By 2029?

In Germany? I have my doubts.

And “cost-effective?” This is more doubtful yet.

German laser weapon could be on ships by 2029, say contractors – “Successful tests conducted on the frigate SACHSEN proved the demonstrator’s tracking capability, effectiveness and precision under real operational conditions for the first time in Europe,” the announcement says...

“Based on this, an operational laser weapon system could be available to the German Navy as of 2029, providing a powerful and cost-effective addition to conventional guided missiles,” the statement adds.

German of the day: Stadtbild

That means cityscape. And this word is apparently offensive to Germans.

To Germans who are in denial about violence, sexual or otherwise, being committed by… As I said, in denial.

‘Ask your daughters’: Merz defends his call for large-scale deportations – German chancellor accused of taking a page from extremist parties with ‘dangerous’ rhetoric on immigration…

Merz said his priority was “security in public space” and stressed that only if it could be guaranteed “will the [mainstream] political parties win back trust”.

He had drawn flak last week for remarks that critics said hinted that diversity itself was a problem in German cities: “Of course we still have this problem in the cityscape, and that is why the federal interior minister is now working to enable and carry out expulsions on a very large scale,” Merz said on a visit to Brandenburg state outside Berlin.

German of the day: Das crazy

That means that’s crazy.

Checkst du?

Youth word of the year – These were the top 3 youth words of 2025.

The youth have spoken… And, as every year, the rest of us are left wondering. The decision on the youth word of the year will be made on October 18, 2025. But which terms were up for selection in advance?

Get your tickets now!

Although nobody really wants to go, so just pick them up at the gate.

This non-apology tour is just like last year’s non-apology for the migrant madness tour, only different. “Denial is not just a river in Egypt anymore.” – Angie.

Angela Merkel’s non-apology tour – The former chancellor refuses to reckon with her fraught legacy on the war in Ukraine, instead invoking Covid and a missed chance for talks.

It’s a Mossad state of affairs…

When Germany’s security and intelligence services aren’t able to do their job on their own.

Mossad reveals role in arrest of Hamas-linked cell in Germany said plotting to kill Jews – Effort to stop the cell spanned several countries, and was ‘part of an extensive Mossad effort throughout Europe’ that busted weapons caches, saw other operatives detained.

The Mossad was involved in Wednesday’s arrest of a Hamas-linked cell in Germany that planned to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets, the agency announced Friday.

The Israeli foreign intelligence service said the arrest was possible because of close coordination between the Mossad and Germany’s security and intelligence services.

Deregulate through more regulation

It’s the German way.

If you want to properly deregulate, create a new deregulation bureaucracy first. We don’t want anybody to get fired or anything.

Germany’s new deregulation chief vows to be more subtle than Elon Musk – State modernisation minister Karsten Wildberger promises to bring about digital age in country clinging to fax machines.

Survey: 63% of Germans support European sanctions on Hamas

Just kidding. This is Germany, after all.

Survey: 63% of Germans support European sanctions on Israel – According to Deutsche Welle (DW), citing the research group Verein, the survey published by Der Spiegel Online found that 63 per cent of German voters back proposals from the European Commission to impose sanctions on Israel. Others expressed reservations or opposition.

The poll comes at a time of rising tensions in European–Israeli relations, against the backdrop of the Gaza war, which has caused widespread destruction and hunger, alongside international calls for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“Why the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down?”

Duh. Because the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down.

They don’t have the means.

Russian spy drones over Germany: Why the Bundeswehr cannot shoot them down – Russia uses surveillance drones over eastern Germany to monitor Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. German authorities are struggling to counter these espionage activities.

Russian surveillance drones are conducting reconnaissance flights over eastern Germany to track arms shipments to Ukraine, with over 530 drone sightings recorded in the first three months of this year alone, according to Western intelligence services.

They track the ever-changing routes of European military transports to identify which weapons will soon reach Ukraine, where new war equipment will be delivered, and when new ammunition will arrive at the front.

What’s a little power gap here and there…

As long as you can say you have the highest energy costs in Europe?

Or is it the highest energy costs in the world? I forget. Go, Greens!

Germany could see power supply gap in 2030, regulator says – Germany’s Federal Network Agency on Wednesday warned that rare electricity shortfalls could occur as early as 2030 if the country’s energy transition stalls, though supply is otherwise expected to remain secure through 2035.

The Security of Supply Report, approved by the federal cabinet on Wednesday, highlights the risks should renewable expansion slow, new gas-fired power plants fail to materialize, and electricity demand not become sufficiently flexible.

German of the day: Herbst der Reformen

That means the autumn of reform.

It’s similar to the German spring, summer and winter of reform, only here nothing gets reformed in autumn.

Germany’s Merz faces trouble over ‘autumn of reform’ – Friedrich Merz has decided that the autumn must be the season for tackling Germany’s urgent domestic problems, but that means conflict with his center-left coalition partners.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s “autumn of reform” could turn into a season of coalition strife as he plows ahead with his ambitious plan to reform Germany’s welfare state, while bringing in tax reforms to boost the economy.

The challenges are significant: The German economy now faces a third year without GDP growth, the welfare state and pension system are failing to keep up with demographic challenges, and the federal budget has a hole of some €172 billion ($200 billion) for 2027 to 2029.