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The new elections in Germany
160,000 in protests against the far-right in Berlin

160,000 people are demonstrating against the far-right in Berlin on Sunday, the police told Die Zeit.

The demonstration was called after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) sought support from the far-right AfD party in the Bundestag. This violated an agreement with other parties not to give the AfD influence. A principle that has stood for over ten years.

“You don’t join forces with those who spit in the face of human dignity,” says Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, a former board member of the Evangelical Church in Berlin and one of the demonstration participants.

CDU party leader Friedrich Merz is tipped as the favorite for the new elections on February 23. According to Die Zeit, he calls today’s protests “a completely normal development.”

Political situation in Georgia
Opposition leaders in Georgia arrested – blocked road

Georgian police have arrested two of the country's top opposition leaders during a protest against the ruling Georgian Dream party on Sunday. This is reported by AFP.

Nika Melia, leader of the pro-EU Akhali, and Gigi Ugulava, Tbilisi's former mayor, were reportedly abducted when thousands of protesters tried to block a road outside the capital.

The opposition accuses Georgian Dream of election fraud and of bringing the country closer to Russia.

The roof collapse in Serbia
The protests against the government and corruption are growing

The huge protests against the Serbian government have increased in strength since they began three months ago when 15 people died when the roof of a newly renovated train station collapsed in Novi Sad, writes The Guardian. In the past week, the demonstrations have spread to over 100 cities and villages throughout the country.

The tragedy has been attributed to government incompetence and corruption – and now the protesters are demanding the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic.

– There was no transparency, no public procurement for the contract and when the accident occurred there was no will to do justice, says human rights lawyer Cedomir Stojkovic.

The Syrian War The New Regime
Syria's new leader's first trip is to Saudi Arabia

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has landed in Saudi Arabia for his first official visit abroad, writes AP. On the agenda is a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The goal is to get the wealthy Gulf states to help finance the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that supported Syrian rebel groups in the fight against the now deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad.

 

Corruption Suspicions Against Netanyahu
Israeli Police Investigate Netanyahu’s Wife for Crime

Israeli police have launched a criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu. Israeli prosecutors say this, according to AFP.

According to the Times of Israel, Sara Netanyahu is suspected of trying to influence witnesses. AFP writes that she was previously accused of threatening key witnesses in the corruption case against her husband.

Benjamin Netanyahu is indicted on corruption charges and is suspected, among other things, of having accepted gifts worth the equivalent of over 2.8 million kronor in exchange for political favors. The trial has been postponed several times, including due to October 7 and the war in Gaza.

Politician took a taxi 450 kilometers for a long lunch with friends

On Australia Day last week, Jo Haylen, the transport minister in the state of New South Wales, took a taxi for a total of 446 kilometers at taxpayers' expense. The reason was that she was going to have a private "long lunch" with some friends and a couple of ministerial colleagues.

Now she is apologizing and promising to pay for the trip herself, reports the Australian ABC. According to Haylen, the trip cost 750 dollars, just over 5,000 kronor.

- I made a mistake. I raise my hand and say I made the wrong decision, and I apologize.

The opposition is now demanding that she resign, a demand that she dismisses.

The taxi's logbook shows that the trip began in Sydney before 08 in the morning. The driver's working day did not end until 21:00.