Category Archives: Hard Facts
German of the day: “Da war was…”
That means “there was something…” There was something, I dunno, seven years ago.

“See? Nobody cares.”
Forgotten? The fate of German citizens abducted abroad – The recent video of a German nurse who was abducted in Somalia around seven years ago has put the fate of abducted Germans in the spotlight.
Sonja N. was abducted by armed men almost seven years ago in Somalia. At the time, the German nurse was working for the International Red Cross. A video recently emerged showing her and her appeal to the German government and her family to do everything they can to get her released. She said her health was deteriorating rapidly.
Unity is good
Reciprocity is better.

Germany urges EU unity after Trump unveils sweeping tariffs – The EU’s Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the bloc is prepared to respond to new US tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. Germany also criticized Trump’s trade measures. DW has more.
That awful Trump is deporting people just for their political views!
This is scandalous or something.

Berlin seeks to deport EU citizens over pro-Palestinian protests – Irish, Polish and US activists appeal rulings based on events at university sit-in against Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Berlin immigration authorities have ordered three EU citizens and an American to leave Germany over accusations of antisemitism and support for terrorism after they protested against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, according to a lawyer representing two of the quartet.
Limited editions?
For limited intelligence, maybe.

Want a limited edition artwork tattooed on your skin? Berlin is the place to go – The city’s tattoo studios are booming while the art world flounders. Under a new initiative, buyers receive exclusive rights to an artist’s new design, and the artist receives 50% of the profit
The European Debt Race
To the bottom.

You’ll never catch us! As in U.S.
Germany’s spending push drives up borrowing costs across Eurozone – Investors warn that higher bond yields could make it harder for members of the bloc to increase defence spending.
A surge in Eurozone government borrowing costs as a result of Germany’s planned defence spending spree will intensify debt pressures on other countries in the bloc and could make it harder for them to mount borrowing campaigns of their own, investors have warned.
Learning by doing
It ain’t rocket science.
That’s how SpaceX became SpaceX. Better luck next time.
We will not give in!
We’ll just give up. Probably next week some time.

But we will not give in!
Germany leads defiance of Trump car tariffs, saying it ‘will not give in’ – President Donald Trump targets imported cars and car parts with a 25% tax in his latest tariffs.
Other major world economies have vowed to retaliate, with France’s president branding the move “a waste of time” and “incoherent”, Canada calling it a “direct attack”, and China accusing Washington of violating international trade rules.
Let’s talk
There’s just less and less demand these days…
To go to Brussels.

Who would want anything to do with the European Parliament industrial complex if could be avoided?
Off the rails: Night train from Berlin to Brussels will stop running at the end of March – Passengers can still travel between Berlin and Brussels on an overnight train using the European Sleeper.
European Sleeper is also a much more appropriate name, I find.

