German Ministry Fears High Costs from Mandatory Work for Basic Income Recipients
Saxony‑Anhalt’s Minister‑President Sven Schulze (CDU) has proposed that recipients of the Basic Income (Bürgergeld) be required to undertake work, a move that has already drawn scepticism from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, headed by Bärbel Bas (SPD). The idea behind “job opportunities” is that they could help stabilise daily routines…
February 9, 2026
TUI Targets Budget Travel Expansion
Tui is turning its attention to the budget travel market, where it can offer cheaper holiday packages. “We’re currently examining the budget‑travel segment” said Sebastian Ebel, CEO of Tui, in an interview with Handelsblatt. While the company remains the market leader in premium travel, it also aims to become an attractive option in the lower‑price range.…
February 9, 2026
German Industry and IG Metall Urge Dual Eurofighter Successors in FCAS European Fighter Aircraft System
The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and the IG Metall union are urging that the German‑French‑Spanish fighter‑jet project FCAS abandon the development of a joint manned aircraft. In a guest article for “Handelsblatt”, BDLI chief executive Marie‑Christine von Hahn and union vice‑chair Jürgen Kerner write: “We now need a commitment to two…
February 9, 2026
Germany’s Transatlantic Coordinator Says German Troops Could Help Ensure Ukraine’s Security
Metin Hakverdi, Germany’s transatlantic policy coordinator, said he does not rule out a possible deployment of German troops as part of security guarantees for Ukraine. “We must not close off any options, otherwise we would limit the negotiation” the SPD politician told “Politico”. He also reminded that Europe remains heavily dependent on the…
February 9, 2026
Carnival Forecasts €2 Billion Revenue Boost for Economy
The economy can expect a revenue level during this carnival season comparable to that of the previous year. In a study by the Institute of German Economic Research (IW), the “Rheinische Post” reports that the analysts project national carnival earnings of €2 billion, even though this year’s session is considerably shorter…
February 9, 2026
Municipal Companies Urge German Government to Act Swiftly on Energy Policy
The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) has called on the federal government to take decisive and rapid action in energy policy. “We have long reached a point at which any further hesitation will act as a brake on investment” said VKU chief executive Ingbert Liebing to papers of the Funke Media Group on Monday. “Companies, municipalities and citizens…
February 9, 2026
NRW Data Protection Officer Bettina Gayk Fights Back Against Centralization as Premier Emphasizes Public Trust
The state commissioner for data protection and information freedom in North Rhine‑Westphalia, Bettina Gayk, is fighting attempts to abolish her office. She told the “Rheinische Post” (Monday edition) that the premier had stressed how important public trust in the state is. Data‑protection commissioners at the federal and state level play a key role in preserving…
February 9, 2026
Police Union Cautiously Responds to SPD’s Rail Security Overhaul Plans
The Police Union (GdP) responded cautiously to the SPD parliamentary group’s plan to reorganise security services at the railway. SPD insiders want to combine the private Deutsche Bahn security and the Federal Police at stations under a new “Central Object Protection Bahn”. “Important details are still missing before we can make a final judgement on…
February 9, 2026
Dobrindt Grants Federal Intelligence Agency New Powers To Combat Hybrid Threats
Bundesminister Alexander Dobrindt announced that he intends to arm the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz) with new powers to counter hybrid threats.In a recent interview with the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (RND) the CSU politician clarified that he wants the agency to become a “real intelligence…
February 8, 2026
António José Seguro Clinches Portuguese Presidential Win for the Socialist Party
The Socialist candidate António José Seguro has decisively won Portugal’s presidential election, defeating the hard‑right André Ventura in a runoff held on Sunday. After the count of more than 98 % of the polling districts, Seguro was close to two‑thirds of the vote, a result that, if exact, would be almost on to the decimal places. In the first round, Seguro already…
February 8, 2026
Union Demands Key Fixes to Rent Law Draft by Minister Hubig
The Union caucus is calling for corrections to the draft tenancy law put forward by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig of the SPD. Deputy caucus chair Günter Krings told papers of the Funke media group that the proposal still needs adjustments at several points. He cited the need for corrections around index‑linked rents and short‑term lease agreements, warning that without…
February 8, 2026
FDP Calls for Sweeping Revisions to Justice Minister Hubig’s New Tenancy Law Draft
The Union caucus is calling for adjustments to the draft tenancy law proposed by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD). Deputy caucus chair Günter Krings told newspapers from the Funke‑Media Group that the draft needs corrections in several areas. He cited index rent calculations and short‑term leases as examples where corrections are required; otherwise, a measure that…
