cjohanna.urbancik%40euronews.com%7C51b62a8dd7fe4340bfc208de5bfda91a%7Ce59fa28a32ed49aca5a09c46118cfecf%7C0%7C0%7C639049342082679440%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1L37PXaL86v6QfeOQVLxgnjprVmHLh4MBdpajCwMTYM%3D&reserved=0\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">US national security strategy<\/a> also illustrates this shift: with its focus on the western hemisphere and its portrayal of Europe as a continent on the brink of civilisational decline, it reveals where the Trump administration believes America\u2019s long-term interests lie.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, NATO is scarcely mentioned as a defence alliance; Russia and China barely feature as security threats to either the United States or Europe.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Deep rifts in the transatlantic relationship<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The depth of today's <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com//?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2F2026%2F01%2F14%2Fties-between-us-and-europe-disintegrating-germanys-vice-chancellor-klingbeil-warns&data=05%7C02%7Cjohanna.urbancik%40euronews.com%7C51b62a8dd7fe4340bfc208de5bfda91a%7Ce59fa28a32ed49aca5a09c46118cfecf%7C0%7C0%7C639049342082690824%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OCbn8cPu0WPYaKG1GUUrSF3mrGTSPvIxG8AyPIqMlX0%3D&reserved=0\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">rifts in the transatlantic relationship<\/a> was laid bare by Trump's unprecedented bid to seize control of Greenland against the will of Denmark and all European allies.<\/p>\n<p>That a military option was initially left on the table, and that trade threats were used as leverage, speaks volumes about the administration's respect for both the spirit and the letter of the North Atlantic treaty.<\/p>\n<p>The treaty binds all allies to uphold international law, including respect for territorial integrity. Even if a compromise now appears to be taking shape \u2013 one that, by granting extensive US basing rights while preserving Danish sovereignty, would likely be in the alliance's interest \u2013 trust in the United States as a dependable partner, and in the overall direction of US alliance and Europe policy, has been badly shaken.<\/p>\n<p>That trust has long been the glue holding NATO together, its centre of gravity and the foundation of credible deterrence.<\/p>\n<p>The Greenland episode is therefore likely to confirm Russian President Vladimir Putin in his belief that NATO may ultimately unravel under the strain of its own internal contradictions \u2013 and may encourage him to test the alliance's unity and resolve.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2026//01//24//how-europeans-closed-ranks-to-defend-greenland-against-trump/">How Europeans closed ranks to defend Greenland against Trump<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>A double challenge for Europe<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Europe faces a double challenge this year. It must continue to support Ukraine and push back against Russia\u2019s imperial ambitions \u2013 something that will be extremely hard to sustain without substantial US backing.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, it must preserve NATO's cohesion and credibility, the bedrock of European security. In the coming months, debate within the alliance will focus on three questions: how efforts to end the war in Ukraine should proceed, what role the United States intends to play militarily in Europe in future, and how to deal with the \"Greenland question\".<\/p>\n<p>All three will shape the NATO summit due to take place in Turkey this summer.<\/p>\n<p>On Greenland, recent events have shown that <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com//?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2Fmy-europe%2F2026%2F01%2F23%2Feu-leaders-demand-respect-from-trump-after-greenland-crisis-rattles-relationship&data=05%7C02%7Cjohanna.urbancik%40euronews.com%7C51b62a8dd7fe4340bfc208de5bfda91a%7Ce59fa28a32ed49aca5a09c46118cfecf%7C0%7C0%7C639049342082702938%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bve%2BOl3dSA%2B6bQiCa2Oeo4ROCdSw3dDRge4sS4ORD8M%3D&reserved=0\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">European unity<\/a>, coupled with a willingness to combine diplomacy with pressure \u2013 including the threat of counter-tariffs \u2013 can have an effect.<\/p>\n<p>Europeans can also take some reassurance from the fact that a clear majority in the US Congress remains committed to NATO, and that Trump's Greenland demands have met resistance across party lines.<\/p>\n<p>That includes many Republicans, as well as the wider US public. Yet even if the Greenland issue has been temporarily contained, the damage to the alliance's credibility is real.<\/p>\n<p>The risk of NATO being hollowed out from within by the US president's policies has not gone away \u2013 and Europe should expect further unwelcome surprises from Washington.<\/p>\n<p>This is all the more troubling because Europe has a clear and enduring interest in preserving NATO with the United States as a co-guarantor of European security. This is particularly true of the extended nuclear deterrence, which remains irreplaceable for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<p>Safeguarding it must therefore remain a central objective of European policy.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Europe has to take seriously both the swings of American domestic politics and the long-evident trend towards a gradual US disengagement from Europe in favour of Asia. <\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen which concrete conclusions will be drawn in that respect from the new US defence strategy. That makes it all the more urgent for Europe to accelerate efforts to strengthen its own defence capabilities \u2013 on land, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace and in space.<\/p>\n<p>Given the US president's sometimes unclear statements on America's nuclear guarantee, Europe must also confront the question of how the French and UK nuclear arsenals could, over time, make a greater contribution to deterrence.<\/p>\n<p>These are complex and politically sensitive issues. Yet the agreement between Paris and London to deepen nuclear cooperation, as well as the ongoing Franco-German dialogue on nuclear matters, mark tentative but important steps forward.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, as efforts to end the war gather pace, Europe must work to prevent a US-Russian deal struck at the expense of Ukraine \u2013 and of Europe's own security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//98//21//808x454_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg/" alt=\"Trump am 15. August 2025 mit dem russischen Pr&#xE4;sidenten Wladimir Putin auf der Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/384x216_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/640x360_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/750x422_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/828x466_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/1080x608_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/1200x675_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/1920x1080_cmsv2_b4707db8-46fa-557a-a51a-f7ff0f0ee257-9619821.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Trump am 15. August 2025 mit dem russischen Pr&#xE4;sidenten Wladimir Putin auf der Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Europeans must therefore continue to engage proactively in these talks in order to safeguard both their own interests and those of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>What is at stake is not merely the terms on which the war may end, but the foundations of Europe\u2019s future security.<\/p>\n<p>This requires a shared understanding of Europe's \"red lines\": the conditions under which the conflict could be brought to an end, and the respective European and American roles in securing either a peace settlement or a ceasefire.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Europeans need to develop a clearer view of the basic contours of a future European security order. <\/p>\n<p>Europe is in the midst of its most profound upheaval since the end of the Cold War. Unlike in 1989\u201390, this moment is not defined by hopes of peace and stability, but by the return of hard power politics.<\/p>\n<p>Yet European defeatism would be misplaced. It is not the case that Europe has no cards to play.<\/p>\n<p>The more united Europe is in its words and actions \u2013 and the more effectively it mobilises its own strength \u2013 the greater the chances that its security and its future will not be negotiated or decided over its head.<\/p>\n<p><em>Dr Hans-Dieter Lucas is former permanent representative of Germany to NATO and former German ambassador to France, Monaco, Italy and San Marino.<\/em><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768925424,"updatedAt":1769420647,"publishedAt":1769420642,"firstPublishedAt":1769420642,"lastPublishedAt":1769420642,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/98\/21\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8e0b317e-9b45-5130-b7b9-7e92ca69ee8f-9619821.jpg","altText":"Trump during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026","caption":"Trump during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Evan Vucci","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":22480,"slug":"euroviews","urlSafeValue":"euroviews","title":"Euroviews","titleRaw":"Euroviews"},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump"},{"id":205,"slug":"nato","urlSafeValue":"nato","title":"NATO","titleRaw":"NATO"},{"id":10479,"slug":"german-army","urlSafeValue":"german-army","title":"German army","titleRaw":"German army"},{"id":11702,"slug":"davos","urlSafeValue":"davos","title":"Davos","titleRaw":"Davos"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Dr Hans-Dieter Lucas, former Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO and former German Ambassador to France, Monaco, Italy and San Marino.","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":1,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/26\/when-the-us-looks-elsewhere-what-happens-to-europe","lastModified":1769420642},{"id":2864118,"cid":9621924,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"bundeswehr leaflet drill","daletPyramidId":3960488,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany's military prepares test information leaflet drop using helium balloons","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany prepares test information leaflet drop using helium balloons","titleListing2":"German military prepares test operation for information leaflet drop using helium balloons","leadin":"According to the Saxony State Command, the 5th Operations Company with around 100 soldiers will be deployed to the state for the operation.","summary":"According to the Saxony State Command, the 5th Operations Company with around 100 soldiers will be deployed to the state for the operation.","keySentence":"","url":"germanys-military-prepares-test-information-leaflet-drop-using-helium-balloons","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/22\/germanys-military-prepares-test-information-leaflet-drop-using-helium-balloons","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's military is preparing to launch a test operation which will see it drop information leaflets using helium balloons to practice \"tactical direct communication procedures\" in the event of an emergency.\n\nThe leaflets issued by the Bundeswehr from 25 January to 4 February are intended to pass information to people living in an affected area who would otherwise be difficult to reach.\n\nAccording to the Saxony State Command, the 5th Operations Company with around 100 soldiers will be deployed to the state for the operation.\n\nIts aim is a \"stand-off product distribution,\" the distribution of material from the air or from a safe distance without direct contact with the affected area.\n\nThe helium balloons that will be used are capable of reaching heights of up to 5,000 metres. However, it is unclear exactly where they will take off from, as this depends on weather conditions and will be determined on a daily basis.\n\nNo further information on the operation has been shared for security reasons, except for the confirmation that major cities will be \"deliberately avoided.\"\n\nGermany's neighbouring countries have already been informed in advance in case balloons are blown into Poland or the Czech Republic due to weather conditions.\n\nAnyone who finds a leaflet printed with a symbol and information text during the \"Colder Iron 2026\" exercise can report the discovery via the contact address provided and then dispose of the leaflet.\n\nLeaflet drops in warzones\n\nLeaflet drops are often used in emergencies, either to communicate with people in exceptional situations or to spread propaganda.\n\nThe Israeli army's leaflet drops in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon advising evacuations are among the most recent examples.\n\nThe Reuters news agency reports that Israeli forces dropped leaflets in the south of Gaza on Wednesday for the first time since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began last October.\n\nDozens of Palestinian families were urged to evacuate immediately in English, Hebrew and Arabic. The leaflet drop was confirmed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).\n\nIn an article for the Lieber Institute West Point, Major Jon Griffiths, prosecuting officer at the British Service Prosecuting Authority and doctoral student at the University of Reading in England, categorises such measures in terms of international law. He argues that the Israeli armed forces fulfil their duty to take precautionary measures in the event of attacks with warnings such as leaflets, phone calls, text messages and media announcements.\n\nAlthough critics question the actual protective effect of these warnings, Griffiths emphasises that international humanitarian law stipulates a duty to act, not to succeed.\n\nThe decisive factor here is that warnings are timely, comprehensible and addressed to those affected. Precise details of the location and time are not absolutely necessary and could be omitted if military reasons or additional risks to civilians argue against this.\n\nWhether and how many people may have been \"saved\" by leaflet drops in Gaza is unclear, as there are no reliable figures.\n\nLeaflets as a means of psychological warfare\n\nIn addition to communication, leaflets can also be used for propaganda, such as in World War II. There, they were used to combine true information, exaggeration and disinformation in order to psychologically influence both soldiers and civilians.\n\nAt the time, the leaflets were often aimed at clearly defined target groups, sometimes even individual units and were dropped millions of times by aeroplane, balloon, artillery or rocket.\n\nIn particular, calls for surrender, detailed instructions to lay down arms or the depiction of a supposedly good life in captivity were sent to the opposing side by the warring parties with the help of the leaflets.\n\nAt Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University, 2,024 leaflets of this kind were exhibited, including a copy that phonetically reproduced the English sentence \"I surrender\" for German-speaking soldiers.\n\nHistorian Benedikt Sepp explained that due to the language barrier, many soldiers did not know how to surrender. This is why, for example, leaflets with the words \"Ei ss\u00f6rrender\" were distributed.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's military is preparing to launch a test operation which will see it drop information leaflets using helium balloons to practice \"tactical direct communication procedures\" in the event of an emergency. <\/p>\n<p>The leaflets issued by the Bundeswehr from 25 January to 4 February are intended to pass information to people living in an affected area who would otherwise be difficult to reach.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Saxony State Command, the 5th Operations Company with around 100 soldiers will be deployed to the state for the operation. <\/p>\n<p>Its aim is a \"stand-off product distribution,\" the distribution of material from the air or from a safe distance without direct contact with the affected area.<\/p>\n<p>The helium balloons that will be used are capable of reaching heights of up to 5,000 metres. However, it is unclear exactly where they will take off from, as this depends on weather conditions and will be determined on a daily basis. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//44//23//808x539_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg/" alt=\"Soldiers of the German forces as part of the &#x27;Quadriga 2025&#x27; military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/384x256_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/640x427_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/750x500_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/828x552_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/1080x720_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/1200x800_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/1920x1280_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Soldiers of the German forces as part of the &#x27;Quadriga 2025&#x27; military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>No further information on the operation has been shared for security reasons, except for the confirmation that major cities will be \"deliberately avoided.\"<\/p>\n<p>Germany's neighbouring countries have already been informed in advance in case balloons are blown into Poland or the Czech Republic due to weather conditions. <\/p>\n<p>Anyone who finds a leaflet printed with a symbol and information text during the \"Colder Iron 2026\" exercise can report the discovery via the contact address provided and then dispose of the leaflet.<\/p>\n<h2>Leaflet drops in warzones<\/h2>\n<p>Leaflet drops are often used in emergencies, either to communicate with people in exceptional situations or to spread propaganda.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli army's leaflet drops in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon advising evacuations are among the most recent examples.<\/p>\n<p>The Reuters news agency reports that Israeli forces dropped leaflets in the south of Gaza on Wednesday for the first time since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began last October. <\/p>\n<p>Dozens of Palestinian families were urged to evacuate immediately in English, Hebrew and Arabic. The leaflet drop was confirmed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//14//92//808x454_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg/" alt=\"Palestinians show leaflets dropped by an Israeli drone warning people, 20 October 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/384x216_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/640x360_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/750x422_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/828x466_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/1080x608_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/1200x675_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/14\/92\/1920x1080_cmsv2_f2d12087-127a-5946-9f03-4b860ee72c89-9621492.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Palestinians show leaflets dropped by an Israeli drone warning people, 20 October 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Jehad Alshrafi\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In an <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////lieber.westpoint.edu//warnings-precautionary-measure-gaza///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">article<\/a> for the Lieber Institute West Point, Major Jon Griffiths, prosecuting officer at the British Service Prosecuting Authority and doctoral student at the University of Reading in England, categorises such measures in terms of international law. He argues that the Israeli armed forces fulfil their duty to take precautionary measures in the event of attacks with warnings such as leaflets, phone calls, text messages and media announcements. <\/p>\n<p>Although critics question the actual protective effect of these warnings, Griffiths emphasises that international humanitarian law stipulates a duty to act, not to succeed.<\/p>\n<p>The decisive factor here is that warnings are timely, comprehensible and addressed to those affected. Precise details of the location and time are not absolutely necessary and could be omitted if military reasons or additional risks to civilians argue against this.<\/p>\n<p>Whether and how many people may have been \"saved\" by leaflet drops in Gaza is unclear, as there are no reliable figures.<\/p>\n<h2>Leaflets as a means of psychological warfare<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to communication, leaflets can also be used for propaganda, such as in World War II. There, they were used to combine true information, exaggeration and disinformation in order to psychologically influence both soldiers and civilians.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, the leaflets were often aimed at clearly defined target groups, sometimes even individual units and were dropped millions of times by aeroplane, balloon, artillery or rocket.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.771\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//19//24//808x622_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg/" alt=\"Leaflets are counted and stacked after coming off the press in the UK, 25 July, 1944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/384x296_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/640x493_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/750x578_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/828x638_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/1080x833_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/1200x925_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/1920x1480_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Leaflets are counted and stacked after coming off the press in the UK, 25 July, 1944<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In particular, calls for surrender, detailed instructions to lay down arms or the depiction of a supposedly good life in captivity were sent to the opposing side by the warring parties with the help of the leaflets.<\/p>\n<p>At <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.lmu.de//en//newsroom//news-overview//news//leaflets-in-the-second-world-war-ei-ssoerrender-9f9ab504.html/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University<\/a>, 2,024 leaflets of this kind were exhibited, including a copy that phonetically reproduced the English sentence \"I surrender\" for German-speaking soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>Historian Benedikt Sepp explained that due to the language barrier, many soldiers did not know how to surrender. This is why, for example, leaflets with the words \"Ei ss\u00f6rrender\" were distributed.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769067045,"updatedAt":1769073501,"publishedAt":1769073498,"firstPublishedAt":1769073498,"lastPublishedAt":1769073498,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e3407f1b-8a19-574d-ad75-fd018d54aaa9-9621924.jpg","altText":"Soldiers of the German forces as part of the 'Quadriga 2025' military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025","caption":"Soldiers of the German forces as part of the 'Quadriga 2025' military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1613,"height":907},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/19\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_23fcf75c-de63-52cf-b49e-be8631a2183b-9621924.jpg","altText":"Leaflets are counted and stacked after coming off the press in the UK, 25 July, 1944","caption":"Leaflets are counted and stacked after coming off the press in the UK, 25 July, 1944","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1542},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/44\/23\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7aa27d45-f402-5108-a6b4-38cbdf771fae-9494423.jpg","altText":"Soldiers of the German forces as part of the 'Quadriga 2025' military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025","caption":"Soldiers of the German forces as part of the 'Quadriga 2025' military drills in Rostock, 4 September, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2922,"urlSafeValue":"urbancik","title":"Johanna Urbancik","twitter":"johannaurbancik"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":7306,"slug":"military","urlSafeValue":"military","title":"Military","titleRaw":"Military"},{"id":10479,"slug":"german-army","urlSafeValue":"german-army","title":"German army","titleRaw":"German army"},{"id":12370,"slug":"crisis-management","urlSafeValue":"crisis-management","title":"Crisis Management","titleRaw":"Crisis Management"},{"id":14618,"slug":"propaganda","urlSafeValue":"propaganda","title":"Propaganda","titleRaw":"Propaganda"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":3}],"related":[{"id":2861471},{"id":2863339},{"id":2862421}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9621492,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/22\/germanys-military-prepares-test-information-leaflet-drop-using-helium-balloons","lastModified":1769073498},{"id":2863981,"cid":9620900,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"PRO RUSSIAN GROUP IN DE ARRESTED","daletPyramidId":3951174,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Arrests made in Berlin and Brandenburg as police target pro-Russian networks ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Arrests made in Germany as police target pro-Russian networks","titleListing2":"Arrests made in Berlin and Brandenburg as police target pro-Russian networks ","leadin":"German authorities have repeatedly warned about agents supposedly recruited online to carry out tasks such as taking photos of key industrial and military sites.","summary":"German authorities have repeatedly warned about agents supposedly recruited online to carry out tasks such as taking photos of key industrial and military sites.","keySentence":"","url":"arrests-made-in-berlin-and-brandenburg-as-police-target-pro-russian-networks","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/21\/arrests-made-in-berlin-and-brandenburg-as-police-target-pro-russian-networks","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A German-Ukrainian woman was arrested in Berlin on Wednesday on suspicion of spying for Russia, including by passing on information on military aid to Ukraine, prosecutors said.\n\nThe suspect, partially named as Ilona W., had allegedly maintained intelligence contacts with the Russian embassy in Berlin since November 2023 or earlier, prosecutors said in a statement.\n\nIlona W. \"compiled background information on participants in high-profile political events and gathered information on arms industry sites, drone tests and planned deliveries of drones to Ukraine,\" prosecutors said.\n\nShe also allegedly used personal acquaintances who previously worked for Germany's defence industry to gather information for Russian intelligence.\n\nProsecutors said she helped her Russian handler to use a false identity to attend political events in Berlin and establish useful contacts.\n\nThe Russian embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond to inquiries from AFP on Wednesday.\n\nTwo other unnamed suspects remain at large, according to prosecutors. The homes of Ilona W. and the other two suspects were raided by police on Wednesday morning.\n\nThe arrest comes as Germany and other governments across Europe are on high alert over instances of suspected Russian espionage, drone surveillance and sabotage activities such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.\n\nMoscow has repeatedly denied those allegations and instead accused the West of trying to undermine and destroy Russia.\n\nEfforts by German authorities to root out suspected Russian spies have increased since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.\n\nGermany is a major supplier of military aid to Ukraine and is among the European NATO powers that are sharply increasing defence spending to deter Russia.\n\nThe country is also a key logistical hub for NATO forces in Europe.\n\nGerman authorities have repeatedly warned about agents supposedly recruited online to carry out tasks such as taking photos of key industrial and military sites.\n\nMore than \u20ac14,000 to pro-Russian militias\n\nAlso on Wednesday, German police arrested two men, a Russian and a German citizen, for allegedly funnelling cash and equipment to pro-Russian separatist militias fighting in eastern Ukraine.\n\nOne of the defendants, Suren A., is accused of transferring association funds totalling more than \u20ac14,000 to the militias and financing transport.\n\nThe second, Falko H., is said to have travelled to the Donbas several times, held talks with representatives of the groups there, coordinated deliveries and helped distribute the goods on site.\n\nThe two men are to be brought before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice on Thursday, who will decide whether they should be remanded in custody.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A German-Ukrainian woman was arrested in Berlin on Wednesday on suspicion of spying for Russia, including by passing on information on military aid to Ukraine, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n<p>The suspect, partially named as Ilona W., had allegedly maintained intelligence contacts with the Russian embassy in Berlin since November 2023 or earlier, prosecutors said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Ilona W. \"compiled background information on participants in high-profile political events and gathered information on arms industry sites, drone tests and planned deliveries of drones to Ukraine,\" prosecutors said.<\/p>\n<p>She also allegedly used personal acquaintances who previously worked for Germany's defence industry to gather information for Russian intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said she helped her Russian handler to use a false identity to attend political events in Berlin and establish useful contacts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//09//00//808x539_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg/" alt=\"A woman walks by a building destroyed by a Russian strike in Kupiansk, 20 February, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/384x256_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/640x427_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/750x500_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/828x552_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1080x720_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1200x800_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1920x1280_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A woman walks by a building destroyed by a Russian strike in Kupiansk, 20 February, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The Russian embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond to inquiries from AFP on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Two other unnamed suspects remain at large, according to prosecutors. The homes of Ilona W. and the other two suspects were raided by police on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<p>The arrest comes as Germany and other governments across Europe are on high alert over instances of suspected Russian espionage, drone surveillance and sabotage activities such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow has repeatedly denied those allegations and instead accused the West of trying to undermine and destroy Russia.<\/p>\n<p>Efforts by German authorities to root out suspected Russian spies have increased since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Germany is a major supplier of military aid to Ukraine and is among the European NATO powers that are sharply increasing defence spending to deter Russia.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//09//00//808x539_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg/" alt=\"People walk out from an underground crossing decorated with a United Russia party poster in Donetsk, 7 September, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/384x256_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/640x427_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/750x500_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/828x552_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1080x720_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1200x800_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/1920x1280_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">People walk out from an underground crossing decorated with a United Russia party poster in Donetsk, 7 September, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The country is also a key logistical hub for NATO forces in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>German authorities have repeatedly warned about agents supposedly recruited online to carry out tasks such as taking photos of key industrial and military sites.<\/p>\n<h2>More than \u20ac14,000 to pro-Russian militias<\/h2>\n<p>Also on Wednesday, German police arrested two men, a Russian and a German citizen, for allegedly funnelling cash and equipment to pro-Russian separatist militias fighting in eastern Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>One of the defendants, Suren A., is accused of transferring association funds totalling more than \u20ac14,000 to the militias and financing transport.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//16//polish-president-slams-eu-as-a-fading-star-while-warning-of-russian-imperialism/">Polish president slams EU as a 'fading star' while warning of Russian imperialism<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//13//estonia-bans-russians-who-fought-in-ukraine-from-entering-country-interior-ministry-says/">Estonia bans Russians who fought in Ukraine from entering country, interior ministry says<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The second, Falko H., is said to have travelled to the Donbas several times, held talks with representatives of the groups there, coordinated deliveries and helped distribute the goods on site.<\/p>\n<p>The two men are to be brought before the investigating judge of the Federal Court of Justice on Thursday, who will decide whether they should be remanded in custody.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768997337,"updatedAt":1769000127,"publishedAt":1768998745,"firstPublishedAt":1768998745,"lastPublishedAt":1769000126,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Photo by Max Fleischmann on Unsplash","altText":"Two men were arrested in Brandenburg","callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"caption":"Two men were arrested in Brandenburg","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_de74d7b6-74a0-5280-904c-ee2e93aeaac6-9620900.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":911},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"A woman walks by a building destroyed by a Russian strike in Kupiansk, 20 February, 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"A woman walks by a building destroyed by a Russian strike in Kupiansk, 20 February, 2023","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_57d99584-ce26-5182-a6e7-61b412b3f43b-9620900.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"People walk out from an underground crossing decorated with a United Russia party poster in Donetsk, 7 September, 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"People walk out from an underground crossing decorated with a United Russia party poster in Donetsk, 7 September, 2023","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/00\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_74987ddb-c3db-5cff-976a-c7f0ce72d485-9620900.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"sonja.issel@euronews.com","twitter":null,"id":3520,"title":"Sonja Issel"},{"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","twitter":null,"id":2972,"title":"Gavin Blackburn"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"},{"urlSafeValue":"russia","titleRaw":"Russia","id":239,"title":"Russia","slug":"russia"},{"urlSafeValue":"ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine","id":288,"title":"Ukraine","slug":"ukraine"},{"urlSafeValue":"espionage","titleRaw":"Espionage","id":8133,"title":"Espionage","slug":"espionage"},{"urlSafeValue":"police","titleRaw":"Police","id":11642,"title":"Police","slug":"police"},{"urlSafeValue":"arrest","titleRaw":"Arrest","id":8199,"title":"Arrest","slug":"arrest"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2863690},{"id":2863441},{"id":2863087}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AFP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1749,"urlSafeValue":"brandenburg","title":"Brandenburg"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9620746,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/21\/arrests-made-in-berlin-and-brandenburg-as-police-target-pro-russian-networks","lastModified":1769000126},{"id":2840529,"cid":9522078,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"chernov berlin film ","daletPyramidId":3073189,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"An Oscar-winning lens on Ukraine's battle for the strategic village of Andriivka","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"An Oscar-winning lens on Ukraine's fight for the village of Andriivka","titleListing2":"An Oscar-winning lens on the fight for Ukraine's village Andriivka","leadin":"Oscar-winning filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, known for his documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, again presents the brutal face of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in his latest film, 2,000 Metres to Andriivka. It's also Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards.","summary":"Oscar-winning filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, known for his documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, again presents the brutal face of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in his latest film, 2,000 Metres to Andriivka. It's also Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards.","keySentence":"","url":"an-oscar-winning-lens-on-ukraines-battle-for-the-strategic-village-of-andriivka","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/01\/20\/an-oscar-winning-lens-on-ukraines-battle-for-the-strategic-village-of-andriivka","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"At the start of his latest documentary, 2,000 Metres to Andriivka, Ukrainian director and filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov says the scenes feel as if they're from another planet.\n\n\"It's not another planet,\" Chernov adds. \"It's the middle of Europe.\"\n\nThe documentary is Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards.\n\nThe film follows Ukraine's counter-offensive, which began in June 2023 and lasted around six months. Ukrainian troops were trying to retake villages and territory, particularly in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions \u2013 among them Andriivka, near the fiercely contested and now devastated city of Bakhmut.\n\nChernov and his colleague Oleksandr Babenko embedded with a platoon from the Third Assault Brigade, combining the soldiers' helmet-cam footage with their own on-the-ground reporting.\n\nThe platoon's mission was to liberate the almost completely destroyed village of Andriivka \u2013 a task that meant advancing some 2,000 metres through a fortified forest riddled with mines.\n\n'Gagarin'\n\nThe film captures the Ukrainian forces' advance \u2013 and the heavy price paid for every single metre gained. Viewers get to know the soldiers and see the brutal face of war through their eyes.\n\nOne assault is shown through the experience of a young soldier with the call sign \"Gagarin\". Over the radio, you can hear the men updating each other on their position. Gunfire, shouts and explosions make the bloody cost of the platoon's assault against the Russians painfully tangible.\n\nAfter a few minutes with Gagarin, the screen fades to black and cuts to one of his comrades behind him, shaking the young soldier and urging him to move. But Gagarin no longer responds \u2013 he's been killed by Russian fire.\n\nAt his funeral in western Ukraine, the entire village turns out. People kneel along the roadside to pay their final respects to the fallen soldier. \"Our heroes are killed,\" his mother said.\n\nBy late 2023, Gagarin's funeral was the 76th held in the small village in western Ukraine.\n\nChernov speaks with soldiers \u2013 young and old \u2013 who tell him about their lives before Russia's full-scale invasion, and why they chose to volunteer. One of them tells him: \"If there's a war in your country, you shouldn\u2019t refuse to serve.\"\n\nChernov himself acknowledges that Ukrainians face a choice \u2013 to defend their country with a weapon, or by other means. He himself chose a camera, to document the war.\n\nSpeaking in Berlin, he said the film also deals with the distance \u2013 both physical and emotional \u2013 between Europe and Ukraine. \"You know, the Russians like to say on state TV that it would take a Russian tank just 24 hours to reach Berlin,\" Chernov said.\n\n\"I've seen many of those tanks already burnt out. Alongside the [symbol of support for Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine] 'Z', they like to paint the words 'To Berlin'. It might take 24 hours \u2013 but only if Ukraine falls,\" he said.\n\nAs early as 2015, reports emerged that Russia had been marking its rockets, helicopters and other military equipment with the slogan \"To Berlin\". Alongside \"For Stalin\", the phrase harks back to the Second World War, when the Red Army under Joseph Stalin marched all the way to Berlin.\n\nIn the autumn of 2023, what remained of the village was finally liberated by the 3rd Assault Brigade. No civilians live there anymore \u2013 they were either killed by Russian forces or forced to flee.\n\nChernov and Babenko followed a platoon and its commander, Fedya, whose goal was to raise the Ukrainian flag over the liberated village.\n\nAfter the brutal fighting, they reached a cellar, where Fedya raised the Ukrainian flag over the ruins of a house.\n\nAccording to the Ukrainian open-source mapping project DeepState, Andriivka has since been recaptured by Russian forces, despite the successes of Ukraine's counteroffensive.\n\nThe village, now nothing more than rubble and devoid of life, is again occupied by Russia.\n\nBetween duty and choice\n\nThe documentary by Oscar-winner Chernov, screened at the North Rhine-Westphalia Embassy in Berlin, serves as a \"timestamp of distance.\"\n\nIt highlights not only the physical distance the Ukrainian soldiers must cover through the forest to liberate the village of Andriivka, which was completely destroyed by Russian forces, but also the psychological and geopolitical distance separating Ukraine from its European neighbours.\n\nHundreds of kilometres away, in Germany, there is ongoing debate over whether mandatory military service should be introduced to help defend the country. While a majority of young people support voluntary service, many are opposed.\n\nIn Ukraine, by contrast, at the start of the full-scale invasion, many have volunteered \u2013 often driven by a clear sense that defending their country is a duty when war is raging at home.\n\n2,000 Metres to Andriivka is Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards. The final five nominees will be announced on Thursday 22 January.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>At the start of his latest documentary, <em>2,000 Metres to Andriivka,<\/em> Ukrainian director and filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov says the scenes feel as if they're from another planet.<\/p>\n<p>\"It's not another planet,\" Chernov adds. \"It's the middle of Europe.\" <\/p>\n<p>The documentary is Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards.<\/p>\n<p>The film follows Ukraine's counter-offensive, which began in June 2023 and lasted around six months. Ukrainian troops were trying to retake villages and territory, particularly in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions \u2013 among them Andriivka, near the fiercely contested and now devastated city of Bakhmut. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//03//12//ukraine-wins-its-first-oscar-for-war-documentary-20-days-in-mariupol/">Ukraine wins its first Oscar for war documentary '20 Days in Mariupol'<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Chernov and his colleague Oleksandr Babenko embedded with a platoon from the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//03//07//intense-training-draws-hundreds-to-ukraines-third-assault-brigade/">Third Assault Brigade<\/a>, combining the soldiers' helmet-cam footage with their own on-the-ground reporting.<\/p>\n<p>The platoon's mission was to liberate the almost completely destroyed village of Andriivka \u2013 a task that meant advancing some 2,000 metres through a fortified forest riddled with mines.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//20//78//808x454_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg/" alt=\"Chernov (right) and co-producer Babenko together during the Sundance Film Festival on 23 January 2025, in Park City, Utah\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1080x608_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Chernov (right) and co-producer Babenko together during the Sundance Film Festival on 23 January 2025, in Park City, Utah<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Chris Pizzello\/2025 Invision<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>'Gagarin'<\/h2>\n<p>The film captures the Ukrainian forces' advance \u2013 and the heavy price paid for every single metre gained. Viewers get to know the soldiers and see the brutal face of war through their eyes.<\/p>\n<p>One assault is shown through the experience of a young soldier with the call sign \"Gagarin\". Over the radio, you can hear the men updating each other on their position. Gunfire, shouts and explosions make the bloody cost of the platoon's assault against the Russians painfully tangible.<\/p>\n<p>After a few minutes with Gagarin, the screen fades to black and cuts to one of his comrades behind him, shaking the young soldier and urging him to move. But Gagarin no longer responds \u2013 he's been killed by Russian fire.<\/p>\n<p>At his funeral in western Ukraine, the entire village turns out. People kneel along the roadside to pay their final respects to the fallen soldier. \"Our heroes are killed,\" his mother said.<\/p>\n<p>By late 2023, Gagarin's funeral was the 76th held in the small village in western Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Chernov speaks with soldiers \u2013 young and old \u2013 who tell him about their lives before Russia's full-scale invasion, and why they chose to volunteer. One of them tells him: \"If there's a war in your country, you shouldn\u2019t refuse to serve.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//20//78//808x454_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg/" alt=\"Ukrainian soldier &#x2018;Bogun&#x2019; from the 3rd Assault Brigade on 16 September 2023, in a bunker on the front line in Andriivka\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1080x608_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Ukrainian soldier &#x2018;Bogun&#x2019; from the 3rd Assault Brigade on 16 September 2023, in a bunker on the front line in Andriivka<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Chernov himself acknowledges that Ukrainians face a choice \u2013 to defend their country with a weapon, or by other means. He himself chose a camera, to document the war. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking in Berlin, he said the film also deals with the distance \u2013 both physical and emotional \u2013 between Europe and Ukraine. \"You know, the Russians like to say on state TV that it would take a Russian tank just 24 hours to reach Berlin,\" Chernov said. <\/p>\n<p>\"I've seen many of those tanks already burnt out. Alongside the [symbol of support for Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine] 'Z', they like to paint the words 'To Berlin'. It might take 24 hours \u2013 but only if Ukraine falls,\" he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//20//78//808x454_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg/" alt=\"A family walks past a portrait of the Russian president, a sign reading &#x2018;Go Russia!&#x2019; and the letter Z in St. Petersburg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1080x608_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A family walks past a portrait of the Russian president, a sign reading &#x2018;Go Russia!&#x2019; and the letter Z in St. Petersburg<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP\/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>As early as 2015, reports emerged that Russia had been marking its rockets, helicopters and other military equipment with the slogan \"To Berlin\". Alongside \"For Stalin\", the phrase harks back to the Second World War, when the Red Army under Joseph Stalin marched all the way to Berlin. <\/p>\n<p>In the autumn of 2023, what remained of the village was finally liberated by the 3rd Assault Brigade. No civilians live there anymore \u2013 they were either killed by Russian forces or forced to flee. <\/p>\n<p>Chernov and Babenko followed a platoon and its commander, Fedya, whose goal was to raise the Ukrainian flag over the liberated village.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//20//78//808x454_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg/" alt=\"A Ukrainian flag next to a rifle in a bunker at a frontline position in Andrijiwka on 16 September 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1080x608_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A Ukrainian flag next to a rifle in a bunker at a frontline position in Andrijiwka on 16 September 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>After the brutal fighting, they reached a cellar, where Fedya raised the Ukrainian flag over the ruins of a house. <\/p>\n<p>According to the Ukrainian open-source mapping project DeepState, Andriivka has since been recaptured by Russian forces, despite the successes of Ukraine's counteroffensive. <\/p>\n<p>The village, now nothing more than rubble and devoid of life, is again occupied by Russia.<\/p>\n<h2>Between duty and choice<\/h2>\n<p>The documentary by Oscar-winner Chernov, screened at the North Rhine-Westphalia Embassy in Berlin, serves as a \"timestamp of distance.\" <\/p>\n<p>It highlights not only the physical distance the Ukrainian soldiers must cover through the forest to liberate the village of Andriivka, which was completely destroyed by Russian forces, but also the psychological and geopolitical distance separating Ukraine from its European neighbours.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//20//78//808x454_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg/" alt=\"Ukraine 3rd Assault Brigade sergeant &#x22;Fedya&#x22; talks on the radio at the frontline a few kilometers from Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/384x216_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/640x360_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/750x422_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/828x466_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1080x608_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1200x675_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/1920x1080_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Ukraine 3rd Assault Brigade sergeant &#x22;Fedya&#x22; talks on the radio at the frontline a few kilometers from Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Hundreds of kilometres away, in Germany, there is ongoing <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//10//15//press-conference-cancelled-as-german-coalition-disagrees-over-military-service/">debate over whether <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//08//27//german-government-accepts-proposal-to-encourage-voluntary-military-service/">mandatory military<\/a> service should be introduced to help defend the country. While a majority of young people support voluntary service, many are opposed.<\/p>\n<p>In Ukraine, by contrast, at the start of the full-scale invasion, many have volunteered \u2013 often driven by a clear sense that defending their country is a duty when war is raging at home.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2,000 Metres to Andriivka<\/em><\/strong> is Ukraine's entry for the 2026 Best International Film at the Academy Awards. The final five nominees will be announced on Thursday 22 January.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761122332,"updatedAt":1768905062,"publishedAt":1768904885,"firstPublishedAt":1768904885,"lastPublishedAt":1768904885,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_86755747-ff52-59d4-9a35-d823f819e4db-9522076.jpg","altText":"Ukrainian servicemen from the 3rd Assault Brigade at frontline positions near Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","caption":"Ukrainian servicemen from the 3rd Assault Brigade at frontline positions near Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0ccec251-34ad-5393-9a69-fcd6a80d4b0a-9522078.jpg","altText":"Ukrainian serviceman \"Bogun\", from the 3rd Assault Brigade takes cover in a bunker at the frontline in Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","caption":"Ukrainian serviceman \"Bogun\", from the 3rd Assault Brigade takes cover in a bunker at the frontline in Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_86c30779-8b44-5828-b21d-6dfaa31e0c14-9522078.jpg","altText":"Ukraine 3rd Assault Brigade sergeant \"Fedya\" talks on the radio at the frontline a few kilometers from Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","caption":"Ukraine 3rd Assault Brigade sergeant \"Fedya\" talks on the radio at the frontline a few kilometers from Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3f6d6fff-4bf9-5365-a481-69af5cb8c02d-9522078.jpg","altText":"Chernov, right, and co-producer Babenko together during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Park City, Utah","caption":"Chernov, right, and co-producer Babenko together during the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Park City, Utah","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Chris Pizzello\/2025 Invision","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d601f0c2-414c-55ec-8df7-4321f455ad6e-9522078.jpg","altText":"A Ukrainian flag is seen next to a rifle inside a bunker at a frontline position in Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","caption":"A Ukrainian flag is seen next to a rifle inside a bunker at a frontline position in Andriivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Mstyslav Chernov\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/20\/78\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_07cffde2-5bdb-550d-8b02-5416563665a1-9522078.jpg","altText":"A family walk past a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign reading 'Go Russia!' and the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian military, in St. Petersburg","caption":"A family walk past a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign reading 'Go Russia!' and the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian military, in St. Petersburg","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2922,"urlSafeValue":"urbancik","title":"Johanna Urbancik","twitter":"johannaurbancik"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":322,"slug":"cinema","urlSafeValue":"cinema","title":"Cinema","titleRaw":"Cinema"},{"id":26330,"slug":"ukraine-russia-border-crisis","urlSafeValue":"ukraine-russia-border-crisis","title":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine ","titleRaw":"Russia's invasion of Ukraine "},{"id":288,"slug":"ukraine","urlSafeValue":"ukraine","title":"Ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine"},{"id":4261,"slug":"donetsk","urlSafeValue":"donetsk","title":"Donetsk","titleRaw":"Donetsk"},{"id":8623,"slug":"oscars","urlSafeValue":"oscars","title":"Oscars","titleRaw":"Oscars"},{"id":7586,"slug":"documentary","urlSafeValue":"documentary","title":"Documentary","titleRaw":"Documentary"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":5},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2511716},{"id":2275692},{"id":2824566}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"cinema","urlSafeValue":"cinema","title":"Cinema","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-series\/cinema"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-series","urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture Series","url":"\/culture\/culture-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":55,"urlSafeValue":"culture-series","title":"Culture series"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2026\/01\/20\/an-oscar-winning-lens-on-ukraines-battle-for-the-strategic-village-of-andriivka","lastModified":1768904885},{"id":2863638,"cid":9619165,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC5 GERMANY NOTHERN LIGHTS","daletPyramidId":3935776,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Northern lights shine in the night sky over Germany","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Northern lights illuminate Germany from Hamburg to Munich","leadin":"The northern lights illuminated Germany in pink and green hues, visible from Hamburg to Munich, due to a strong geomagnetic solar storm.","summary":"The northern lights illuminated Germany in pink and green hues, visible from Hamburg to Munich, due to a strong geomagnetic solar storm.","keySentence":"","url":"northern-lights-shine-in-the-night-sky-over-germany","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/20\/northern-lights-shine-in-the-night-sky-over-germany","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The northern lights lit up the sky over many parts of Germany overnight into Tuesday.\n\nThe German Weather Service (DWD) said the rare display was linked to a strong geomagnetic solar storm that disturbed Earth\u2019s magnetic field.\n\nAccording to the DWD, the storm\u2019s intensity allowed the aurora to be seen as far south as the Alps, an uncommon sight at these latitudes.\n\nPhotos shared on social media showed streaks of colour above city skylines and rural fields alike, with experts noting that the spectacle could repeat in the coming nights if solar activity remains high.\n\nDue to the strength of the solar storm, the lights could be seen as far away as the Alps during the night, German news agency dpa reported.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The northern lights lit up the sky over many parts of Germany overnight into Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The German Weather Service (DWD) said the rare display was linked to a strong geomagnetic solar storm that disturbed Earth\u2019s magnetic field. <\/p>\n<p>According to the DWD, the storm\u2019s intensity allowed the aurora to be seen as far south as the Alps, an uncommon sight at these latitudes. <\/p>\n<p>Photos shared on social media showed streaks of colour above city skylines and rural fields alike, with experts noting that the spectacle could repeat in the coming nights if solar activity remains high.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the strength of the solar storm, the lights could be seen as far away as the Alps during the night, German news agency dpa reported.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768902018,"updatedAt":1768904598,"publishedAt":1768904499,"firstPublishedAt":1768904499,"lastPublishedAt":1768904499,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/91\/65\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_159be2b8-def3-54fd-a730-7cee3d5cfda2-9619165.jpg","altText":"The northern lights lit up the sky over many parts of Germany overnight into Tuesday, 2Jan.20, 2026","caption":"The northern lights lit up the sky over many parts of Germany overnight into Tuesday, 2Jan.20, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"screenshot from an AP video","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":14214,"slug":"aurora-borealis","urlSafeValue":"aurora-borealis","title":"Aurora Borealis ","titleRaw":"Aurora Borealis 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GERMANY ICEBERGS","daletPyramidId":3933834,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Giant ice blocks transform Elbe river in northern Germany","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Metre-high icebergs gather along River Elbe in northern Germany","leadin":"Giant blocks of ice give the Elbe river an almost Arctic appearance 50 kilometres upstream from Hamburg in northern Germany.","summary":"Giant blocks of ice give the Elbe river an almost Arctic appearance 50 kilometres upstream from Hamburg in northern Germany.","keySentence":"","url":"giant-ice-blocks-transform-elbe-river-in-northern-germany","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/20\/giant-ice-blocks-transform-elbe-river-in-northern-germany","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"People in northern Germany flocked to the Elbe river Monday to marvel at giant Arctic-style ice floes that have clogged up a stretch of the waterway, creating a headache for shipping but delighting visitors.\n\nThe ice formed upstream in recent weeks during a cold snap that saw temperatures plummet to minus 15 degrees Celsius.\n\nIcebreakers have since smashed through the ice, sending the floes downstream where they accumulated at a barrage at Geesthacht, near the river-port of Hamburg, said Tilman Treber from the federal navigation authority.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>People in northern Germany flocked to the Elbe river Monday to marvel at giant Arctic-style ice floes that have clogged up a stretch of the waterway, creating a headache for shipping but delighting visitors.<\/p>\n<p>The ice formed upstream in recent weeks during a cold snap that saw temperatures plummet to minus 15 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n<p>Icebreakers have since smashed through the ice, sending the floes downstream where they accumulated at a barrage at Geesthacht, near the river-port of Hamburg, said Tilman Treber from the federal navigation authority.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768890708,"updatedAt":1768899562,"publishedAt":1768899441,"firstPublishedAt":1768899441,"lastPublishedAt":1768899441,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/89\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_163c6da4-80a1-54a1-b041-2d249d87187b-9618903.jpg","altText":"A woman photographs the formation of icebergs along the banks of the Elbe River in Germany, Jan. 19, 2026.","caption":"A woman photographs the formation of icebergs along the banks of the Elbe River in Germany, Jan. 19, 2026.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Screenshot from an AP video.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":17856,"slug":"extreme-weather","urlSafeValue":"extreme-weather","title":"Extreme weather","titleRaw":"Extreme 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are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker (AP)","daletPyramidId":3925267,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Sharks' teeth could grow weaker as ocean acidifies, study shows","titleListing2":"Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker","leadin":"Scientists have linked the burning of fossil fuels to the ongoing acidification of the ocean.","summary":"Scientists have linked the burning of fossil fuels to the ongoing acidification of the ocean.","keySentence":"","url":"sharks-are-famous-for-fearsome-teeth-but-ocean-acidification-could-make-them-weaker","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2026\/01\/19\/sharks-are-famous-for-fearsome-teeth-but-ocean-acidification-could-make-them-weaker","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.\n\nThat is the takeaway from a study performed by a group of German scientists who tested the effects of a more acidic ocean on sharks' teeth. Scientists have linked human activities including the burning of coal, oil and gas to the ongoing acidification of the ocean.\n\nAs oceans become increasingly acidic, sharks' teeth could become structurally weaker and more likely to break, the scientists found. That could change the big fishes' status at the top of the ocean's food chain, they wrote.\n\nThe ocean will not become populated with toothless sharks overnight, says the study's lead author, Maximilian Baum, a marine biologist at Heinrich Heine University D\u00fcsseldorf. But the possibility of weaker teeth is a new hazard to sharks that already face pollution, overfishing, climate change and other threats, Baum says.\n\n\u201cWe found there is a corrosion effect on sharks' teeth,\u201d Baum says. \u201cTheir whole ecological success in the ocean as the rulers of other populations could be in danger.\u201d\n\nChanges in sharks' bite could come gradually\n\nThe researchers, who published their work in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, performed their study as ocean acidification has become an increasing focus of conservation scientists.\n\nAcidification occurs when oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from the air, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The ocean is expected to become almost 10 times more acidic than it currently is by the year 2300, the German scientists write.\n\nThe scientists performed their study by collecting more than 600 discarded teeth from an aquarium that houses blacktip reef sharks, a species of shark that lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans and typically grows to about 1.7 metres long. They then exposed the teeth to water with the acidity of today and the projected acidity of 2300.\n\nThe teeth exposed to the more acidic water became much more damaged, with cracks and holes, root corrosion and degradation to the structure of the tooth itself, the scientists write.\n\nThe results \u201cshow that ocean acidification will have significant effects on the morphological properties of teeth,\u201d the scientists write.\n\nSharks are still the ocean's top predator\n\nShark teeth are \u201chighly developed weapons built for cutting flesh, not resisting ocean acid,\u201d Baum says. Sharks will go through thousands of teeth in a lifetime, and the teeth are critical for allowing sharks to regulate populations of fish and marine mammals in the oceans.\n\nMany sharks are also facing extinction jeopardy, as more than a third of shark species are currently threatened with extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Thankfully, sharks have a number of factors that can help them stave off the negative effects of ocean acidification, says Nick Whitney, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.\n\nWhitney, who was not involved in the study, says the scientists' work on the shark teeth was sound. However, because shark teeth develop inside the mouth tissue of sharks, they will be shielded from changes in ocean chemistry for a time, he says.\n\nAnd history has taught us that sharks are survivors, Whitney says.\n\n\u201cThey've been around for 400 million years and have evolved and adapted to all kinds of changing conditions,\u201d he says.\n\nOcean acidification could be a concern, but overfishing remains the biggest threat to sharks, says Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.\n\nAcidification will bring many ocean changes\n\nNaylor and others caution that ocean acidification is indeed going to pose many threats to the ocean beyond just sharks. Ocean acidification is expected to be especially harmful to shellfish such as oysters and clams because it will make it more difficult for them to build shells, NOAA has said.\n\nIt could also make fish scales weaker and more brittle. It's tough to say now whether that could ultimately benefit the sharks that feed on them, says Naylor.\n\nFor now, ocean acidification can't be disregarded as a threat facing sharks, Baum says. Some shark species could come close to extinction in the coming years and ocean acidification could be one of the factors causing that to happen, he says.\n\n\u201cThe evolutionary success of sharks is dependent on their perfectly developed teeth,\u201d Baum says.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean's chemistry could put those weapons at risk.<\/p>\n<p>That is the takeaway from a study performed by a group of German scientists who tested the effects of a more <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//09//24//planetary-health-check-reveals-oceans-have-breached-critical-acidification-boundary/">acidic ocean<\/strong><\/a> on sharks' teeth. Scientists have linked human activities including the burning of <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//13//world-has-virtually-exhausted-its-carbon-budget-as-fossil-fuel-emissions-reach-all-time-hi/">coal, oil and gas<\/strong><\/a> to the ongoing acidification of the ocean.<\/p>\n<p>As oceans become increasingly acidic, sharks' teeth could become structurally weaker and more likely to break, the scientists found. That could change the big fishes' status at the top of the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//09//deep-sea-mining-waste-could-disrupt-marine-food-chains-and-threaten-global-fisheries-study/">ocean's food chain<\/strong><\/a>, they wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The ocean will not become populated with toothless sharks overnight, says the study's lead author, Maximilian Baum, a marine biologist at Heinrich Heine University D\u00fcsseldorf. But the possibility of weaker teeth is a new hazard to sharks that already face <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//18//existential-threat-how-small-doses-of-ocean-plastic-are-killing-off-marine-life/">pollution, overfishing, climate change and other threats, Baum says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe found there is a corrosion effect on sharks' teeth,\u201d Baum says. \u201cTheir whole ecological success in the ocean as the rulers of other populations could be in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2026//01//05//how-the-oceans-coral-reefs-could-be-the-secret-weapon-to-tackle-food-insecurity-around-the/">How the oceans\u2019 coral reefs could be a secret weapon to tackle food insecurity around the world<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2026//01//17//historic-high-seas-treaty-comes-into-force-but-is-it-enough-to-save-our-oceans/">/u2018Historic/u2019 High Seas Treaty comes into force. But is it enough to save our oceans?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Changes in sharks' bite could come gradually<\/h2>\n<p>The researchers, who published their work in the journal <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.frontiersin.org//journals//marine-science//articles//10.3389//fmars.2025.1597592//full/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Frontiers in Marine Science<\/strong><\/a>, performed their study as ocean acidification has become an increasing focus of conservation scientists.<\/p>\n<p>Acidification occurs when oceans absorb more carbon dioxide from the air, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The ocean is expected to become almost 10 times more acidic than it currently is by the year 2300, the German scientists write.<\/p>\n<p>The scientists performed their study by collecting more than 600 discarded teeth from an aquarium that houses blacktip reef sharks, a species of shark that lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans and typically grows to about 1.7 metres long. They then exposed the teeth to water with the acidity of today and the projected acidity of 2300.<\/p>\n<p>The teeth exposed to the more acidic water became much more damaged, with cracks and holes, root corrosion and degradation to the structure of the tooth itself, the scientists write.<\/p>\n<p>The results \u201cshow that ocean acidification will have significant effects on the morphological properties of teeth,\u201d the scientists write.<\/p>\n<h2>Sharks are still the ocean's top predator<\/h2>\n<p>Shark teeth are \u201chighly developed weapons built for cutting flesh, not resisting ocean acid,\u201d Baum says. Sharks will go through thousands of teeth in a lifetime, and the teeth are critical for allowing sharks to regulate populations of fish and marine mammals in the oceans.<\/p>\n<p>Many sharks are also facing <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//10//24//plant-and-animal-extinctions-slow-but-experts-warn-human-activity-still-poses-significant-/">extinction jeopardy, as more than a third of shark species are currently threatened with extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Thankfully, sharks have a number of factors that can help them stave off the negative effects of ocean acidification, says Nick Whitney, senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.<\/p>\n<p>Whitney, who was not involved in the study, says the scientists' work on the shark teeth was sound. However, because shark teeth develop inside the mouth tissue of sharks, they will be shielded from changes in ocean chemistry for a time, he says.<\/p>\n<p>And history has taught us that <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//07//05//how-did-scientists-discover-new-anti-ageing-secrets-from-the-worlds-longest-living-vertebr/">sharks are survivors, Whitney says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey've been around for 400 million years and have evolved and adapted to all kinds of changing conditions,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Ocean acidification could be a concern, but overfishing remains the biggest threat to sharks, says Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.<\/p>\n<h2>Acidification will bring many ocean changes<\/h2>\n<p>Naylor and others caution that ocean acidification is indeed going to pose many threats to the ocean beyond just sharks. Ocean acidification is expected to be especially harmful to shellfish such as oysters and clams because it will make it more difficult for them to build shells, NOAA has said.<\/p>\n<p>It could also make fish scales weaker and more brittle. It's tough to say now whether that could ultimately benefit the sharks that feed on them, says Naylor.<\/p>\n<p>For now, ocean acidification can't be disregarded as a threat facing <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//12//19//european-sharks-in-danger-and-not-dangerous-warns-marine-expert/">sharks, Baum says. Some shark species could come close to extinction in the coming years and ocean acidification could be one of the factors causing that to happen, he says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe evolutionary success of sharks is dependent on their perfectly developed teeth,\u201d Baum says.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768820774,"updatedAt":1768823185,"publishedAt":1768822918,"firstPublishedAt":1768822918,"lastPublishedAt":1768822918,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/78\/71\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_418290c8-7518-5c7c-a60e-849a7135b483-9617871.jpg","altText":"In this undated handout photo provided by Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf in January 2026, a blacktip reef shark swims at Sealife Oberhausen in Oberhausen, Germany. ","caption":"In this undated handout photo provided by Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf in January 2026, a blacktip reef shark swims at Sealife Oberhausen in Oberhausen, Germany. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Maximilian Baum\/Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":14804,"slug":"sharks","urlSafeValue":"sharks","title":"sharks","titleRaw":"sharks"},{"id":7357,"slug":"ocean","urlSafeValue":"ocean","title":"Ocean","titleRaw":"Ocean"},{"id":10967,"slug":"oceanic-acidity","urlSafeValue":"oceanic-acidity","title":"Oceanic acidity","titleRaw":"Oceanic acidity"},{"id":28690,"slug":"overfishing","urlSafeValue":"overfishing","title":"overfishing","titleRaw":"overfishing"},{"id":16976,"slug":"deniz-kirliligi","urlSafeValue":"deniz-kirliligi","title":"marine pollution","titleRaw":"marine pollution"},{"id":9385,"slug":"fossil-fuels","urlSafeValue":"fossil-fuels","title":"Fossil fuels","titleRaw":"Fossil fuels"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Patrick Whittle","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nature","urlSafeValue":"nature","title":"Nature","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/nature\/nature"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"green","verticals":[{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"},"themes":[{"id":"nature","urlSafeValue":"nature","title":"Nature","url":"\/green\/nature"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":33,"urlSafeValue":"nature","title":"Nature"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/green\/2026\/01\/19\/sharks-are-famous-for-fearsome-teeth-but-ocean-acidification-could-make-them-weaker","lastModified":1768822918},{"id":2862978,"cid":9616495,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Power banks on aeroplanes: Lufthansa tightens the rules","daletPyramidId":3913167,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Lufthansa tightens rules for carriage of power banks inside the cabin","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Lufthansa tightens rules for carriage of power banks inside the cabin","titleListing2":"After a #fire broke out due to a power bank in an overhead compartment on a South Korean Air Busan aircraft in January 2025, airlines are taking action to minimise risks, and #Lufthansa is leading the charge","leadin":"After a fire broke out due to a power bank in an overhead compartment on a South Korean Air Busan aircraft in January 2025, airlines are taking action to minimise risks. Germany's Lufthansa is leading the charge in Europe.","summary":"After a fire broke out due to a power bank in an overhead compartment on a South Korean Air Busan aircraft in January 2025, airlines are taking action to minimise risks. Germany's Lufthansa is leading the charge in Europe.","keySentence":"","url":"travel-power-banks-lufthansa","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/18\/travel-power-banks-lufthansa","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa has announced new restrictions on the carriage of power banks and battery packs on board its aircraft, following pressure from airlines to tighten rules after several fires caused by the devices.\n\nLeading the charge in Europe, Lufthansa has amended its policy to restrict the use of these devices during flights. Effective immediately, passengers on board may no longer charge their devices via their infotainment systems or use the batteries to charge their personal devices.\n\nThe carrier stressed that they are still permitted in cabin luggage, and rules banning their packing in checked luggage remain unchanged.\n\nPower banks must also be worn on the traveller's person or stowed in hand luggage under the seat. Stowing them in the overhead luggage compartment is now banned.\n\nThe batteries are also now limited to a maximum capacity of 100 watt hours - or 27,000 mAh (milliampere-hours).\n\nTravellers wishing to carry larger battery packs must notify the airline in advance and obtain approval. Failure to do so will result in the confiscation and destruction of the devices.\n\nThe number of power banks each passenger is permitted to carry in flight has also been set to two.\n\nA Lufthansa spokesperson cites revised recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as the reason driving the airline's policy change.\n\nThe rules apply to all Lufthansa flights, as well as flights operated by Lufthansa-owned or affiliated carriers, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Discover, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss and Air Dolomiti.\n\nPassengers must now charge their mobile phones before the flight or use the plane's special USB ports.\n\nAirlines are becoming increasingly cautious when handling power banks after a tragic fire was caused by a power bank stowed away in the overhead compartment of an Air Busan aircraft in January last year, injuring 27 people.\n\nThe Airbus A321 was still on the ground when the fire broke out. Authorities revealed after extensive investigations that a charred power bank caused the blaze.\n\nThe entire aircraft fuselage was engulfed in flames in just a few minutes. Passengers were able to disembark the aircraft via emergency slides.\n\nThe incident caused aviation safety agencies worldwide to explore tightening measures to minimise the risk of fires.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa has announced new restrictions on the carriage of power banks and battery packs on board its aircraft, following pressure from airlines to tighten rules after several fires caused by the devices. <\/p>\n<p>Leading the charge in Europe, Lufthansa has amended its policy to restrict the use of these devices during flights. Effective immediately, passengers on board may no longer charge their devices via their infotainment systems or use the batteries to charge their personal devices. <\/p>\n<p>The carrier stressed that they are still permitted in cabin luggage, and rules banning their packing in checked luggage remain unchanged.<\/p>\n<p>Power banks must also be worn on the traveller's person or stowed in hand luggage under the seat. Stowing them in the overhead luggage compartment is now banned. <\/p>\n<p>The batteries are also now limited to a maximum capacity of 100 watt hours - or 27,000 mAh (milliampere-hours).<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//10//29//this-german-airline-has-been-named-europes-leading-airline-for-the-second-year-in-a-row/">This German airline has been named Europe\u2019s leading airline for the second year in a row<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Travellers wishing to carry larger battery packs must notify the airline in advance and obtain approval. Failure to do so will result in the confiscation and destruction of the devices. <\/p>\n<p>The number of power banks each passenger is permitted to carry in flight has also been set to two.<\/p>\n<p>A Lufthansa spokesperson cites revised recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as the reason driving the airline's policy change. <\/p>\n<p>The rules apply to all Lufthansa flights, as well as flights operated by Lufthansa-owned or affiliated carriers, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Discover, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss and Air Dolomiti.<\/p>\n<p>Passengers must now charge their mobile phones before the flight or use the plane's special USB ports.<\/p>\n<p>Airlines are becoming increasingly cautious when handling power banks after a tragic fire was caused by a power bank stowed away in the overhead compartment of an Air Busan aircraft in January last year, injuring 27 people. <\/p>\n<p>The Airbus A321 was still on the ground when the fire broke out. Authorities revealed after extensive investigations that a charred power bank caused the blaze. <\/p>\n<p>The entire aircraft fuselage was engulfed in flames in just a few minutes. Passengers were able to disembark the aircraft via emergency slides. <\/p>\n<p>The incident caused aviation safety agencies worldwide to explore tightening measures to minimise the risk of fires.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768662597,"updatedAt":1768756753,"publishedAt":1768747357,"firstPublishedAt":1768747357,"lastPublishedAt":1768756752,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"FILE: The sun rises as a Lufthansa's aircraft is de-iced at the airport in Frankfurt, as temperatures dropped to -6 degrees Celsius, 5 January 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"FILE: The sun rises as a Lufthansa's aircraft is de-iced at the airport in Frankfurt, as temperatures dropped to -6 degrees Celsius, 5 January 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/64\/95\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e9d838a5-0b09-5ec4-830a-90edc342805d-9616495.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"fouda","twitter":"themalekfouda","id":3270,"title":"Malek Fouda"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"airbus","titleRaw":"Airbus","id":368,"title":"Airbus","slug":"airbus"},{"urlSafeValue":"plane-crash","titleRaw":"Plane crash","id":7836,"title":"Plane crash","slug":"plane-crash"},{"urlSafeValue":"lufthansa","titleRaw":"Lufthansa","id":7927,"title":"Lufthansa","slug":"lufthansa"},{"urlSafeValue":"air-safety","titleRaw":"Air safety","id":11043,"title":"Air safety","slug":"air-safety"},{"urlSafeValue":"plane-accident","titleRaw":"plane accident","id":12094,"title":"plane accident","slug":"plane-accident"},{"urlSafeValue":"airplane","titleRaw":"airplane","id":12878,"title":"airplane","slug":"airplane"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews Deutsch","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9616487,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/18\/travel-power-banks-lufthansa","lastModified":1768756752},{"id":2857562,"cid":9594824,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"ME - S01E09 - PACIFICO - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3710895,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Lab-grown proteins for a hungry world - made in Europe","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Lab-grown proteins for a hungry world - made in Europe","leadin":"Food technology made in Europe is a global leader. What is the reason behind this success story? Euronews sent its reporter to East Germany to look for answers in Leipzig's \"Bio-City\".","summary":"Food technology made in Europe is a global leader. What is the reason behind this success story? Euronews sent its reporter to East Germany to look for answers in Leipzig's \"Bio-City\".","keySentence":"","url":"lab-grown-proteins-for-a-hungry-world-made-in-europe","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/16\/lab-grown-proteins-for-a-hungry-world-made-in-europe","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Zac Austin from Scotland is one of the founders of Pacifico Biolabs. His international team is working towards a world without hunger. Using a new technique to produce meat substitutes from mushroom cultures.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nIn Leipzig's Bio-City, regional, national and European funding instruments are interlinked. Hundreds of young companies are laying the foundations here for Europe's market leadership in future technologies.\u00a0\n\nAustin: \"Leipzig is a fantastic location where a large number of start-ups and biotech companies have set up shop.\" We are not allowed to film everything in the Pacifico laboratory; a lot of the machines and production processes are strictly protected trade secrets - made in Europe.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nCo-founder Washington Vintimilla is the biochemical inventor genius of Pacifico: \"Together with our food scientists, we achieved the breakthrough of transforming mycelial fibres into (vegan) chicken breast. That was phenomenal. That's when we knew we were on the right track.\"\u00a0\n\nThe team has discovered a new method of producing vegan steaks and sausages from mushroom proteins. The formula is secret. Vintimilla: \"We have to get as close as possible to real meat in terms of texture, that's the key to success.\"\u00a0\n\nFood technician Pau Oller Armengol from Spain adds: \"With the mycelial fibres, we can produce vegan fish fillet as well as vegan pork medallions, sausage or chicken.\"\u00a0\u00a0\n\nA real chicken needs 60 days to grow up. Pacifico can produce the same amount of protein in just one day. The world's population is growing. Parts of the world are already suffering from hunger. The world's need for protein is growing.\u00a0\n\nWashington Vintimilla: \"The science is clear. If you look at the effects of climate change on the most important crops, we will see a 30 to 40 per cent decline in global crop yields. We will not be able to produce enough food for humanity. We need methods of food production that do not rely on land and produce protein independently of the climate.\"\u00a0\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Zac Austin from Scotland is one of the founders of Pacifico Biolabs. His international team is working towards a world without hunger. Using a new technique to produce meat substitutes from mushroom cultures. <\/p>\n<p>In Leipzig's Bio-City, regional, national and European funding instruments are interlinked. Hundreds of young companies are laying the foundations here for Europe's market leadership in future technologies. <\/p>\n<p>Austin: \"Leipzig is a fantastic location where a large number of start-ups and biotech companies have set up shop.\" We are not allowed to film everything in the Pacifico laboratory; a lot of the machines and production processes are strictly protected trade secrets - <strong>made in Europe<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>Co-founder Washington Vintimilla is the biochemical inventor genius of Pacifico: \"Together with our food scientists, we achieved the breakthrough of transforming mycelial fibres into (vegan) chicken breast. That was phenomenal. That's when we knew we were on the right track.\" <\/p>\n<p>The team has discovered a new method of producing vegan steaks and sausages from mushroom proteins. The formula is secret. Vintimilla: \"We have to get as close as possible to real meat in terms of texture, that's the key to success.\" <\/p>\n<p>Food technician Pau Oller Armengol from Spain adds: \"With the mycelial fibres, we can produce vegan fish fillet as well as vegan pork medallions, sausage or chicken.\" <\/p>\n<p>A real chicken needs 60 days to grow up. Pacifico can produce the same amount of protein in just one day. The world's population is growing. Parts of the world are already suffering from hunger. The world's need for protein is growing. <\/p>\n<p>Washington Vintimilla: \"The science is clear. If you look at the effects of climate change on the most important crops, we will see a 30 to 40 per cent decline in global crop yields. We will not be able to produce enough food for humanity. We need methods of food production that do not rely on land and produce protein independently of the climate.\" <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766742243,"updatedAt":1768573645,"publishedAt":1768572005,"firstPublishedAt":1768572005,"lastPublishedAt":1768573644,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/48\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_07626dad-a51b-5b68-b60a-46a251ac6e13-9594824.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1124}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[{"urlSafeValue":"brelie","twitter":"@euronewsreport","id":247,"title":"Hans von der Brelie"}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"food","titleRaw":"Food","id":11396,"title":"Food","slug":"food"},{"urlSafeValue":"cooking","titleRaw":"Cooking","id":9567,"title":"Cooking","slug":"cooking"},{"urlSafeValue":"research","titleRaw":"Research","id":380,"title":"Research","slug":"research"},{"urlSafeValue":"new-technologies","titleRaw":"New technologies","id":9505,"title":"New technologies","slug":"new-technologies"},{"urlSafeValue":"germany","titleRaw":"Germany","id":125,"title":"Germany","slug":"germany"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"urLlFDjc-Dg","dailymotionId":"x9xo7mg"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":480000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":64987097,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/32\/54\/28\/08\/ED_PYR_3254288_20260113125026.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":480000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":101816652,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/32\/54\/28\/08\/SHD_PYR_3254288_20260113125026.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":480000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":366575397,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/32\/54\/28\/08\/FHD_PYR_3254288_20260113125026.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"made-in-europe","urlSafeValue":"made-in-europe","title":"Made in Europe","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/my-europe-series\/made-in-europe"},"season":"MADE IN EUROPE_S01","episode":"S01E09 - PACIFICO","episodeId":"1332","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","id":"my-europe-series","title":"My Europe Series","url":"\/my-europe\/my-europe-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":60,"urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"Europe Series"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2026\/01\/16\/lab-grown-proteins-for-a-hungry-world-made-in-europe","lastModified":1768573644},{"id":2862640,"cid":9614918,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC3 GERMANY BERLINALE TROPHY FOUNDRY","daletPyramidId":3901044,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Bears cast for 76th Berlin Film Festival using traditional bronze techniques","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Bears cast for 76th Berlin Film Festival using traditional bronze techniques","leadin":"Germany\u2019s Berlinale film festival is preparing its iconic bear trophies at a small foundry in Berlin-Charlottenburg, where the awards have been made for decades.","summary":"Germany\u2019s Berlinale film festival is preparing its iconic bear trophies at a small foundry in Berlin-Charlottenburg, where the awards have been made for decades.","keySentence":"","url":"bears-cast-for-76th-berlin-film-festival-using-traditional-bronze-techniques","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/16\/bears-cast-for-76th-berlin-film-festival-using-traditional-bronze-techniques","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Festival director Tricia Tuttle visited the foundry as work continued ahead of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, which runs from 12 to 22 February.\n\nThe workshop has been producing the festival\u2019s iconic bears since the early years of the Berlinale in the 1950s. Their design is based on a standing bear created in 1932 by sculptor Ren\u00e9e Sintenis, inspired by Berlin\u2019s heraldic symbol.\n\nWhile small refinements have been introduced over the decades, the casting process itself has changed little. Each finished Bear stands around 20 centimetres tall and weighs about four kilograms, a heft often noted by winners when they lift the trophy on stage.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Festival director Tricia Tuttle visited the foundry as work continued ahead of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, which runs from 12 to 22 February. <\/p>\n<p>The workshop has been producing the festival\u2019s iconic bears since the early years of the Berlinale in the 1950s. Their design is based on a standing bear created in 1932 by sculptor Ren\u00e9e Sintenis, inspired by Berlin\u2019s heraldic symbol. <\/p>\n<p>While small refinements have been introduced over the decades, the casting process itself has changed little. Each finished Bear stands around 20 centimetres tall and weighs about four kilograms, a heft often noted by winners when they lift the trophy on stage.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768553051,"updatedAt":1768554649,"publishedAt":1768554550,"firstPublishedAt":1768554550,"lastPublishedAt":1768554550,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/49\/18\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0eeb89d8-2b4c-580d-9b6e-16709228d4c9-9614918.jpg","altText":"Berlinale Bears for the 76th edition of the Berlinale","caption":"Berlinale Bears for the 76th edition of the Berlinale","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Agence France Presse TV","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":322,"slug":"cinema","urlSafeValue":"cinema","title":"Cinema","titleRaw":"Cinema"},{"id":11560,"slug":"berlinale","urlSafeValue":"berlinale","title":"Berlinale","titleRaw":"Berlinale"},{"id":11836,"slug":"film-awards","urlSafeValue":"film-awards","title":"Film Awards","titleRaw":"Film 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economic growth","daletPyramidId":3891135,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Germany edges back into growth after two years of contraction","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Germany edges back into growth after two years of contraction","titleListing2":"Germany edges back into growth after two years of contraction","leadin":"Europe\u2019s largest economy returned to modest expansion in 2025, as stronger consumer and government spending offset weaker exports hit by higher US tariffs.","summary":"Europe\u2019s largest economy returned to modest expansion in 2025, as stronger consumer and government spending offset weaker exports hit by higher US tariffs.","keySentence":"","url":"germany-edges-back-into-growth-after-two-years-of-contraction","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/01\/15\/germany-edges-back-into-growth-after-two-years-of-contraction","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany's troubled economy returned to modest growth last year after two years of falling output, official figures showed, as hopes rise that government spending on bridges, rail lines and defence may help end years of stagnation.\n\nThe expansion in gross domestic product of 0.2% for 2025 was fueled by stronger consumer and government spending while exports sagged under the weight of more restrictive US trade policy under President Donald Trump, the German Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.\n\nThat follows shrinkage of 0.5% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2023.\n\n\u201cGermany\u2019s export business faced strong headwinds owing to higher US tariffs, the appreciation of the euro and increased competition from China,\u201d statistical office head Ruth Brand said in a statement accompanying the statistical release.\n\nExpectations have risen for Germany to finally see stronger growth this year as the government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz implements plans to increase spending on infrastructure to make up for years of underinvestment.\n\nMeanwhile defence spending is rising due to a perceived higher level of threat from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.\n\nGermany has endured a period of extended stagnation following the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nHigher energy costs following the war in Ukraine and increasing competition from China in key German specialties such as cars and industrial machinery have held back an economy that is heavily focused on exports.\n\nThen came Trump's imposition of higher tariffs, or import taxes, on goods from the European Union.\n\nThe slow growth has also exposed long-term structural issues such as excessive bureaucracy and lack of skilled labour.\n\nA stronger euro has also made exports less competitive on price.\n\nA group of leading economists has predicted 0.9% growth for this year but said that forecast could be at risk if the increase in government spending is unleashed more slowly than expected.\n\nThe German economy grew 0.2% in the last three months of 2025, according to available preliminary data.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany's troubled economy returned to modest growth last year after two years of falling output, official figures showed, as hopes rise that government spending on bridges, rail lines and defence may help end years of stagnation.<\/p>\n<p>The expansion in gross domestic product of 0.2% for 2025 was fueled by stronger consumer and government spending while exports sagged under the weight of more restrictive US trade policy under President Donald Trump, the German Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>That follows shrinkage of 0.5% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGermany\u2019s export business faced strong headwinds owing to higher US tariffs, the appreciation of the euro and increased competition from China,\u201d statistical office head Ruth Brand said in a statement accompanying the statistical release.<\/p>\n<p>Expectations have risen for Germany to finally see stronger growth this year as the government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz implements plans to increase spending on infrastructure to make up for years of underinvestment. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2026//01//09//german-trade-takes-a-hit-as-exports-stumble-and-imports-wobble/">German trade takes a hit as exports stumble and imports wobble<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//12//23//germanys-export-model-hit-from-both-sides-as-us-and-china-demand-slumps/">Germany/u2019s export model hit from both sides as US and China demand slumps<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Meanwhile defence spending is rising due to a perceived higher level of threat from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Germany has endured a period of extended stagnation following the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n<p>Higher energy costs following the war in Ukraine and increasing competition from China in key German specialties such as cars and industrial machinery have held back an economy that is heavily focused on exports. <\/p>\n<p>Then came Trump's imposition of higher tariffs, or import taxes, on goods from the European Union. <\/p>\n<p>The slow growth has also exposed long-term structural issues such as excessive bureaucracy and lack of skilled labour. <\/p>\n<p>A stronger euro has also made exports less competitive on price.<\/p>\n<p>A group of leading economists has predicted 0.9% growth for this year but said that forecast could be at risk if the increase in government spending is unleashed more slowly than expected.<\/p>\n<p>The German economy grew 0.2% in the last three months of 2025, according to available preliminary data.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768479220,"updatedAt":1768496417,"publishedAt":1768480825,"firstPublishedAt":1768480825,"lastPublishedAt":1768480825,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/39\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9bc7be29-7a68-5036-842b-1bc9b61c3ac8-9613980.jpg","altText":"FILE - A German flag is fixed at a construction vehicle in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo\/Michael Probst)","caption":"FILE - A German flag is fixed at a construction vehicle in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo\/Michael Probst)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":10689,"slug":"european-economy","urlSafeValue":"european-economy","title":"European economy","titleRaw":"European economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2853156},{"id":2854931},{"id":2857042}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"ntiZ9iYddcM","dailymotionId":"x9xudrm"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11615567,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/34\/00\/56\/04\/ED_PYR_3400564_20260115170018.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":16175653,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/34\/00\/56\/04\/SHD_PYR_3400564_20260115170018.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":48353326,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/34\/00\/56\/04\/FHD_PYR_3400564_20260115170018.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2026\/01\/15\/germany-edges-back-into-growth-after-two-years-of-contraction","lastModified":1768480825},{"id":2862181,"cid":9612958,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"GERMANY ON TRANSATLANTIC TIES","daletPyramidId":3881867,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Ties between US and Europe 'disintegrating,' Germany's Vice Chancellor Klingbeil warns","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Transatlantic ties 'disintegrating,' Germany\u2019s vice chancellor warns","titleListing2":"Ties between the US and Europe are 'disintegrating,' Germany's vice chancellor says","leadin":"Klingbeil listed a string of reasons for his belief that ties between the United States and Europe, traditionally close allies, were radically changing.","summary":"Klingbeil listed a string of reasons for his belief that ties between the United States and Europe, traditionally close allies, were radically changing.","keySentence":"","url":"ties-between-us-and-europe-disintegrating-germanys-vice-chancellor-klingbeil-warns","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/14\/ties-between-us-and-europe-disintegrating-germanys-vice-chancellor-klingbeil-warns","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Europe's ties with the United States were \"disintegrating\" amid a \"historic period of upheaval\" under US President Donald Trump's administration, Germany's Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil warned on Wednesday.\n\n\"The transatlantic alliance is undergoing a much more profound upheaval than we may have been willing to admit until now,\" Klingbeil said in a speech in Berlin.\n\n\"The transatlantic relationship as we have known it is currently disintegrating.\"\n\nKlingbeil said he had become even more convinced of this in recent days. He visited Washington this week with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.\n\nKlingbeil cited several reasons for his belief that ties between the United States and Europe, traditionally close allies, were changing significantly.\n\nWhile he called Venezuela's Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, who was captured in a US raid on Caracas, a \"brutal dictator\", he also said that Washington's military action had violated \"the principles of international law.\"\n\n\"And we should not view Venezuela as an isolated case,\" he said, noting the Trump administration had made threats against other Latin American countries.\n\nHe also cited Trump's threats to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and his administration's comments in its national security strategy that Europe was facing \"civilisational erasure\".\n\n\"We are currently living in the midst of a historic period of upheaval ... in which all the certainties we could rely on in Europe are under pressure,\" Klingbeil said.\n\nThe United States and Germany, Europe's top economy, had long been united by a shared interest in free trade and open markets, said Klingbeil.\n\n\"That is no longer the case today. But that does not mean that we are abandoning free trade or open markets,\" he said.\n\n\"We must not abandon rules-based trade. We must defend this order, even without our American partners if necessary.\"\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Europe's ties with the United States were \"disintegrating\" amid a \"historic period of upheaval\" under US President Donald Trump's administration, Germany's Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil warned on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>\"The transatlantic alliance is undergoing a much more profound upheaval than we may have been willing to admit until now,\" Klingbeil said in a speech in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p>\"The transatlantic relationship as we have known it is currently disintegrating.\"<\/p>\n<p>Klingbeil said he had become even more convinced of this in recent days. He visited Washington this week with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//29//58//808x539_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg/" alt=\"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil attend a cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, 14 January, 2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/384x256_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/640x427_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/750x500_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/828x552_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1080x720_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1200x800_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil attend a cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, 14 January, 2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Klingbeil cited several reasons for his belief that ties between the United States and Europe, traditionally close allies, were changing significantly.<\/p>\n<p>While he called Venezuela's Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, who was captured in a US raid on Caracas, a \"brutal dictator\", he also said that Washington's military action had violated \"the principles of international law.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"And we should not view Venezuela as an isolated case,\" he said, noting the Trump administration had made threats against other Latin American countries.<\/p>\n<p>He also cited Trump's threats to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and his administration's comments in its national security strategy that Europe was facing \"civilisational erasure\".<\/p>\n<p>\"We are currently living in the midst of a historic period of upheaval ... in which all the certainties we could rely on in Europe are under pressure,\" Klingbeil said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.667\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//61//29//58//808x539_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg/" alt=\"A demonstration under the slogan &#x201C;Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders&#x201D; in front of the American embassy in Copenhagen, 14 January, 2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/384x256_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/640x427_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/750x500_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/828x552_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1080x720_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1200x800_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/1920x1281_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A demonstration under the slogan &#x201C;Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders&#x201D; in front of the American embassy in Copenhagen, 14 January, 2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The United States and Germany, Europe's top economy, had long been united by a shared interest in free trade and open markets, said Klingbeil.<\/p>\n<p>\"That is no longer the case today. But that does not mean that we are abandoning free trade or open markets,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>\"We must not abandon rules-based trade. We must defend this order, even without our American partners if necessary.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768405749,"updatedAt":1768422923,"publishedAt":1768407763,"firstPublishedAt":1768407763,"lastPublishedAt":1768407763,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0c02140d-c1c6-5ec2-b8dd-0488baa9cd6c-9612958.jpg","altText":"A worker adjusts the US and EU flags at the European Council building in Brussels, 4 April, 2023","caption":"A worker adjusts the US and EU flags at the European Council building in Brussels, 4 April, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3cde16f4-6bd5-51da-8f87-e918c91d40de-9612958.jpg","altText":"A demonstration under the slogan \u201cGreenland belongs to the Greenlanders\u201d in front of the American embassy in Copenhagen, 14 January, 2026","caption":"A demonstration under the slogan \u201cGreenland belongs to the Greenlanders\u201d in front of the American embassy in Copenhagen, 14 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1334},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/29\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c53e85bd-a639-5afd-8896-879065fb2172-9612958.jpg","altText":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil attend a cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, 14 January, 2026","caption":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil attend a cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, 14 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":30472,"slug":"lars-klingbeil","urlSafeValue":"lars-klingbeil","title":"Lars Klingbeil","titleRaw":"Lars Klingbeil"},{"id":13363,"slug":"united-states","urlSafeValue":"united-states","title":"United States ","titleRaw":"United States "},{"id":11900,"slug":"donald-trump","urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","title":"Donald Trump","titleRaw":"Donald 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pistorius berlin","daletPyramidId":3838347,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Kallas visits Berlin for talks with Pistorius on Ukraine, the Arctic and defending Europe","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Kaja Kallas in Berlin for talks with German Defence Minister Pistorius","titleListing2":"Kallas visits Berlin for talks with Pistorius on Ukraine, the Arctic and defending Europe","leadin":"EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held talks in Berlin with German defence minister Boris Pistorius as challenges to the future of European and global security continue to mount.","summary":"EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held talks in Berlin with German defence minister Boris Pistorius as challenges to the future of European and global security continue to mount.","keySentence":"","url":"kallas-visits-berlin-for-talks-with-pistorius-on-ukraine-the-arctic-and-defending-europe","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/13\/kallas-visits-berlin-for-talks-with-pistorius-on-ukraine-the-arctic-and-defending-europe","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"In her first official visit of the year, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas travelled to Berlin on Tuesday to meet German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the German defence ministry.\n\nKallas was welcomed with military honours and a wreath-laying ceremony before she and Pistorius discussed continued financial and military support for Ukraine, security guarantees, and what Pistorius described as \"the Arctic question\".\n\nThe German minister added that efforts to reach a possible ceasefire were ongoing, even though Russian President Vladimir Putin was not involved.\n\nAccording to Pistorius, Putin has made his position \"very clear\", including by stating that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be treated as \"legitimate targets\".\n\n'Berlin will not abandon Kyiv'\n\nPistorius stressed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine and \"will not abandon Kyiv\", pointing to the \u20ac11.5 billion Berlin is providing to Ukraine this year.\n\nAccording to the Ukraine Support Tracker compiled by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe has provided more than \u20ac130 billion in support to Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, up to October 2025.\n\nThat figure includes contributions from both EU institutions and individual member states, putting European contributions ahead of those of the United States, which has pledged around \u20ac115 billion since February 2022.\n\nSince Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May 2025, Germany has stopped publicly detailing its military assistance to Ukraine, citing a policy of strategic ambiguity aimed at preventing Russia from knowing in advance which weapons are being supplied.\n\nThe government has nevertheless announced several investments in Ukraine's defence sector in an effort to strengthen the country's arms industry and enable it to produce its own long-range weapons, but details on which companies and weapons systems are involved have not been made public.\n\nTo ensure that \"every euro delivers maximum impact\", Pistorius said closer integration between European and Ukrainian defence industries was essential. Germany, he added, had already gained \"positive experience\" from this approach and intended to apply those lessons to its own armed forces as well.\n\nThe transatlantic question\n\nThe EU and its member states have been driven to strengthen their defence capabilities not only by the need to deter a potential Russian attack on NATO territory, but also by growing pressure on the security situation in the Arctic \u2013 in particular, the Trump administration's threats to annex Greenland.\n\nAs a Danish territory, Greenland falls under NATO's area of responsibility, Pistorius said, stressing that the island \"must be protected\" and \"will be protected\" and reaffirming Germany's unwavering commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.\n\nAccording to a representative Forsa poll commissioned by German magazine Stern, a clear majority of Germans \u2013 around 62 per cent \u2013 would back military action in an emergency if Denmark were to invoke the alliance\u2019s mutual defence clause. Around a third of those surveyed (32 per cent) oppose such a move, while six per cent expressed no view. Kallas and Pistorius declined to comment on the possible deployment of ground troops or on any potential triggering of the alliance clause.\n\nKallas and Pistorius didn't comment on the possible deployment of ground troops or Article 5.\n\nPistorius also acknowledged that Greenland\u2019s vast size and sparse population \u2013 around 55,000 people, including an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Inuit \u2013 mean it cannot be treated like a conventional territory.\n\n\"You cannot ensure comprehensive protection there through troop presence alone,\" he explained, saying that security in the Arctic depends on surveillance and patrols, monitoring activity above and below the surface and in the air, intelligence-gathering, and regular exercises on the ground to demonstrate a sustained presence.\n\nFor that reason, Pistorius added, safeguarding Greenland and the Arctic is not primarily or exclusively a US concern, but a shared responsibility of NATO and of Europe as a whole.\n\nKallas also addressed transatlantic relations in her remarks, describing the US as an \"indispensable ally\" while acknowledging that ties are no longer as strong as they once were.\n\n\"Europe will not junk 80 years of transatlantic relations,\" Kallas stressed, adding that Europe and the US are strongest \"when we act together\".\n\nAt the same time, the US has reportedly recently suggested that Washington would like Germany to assume a greater leadership role within NATO. According to those reports, the US could scale back its role in the alliance and refocus more heavily on the Western Hemisphere \u2013 an approach floated by the US National Security Strategy published late last year.\n\n'Europe's strongest conventional army'\n\nKallas also praised Germany for its high defence spending and its sustained support for Ukraine.\n\n\"To keep our countries and people save, Europe must further improve its defence readiness,\" she stressed.\n\nSince Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, German defence spending has increased sharply under both the previous government led by Olaf Scholz and the current Merz-led coalition.\n\nThe stated aim is to make the Bundeswehr fully operational and capable of defending the country, and lawmakers from the conservative CSU party have argued that the Bundeswehr should ultimately become \"Europe's strongest conventional army\".\n\nFor now, however, Germany's armed forces are still falling short of that ambition, facing significant gaps in both equipment and personnel. To speed up the overhaul, the previous government \u2013 with backing from the conservative opposition \u2013 relaxed Germany's constitutionally mandated \"debt brake\".\n\nDefence spending above 1 per cent of gross domestic product, as well as a \u20ac500 billion special fund, were exempted from the borrowing limits.\n\nOn the personnel side, the Bundeswehr is aiming to recruit at least 20,000 volunteers this year under the new military service model, a target recently set by Pistorius. Last year, the number of volunteers stood at just over 12,000.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>In her first official visit of the year, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas travelled to Berlin on Tuesday to meet German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the German defence ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Kallas was welcomed with military honours and a wreath-laying ceremony before she and Pistorius discussed continued financial and military support for Ukraine, security guarantees, and what Pistorius described as \"the Arctic question\". <\/p>\n<p>The German minister added that efforts to reach a possible ceasefire were ongoing, even though Russian President Vladimir Putin was not involved.<\/p>\n<p>According to Pistorius, Putin has made his position \"very clear\", including by stating that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be treated as \"legitimate targets\".<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5623376623376624\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//80//80//808x454_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg/" alt=\"Pistorius and Kallas in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/384x216_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/640x360_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/750x422_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/828x466_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1080x607_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1200x675_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1920x1080_cmsv2_f9996de3-219b-5de1-a156-e15294d1ddb5-9608080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Pistorius and Kallas in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Donogh McCabe \/ Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>'Berlin will not abandon Kyiv'<\/h2>\n<p>Pistorius stressed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine and \"will not abandon Kyiv\", pointing to the \u20ac11.5 billion Berlin is providing to Ukraine this year. <\/p>\n<p>According to the Ukraine Support Tracker compiled by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe has provided more than \u20ac130 billion in support to Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, up to October 2025.<\/p>\n<p>That figure includes contributions from both EU institutions and individual member states, putting European contributions ahead of those of the United States, which has pledged around \u20ac115 billion since February 2022. <\/p>\n<p>Since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May 2025, Germany has stopped publicly detailing its military assistance to Ukraine, citing a policy of strategic ambiguity aimed at preventing Russia from knowing in advance which weapons are being supplied.<\/p>\n<p>The government has nevertheless announced several investments in Ukraine's defence sector in an effort to strengthen the country's arms industry and enable it to produce its own long-range weapons, but details on which companies and weapons systems are involved have not been made public.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure that \"every euro delivers maximum impact\", Pistorius said closer integration between European and Ukrainian defence industries was essential. Germany, he added, had already gained \"positive experience\" from this approach and intended to apply those lessons to its own armed forces as well.<\/p>\n<h2>The transatlantic question<\/h2>\n<p>The EU and its member states have been driven to strengthen their defence capabilities not only by the need to deter a potential Russian attack on NATO territory, but also by growing pressure on the security situation in the Arctic \u2013 in particular, the Trump administration's threats to annex Greenland. <\/p>\n<p>As a Danish territory, Greenland falls under NATO's area of responsibility, Pistorius said, stressing that the island \"must be protected\" and \"will be protected\" and reaffirming Germany's unwavering commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.<\/p>\n<p>According to a representative Forsa poll commissioned by German magazine <em>Stern<\/em>, a clear majority of Germans \u2013 around 62 per cent \u2013 would back military action in an emergency if Denmark were to invoke the alliance\u2019s mutual defence clause. Around a third of those surveyed (32 per cent) oppose such a move, while six per cent expressed no view. Kallas and Pistorius declined to comment on the possible deployment of ground troops or on any potential triggering of the alliance clause.<\/p>\n<p>Kallas and Pistorius didn't comment on the possible deployment of ground troops or Article 5.<\/p>\n<p>Pistorius also acknowledged that Greenland\u2019s vast size and sparse population \u2013 around 55,000 people, including an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Inuit \u2013 mean it cannot be treated like a conventional territory. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5613207547169812\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//80//80//808x454_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg/" alt=\"Pistorius and Kallas in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/384x216_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/640x359_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/750x421_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/828x465_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1080x606_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1200x674_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/1920x1078_cmsv2_7ee77e41-3be1-5e93-a400-e5702a110770-9608080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Pistorius and Kallas in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Donogh McCabe \/ Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"You cannot ensure comprehensive protection there through troop presence alone,\" he explained, saying that security in the Arctic depends on surveillance and patrols, monitoring activity above and below the surface and in the air, intelligence-gathering, and regular exercises on the ground to demonstrate a sustained presence. <\/p>\n<p>For that reason, Pistorius added, safeguarding Greenland and the Arctic is not primarily or exclusively a US concern, but a shared responsibility of NATO and of Europe as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Kallas also addressed transatlantic relations in her remarks, describing the US as an \"indispensable ally\" while acknowledging that ties are no longer as strong as they once were. <\/p>\n<p>\"Europe will not junk 80 years of transatlantic relations,\" Kallas stressed, adding that Europe and the US are strongest \"when we act together\". <\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the US has reportedly recently suggested that Washington would like Germany to assume <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//26//us-ambassador-suggests-germany-take-natos-top-military-role-in-future/">a greater leadership role<\/strong><\/a> within NATO. According to those reports, the US could scale back its role in the alliance and refocus more heavily on the Western Hemisphere \u2013 an approach floated by the US <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//12//05//trump-administration-warns-europe-of-civilisational-decline-in-new-national-security-strat/">National Security Strategy<\/strong><\/a> published late last year.<\/p>\n<h2>'Europe's strongest conventional army'<\/h2>\n<p>Kallas also praised Germany for its high defence spending and its sustained support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>\"To keep our countries and people save, Europe must further improve its defence readiness,\" she stressed. <\/p>\n<p>Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, German defence spending has increased sharply under both the previous government led by Olaf Scholz and the current Merz-led coalition. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//12//25//weapons-made-in-germany-why-the-bundeswehr-does-not-only-buy-arms-in-germany/">Made in Germany? Why the Bundeswehr doesn't buy all its weapons at home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//07//merzs-ukraine-remarks-spark-german-backlash-over-troop-deployments/">Merz's Ukraine remarks spark German backlash over troop deployments<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The stated aim is to make the Bundeswehr fully operational and capable of defending the country, and lawmakers from the conservative CSU party have argued that the Bundeswehr should ultimately become \"Europe's strongest conventional army\".<\/p>\n<p>For now, however, Germany's armed forces are still falling short of that ambition, facing significant gaps in both equipment and personnel. To speed up the overhaul, the previous government \u2013 with backing from the conservative opposition \u2013 relaxed Germany's constitutionally mandated \"debt brake\". <\/p>\n<p>Defence spending above 1 per cent of gross domestic product, as well as a \u20ac500 billion special fund, were exempted from the borrowing limits. <\/p>\n<p>On the personnel side, the Bundeswehr is aiming to recruit at least 20,000 volunteers this year under the new military service model, a target recently set by Pistorius. Last year, the number of volunteers stood at just over 12,000.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767974585,"updatedAt":1768340584,"publishedAt":1768324591,"firstPublishedAt":1768324591,"lastPublishedAt":1768340583,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Donogh McCabe \/ Euronews","altText":"Kallas and Pistorius in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Kallas and Pistorius in Berlin, 13\/01\/2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/80\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e1c5edee-e1a4-526a-8634-4cd5c7808e9a-9608080.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1084}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"urbancik","twitter":"johannaurbancik","id":2922,"title":"Johanna Urbancik"},{"urlSafeValue":"mccabe","twitter":null,"id":3322,"title":"Donogh McCabe"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"boris-pistorious","titleRaw":"Boris Pistorius","id":30358,"title":"Boris Pistorius","slug":"boris-pistorious"},{"urlSafeValue":"kaja-kallas","titleRaw":"Kaja Kallas","id":28854,"title":"Kaja Kallas","slug":"kaja-kallas"},{"urlSafeValue":"german-army","titleRaw":"German army","id":10479,"title":"German army","slug":"german-army"},{"urlSafeValue":"nato","titleRaw":"NATO","id":205,"title":"NATO","slug":"nato"},{"urlSafeValue":"greenland","titleRaw":"Greenland","id":129,"title":"Greenland","slug":"greenland"},{"urlSafeValue":"donald-trump","titleRaw":"Donald Trump","id":11900,"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2861937}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9xp8r2"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":141000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":22084830,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/58\/83\/02\/ED_PYR_3358832_20260113213414.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":141000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":32848255,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/58\/83\/02\/SHD_PYR_3358832_20260113213414.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":141000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":109269686,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/58\/83\/02\/FHD_PYR_3358832_20260113213414.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/13\/kallas-visits-berlin-for-talks-with-pistorius-on-ukraine-the-arctic-and-defending-europe","lastModified":1768340583},{"id":2860889,"cid":9607639,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CUBE BERLIN POWER OUTAGE","daletPyramidId":3834221,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Fact check: Why did Berlin's power outage take so long to fix?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Fact check: Why did Berlin's power outage take so long to fix?","titleListing2":"Fact check: Why did Berlin's power outage take so long to fix?","leadin":"False claims that Germany sent all of its power generators to Ukraine during the city's worst blackout since World War II are unfounded. The Cube shows you why.","summary":"False claims that Germany sent all of its power generators to Ukraine during the city's worst blackout since World War II are unfounded. The Cube shows you why.","keySentence":"","url":"fact-check-why-did-berlins-power-outage-take-so-long-to-fix","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/01\/12\/fact-check-why-did-berlins-power-outage-take-so-long-to-fix","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Tens of thousands of households in southwest Berlin were left without electricity, heating and, in some cases, mobile communications after a suspected arson attack on 3 January damaged high-voltage cables on a bridge over the Teltow Canal.\u00a0\n\nIt took four days to authorities to start reconnecting houses to electricity, making it the longest blackout in the German capital since World War II.\u00a0\n\nA far-left group calling itself the \"Vulkangruppe\" claimed responsibility for the attack in a letter published online, a claim German prosecutors are now investigating as suspected arson and sabotage.\u00a0\n\nAs repairs dragged on in freezing winter conditions, frustration grew among residents. At the same time, social media posts and AI-generated videos circulated claims that the blackout had worsened because Germany no longer had emergency generators available \u2014 as they'd all been sent to Ukraine.\n\nThe Cube, Euronews' fact-checking team, traced some of these claims back to an article published by German daily the Berliner Zeitung, which reported that 1,700 emergency generators were sent to Ukraine via the German federal agency for civil protection and disaster relief (THW), a claim later cited in social media posts.\n\nOne post circulating on X falsely claims Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner said that \"All generators are in Ukraine now\". Another post on Facebook says that, \"Unfortunately, all of the German THW's power generators are located in Ukraine!\".\n\nAI-generated videos also circulated on TikTok, with one showing a fake newscast, with a fake emergency responder answering a question on whether generators are available with, \"Unfortunately, not a single one, because all our units are in Ukraine\".\n\nThe Berliner Zeitung did not immediately respond to The Cube's request for comment.\n\nDid Berlin have enough generators?\n\nStatements from authorities show that claims suggesting Berlin lacked enough emergency power generators during the blackout are misleading.\n\nAt a press conference on 5 January, Germany's Interior Ministry said that emergency generators were available during the incident and deployed to support critical facilities, such as hospitals, care homes and emergency shelters.\n\nGermany has indeed delivered approximately 1,700 emergency power generators to Ukraine via THW since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, as Ukraine's energy infrastructure has come under repeated attack.\n\nHowever, the Interior Ministry said those generators were procured specifically for Ukraine, and not taken from the disaster management agency's own stock, which remained available for domestic emergencies.\n\nWhy did the blackout take so long to fix?\n\nExperts told The Cube that, in this context, more emergency generators could not replace damaged grid infrastructure.\n\nHerbert Saurugg, an expert on blackouts and crisis preparedness, told The Cube that emergency generators have only a limited role during major grid failure. Emergency generators are only able to support essential processes, he said.\n\nSaurugg explained that the length of the outage was linked to the scale and complexity of the damage, as multiple components were attacked at the same time.\n\n\"This was because several important cables and different systems were affected,\" he said. \"In addition, two different designs had to be connected to each other, which normally takes weeks.\"\n\nTaking this into consideration, the four-day repair was carried out unusually quickly. \"A special feat of engineering was required to carry out this repair in the shortest possible time and under these conditions,\" he said.\n\nAccording to Kai Strunz, a professor of electric energy systems at the Technische Universit\u00e4t Berlin, the attack caused extensive physical damage to the grid, destroying five high-voltage cables and needing comprehensive excavation works.\n\nAn unusually cold winter and sub-zero conditions exacerbated the difficulty in repairing the damage. \"The heavy damage and very low subzero temperatures made the works on the cables themselves and the cable joints quite challenging,\" Strunz said.\n\nManuel Atug, founder of AG Kritis, an independent group of security experts working to improve the resilience of Germany's critical infrastructure, emergency generators cannot simply be connected to residential areas unless the infrastructure is already in place.\n\n\u201cYou can connect companies or houses to emergency generators if you have a connection possibility,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if the connection possibility is not there, you will have a struggle.\u201d\n\n\u00a0He added that the presence of generators does not shorten repair times when the grid itself is damaged.\n\n\u00a0\u201cThe repairs in this scenario can\u2019t be quicker,\u201d Atug said. \u201cSo there is no help if you have some generators in some areas.\u201d\n\nNevertheless, many residents questioned how it could be possible that such a critical part of Berlin's energy infrastructure could be damaged by an attack, with most anger expressed towards the city's mayor, who was reported to be playing tennis during the blackout.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Tens of thousands of households in southwest Berlin were left without electricity, heating and, in some cases, mobile communications after a suspected arson attack on 3 January damaged high-voltage cables on a bridge over the Teltow Canal. <\/p>\n<p>It took four days to authorities to start reconnecting houses to electricity, making it the longest blackout in the German capital since World War II. <\/p>\n<p>A far-left group calling itself the \"Vulkangruppe\" claimed responsibility for the attack in a letter published online, a claim German prosecutors are now investigating as suspected arson and sabotage. <\/p>\n<p>As repairs dragged on in freezing winter conditions, frustration grew among residents. At the same time, social media posts and AI-generated videos circulated claims that the blackout had worsened because Germany no longer had emergency generators available \u2014 as they'd all been sent to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The Cube, Euronews' fact-checking team, traced some of these claims back to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.berliner-zeitung.de//news//berlin-ohne-strom-das-thw-schickte-mindestens-1700-notstromgeraete-in-die-ukraine-li.10012537/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>an article published by German daily the Berliner Zeitung<\/strong><\/a>, which reported that 1,700 emergency generators were sent to Ukraine via the German federal agency for civil protection and disaster relief (THW), a claim later cited in social media posts. <\/p>\n<p>One post<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////x.com//Xx17965797N//status//2007854282578784521/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"> <strong>circulating on X<\/strong> <\/a>falsely claims Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner said that \"All generators are in Ukraine now\". Another post on Facebook says that, \"Unfortunately, all of the German THW's power generators are located in Ukraine!\". <\/p>\n<p>AI-generated videos<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.tiktok.com//@frankyconner2//video//7591925970857233686?q=stromasufall%2C%20berlin&t=1767884310086\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"> <strong>also circulated on TikTok<\/strong><\/a>, with one showing a fake newscast, with a fake emergency responder answering a question on whether generators are available with, \"Unfortunately, not a single one, because all our units are in Ukraine\".<\/p>\n<p>The Berliner Zeitung did not immediately respond to The Cube's request for comment.<\/p>\n<h2>Did Berlin have enough generators?<\/h2>\n<p>Statements from authorities show that claims suggesting Berlin lacked enough emergency power generators during the blackout are misleading. <\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.bundesregierung.de//breg-de//aktuelles//pressekonferenzen//regierungspressekonferenz-vom-5-januar-2026-2401608#:~:text=Die%20Notstromaggregate%2C%20die%20an%20die%20Ukraine%20geliefert%20wurden%2C%20wurden%20extra%20f%C3%BCr%20diese%20Lieferungen%20angeschafft%20und%20nicht%20aus%20dem%20Bestand%20des%20THW%20genommen.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>At a press conference on 5 January<\/strong><\/a>, Germany's Interior Ministry said that emergency generators were available during the incident and deployed to support critical facilities, such as hospitals, care homes and emergency shelters. <\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////story.thw.de//jahr2024#ukrainehilfe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Germany has indeed delivered approximately 1,700 emergency power generators to Ukraine<\/strong> <\/a>via THW since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, as Ukraine's energy infrastructure has come under repeated attack. <\/p>\n<p>However, the Interior Ministry said those generators were procured specifically for Ukraine, and not taken from the disaster management agency's own stock, which remained available for domestic emergencies. <\/p>\n<h2>Why did the blackout take so long to fix?<\/h2>\n<p>Experts told The Cube that, in this context, more emergency generators could not replace damaged grid infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>Herbert Saurugg, an expert on blackouts and crisis preparedness, told The Cube that emergency generators have only a limited role during major grid failure. Emergency generators are only able to support essential processes, he said. <\/p>\n<p>Saurugg explained that the length of the outage was linked to the scale and complexity of the damage, as multiple components were attacked at the same time. <\/p>\n<p>\"This was because several important cables and different systems were affected,\" he said. \"In addition, two different designs had to be connected to each other, which normally takes weeks.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//15//57//808x539_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg/" alt=\"Emergency vehicles from the aid organization &#x22;Die Johanniter&#x22; pick up residents of a retirement home in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/384x255_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/640x426_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/750x499_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/828x551_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/1080x718_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/1200x798_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/1920x1277_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Emergency vehicles from the aid organization &#x22;Die Johanniter&#x22; pick up residents of a retirement home in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Taking this into consideration, the four-day repair was carried out unusually quickly. \"A special feat of engineering was required to carry out this repair in the shortest possible time and under these conditions,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>According to Kai Strunz, a professor of electric energy systems at the Technische Universit\u00e4t Berlin, the attack caused extensive physical damage to the grid, destroying five high-voltage cables and needing comprehensive excavation works. <\/p>\n<p>An unusually cold winter and sub-zero conditions exacerbated the difficulty in repairing the damage. \"The heavy damage and very low subzero temperatures made the works on the cables themselves and the cable joints quite challenging,\" Strunz said.<\/p>\n<p>Manuel Atug, founder of AG Kritis, an independent group of security experts working to improve the resilience of Germany's critical infrastructure, emergency generators cannot simply be connected to residential areas unless the infrastructure is already in place.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can connect companies or houses to emergency generators if you have a connection possibility,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if the connection possibility is not there, you will have a struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> He added that the presence of generators does not shorten repair times when the grid itself is damaged.<\/p>\n<p> \u201cThe repairs in this scenario can\u2019t be quicker,\u201d Atug said. \u201cSo there is no help if you have some generators in some areas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, many residents questioned how it could be possible that such a critical part of Berlin's energy infrastructure could be damaged by an attack, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//09//berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-under-fire-for-playing-tennis-during-major-blackout-caused-by-atta/">with most anger expressed towards the city's mayor<\/strong><\/a>, who was reported to be playing tennis during the blackout. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767958272,"updatedAt":1768226769,"publishedAt":1768222047,"firstPublishedAt":1768222047,"lastPublishedAt":1768222310,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut in south-west Berlin after a fire on a bridge.","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut in south-west Berlin after a fire on a bridge.","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/76\/39\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_64d5c181-9904-5e18-b668-81125bc0afe6-9607639.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1125},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Emergency vehicles from the aid organization \"Die Johanniter\" pick up residents of a retirement home in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut.","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Emergency vehicles from the aid organization \"Die Johanniter\" pick up residents of a retirement home in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2025, during a power cut.","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1330}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"paternoster","twitter":null,"id":2940,"title":"Tamsin Paternoster"},{"urlSafeValue":"schumann","twitter":null,"id":3328,"title":"Noa 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BERLIN MAYOR","daletPyramidId":3837688,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Berlin mayor Kai Wegner under fire for playing tennis during major blackout caused by attack","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Berlin mayor under fire for playing tennis during blackout crisis","titleListing2":"He was seen as a beacon of hope in Berlin city politics and wanted to bring law and order to the capital, but after the tennis scandal Kai Wegner's career is now on the brink of collapse.","leadin":"He was seen as a beacon of hope in Berlin city politics and wanted to bring law and order to the German capital, but after the scandal over his playing tennis while tens of thousands were without power came to light, Kai Wegner's career is now on the brink of collapse.","summary":"He was seen as a beacon of hope in Berlin city politics and wanted to bring law and order to the German capital, but after the scandal over his playing tennis while tens of thousands were without power came to light, Kai Wegner's career is now on the brink of collapse.","keySentence":"","url":"berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-under-fire-for-playing-tennis-during-major-blackout-caused-by-atta","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/09\/berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-under-fire-for-playing-tennis-during-major-blackout-caused-by-atta","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Berlin's ruling mayor Kai Wegner faces mounting pressure to resign after playing tennis during a major power blackout caused by left-wing extremists, with opposition parties and former mayors demanding his removal.\n\nWegner told reporters Sunday he had \"been on the phone all day\" during Saturday's terrorist attack that left more than 40,000 Berlin households without power.\n\nHowever, the Senate Chancellery confirmed to state public broadcaster rbb that he played tennis with his partner, Education Senator Katharina G\u00fcnther-W\u00fcnsch, between 1 pm and 2 pm on Saturday.\n\nG\u00fcnther-W\u00fcnsch is also facing criticism. As education senator, she faced urgent tasks as emergency accommodation was set up in numerous sports halls at short notice for those affected by the blackout.\n\nWegner defended his actions Thursday, saying, \"There's no reason to apologise if you end a crisis a day and a half beforehand. We managed it well.\"\n\nGrowing criticism from all sides\n\nThe state chancellery emphasised Wegner was available at all times and resumed work immediately after the match. However, tens of thousands of Berlin residents remained without power in freezing temperatures while he played tennis.\n\nThe incident threatens Wegner's political ambitions, and his image as a consistent advocate for law and order, which brought him to power in Berlin, is said to be crumbling.\n\nA rise from Berlin mayor to German chancellor, as Willy Brandt once achieved, now seems unthinkable.\n\n\"Kai Wegner must resign,\" FDP party deputy chairman Wolfgang Kubicki wrote on X. The Berlin FDP, BSW and AfD parties are all also calling for Wegner's resignation.\n\nFormer Berlin mayor Walter Momper from the SPD party called Wegner's tennis game \"absurd\" and called for a comprehensive investigation, according to dpa.\n\nWegner is scheduled to answer questions before the Berlin House of Representatives' Committee on Internal Affairs on Monday. The Greens submitted the motion, according to Berliner Morgenpost.\n\n\"We consider it essential that the governing mayor explain himself to parliament,\" Green parliamentary group interior policy spokesperson Vasili Franco said. Wegner also intends to make a government statement next Thursday.\n\nCoalition under pressure\n\nDespite backing from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who declared \"there is nothing to criticise in the procedures,\" support within the coalition is dwindling.\n\n\"This is something that has shaken credibility. It is always important to stand by political mistakes,\" CDU politician Philipp Amthor said on Markus Lanz chat show.\n\nThe incident could test Berlin's black-red coalition. Economics Senator Franziska Giffey from the SPD party said, \"I can only say that I handled the situation differently.\"\n\n\"I don't know what's worse: that he lied to Berliners or that a tennis match was more important to him than the local people,\" SPD top candidate Steffen Krach told Tagesspiegel.\n\nWegner, elected mayor in 2023, emphasised at the time he wanted to \"create a government that works together reliably on the problems of this city,\" but the CDU politician can hardly count on re-election at present.\n\nWegner cancelled an inquiry for comment from Euronews, citing scheduling reasons.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Berlin's ruling mayor Kai Wegner faces mounting pressure to resign after playing tennis during a major power blackout caused by left-wing extremists, with opposition parties and former mayors demanding his removal.<\/p>\n<p>Wegner told reporters Sunday he had \"been on the phone all day\" during Saturday's terrorist attack that left more than 40,000 Berlin households without power. <\/p>\n<p>However, the Senate Chancellery confirmed to state public broadcaster rbb that he played tennis with his partner, Education Senator Katharina G\u00fcnther-W\u00fcnsch, between 1 pm and 2 pm on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>G\u00fcnther-W\u00fcnsch is also facing criticism. As education senator, she faced urgent tasks as emergency accommodation was set up in numerous sports halls at short notice for those affected by the blackout.<\/p>\n<p>Wegner defended his actions Thursday, saying, \"There's no reason to apologise if you end a crisis a day and a half beforehand. We managed it well.\"<\/p>\n<h2>Growing criticism from all sides<\/h2>\n<p>The state chancellery emphasised Wegner was available at all times and resumed work immediately after the match. However, tens of thousands of Berlin residents remained without power in freezing temperatures while he played tennis.<\/p>\n<p>The incident threatens Wegner's political ambitions, and his image as a consistent advocate for law and order, which brought him to power in Berlin, is said to be crumbling. <\/p>\n<p>A rise from Berlin mayor to German chancellor, as Willy Brandt once achieved, now seems unthinkable.<\/p>\n<p>\"Kai Wegner must resign,\" FDP party deputy chairman Wolfgang Kubicki wrote on X. The Berlin FDP, BSW and AfD parties are all also calling for Wegner's resignation.<\/p>\n<p>Former Berlin mayor Walter Momper from the SPD party called Wegner's tennis game \"absurd\" and called for a comprehensive investigation, according to dpa.<\/p>\n<p>Wegner is scheduled to answer questions before the Berlin House of Representatives' Committee on Internal Affairs on Monday. The Greens submitted the motion, according to Berliner Morgenpost.<\/p>\n<p>\"We consider it essential that the governing mayor explain himself to parliament,\" Green parliamentary group interior policy spokesperson Vasili Franco said. Wegner also intends to make a government statement next Thursday.<\/p>\n<h2>Coalition under pressure<\/h2>\n<p>Despite backing from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who declared \"there is nothing to criticise in the procedures,\" support within the coalition is dwindling. <\/p>\n<p>\"This is something that has shaken credibility. It is always important to stand by political mistakes,\" CDU politician Philipp Amthor said on Markus Lanz chat show.<\/p>\n<p>The incident could test Berlin's black-red coalition. Economics Senator Franziska Giffey from the SPD party said, \"I can only say that I handled the situation differently.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"I don't know what's worse: that he lied to Berliners or that a tennis match was more important to him than the local people,\" SPD top candidate Steffen Krach told Tagesspiegel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//04//45000-homes-in-berlin-without-power-after-politically-motivated-attack-by-left-wing-extrem/">45,000 homes in Berlin without power after politically motivated attack by 'left-wing extremists'<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//06//german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout/">German prosecutors launch terrorism probe into far-left attack behind Berlin blackout<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Wegner, elected mayor in 2023, emphasised at the time he wanted to \"create a government that works together reliably on the problems of this city,\" but the CDU politician can hardly count on re-election at present.<\/p>\n<p>Wegner cancelled an inquiry for comment from Euronews, citing scheduling reasons.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767971999,"updatedAt":1767978731,"publishedAt":1767978727,"firstPublishedAt":1767978727,"lastPublishedAt":1767978727,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/75\/92\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ac2aeaa1-929b-5fd7-ad8b-7f7144fb8309-9607592.jpg","altText":"Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner at a press conference in Berlin, 5 January 2026","caption":"Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner at a press conference in Berlin, 5 January 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3533,"urlSafeValue":"laura.fleischmann@euronews.com","title":"Laura Fleischmann","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":274,"slug":"terrorism","urlSafeValue":"terrorism","title":"Terrorism","titleRaw":"Terrorism"},{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":12964,"slug":"left-wing-extremism","urlSafeValue":"left-wing-extremism","title":"Left wing extremism","titleRaw":"Left wing extremism"},{"id":13008,"slug":"power-outage","urlSafeValue":"power-outage","title":"Power outage","titleRaw":"Power outage"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2860273}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9607592,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/09\/berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-under-fire-for-playing-tennis-during-major-blackout-caused-by-atta","lastModified":1767978727},{"id":2860831,"cid":9607564,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"White Tiger Process starts today","daletPyramidId":3833949,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German court begins trial of 'White Tiger' online predator","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German court begins trial of 'White Tiger' online predator","titleListing2":"German court begins trial of 'White Tiger' online predator","leadin":"A trial for a 21-year-old German-Iranian known as \"White Tiger\" started in Hamburg on Friday and will last until December. Accused of 204 offences, including murder and attempted murder, he allegedly manipulated minors online, leading them to self-harm and suicide.","summary":"A trial for a 21-year-old German-Iranian known as \"White Tiger\" started in Hamburg on Friday and will last until December. Accused of 204 offences, including murder and attempted murder, he allegedly manipulated minors online, leading them to self-harm and suicide.","keySentence":"","url":"german-court-begins-trial-of-white-tiger-online-predator","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/09\/german-court-begins-trial-of-white-tiger-online-predator","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German juvenile court began trial Friday of a man accused of driving a 13-year-old to suicide and coercing dozens of children as part of an international online predator network known as \"764\".\n\nThe 21-year-old German-Iranian defendant, identified only as Shahriar J under German privacy rules, was attacked Thursday by other detainees shouting \"White Tiger\" while being transferred to Hamburg court, his lawyer Christiane Yueksel said.\n\nShahriar J is accused of driving a 13-year-old transgender youth living near Seattle to suicide in January 2022, which the victim live-streamed.\n\nThe accused allegedly operated from his parents' home in a wealthy Hamburg suburb using the pseudonym \"White Tiger\".\n\nThe US Federal Bureau of Investigation has labelled \"764\" an international child exploitation enterprise and a \"network of nihilistic violent extremists\".\n\nThe group is named after the Texas zip code of its founder, a teenager arrested and jailed in 2023, according to reports.\n\nTargeting vulnerable children\n\nProsecutors allege Shahriar J victimised more than 30 children in hundreds of cases from January 2021, when he was 16 years old. He is being tried in juvenile court in closed proceedings because he was a minor at the time.\n\nUsers of the \"764\" forum shared ultra-violent content and child sexual abuse material, and exchanged tips on luring victims into producing sexually explicit material before using it for blackmail, according to court documents.\n\nThe user called \"White Tiger\" allegedly found vulnerable children in online chats or gaming forums, developed relationships to groom them, then encouraged them to produce pornographic content used for coercion and extortion.\n\nProsecutors have levelled 204 criminal charges including one of murder and five of attempted murder. Court spokeswoman Marayke Frantzen said if convicted, Shahriar J could face six months to 10 years in a young offenders' institution.\n\nYueksel said the charges were \"experimental\" and \"not provable\".\n\nThe suspect was arrested in a police raid on his parents' home on 17 June 2025 and has been held in pre-trial detention since. Authorities said they had identified eight victims aged between 11 and 15 from the UK, Canada, Germany and the US.\n\nThe case has raised questions about whether German authorities should have acted sooner.\n\nWeekly newspaper Die Zeit reported that the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted German authorities in 2021 to a Hamburg-based predator called \"White Tiger\".\n\nPolice reportedly questioned the suspect at the time but dropped the case after he admitted possessing pornographic material involving minors.\n\nAn FBI investigator told Der Spiegel magazine he had shared the identity of \"White Tiger\" with German law enforcement in February 2023, more than two years before the arrest.\n\nHamburg authorities blamed the delay on the time-consuming task of searching through \"large number of data storage devices\" seized and the fact that victims and other perpetrators \"mostly live abroad and have sometimes concealed their identities\".\n\nThe Hamburg regional court has scheduled an initial 82 days of hearings until 17 December 2026. Other investigations against the same network are ongoing, Frantzen said, adding the current trial \"could serve as a precedent\".\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German juvenile court began trial Friday of a man accused of driving a 13-year-old to suicide and coercing dozens of children as part of an international online predator network known as \"764\".<\/p>\n<p>The 21-year-old German-Iranian defendant, identified only as Shahriar J under German privacy rules, was attacked Thursday by other detainees shouting \"White Tiger\" while being transferred to Hamburg court, his lawyer Christiane Yueksel said.<\/p>\n<p>Shahriar J is accused of driving a 13-year-old transgender youth living near Seattle to suicide in January 2022, which the victim live-streamed. <\/p>\n<p>The accused allegedly operated from his parents' home in a wealthy Hamburg suburb using the pseudonym \"White Tiger\".<\/p>\n<p>The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has labelled \"764\" an international child exploitation enterprise and a \"network of nihilistic violent extremists\". <\/p>\n<p>The group is named after the Texas zip code of its founder, a teenager arrested and jailed in 2023, according to reports.<\/p>\n<h2>Targeting vulnerable children<\/h2>\n<p>Prosecutors allege Shahriar J victimised more than 30 children in hundreds of cases from January 2021, when he was 16 years old. He is being tried in juvenile court in closed proceedings because he was a minor at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Users of the \"764\" forum shared ultra-violent content and child sexual abuse material, and exchanged tips on luring victims into producing sexually explicit material before using it for blackmail, according to court documents.<\/p>\n<p>The user called \"White Tiger\" allegedly found vulnerable children in online chats or gaming forums, developed relationships to groom them, then encouraged them to produce pornographic content used for coercion and extortion.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have levelled 204 criminal charges including one of murder and five of attempted murder. Court spokeswoman Marayke Frantzen said if convicted, Shahriar J could face six months to 10 years in a young offenders' institution.<\/p>\n<p>Yueksel said the charges were \"experimental\" and \"not provable\".<\/p>\n<p>The suspect was arrested in a police raid on his parents' home on 17 June 2025 and has been held in pre-trial detention since. Authorities said they had identified eight victims aged between 11 and 15 from the UK, Canada, Germany and the US.<\/p>\n<p>The case has raised questions about whether German authorities should have acted sooner. <\/p>\n<p>Weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported that the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted German authorities in 2021 to a Hamburg-based predator called \"White Tiger\".<\/p>\n<p>Police reportedly questioned the suspect at the time but dropped the case after he admitted possessing pornographic material involving minors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//07//17//german-prosecutors-investigate-additional-victims-in-hamburg-child-suicide-network-case/">German prosecutors investigate additional victims in Hamburg child suicide network case<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//04//10//child-sex-offenders-using-dating-apps-at-alarming-rates-youth-safety-group-says/">Child sex offenders using dating apps at alarming rates, youth safety group says<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>An FBI investigator told Der Spiegel magazine he had shared the identity of \"White Tiger\" with German law enforcement in February 2023, more than two years before the arrest.<\/p>\n<p>Hamburg authorities blamed the delay on the time-consuming task of searching through \"large number of data storage devices\" seized and the fact that victims and other perpetrators \"mostly live abroad and have sometimes concealed their identities\".<\/p>\n<p>The Hamburg regional court has scheduled an initial 82 days of hearings until 17 December 2026. Other investigations against the same network are ongoing, Frantzen said, adding the current trial \"could serve as a precedent\".<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767956980,"updatedAt":1767983718,"publishedAt":1767972444,"firstPublishedAt":1767972444,"lastPublishedAt":1767972444,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/75\/64\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9597cae8-463b-50d2-91e5-82832dacda4b-9607564.jpg","altText":"The 21-year-old has been in custody at the Hahn\u00f6fersand juvenile detention centre since mid-June. (symbolic image)","caption":"The 21-year-old has been in custody at the Hahn\u00f6fersand juvenile detention centre since mid-June. (symbolic image)","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2009 AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1476,"height":830}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3568,"urlSafeValue":"maja.kunert@euronews.com","title":"Maja Kunert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":7607,"slug":"pedophilia","urlSafeValue":"pedophilia","title":"Pedophilia","titleRaw":"Pedophilia"},{"id":7932,"slug":"assassination","urlSafeValue":"assassination","title":"Assassination","titleRaw":"Assassination"},{"id":9607,"slug":"trial","urlSafeValue":"trial","title":"Trial","titleRaw":"Trial"},{"id":17220,"slug":"cocuk-haklar-","urlSafeValue":"cocuk-haklar-","title":"Children's right","titleRaw":"Children's right"},{"id":21390,"slug":"cyber-crime","urlSafeValue":"cyber-crime","title":"cyber crime","titleRaw":"cyber crime"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.germangrowth"},{"path":"euronews"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"MijxJHF5UB4","dailymotionId":"x9xgdtw"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":95000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":16084415,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/55\/18\/07\/ED_PYR_3355187_20260109183519.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":95000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":23528544,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/55\/18\/07\/SHD_PYR_3355187_20260109183519.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":95000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":75107634,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/55\/18\/07\/FHD_PYR_3355187_20260109183519.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9607287,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/09\/german-court-begins-trial-of-white-tiger-online-predator","lastModified":1767972444},{"id":2860907,"cid":9607705,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Germany trade balance data","daletPyramidId":3835359,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German trade takes a hit as exports stumble and imports wobble","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German trade takes a hit as exports stumble and imports wobble","titleListing2":"","leadin":"German exports fell in November 2025, narrowing the trade surplus to \u20ac13.1 billion from \u20ac17.2 billion a month earlier. The drop was driven by weaker trade with the EU and a steep year-on-year fall in shipments to the United States, while imports from non-EU countries climbed.","summary":"German exports fell in November 2025, narrowing the trade surplus to \u20ac13.1 billion from \u20ac17.2 billion a month earlier. The drop was driven by weaker trade with the EU and a steep year-on-year fall in shipments to the United States, while imports from non-EU countries climbed.","keySentence":"","url":"german-trade-takes-a-hit-as-exports-stumble-and-imports-wobble","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/01\/09\/german-trade-takes-a-hit-as-exports-stumble-and-imports-wobble","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Germany\u2019s export engine had another difficult month in November 2025, with fresh data showing a monthly fall in outbound shipments even as imports continued to rise.\n\nThe figures, published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), pointed to a narrowing of the trade surplus at a time when Europe\u2019s largest economy is watching its external demand closely.\n\n\u201cIn November 2025, German exports fell by 2.5% compared to October 2025, after adjusting for calendar and seasonal effects, while imports rose by 0.8%.\u201d\n\nThe same release added that compared to the same month of the previous year, exports decreased by 0.8% and imports increased by 5.4%.\n\nSeasonally adjusted merchandise exports in November 2025 were valued at \u20ac128.1bn.\n\nImports came to \u20ac115.1 billion, with Destatis highlighting a trade surplus of \u20ac13.1 billion.\n\n\"In October 2025, the calendar and seasonally adjusted trade balance had been +\u20ac17.2 billion. In November 2024, it had been +\u20ac20.0 billion.\u201d\n\nIn other words, the surplus has not only decreased month to month but also compared with the same period a year earlier.\n\nLower EU trade, but more with others\n\nThe trade troubles are even reflected when it comes to circulation within the European Union, where Germany is still considered the bloc's top economic powerhouse.\n\n\u201cCompared with October 2025, calendar and seasonally adjusted exports to EU countries decreased by 4.2% and imports from these countries by 4.0%.\u201d\n\nBy contrast, trade with countries outside the EU showed a different pattern: \u201cCompared to October 2025, exports to third countries decreased by 0.2%, while imports from these countries increased by 6.3%.\u201d\n\nIn short, Germany is currently exporting and importing less to and from the EU than it did in October, while importing more from third countries.\n\nAmong individual partners, the United States remained Germany\u2019s largest export market, but the trend was also downbeat, with exports to the US totalling at \u20ac10.8 billion, a decrease of 4.2% from the previous month.\n\n\u201cCompared to November 2024, exports to the United States were down 22.9% after adjusting for calendar and seasonal variations.\u201d Exports to China rose on the month, while exports to the UK fell.\n\nThe numbers highlight Germany's vulnerability to shifting demand and price pressures as it seeks to pull itself out of an economic slump.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Germany\u2019s export engine had another difficult month in November 2025, with fresh data showing a monthly fall in outbound shipments even as imports continued to rise. <\/p>\n<p>The figures, published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), pointed to a narrowing of the trade surplus at a time when Europe\u2019s largest economy is watching its external demand closely.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn November 2025, German exports fell by 2.5% compared to October 2025, after adjusting for calendar and seasonal effects, while imports rose by 0.8%.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The same release added that compared to the same month of the previous year, exports decreased by 0.8% and imports increased by 5.4%.<\/p>\n<p>Seasonally adjusted merchandise exports in November 2025 were valued at \u20ac128.1bn.<\/p>\n<p>Imports came to \u20ac115.1 billion, with Destatis highlighting a trade surplus of \u20ac13.1 billion.<\/p>\n<p>\"In October 2025, the calendar and seasonally adjusted trade balance had been +\u20ac17.2 billion. In November 2024, it had been +\u20ac20.0 billion.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>In other words, the surplus has not only decreased month to month but also compared with the same period a year earlier.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//12//23//germanys-export-model-hit-from-both-sides-as-us-and-china-demand-slumps/">Germany/u2019s export model hit from both sides as US and China demand slumps<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//12//09//shares-in-germanys-thyssenkrupp-slide-as-it-forecasts-heavy-losses/">Shares in Germany\u2019s Thyssenkrupp slide as it forecasts heavy losses<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Lower EU trade, but more with others<\/h2>\n<p>The trade troubles are even reflected when it comes to circulation within the European Union, where Germany is still considered the bloc's top economic powerhouse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompared with October 2025, calendar and seasonally adjusted exports to EU countries decreased by 4.2% and imports from these countries by 4.0%.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>By contrast, trade with countries outside the EU showed a different pattern: \u201cCompared to October 2025, exports to third countries decreased by 0.2%, while imports from these countries increased by 6.3%.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In short, Germany is currently exporting and importing less to and from the EU than it did in October, while importing more from third countries. <\/p>\n<p>Among individual partners, the United States remained Germany\u2019s largest export market, but the trend was also downbeat, with exports to the US totalling at \u20ac10.8 billion, a decrease of 4.2% from the previous month. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompared to November 2024, exports to the United States were down 22.9% after adjusting for calendar and seasonal variations.\u201d Exports to China rose on the month, while exports to the UK fell.<\/p>\n<p>The numbers highlight Germany's vulnerability to shifting demand and price pressures as it seeks to pull itself out of an economic slump.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767963774,"updatedAt":1767969910,"publishedAt":1767969906,"firstPublishedAt":1767969906,"lastPublishedAt":1767969906,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/77\/05\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e99ce5a6-eeff-506f-bc45-5c70ed0f1572-9607705.jpg","altText":"A German national flag waves on top of a silo of a farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany. 5 Sept. 2024.","caption":"A German national flag waves on top of a silo of a farm in Wehrheim near Frankfurt, Germany. 5 Sept. 2024.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/Michael Probst","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1346}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3408,"urlSafeValue":"hajdari","title":"Una Hajdari","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":15854,"slug":"export","urlSafeValue":"export","title":"export","titleRaw":"export"},{"id":7707,"slug":"import","urlSafeValue":"import","title":"Import","titleRaw":"Import"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":10677,"slug":"german-economy","urlSafeValue":"german-economy","title":"German economy","titleRaw":"German economy"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2797386},{"id":2760482},{"id":2684818}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2026\/01\/09\/german-trade-takes-a-hit-as-exports-stumble-and-imports-wobble","lastModified":1767969906},{"id":2860273,"cid":9605069,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"END OF POWER OUTAGE IN BERLIN","daletPyramidId":3810109,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Power restored to thousands of Berlin homes after attack on lines caused outage","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Power restored to Berlin homes after attack on lines caused outage","titleListing2":"Power restored to thousands of Berlin homes after attack on lines caused outage","leadin":"Authorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network but several days of work were required to repair the damage.","summary":"Authorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network but several days of work were required to repair the damage.","keySentence":"","url":"power-restored-to-thousands-of-berlin-homes-after-attack-on-lines-caused-outage","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/07\/power-restored-to-thousands-of-berlin-homes-after-attack-on-lines-caused-outage","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Power was being restored to thousands of households in Berlin on Wednesday that had been without electricity in freezing temperatures for four days following a suspected far-left attack on high-voltage lines, authorities said.\n\nAbout 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses lost their supply on Saturday morning after a fire on a bridge that carries high-voltage cables over the Teltow Canal, in the southwest of the German capital, affecting an estimated 100,000 people.\n\nAuthorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network but several days of work were required to repair the damage.\n\nSome 25,500 households and 1,200 businesses were still without power on Tuesday, largely in the prosperous Zehlendorf district.\n\nIt was the longest blackout in the city since the end of World War II.\n\nBerlin's power network operator said service was gradually being restored on Wednesday to all remaining households, German news agency dpa reported.\n\nInvestigators have focused on a written claim of responsibility by a far-left group, headlined \"Turning off the juice to the rulers,\" which said a gas-fired power plant in Berlin's Lichterfelde district had been \"successfully sabotaged.\"\n\nIt claimed that the aim of the action was to strike the fossil-fuel energy industry, not to cause power outages.\n\nGermany's domestic intelligence agency said self-styled \"Volcano Groups\" have been carrying out attacks on infrastructure in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg since 2011.\n\nA 2024 attack on a pylon that supplies a Tesla factory near Berlin temporarily halted production.\n\nOn Tuesday, the German federal prosecutor's office said it was taking over the investigation, citing suspicions of anti-constitutional sabotage, membership in a terrorist organisation and arson.\n\nBerlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner said repairs to the 300 metres of damaged cable would not be completed until Thursday.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Power was being restored to thousands of households in Berlin on Wednesday that had been without electricity in freezing temperatures for four days following a suspected far-left attack on high-voltage lines, authorities said.<\/p>\n<p>About 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses lost their supply on Saturday morning after a fire on a bridge that carries high-voltage cables over the Teltow Canal, in the southwest of the German capital, affecting an estimated 100,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network but several days of work were required to repair the damage.<\/p>\n<p>Some 25,500 households and 1,200 businesses were still without power on Tuesday, largely in the prosperous Zehlendorf district.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.566\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//46//45//808x456_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg/" alt=\"Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant near a cable bridge crossing the Teltow canal in Berlin, 30 March, 2022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/384x217_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/640x362_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/750x424_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/828x469_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/1080x611_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/1200x679_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/1920x1087_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant near a cable bridge crossing the Teltow canal in Berlin, 30 March, 2022<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>It was the longest blackout in the city since the end of World War II.<\/p>\n<p>Berlin's power network operator said service was gradually being restored on Wednesday to all remaining households, German news agency dpa reported.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators have focused on a written claim of responsibility by a far-left group, headlined \"Turning off the juice to the rulers,\" which said a gas-fired power plant in Berlin's Lichterfelde district had been \"successfully sabotaged.\"<\/p>\n<p>It claimed that the aim of the action was to strike the fossil-fuel energy industry, not to cause power outages.<\/p>\n<p>Germany's domestic intelligence agency said self-styled \"Volcano Groups\" have been carrying out attacks on infrastructure in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg since 2011.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//50//69//808x539_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg/" alt=\"People enjoy snowfall in Berlin as winter weather covers the city, 6 January, 2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/384x256_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/640x427_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/750x500_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/828x552_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/1080x720_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/1200x800_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/1920x1280_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">People enjoy snowfall in Berlin as winter weather covers the city, 6 January, 2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>A 2024 attack on a pylon that supplies a Tesla factory near Berlin temporarily halted production.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2026//01//06//german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout/">German federal prosecutor's office said it was taking over the investigation<\/strong><\/a>, citing suspicions of anti-constitutional sabotage, membership in a terrorist organisation and arson.<\/p>\n<p>Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner said repairs to the 300 metres of damaged cable would not be completed until Thursday.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767784892,"updatedAt":1767805308,"publishedAt":1767785828,"firstPublishedAt":1767785828,"lastPublishedAt":1767785828,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_81207ed8-1513-578e-ab43-58110eece522-9605069.jpg","altText":"Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, 3 January, 2026","caption":"Passers-by stand in the light of a fire department help point in Berlin, 3 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/50\/69\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0d977ded-38bb-56b6-baf7-f08c05dcd34f-9605069.jpg","altText":"People enjoy snowfall in Berlin as winter weather covers the city, 6 January, 2026","caption":"People enjoy snowfall in Berlin as winter weather covers the city, 6 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/46\/45\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_560645c2-05ec-5b68-bee0-f4c1922207ba-9604645.jpg","altText":"Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant near a cable bridge crossing the Teltow canal in Berlin, 30 March, 2022","caption":"Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant near a cable bridge crossing the Teltow canal in Berlin, 30 March, 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1132}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":244,"slug":"security","urlSafeValue":"security","title":"Security","titleRaw":"Security"},{"id":13008,"slug":"power-outage","urlSafeValue":"power-outage","title":"Power outage","titleRaw":"Power outage"},{"id":19440,"slug":"sabotage","urlSafeValue":"sabotage","title":"sabotage","titleRaw":"sabotage"},{"id":9385,"slug":"fossil-fuels","urlSafeValue":"fossil-fuels","title":"Fossil fuels","titleRaw":"Fossil fuels"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2858522},{"id":2855701},{"id":2854036}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"iFBsIXCc32M","dailymotionId":"x9xaeas"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":81000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14485249,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/38\/00\/00\/ED_PYR_3338000_20260107170149.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":81000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":20745229,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/38\/00\/00\/SHD_PYR_3338000_20260107170149.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":81000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":64677816,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/38\/00\/00\/FHD_PYR_3338000_20260107170149.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9604781,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/07\/power-restored-to-thousands-of-berlin-homes-after-attack-on-lines-caused-outage","lastModified":1767785828},{"id":2860025,"cid":9604000,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"after blackout in berlin - city pays hotels","daletPyramidId":3800953,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"German prosecutors launch terrorism probe into far-left attack behind Berlin blackout","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"German prosecutors launch 'far-left terror' probe into Berlin blackout","titleListing2":"A far-left group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin's power grid, causing a blackout for tens of thousands of households. Repairs are expected by Thursday.","leadin":"A far-left group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin's power grid, causing a blackout for tens of thousands of households. Repairs are expected by Thursday.","summary":"A far-left group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin's power grid, causing a blackout for tens of thousands of households. Repairs are expected by Thursday.","keySentence":"","url":"german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/06\/german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"German federal prosecutors on Tuesday launched an investigation on terrorism charges into an arson attack on high-voltage cables that caused a power blackout impacting 45,000 Berlin households.\n\nThe service said it was probing the January 3 attack \u2014 claimed online by a far-left extremist group \u2014 on charges including \"membership in a terrorist organisation, sabotage, arson and disruption of public services\".\n\nThe attack on Saturday morning severed several high-voltage cables crossing the Teltow Canal in the Lichterfelde district, leaving around 25,500 households still without power on Tuesday.\n\nBerlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner said repairs to the 300 metres of damaged cable would not be completed until Thursday.\n\nBerliners seek emergency shelter and warm meals\n\nThe far-left \"Vulkan Group\" claimed responsibility in an online letter authorities have now verified as authentic.\n\nBerlin's Interior Senator Iris Spranger said the attack was \"left-wing terrorism\", a characterisation confirmed by federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt in a telephone call.\n\n\"This is an act of terrorism,\" Wegner said at a press conference on Tuesday. \"These perpetrators deliberately endangered people's lives.\"\n\nThe city initially drew criticism for offering only emergency shelter in gymnasiums before agreeing to cover hotel costs for displaced residents.\n\nWegner said the government would reimburse accommodation expenses \"in full retrospectively\" after residents submit hotel bills with proof of address and identity.\n\nAuthorities evacuated several hundred people from 74 care homes, though some facilities relied on emergency generators. The German Armed Forces deployed personnel to assist police and fire services with logistics and emergency power operations.\n\nBerlin set up public showers in three swimming pools, established food banks distributing hot meals, and deployed charging buses for residents to warm up and charge devices.\n\nSupermarkets and S-Bahn services to Mexikoplatz, Nikolassee and Wannsee stations have resumed operations.\n\nStromnetz Berlin managing director Bernhard B\u00fcllmann said 17 emergency generators are operating, with 36 available in total after deliveries from North Rhine-Westphalia.\n\nEach generator connection increases the number of households with power, though engineers must carefully verify electrical capacity before restoring service.\n\nRepairs technically challenging\n\nPolice vice-president Marco Langner said investigators are analysing hundreds of hours of video footage and have received eight tips considered relevant.\n\nThe federal prosecutor general has taken over the investigation, with state and federal criminal police cooperating with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.\n\nThe Vulkan Group's letter said the attack targeted a gas-fired power station. Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey questioned whether the perpetrators were \"just left-wing groups of activists who are ideologically driven, or is there more to it,\" and called for federal assistance with the investigation.\n\nRepairing the cables presents technical challenges because the seven-component high-voltage lines require processing at temperatures above freezing under controlled conditions.\n\nEngineers constructed an enclosure around the work site to maintain proper environmental controls.\n\nAround three-quarters of Berlin's critical electricity infrastructure is under video surveillance, but a quarter located in public spaces \u2014 including the Teltow Canal cables \u2014 had not been monitored due to data protection concerns.\n\nGiffey said authorities plan to install permanent surveillance on these cables and deploy AI monitoring programmes to detect minor temperature changes via thermal imaging.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>German federal prosecutors on Tuesday launched an investigation on terrorism charges into an arson attack on high-voltage cables that caused a power blackout impacting 45,000 Berlin households.<\/p>\n<p>The service said it was probing the January 3 attack \u2014 claimed online by a far-left extremist group \u2014 on charges including \"membership in a terrorist organisation, sabotage, arson and disruption of public services\".<\/p>\n<p>The attack on Saturday morning severed several high-voltage cables crossing the Teltow Canal in the Lichterfelde district, leaving around 25,500 households still without power on Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p>Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner said repairs to the 300 metres of damaged cable would not be completed until Thursday.<\/p>\n<h2>Berliners seek emergency shelter and warm meals<\/h2>\n<p>The far-left \"Vulkan Group\" claimed responsibility in an online letter authorities have now verified as authentic. <\/p>\n<p>Berlin's Interior Senator Iris Spranger said the attack was \"left-wing terrorism\", a characterisation confirmed by federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt in a telephone call.<\/p>\n<p>\"This is an act of terrorism,\" Wegner said at a press conference on Tuesday. \"These perpetrators deliberately endangered people's lives.\"<\/p>\n<p>The city initially drew criticism for offering only emergency shelter in gymnasiums before agreeing to cover hotel costs for displaced residents. <\/p>\n<p>Wegner said the government would reimburse accommodation expenses \"in full retrospectively\" after residents submit hotel bills with proof of address and identity.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities evacuated several hundred people from 74 care homes, though some facilities relied on emergency generators. The German Armed Forces deployed personnel to assist police and fire services with logistics and emergency power operations.<\/p>\n<p>Berlin set up public showers in three swimming pools, established food banks distributing hot meals, and deployed charging buses for residents to warm up and charge devices. <\/p>\n<p>Supermarkets and S-Bahn services to Mexikoplatz, Nikolassee and Wannsee stations have resumed operations.<\/p>\n<p>Stromnetz Berlin managing director Bernhard B\u00fcllmann said 17 emergency generators are operating, with 36 available in total after deliveries from North Rhine-Westphalia. <\/p>\n<p>Each generator connection increases the number of households with power, though engineers must carefully verify electrical capacity before restoring service.<\/p>\n<h2>Repairs technically challenging<\/h2>\n<p>Police vice-president Marco Langner said investigators are analysing hundreds of hours of video footage and have received eight tips considered relevant. <\/p>\n<p>The federal prosecutor general has taken over the investigation, with state and federal criminal police cooperating with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>The Vulkan Group's letter said the attack targeted a gas-fired power station. Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey questioned whether the perpetrators were \"just left-wing groups of activists who are ideologically driven, or is there more to it,\" and called for federal assistance with the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Repairing the cables presents technical challenges because the seven-component high-voltage lines require processing at temperatures above freezing under controlled conditions. <\/p>\n<p>Engineers constructed an enclosure around the work site to maintain proper environmental controls.<\/p>\n<p>Around three-quarters of Berlin's critical electricity infrastructure is under video surveillance, but a quarter located in public spaces \u2014 including the Teltow Canal cables \u2014 had not been monitored due to data protection concerns. <\/p>\n<p>Giffey said authorities plan to install permanent surveillance on these cables and deploy AI monitoring programmes to detect minor temperature changes via thermal imaging.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767707202,"updatedAt":1767720995,"publishedAt":1767720991,"firstPublishedAt":1767720991,"lastPublishedAt":1767720991,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_efafa186-7759-5a36-b467-d063eb523a54-9601557.jpg","altText":"The attack in Berlin not only paralysed the S-Bahn, but also disconnected 45,000 households from the power grid.","caption":"The attack in Berlin not only paralysed the S-Bahn, but also disconnected 45,000 households from the power grid.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1330}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3348,"urlSafeValue":"muller-f","title":"Franziska M\u00fcller","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":1734,"slug":"berlin","urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin","titleRaw":"Berlin"},{"id":12370,"slug":"crisis-management","urlSafeValue":"crisis-management","title":"Crisis Management","titleRaw":"Crisis Management"},{"id":13008,"slug":"power-outage","urlSafeValue":"power-outage","title":"Power outage","titleRaw":"Power outage"},{"id":25900,"slug":"electricity","urlSafeValue":"electricity","title":"electricity","titleRaw":"electricity"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9603707,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/06\/german-prosecutors-launch-terrorism-probe-into-far-left-attack-behind-berlin-blackout","lastModified":1767720991},{"id":2859841,"cid":9602964,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Berlin, back on top of the jazz world?","daletPyramidId":3788155,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Radio revival: 'Ella' looks to make jazz great again with new Berlin station","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"New Berlin jazz radio station aims to revive jazz in Germany ","titleListing2":"A new radio station named after jazz legend Ella #Fitzgerald doesn't just want to broadcast #music. Why this says more about our times than you might think. #Jazz","leadin":"A new Berlin-based radio station named after jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald is aiming to revive the genres fortunes. As the music used to be an expression of rebellion, emancipation and social protest, the launch says more about our times than you might imagine, writes Diana Resnik.","summary":"A new Berlin-based radio station named after jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald is aiming to revive the genres fortunes. As the music used to be an expression of rebellion, emancipation and social protest, the launch says more about our times than you might imagine, writes Diana Resnik.","keySentence":"","url":"radio-revival-ella-looks-to-make-jazz-great-again-with-new-berlin-station","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/01\/06\/radio-revival-ella-looks-to-make-jazz-great-again-with-new-berlin-station","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Berlin - once a focal point of unleashed lifestyles and musical freedom and frenzy - had a dishonourable distinction of not having its own jazz radio station until recently.\n\nThis is now changed with the launch of \"Ella\", a new network named after the 'Queen of Jazz', Ella Fitzgerald, which began broadcasting on Monday in the presence of Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer.\n\n\"The jazz scene in Berlin now has the chance to flourish,\" says Ella boss Oliver Dunk. \"It's always been a lifelong dream of mine to do something in the fields of jazz, soul and blues - three things that can't be separated.\"\n\nIn the golden 1920s, jazz and swing conquered the Germany capital's clubs and pubs. The Weimar Republic breathed a sigh of relief, revitalised by a new kind of music that Hermann Hesse described in his novel Steppenwolf as \"raw wildness\" and \"honest sensuality\".\n\nThe music originated in the southern states of the USA and was created as a fusion of African-American sounds and European music.\n\n\"What I find inspiring about jazz is that this style of music builds bridges and connects very different cultures,\" says Dunk.\n\nAs if by chance, radio, a new medium emerged in 1923. This meant that jazz music could also be broadcast live. Well-known musicians such as Louis Armstrong could now be heard directly in living rooms and had a significant influence on jazz singing.\n\nBut jazz is not just about Louis Armstrong, says Dunk. \"It's beautiful music with an incredible breadth,\" and that's what Ella wants to portray in its programme.\n\nIs Berlin now experiencing a jazz upswing like in the golden twenties? \"We want to contribute to this....and be part of the jazz scene.\" adds Dunk. Ella wants to prove that jazz is still highly regarded, both socially and politically.\n\nJazz already had a political dimension in its origins. The music was an expression of rebellion, emancipation and social protest.\n\nToday, Dunk sees certain parallels with the 1920s in terms of political developments: \"My fear is that history will repeat itself.\"\n\nAfter Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, jazz was to be \"eradicated\" as \"foreign music\". After the establishment of the so-called Reich Music Chamber, the first bans and reprisals followed.\n\nToday, jazz no longer plays such a major role in the musical preferences of most Germans. Pop songs dominant more than 50 per cent of the market, according to Dunk who believes jazz is seen by many as atonal and weird but deserves more publicity and more acceptance.\n\n\"Germans tend to look back at the old favourites, like Uschi Br\u00fcning and Manfred Krug,\" says Dunk. But there are also newcomers: \"For example, we have Lisa Bassenge - a great musician - and Martina Barta, she's insanely talented.\"\n\nThis is exactly what Ella wants to offer: In addition to the live radio station, there is a website offering different types of jazz. \"The radio is the taster channel for the great jazz world of Ella,\" he adds.\n\nDunk remains realistic about his ambitions: \"It would be presumptuous to believe that a small radio station can change things, however, every journey begins with a first step.\"\n\nIf you want to immerse yourself in the world of jazz, soul and blues, you can find Ella Radio on the FM frequency 91.0 MHz in Berlin and on 90.7 in Potsdam.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Berlin - once a focal point of unleashed lifestyles and musical freedom and frenzy - had a dishonourable distinction of not having its own jazz radio station until recently.<\/p>\n<p>This is now changed with the launch of \"Ella\", a new network named after the 'Queen of Jazz', Ella Fitzgerald, which began broadcasting on Monday in the presence of Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer.<\/p>\n<p>\"The jazz scene in Berlin now has the chance to flourish,\" says Ella boss Oliver Dunk. \"It's always been a lifelong dream of mine to do something in the fields of jazz, soul and blues - three things that can't be separated.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6867469879518072\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//29//64//808x553_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Ella Fitzgerald on stage at &#x22;Bal Pare&#x22; a top social event in Munich, Germany on Jan. 21, 1967, during the carnival season.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/384x264_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/640x440_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/750x515_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/828x569_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/1080x742_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/1200x824_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/1920x1319_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Ella Fitzgerald on stage at &#x22;Bal Pare&#x22; a top social event in Munich, Germany on Jan. 21, 1967, during the carnival season.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Klaus Frings\/AP 1967 <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In the golden 1920s, jazz and swing conquered the Germany capital's clubs and pubs. The Weimar Republic breathed a sigh of relief, revitalised by a new kind of music that Hermann Hesse described in his novel Steppenwolf as \"raw wildness\" and \"honest sensuality\".<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1.238390092879257\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//29//58//808x998_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Songwriter Irving Berlin can be seen at the piano in the 1920s.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/384x476_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/640x793_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/750x929_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/828x1025_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1080x1337_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1200x1486_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1920x2378_cmsv2_be393c46-d88e-54d3-887f-7328a187a6cf-9602958.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Songwriter Irving Berlin can be seen at the piano in the 1920s.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The music originated in the southern states of the USA and was created as a fusion of African-American sounds and European music.<\/p>\n<p>\"What I find inspiring about jazz is that this style of music builds bridges and connects very different cultures,\" says Dunk.<\/p>\n<p>As if by chance, radio, a new medium emerged in 1923. This meant that jazz music could also be broadcast live. Well-known musicians such as Louis Armstrong could now be heard directly in living rooms and had a significant influence on jazz singing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.74\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//29//58//808x599_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: On his arrival in West Berlin on 11 February 1959, Louis Armstrong staged a mock trumpet performance for a young German student. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/384x284_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/640x474_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/750x555_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/828x613_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1080x799_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1200x888_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1920x1421_cmsv2_57ac7338-d4c4-5148-ad1f-be93bf25703c-9602958.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: On his arrival in West Berlin on 11 February 1959, Louis Armstrong staged a mock trumpet performance for a young German student. <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>But jazz is not just about Louis Armstrong, says Dunk. \"It's beautiful music with an incredible breadth,\" and that's what Ella wants to portray in its programme.<\/p>\n<p>Is Berlin now experiencing a jazz upswing like in the golden twenties? \"We want to contribute to this....and be part of the jazz scene.\" adds Dunk. Ella wants to prove that jazz is still highly regarded, both socially and politically.<\/p>\n<p>Jazz already had a political dimension in its origins. The music was an expression of rebellion, emancipation and social protest.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Dunk sees certain parallels with the 1920s in terms of political developments: \"My fear is that history will repeat itself.\"<\/p>\n<p>After Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, jazz was to be \"eradicated\" as \"foreign music\". After the establishment of the so-called Reich Music Chamber, the first bans and reprisals followed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6555\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//60//29//58//808x528_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: A man looks at a poster of an exhibition brochure from 1938 at the Berliner Philharmonie in Berlin on Friday, 2 November 2007. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/384x252_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/640x420_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/750x492_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/828x543_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1080x708_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1200x787_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/1920x1259_cmsv2_8897d959-a560-5e28-bb99-bb0fd2923a26-9602958.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: A man looks at a poster of an exhibition brochure from 1938 at the Berliner Philharmonie in Berlin on Friday, 2 November 2007. <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Today, jazz no longer plays such a major role in the musical preferences of most Germans. Pop songs dominant more than 50 per cent of the market, according to Dunk who believes jazz is seen by many as atonal and weird but deserves more publicity and more acceptance.<\/p>\n<p>\"Germans tend to look back at the old favourites, like Uschi Br\u00fcning and Manfred Krug,\" says Dunk. But there are also newcomers: \"For example, we have Lisa Bassenge - a great musician - and Martina Barta, she's insanely talented.\"<\/p>\n<p>This is exactly what Ella wants to offer: In addition to the live radio station, there is a website offering different types of jazz. \"The radio is the taster channel for the great jazz world of Ella,\" he adds.<\/p>\n<p>Dunk remains realistic about his ambitions: \"It would be presumptuous to believe that a small radio station can change things, however, every journey begins with a first step.\"<\/p>\n<p>If you want to immerse yourself in the world of jazz, soul and blues, you can find <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ella-radio.de///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">Ella Radio<\/a> on the FM frequency 91.0 MHz in Berlin and on 90.7 in Potsdam.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767630861,"updatedAt":1767701819,"publishedAt":1767701794,"firstPublishedAt":1767701794,"lastPublishedAt":1767701794,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f9d7bd2d-669a-51a6-bdbb-90e8f9927c02-9602958.jpg","altText":"The new radio station \"Ella\" doesn't just want to broadcast music. That's why the station is highly relevant today.","caption":"The new radio station \"Ella\" doesn't just want to broadcast music. That's why the station is highly relevant today.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/AP1952","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1767},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/29\/64\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5159bce2-ce3b-51a3-b2f9-41019975d28c-9602964.jpg","altText":"FILE: Ella Fitzgerald on stage at \"Bal Pare\" a top social event in Munich, Germany on Jan. 21, 1967, during the carnival season.","caption":"FILE: Ella Fitzgerald on stage at \"Bal Pare\" a top social event in Munich, Germany on Jan. 21, 1967, during the carnival season.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Klaus Frings\/AP 1967 ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1992,"height":1368}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2854,"urlSafeValue":"resnik","title":"Diana Resnik","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":7403,"slug":"jazz","urlSafeValue":"jazz","title":"Jazz","titleRaw":"Jazz"},{"id":10065,"slug":"music-industry","urlSafeValue":"music-industry","title":"Music industry","titleRaw":"Music industry"},{"id":10873,"slug":"radio","urlSafeValue":"radio","title":"Radio","titleRaw":"Radio"},{"id":11646,"slug":"music","urlSafeValue":"music","title":"Music","titleRaw":"Music"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":4}],"related":[{"id":2448238},{"id":2386982},{"id":2766054}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.germangrowth"},{"path":"euronews"}],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"de","storyId":9602958,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/culture\/2026\/01\/06\/radio-revival-ella-looks-to-make-jazz-great-again-with-new-berlin-station","lastModified":1767701794},{"id":2859484,"cid":9601597,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BERLIN POWER CUT ARSON","daletPyramidId":3775035,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"45,000 homes in Berlin without power after politically motivated attack by 'left-wing extremists'","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"45,000 homes in Berlin without power after left-wing extremist attack","titleListing2":"45,000 homes in Berlin without power after politically motivated attack by 'left-wing extremists'","leadin":"A suspected arson attack has caused a widespread power cut in Berlin since Saturday. Authorities said on Sunday that it was a result of a politically motivated attack by \u201cleft-wing extremists\".","summary":"A suspected arson attack has caused a widespread power cut in Berlin since Saturday. Authorities said on Sunday that it was a result of a politically motivated attack by \u201cleft-wing extremists\".","keySentence":"","url":"45000-homes-in-berlin-without-power-after-politically-motivated-attack-by-left-wing-extrem","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/04\/45000-homes-in-berlin-without-power-after-politically-motivated-attack-by-left-wing-extrem","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Around 45,000 households were left without electricity in southwest Berlin after high-voltage power lines were damaged by a fire, which authorities have described as a politically motivated attack by far-left extremists.\n\nThough power has been restored in some areas, thousands could be left without power until Thursday after what authorities say was a politically motivated attack by \u201cleft-wing extremists\u201d.\n\nThe blaze erupted on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant on Saturday morning, local authorities said, affecting 2,200 businesses and 45,000 households across four districts, cutting their access to electricity, including internet and heating.\n\nMany in southwest Berlin still in the dark\n\nWhile the police continue to investigate, numerous households in south-west Berlin are still without power. A first emergency shelter has now been set up for those affected. A district care point is now available in a sports centre on H\u00fcttenweg in the Zehlendorf district, according to a fire brigade spokesperson.\n\nBy Sunday morning, power was restored for some, while authorities project that around 35,000 others won\u2019t have power until Thursday amid the snowy weather and freezing temperatures, which have been slowing down repairs.\n\nAuthorities also said they were working to confirm the authenticity of a letter claiming responsibility for the incident.\n\nIn the letter, which was also obtained by German media rbb, the anarchist \"Volcano Group\" claimed responsibility.\n\nThe text reportedly provided details on how the fire occurred. However, the authenticity of the letter has yet to be confirmed, Berlin police said on Saturday evening in response to a media enquiry.\n\nWhat is known about 'Volcano Group'?\n\nSecurity authorities have had information about \"Volcano Group\" for years. According to domestic intelligence services, the group was founded in 2011. The Berlin Office for the Protection of the Constitution has dealt with it several times since then, including in 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2024.\n\n\"The group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum,\" said security expert Felix Neumann from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in an interview with Stern magazine.\n\nAn analysis of previous letters of confession by the domestic intelligence agency has shown that the group is anarchist in nature. In terms of content, it is primarily concerned with issues relating to climate change and the climate crisis.\n\nIt is unclear how many people belong to the group. According to Neumann, there is no reliable information on the number of members or internal structures. So far, it has mainly been active in Berlin and Brandenburg. Previous targets have included cable ducts, radio installations and electricity pylons.\n\nSimilar attack on the power grid took place last year\n\nThis is not the first time parts of Berlin have been affected by a large-scale power outage following an arson attack.\n\nLast September, an attack on an electricity pylon in the Treptow-K\u00f6penick district resulted in significant outages. That time, around 50,000 households and businesses were left without power. Full power supply was restored after around 60 hours.\n\nAccording to authorities, however, the consequences of the current power outage are much more serious. Around 2,000 households in the Lichterfelde district regained power again on Sunday night.\n\nHowever, many people in Nikolassee, Zehlendorf and Wannsee will probably have to wait until Thursday for the power supply to be fully restored.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Around 45,000 households were left without electricity in southwest Berlin after high-voltage power lines were damaged by a fire, which authorities have described as a politically motivated attack by far-left extremists.<\/p>\n<p>Though power has been restored in some areas, thousands could be left without power until Thursday after what authorities say was a politically motivated attack by \u201cleft-wing extremists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The blaze erupted on a cable bridge over the Teltow Canal near the Lichterfelde power plant on Saturday morning, local authorities said, affecting 2,200 businesses and 45,000 households across four districts, cutting their access to electricity, including internet and heating.<\/p>\n<h2>Many in southwest Berlin still in the dark<\/h2>\n<p>While the police continue to investigate, numerous households in south-west Berlin are still without power. A first emergency shelter has now been set up for those affected. A district care point is now available in a sports centre on H\u00fcttenweg in the Zehlendorf district, according to a fire brigade spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p>By Sunday morning, power was restored for some, while authorities project that around 35,000 others won\u2019t have power until Thursday amid the snowy weather and freezing temperatures, which have been slowing down repairs.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities also said they were working to confirm the authenticity of a letter claiming responsibility for the incident.<\/p>\n<p>In the letter, which was also obtained by German media rbb, the anarchist \"Volcano Group\" claimed responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>The text reportedly provided details on how the fire occurred. However, the authenticity of the letter has yet to be confirmed, Berlin police said on Saturday evening in response to a media enquiry.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is known about 'Volcano Group'?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Security authorities have had information about \"Volcano Group\" for years. According to domestic intelligence services, the group was founded in 2011. The Berlin Office for the Protection of the Constitution has dealt with it several times since then, including in 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\"The group belongs to the left-wing extremist spectrum,\" said security expert Felix Neumann from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in an interview with Stern magazine. <\/p>\n<p>An analysis of previous letters of confession by the domestic intelligence agency has shown that the group is anarchist in nature. In terms of content, it is primarily concerned with issues relating to climate change and the climate crisis.<\/p>\n<p>It is unclear how many people belong to the group. According to Neumann, there is no reliable information on the number of members or internal structures. So far, it has mainly been active in Berlin and Brandenburg. Previous targets have included cable ducts, radio installations and electricity pylons.<\/p>\n<h2>Similar attack on the power grid took place last year<\/h2>\n<p>This is not the first time parts of Berlin have been affected by a large-scale power outage following an arson attack. <\/p>\n<p>Last September, an attack on an electricity pylon in the Treptow-K\u00f6penick district resulted in significant outages. That time, around 50,000 households and businesses were left without power. Full power supply was restored after around 60 hours.<\/p>\n<p>According to authorities, however, the consequences of the current power outage are much more serious. Around 2,000 households in the Lichterfelde district regained power again on Sunday night. <\/p>\n<p>However, many people in Nikolassee, Zehlendorf and Wannsee will probably have to wait until Thursday for the power supply to be fully restored.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767519002,"updatedAt":1767559330,"publishedAt":1767553940,"firstPublishedAt":1767553940,"lastPublishedAt":1767559330,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"(c) Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten","altText":"Power failure in Berlin","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Power failure in Berlin","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/15\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_74e549cd-971f-5c83-8fd6-3bfe48f4b5f0-9601557.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"sonja.issel@euronews.com","twitter":null,"id":3520,"title":"Sonja Issel"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"arson","titleRaw":"Arson","id":9433,"title":"Arson","slug":"arson"},{"urlSafeValue":"power-outage","titleRaw":"Power outage","id":13008,"title":"Power outage","slug":"power-outage"},{"urlSafeValue":"extremism","titleRaw":"extremism","id":25122,"title":"extremism","slug":"extremism"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2856859},{"id":2858696},{"id":2857959}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"auccMdbGCKA","dailymotionId":"x9x2csk"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":52320,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":10636853,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/10\/03\/05\/ED_PYR_3310035_20260104195212.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":52320,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14553723,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/10\/03\/05\/SHD_PYR_3310035_20260104195212.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":52320,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":42706245,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/10\/03\/05\/FHD_PYR_3310035_20260104195212.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":125,"urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","url":"\/news\/europe\/germany"},"town":{"id":1734,"urlSafeValue":"berlin","title":"Berlin"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"hu","storyId":9601608,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/04\/45000-homes-in-berlin-without-power-after-politically-motivated-attack-by-left-wing-extrem","lastModified":1767559330}]">

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Germany

Berlin mayor under fire for playing tennis during blackout crisis

He was seen as a beacon of hope in Berlin city politics and wanted to bring law and order to the German capital, but after the scandal over his playing tennis while tens of thousands were without power came to light, Kai Wegner's career is now on the brink of collapse.

09/01/2026

Germany

German court begins trial of 'White Tiger' online predator

A trial for a 21-year-old German-Iranian known as "White Tiger" started in Hamburg on Friday and will last until December. Accused of 204 offences, including murder and attempted murder, he allegedly manipulated minors online, leading them to self-harm and suicide.

09/01/2026

Economy

German trade takes a hit as exports stumble and imports wobble

German exports fell in November 2025, narrowing the trade surplus to €13.1 billion from €17.2 billion a month earlier. The drop was driven by weaker trade with the EU and a steep year-on-year fall in shipments to the United States, while imports from non-EU countries climbed.

09/01/2026

Germany

Power restored to Berlin homes after attack on lines caused outage

Authorities were able gradually to reconnect many to the network but several days of work were required to repair the damage.

07/01/2026

Germany

German prosecutors launch 'far-left terror' probe into Berlin blackout

A far-left group claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin's power grid, causing a blackout for tens of thousands of households. Repairs are expected by Thursday.

06/01/2026

Culture news

New Berlin jazz radio station aims to revive jazz in Germany

A new Berlin-based radio station named after jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald is aiming to revive the genres fortunes. As the music used to be an expression of rebellion, emancipation and social protest, the launch says more about our times than you might imagine, writes Diana Resnik.

06/01/2026

Germany

45,000 homes in Berlin without power after left-wing extremist attack

A suspected arson attack has caused a widespread power cut in Berlin since Saturday. Authorities said on Sunday that it was a result of a politically motivated attack by “left-wing extremists".

04/01/2026