Olaf Scholz's first year as Germany's Chancellor has been marked by crises, including the war in Ukraine and energy dependence on Russia. Scholz aims for Germany to be an important but not dominant player in Europe. Despite providing support to Ukraine, critics argue Germany should take a more active role. Scholz's climate policy has faced challenges, with compromises made to prevent an energy crisis. The Green Party, part of the coalition government, expects adherence to climate targets. Scholz's popularity lags behind Green ministers, and his reluctance to lead is seen by some as inaction.

Austria is preparing for new elections following a corruption scandal involving the far right, which led to the collapse of the coalition government. Secret footage that surfaced over the weekend seems to implicate the far right in corrupt activities, casting a shadow over far-right parties as the EU elections approach.

Angela Merkel met with Vladimir Putin to discuss Syria, eastern Ukraine, and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. No definitive outcomes were expected from the meeting. They emphasized the need for resolution in Syria, with Putin seeking European support for refugee return and reconstruction. Merkel advocated for a UN peace-keeping mission in Ukraine and discussed the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which bypasses transit countries like Ukraine, Slovakia, and Poland. Despite tensions, Merkel aims to maintain open dialogue with Russia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a political crisis over migration policy, with her Bavarian allies, the CSU, threatening to tighten Germany's borders unless a European plan to reduce migration is devised. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer and some CDU members support the CSU's stance. Merkel, needing to balance her humanitarian approach with political pressures, seeks support from French President Emmanuel Macron to strengthen EU borders and develop a fair migrant distribution system. A mini-summit in Brussels is planned to discuss these issues. However, public confidence in Germany is low regarding Merkel's ability to secure a European response satisfactory to the CSU.

A march in Berlin is raising awareness of anti-Semitism, with Berliners of diverse backgrounds rallying in solidarity with the Jewish community. Dr. Josef Schuster and Berlin’s mayor, Michael Müller, are addressing the crowd. The event responds to a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in Germany, with incidents ranging from school bullying to physical violence. Police attribute most attacks to far-right and far-left groups, but note increasing anti-Jewish sentiment among migrants from Muslim countries. The government has appointed Felix Klein as an anti-Semitism Commissioner and is pushing for the deportation of migrants who commit anti-Semitic acts. Community leaders call for more local action, including education on religious tolerance.

Berlin Fashion Week showcases a growing presence of green brands, with the Greenshowroom and Ethical Fashion Show featuring 179 brands from over 30 countries. Small brands like Verena Bellutti and Ten Points emphasize ethical production and sustainability over fast fashion trends. The trade shows match eco-conscious buyers with sustainable brands, while some participants believe integration into conventional fashion trade shows is necessary for mainstream success. Germany leads in the market for sustainable fashion, and the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, supported by the German government and the EU, aims to improve the textile industry's supply chain. Big industry players like H&M and C&A are also moving towards sustainability.

Schmidt + Haensch, a Berlin-based family business specializing in optical devices, fears Brexit could be disastrous as Britain is a key trading partner, accounting for 10% of their EU exports. CEO Mathis Kuchejda emphasizes the setback of potential trade barriers and customs, which the company has been working to eliminate.

Jennifer Brachmann's fall collection for men's ready-to-wear continues her approach of reconstructed tailoring, introducing new details and streamlining certain pieces. The collection features an updated vest/shirt hybrid in grayish green, familiar trouser silhouettes, tailcoat details, and a new line of merino wool sweaters with a seamless design for a smooth shoulder appearance. The color palette, dominated by grays that transition into dusky blues or greens, was inspired by Franziska Stünkel's photography.

Franziska Michael's show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin showcased a Spring 2016 collection inspired by 1990s techno movies, featuring oversized leather overalls, white Lycra cropped tops, and denim branded with the designer's initials. The collection, designed for the young and confident, included caramel leather HotPants, shiny Lycra leggings, and mesh tunics, with unique detailing such as a large denim pouch sewn onto a sheer orange mesh men's jacket.

Ivan Mandzukic, the designer behind Ivanman, showcased a bold and colorful men's wear collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The spring collection featured bright colors like canary yellow, turquoise, lilac, red, and pink, combined with black and gray cigarette pants. Layering was a key element, with shirt jackets worn over buttoned-down shirts. Mandzukic drew inspiration from architect Corbusier's method of organizing chaos and the Coen brothers' film 'Barton Fink', the latter influencing the design of large overcoats with sloping raglan shoulders.

An arson attack damaged two rooms of the Hamburger Morgenpost, a German newspaper that had published Charlie Hebdo cartoons, but no one was injured. The attack occurred early morning and involved rocks and a burning object. Two suspects were detained, and state security is investigating the connection to the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. The newspaper's publishers had arranged for private security, and despite some records being destroyed, the editorial team can continue working in the building. The incident follows the killing of 12 people at Charlie Hebdo by Islamic extremists, with concerns of more attacks in Europe, as suggested by intercepted communications by the Islamic State.