2 Feb 2026

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow

From Nine To Noon, 9:45 am on 2 February 2026
Two tonnes of taewa, or potatoes were harvested in a day

  A vast stockpile of potatoes is being given away for free by a farm in the German state of Saxony, after a bumper harvest. Photo: RNZ / Emma Andrews

EU toughens up on illegal arrivals in new migration policy, Friedrich Merz calls for Germany and Europe to obtain greater technological independence in order to reduce reliance on the United States, and like potatoes? Berlin is giving away 4 million kilos.

Thomas Sparrow is RNZ's correspondent based in Berlin.