Focus on money and war in the leaders' New Year's speeches
Several leaders tried to instill hope for better times when they gave their New Year's speeches on Sunday, writes TT.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the war in Ukraine and Gaza has made the world a tougher place. But the speech was also about future tax cuts and investments in energy and infrastructure.
- More women and men have work in Germany today than ever before, said Scholz.
The chancellor is facing headwinds in the German economy and falling public opinion figures since he took office two years ago.
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Political situation in France
French quarrel over white month: "Food without wine is sad"
In an open letter, 45 French addiction researchers demand that the country's government support a campaign for a white month in January, according to The Guardian. The aim is to make people reflect on their drinking and reduce the harm caused by alcohol.
- I would be very careful about telling people how to live, said Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau before he resigned before Christmas (for unrelated reasons).
The researchers call it a "shame" that the government does not do more to inform about the risks of alcohol. The country's powerful wine producer lobby, which is believed to have the president's ear, says a white month does not suit French culture because people drink moderately and not heavily like northern Europeans.
President Emmanuel Macron says he drinks wine for lunch and dinner every day and that food without wine is "a bit sad".
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Terrorist threats in Europe
Three arrested for terrorist plots against the Cologne Cathedral
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of having prepared a terrorist attack against Cologne Cathedral. This is stated by German police, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine. The arrests and several house searches have been made in the cities of Duisburg, Herne and Nörvenich during Sunday.
The attack would have been carried out with a car loaded with explosives, says Cologne's police chief according to AP.
On Christmas Eve, a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of having prepared an attack on the cathedral on New Year's. According to the police, he has turned out to be part of a larger network with branches to other European countries.
The state's minister of the interior, Herbert Reul, urges residents to celebrate as usual, according to AP:
- Be careful and enjoy the transition to a new year.
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Germany and France are increasing security ahead of the celebrations
Ahead of tonight's New Year's celebrations, security has been strengthened in both France and Germany, several media outlets write.
In Cologne, Germany, police have been armed with submachine guns after reports that Islamist groups may have planned an attack on the city's cathedral. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner tells Die Zeit that the war between Israel and Hamas means that the security situation is more "tense", and that the police are better equipped than in previous New Years.
At the same time, 90,000 police officers will patrol the streets of France during New Year's Eve. The terrorist threat in the country is "very high" partly as a result of the situation in the Middle East, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the other day.
In addition to police, tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers will also be deployed in French cities.
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