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Estonia Warns of Russian Military Buildup

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Estonia’s foreign intelligence service has reported that Russia is rebuilding its military forces in response to Europe’s rearmament, though it does not plan to attack any NATO state in the near term. According to the report, Moscow aims to delay and hinder Europe’s ability to conduct independent military action, viewing European rearmament over the next two to three years as a significant concern.

The intelligence service highlighted Russia’s rapid expansion of ammunition production, which allows for stockpiling supplies for potential future conflicts while continuing operations in Ukraine. Any hypothetical attack on Estonia could involve coordinated drone operations across land, air, and sea. Estonia emphasized the need for the continent to invest in defense and internal security to deter potential aggression.

The report also noted Russia’s continued view of the U.S. as its main adversary while attempting to use diplomatic channels to ease sanctions and influence the Ukraine conflict. It highlighted Moscow’s strategic alignment with China, which could use Russian cooperation to challenge Western influence globally, particularly in the context of energy and military technology collaboration.

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German Auto Industry Faces Crisis as Investments and Jobs Move Abroad

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Germany’s automotive sector is facing a serious downturn, with investments and jobs increasingly relocating overseas, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). Survey results show that 72% of small- and medium-sized companies in the auto supply chain plan to reduce investments in Germany, either by moving them abroad, postponing, or canceling them altogether.

Job cuts are already underway, with almost two-thirds of surveyed companies reducing domestic employment last year and nearly half continuing to cut jobs this year. The shift is driven by competitive disadvantages, declining orders, and challenges in transitioning to electric vehicles and software-focused manufacturing. Major carmakers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes, along with suppliers like Bosch and ZF, have announced tens of thousands of layoffs.

VDA President Hildegard Mueller warned of political and social implications, highlighting risks to Germany’s prosperity and stability. She criticized EU regulatory measures aimed at supporting the shift to electric vehicles, calling for market-driven incentives rather than mandatory obligations to help maintain Germany’s competitiveness as a global automotive hub.

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Macron Urges Europe to Assert Global Power

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French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to step up as a global power, warning that the continent faces a “wake-up call” amid rising challenges from China, Russia, and the United States. Speaking to European media ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Macron emphasized the need for the EU to strengthen its economy, defense, and democratic systems, arguing that Europe must act cohesively to secure its strategic interests.

Macron proposed EU-wide mutualized loans, or “eurobonds for the future,” to fund industrial and technological investment. He highlighted the growing global demand for such shared European debt, while urging member states to protect key industries like security, clean energy, and artificial intelligence without resorting to protectionism.

The French leader stressed Europe’s vulnerability in a changing world order, citing climate change, dwindling U.S. security guarantees, and China’s rising influence. Macron urged the 27-member EU to embrace its collective strength of 450 million people, insisting that becoming a global power is the natural continuation of the European project to maintain peace and build a robust market.

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Kering Sees Early but Fragile Turnaround as Gucci Sales Fall Less Than Expected

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Kering reported a smaller-than-expected decline in fourth-quarter sales, offering early signs of stabilisation under new CEO Luca de Meo, even as the luxury group cautioned that recovery remains fragile. Group revenue fell 3% year-on-year to 3.9 billion euros, beating forecasts for a steeper drop, helped by improving trends toward the end of the year. De Meo, who took charge after leading Renault, said momentum was “early, fragile, but real,” as he works to rebuild margins and confidence in the Gucci owner.

Gucci, which generates the bulk of Kering’s profits, posted a 10% revenue decline in the quarter—its 10th consecutive fall—but still outperformed expectations. Management said newly launched products and stronger handbag sales supported results, with some improvement seen across most regions. Despite these signs, profitability remains under pressure, with group operating margins sliding to 11% and Gucci’s to 16%, far below levels seen three years ago and trailing rivals such as LVMH.

The results underline the scale of the turnaround facing de Meo, as Kering grapples with high debt, restructuring costs, and years of weakening demand following shifts in fashion trends. The company has closed dozens of stores, cut operating costs, and sold its beauty business to shore up the balance sheet, bringing net debt to about 8 billion euros. While investors have welcomed balance-sheet repairs, analysts say a sustained recovery will ultimately depend on Kering’s ability to reignite sales growth at Gucci.

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Identical Twin Brothers’ Shared DNA Complicates French Murder Trial

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A murder trial in France has been complicated by the involvement of identical twin brothers whose shared DNA has made it impossible for forensic experts to determine which one pulled the trigger. The 33-year-old twins are among five defendants standing trial near Paris over a double murder and several attempted killings that took place in 2020, according to French media reports.

While investigators believe both brothers conspired to carry out the murders, DNA found on an assault rifle used in a later gunfight could only be linked to one of them — without being able to say which. A police officer told the court in Bobigny that forensic science could not conclusively distinguish between the twins, with one investigator remarking that “only their mother can tell them apart.”

Authorities suspect the brothers exploited their identical appearance by swapping clothes, phones and identification documents to evade detection. With DNA evidence unable to separate them, investigators relied on phone data, surveillance footage and wiretaps to track their movements. Despite these efforts, the key question of who fired the weapon remains unresolved as the trial continues, with a verdict expected in late February.

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Spanish Train Drivers Announce Nationwide Strike Over Rail Safety After Deadly Crashes

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Train drivers in Spain will begin a three-day nationwide strike on Monday, protesting what they describe as serious safety lapses across the country’s rail network. The strike follows two fatal train accidents in January that have shaken public confidence in Spain’s rail system and caused widespread travel disruption.

The deadliest crash occurred on 18 January in Adamuz, southern Spain, where a high-speed train derailed and collided with another train travelling in the opposite direction, killing 46 people in the country’s worst rail disaster in over a decade. Just two days later near Barcelona, a local train derailed after a wall collapsed onto the track, killing a trainee driver and injuring at least 37 passengers. Subsequent safety inspections revealed maintenance faults on several routes.

The train drivers’ union Semaf is demanding increased staffing, greater investment, and improved maintenance, warning of the “constant deterioration” of the rail network. While Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to face tough questions in parliament, the government has rejected claims of underinvestment, noting €700 million spent on upgrades to the Madrid–Andalusia line. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said authorities do not see systemic failures in maintenance or infrastructure.

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Sweden to Tighten Citizenship Rules Amid Immigration Push

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Sweden’s government announced plans to tighten citizenship rules, extending the required residency period from five to eight years, introducing a minimum monthly income threshold of 20,000 Swedish crowns ($2,225), and requiring applicants to pass a language and cultural knowledge test. Migration Minister Johan Forssell said the stricter measures aim to ensure applicants understand Swedish society and meet basic economic and social standards.

The new rules also impose longer waiting periods for individuals with criminal records. For instance, someone who served a four-year prison sentence would have to wait 15 years before applying for citizenship. The changes are part of a broader effort by the centre-right coalition to restrict immigration, which has been a contentious issue in Swedish politics since the large influx of asylum seekers in 2015.

The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, supporting the minority government, have linked past immigration policies to rising gang-related crime. The stricter citizenship rules are expected to come into force on June 6, coinciding with other planned measures aimed at tightening asylum policies.

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Storm Marta Batters Spain and Portugal, Farmers Warn of Severe Crop Losses

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Farmers in Spain have reported catastrophic damage to crops as Storm Marta swept across the Iberian Peninsula, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and flooding. Large swathes of farmland have been submerged, particularly in southern regions such as Andalusia, where growers warned that vegetables including broccoli, carrots and cauliflower have been destroyed. The storm follows a series of extreme weather events in recent weeks that have already left soils saturated and vulnerable.

The severe weather has taken a deadly toll, with a snowplough driver killed in northern Spain after his vehicle plunged down a mountain slope, and a man drowning in Portugal. Authorities said at least five people have died since storms began hitting the region last week. More than 11,000 residents have been evacuated in southern Spain, hundreds of roads have been closed, and rail services in Portugal have faced major disruptions. Preliminary estimates from Portugal’s agriculture ministry put damage to farming and forestry at around €750 million.

Weather agencies warned that conditions could worsen, issuing orange alerts for heavy rain, snow and hazardous coastal conditions. Rising river levels, particularly along the Guadalquivir in Andalusia, have prompted evacuations and raised fears of landslides and ground instability. In Portugal, emergency services have deployed more than 26,000 rescue workers, while authorities postponed voting in several towns due to flooding, as Spain and Portugal brace for further impact from Storm Marta.

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Milan Protests Turn Violent as Police Arrest Demonstrators During Winter Olympics

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Italian police arrested six people after clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in Milan during demonstrations against the Winter Olympic Games. Thousands gathered in the city on Saturday to oppose the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics and protest rising living costs. While most marched peacefully, some demonstrators threw stones and fireworks at police, prompting officers to respond with water cannon. The unrest followed a violent protest in Turin last week in which more than 100 police officers were injured.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the protests, calling those opposing the Olympics “the enemy of Italy” and accusing them of damaging the country’s global image. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini labelled the rioters “criminals” and defended a newly adopted security package that allows police to detain suspected troublemakers for up to 12 hours before demonstrations. The measures were fast-tracked after last week’s Turin clashes, though critics have described them as repressive.

Authorities are also investigating suspected sabotage on northern Italy’s rail network, which caused major travel disruptions on Saturday. Fires, severed cables and a rudimentary explosive device were discovered near key rail hubs including Bologna and Pesaro, delaying trains for hours. The transport ministry described the incidents as acts of sabotage, while rail operator RFI said services have since returned to normal as the Winter Olympics continue across multiple venues until 22 February.

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US Pushes for Ukraine-Russia Peace by June Amid Ongoing Attacks

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the US aims to end the war with Russia by June, inviting both sides to hold talks in the United States next week, likely in Miami. Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s participation but noted that difficult issues, including territorial concessions, remain unresolved. For the first time, leaders may be involved in trilateral discussions, though preparatory steps are required before this can happen.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts amid freezing temperatures. More than 400 drones and 40 missiles struck power plants, substations, and transmission lines, affecting regions such as Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Rivne. Thousands of Ukrainians remain without electricity, forcing many to take shelter in metro stations. Ukraine has also retaliated with strikes on Russian military and industrial facilities in Tver and Saratov regions.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago, more than 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with nearly 160,000 Russian military casualties confirmed. Zelensky emphasized that Moscow should not be allowed to leverage the harsh winter to pressure Ukraine. Despite ongoing diplomacy, the conflict continues to inflict severe humanitarian and infrastructural damage.

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