Tuesday's top story: Germany marks Memorial Day for the Victims of National Socialism
January 27th is Tag des Gedenkens an die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus in Germany, sometimes referred to more simply as Holocaust Memorial Day. The day is also recognised in many other countries.
The date January 27th is significant because it is the day that the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945.
Tova Friedman, an Auschwitz survivor who now runs a TikTok channel on antisemitism, is set to address the Bundestag along with her grandson Aron Goodman.
87-year-old Goodman was a child when she was brought to what was Europe's most deadly concentration camp. For decades after the war she had refused to ever set foot on German soil again.
Now, she told Tagesschau that being invited to address Germany's lawmakers at the Bundestag was "a fabulous surprise".
Goodman says that as a survivor she feels obligated to speak out for those who did not survive.
Her grandson had initially recorded her speaking on the topic for a video on TikTok, and then found tremendous support.
"I saw so much antisemitism, Holocaust slander and Holocaust interpretation on social media, especially on TikTok," Goodman said. So the duo began making informative videos on the topic, sharing her story.
German weather service warns of icy conditions from Hamburg to Bavaria
Snow and rain were slowing down rush hour traffic on Tuesday morning.
Pedestrians should be weary of slippery paths, and commuters and travellers can also expect some restrictions in rail traffic as freezing weather continues.
There were several icy accidents during the night and in the morning, but no major accidents were initially reported. Due to stuck and transverse trucks, the A5 in the direction of Kassel near Gießen had been temporarily closed.
In snowy northern Bavaria, the situation eased somewhat, according to police headquarters. In parts of Franconia, however, numerous roads remained closed in the morning as a precautionary measure because trees could fall or branches break off. In Bamberg, a branch fell on a cyclist in the evening due to the snow load, injuring him severely.
In long-distance rail traffic, the situation has improved since Monday but individual connections between Berlin and Rostock as well as Stralsund and between Berlin and Binz are still cancelled. Elsewhere, there could be minor delays of five to ten minutes.
In Berlin trams were still cancelled due to frozen over-head lines.
READ ALSO: Rail and road traffic in Germany disrupted by snow and freezing rain
Germany slams Russia's 'stubborn insistence' on Ukraine territorial claims
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday denounced Russia's "stubborn insistence on the crucial territorial issue" following talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US envoys in Abu Dhabi on ending the Ukraine war.
"What I am hearing and reading today, including from the negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, is only Russia's stubborn insistence on the crucial territorial issue," Wadephul said during a visit to Latvia.
"And if there is no flexibility here, I fear that the negotiations may still take a long time or may not be successful at this stage."
Wadephul welcomed the US-mediated talks but added that it was "clear that Europe must be at the table when decisions are made about the security order of our continent -- and Russia must know that our commitment to diplomacy does not come at the expense of our determination to support Ukraine".
Speaking alongside Latvia's foreign minister, Wadephul stressed that it was "a decisive moment for the future of our European continent".
"We will only see real peace negotiations if Russia understands that Europe stands united with Ukraine," he said.
Athlete turns to OnlyFans and crowdfunding to support Olympic dreams
German bobsled world champion Lisa Buckwitz has turned to the adult subscription platform OnlyFans to finance her sporting ambitions, highlighting the growing trend of athletes seeking alternative funding sources according to Welt.
Buckwitz, who insists she will “definitely not show [herself] naked”, uses the platform to share revealing but non-explicit content, enabling her to cover the €50,000 annual costs of training, travel and team bonuses.
READ ALSO: What are the rules around online sports betting in Germany?
“It’s the best thing that could have happened to me,” she told the press, noting that traditional sponsorships are often insufficient.
Other athletes are also reportedly embracing unconventional methods, from nude calendars to TikTok content and crowdfunding campaigns.
Skaters Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel supplement their income through social media, while Swiss ski racer Franjo von Allmen credits crowdfunding with saving his career.
Germany launches 2026 micro-census
Germany’s annual micro-census launched on Monday, designed to provide policymakers with a vital snapshot of how people live across the country.
From January to December, one percent of the population will be randomly selected to participate, providing detailed information on family life, education, employment, migration, income, housing and internet use.
Unlike the nationwide census, which takes place every ten years, the micro-census is conducted annually. Statisticians emphasise that the results underpin decisions affecting millions, from social welfare to urban planning.
This year’s survey includes questions on housing, such as home ownership rates, living space and average rent burdens. Selected households are legally obliged to respond, with options to complete the questionnaire online, on paper or via interviewers.
With reporting by DPA, AFP and Tom Pugh.
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