How offensive

Time to go on the defensive, again.

Germany blames China for ‘serious’ cyber attack – Berlin says Beijing behind 2021 hack on precision mapping agency…

The BKG, itself a part of the interior ministry, collects precision data about “the properties and position of every point on the surface of [the] country,” according to its website.

Its data systems are linked to many pieces of critical national infrastructure. After the attack was discovered, German security authorities worked to purge the BKG’s systems of Chinese intruders. The agency says it now believes its databases to be completely secure…

The accusations against Beijing come just weeks after the German government agreed a plan with telecommunications companies to strip Chinese technology from the country’s 5G networks over security concerns.

Economy shrinks, inflation expands…

Sounds just like back home in US-Amerika. What’s not to like?

German economy unexpectedly shrinks, inflation ticks higher – The German economy unexpectedly contracted in the second quarter after skirting a recession at the beginning of the year and July’s inflation rose, showing the continuing struggles of the euro zone’s biggest economy.

Germany’s gross domestic product contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter compared with the previous three-month period, preliminary data from the statistics office showed on Tuesday.

Green energy is fun!

In Green Unicornland, maybe.

But in real countries like Germany where you have to pay real subsidies you can’t afford to pay anymore, that’s where the fun must eventually stop.

Germany’s Ballooning Subsidy Costs Show Challenge of Going Green – Subsidies are draining budget as green power appeal surges Shift may set tone for others contemplating cost of transition.

Germany is buckling under the weight of ballooning renewable energy subsidies, raising questions for governments across the world about how long they can afford to prop up green investments.

German of the day: Erics Lampenladen

The means Eric’s Lamp Shop (Eric Honecker’s Lamp Shop).

Das waren Zeiten. That means those were the days.

A demolished communist palace and other rubble: How Berlin is managing its GDR buildings and monuments – An exhibition commemorates the demolition of the former parliament building in the German capital in 2008, an example of the persistent erasure of traces of socialism in the city.

German of the day: “Eine große Sache”

That means a big thing, a big development.

The brown methane eaters – “A big deal”: Spectacular discovery on tree bark raises new climate hope.

Microbes living in tree bark can “eat up” methane, a gas that is particularly harmful to the climate – that much was already known in research. But a new study now shows: The microbes’ hunger for methane is far greater than assumed…

While it has long been known that trees remove carbon dioxide (CO 2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, thereby buffering man-made climate change, this new research reveals a surprising additional benefit of forests. Until now, it was assumed that the soil was the only terrestrial sink for methane.

No illegal aliens here

The Germans call them “irregular migrants.”

But even the wacky German left is starting figure out that “irregular migration” is maybe sort of not such a good thing. Not that they’ll ever actually do anything about it. But still.

Germany: Scholz says irregular migration must ‘come down’ – First-time claims for asylum in Germany fell by a fifth in the first six months of the year. The chancellor said border checks will continue, to further limit the number of migrants entering through the land borders.

“In general, we intend to continue strictly controlling the German borders,” Scholz told the regional paper. “We want to limit irregular migration, as I have announced. The numbers have to come down.”

No German moral outrage here

Where’s the Schnapatmung (gasping for air in mock indignation)?

If you’re so concerned about Gaza, cancel your order.

Israel’s IAI plugging away at German Arrow-3 order amid Gaza war – Israel Aerospace Industries, the maker of Germany’s future long-range antimissile system, has increased shifts and hired more workers to meet the deadline of setting up an installation in Germany sometime next year, a company executive said.

The extra effort follows the national logic of outfitting the Israel Defense Forces as the priority, while also keeping international orders on track, Shay Gal, vice president for external relations, told Defense News at the Farnborough Airshow outside of London.

German of the day: Verbieten

That means to forbid, prohibit, ban, outlaw (see verboten).

As in shutting down Iran’s major islamist extremist beachhead in Germany, the “Blue Mosque” in Hamburg.

And it only took thirty (30) years for Germany to do this.

Germany shuts down Islamic Center Hamburg – The Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) was under investigation for several months over its alleged support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group which is backed by Iran. Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist group by Germany.

Even the Germans are puzzled by these results

And they normally blindly believe any survey they are presented with.

No sooner has Joe Biden stepped down to make way for Kamala Harris than the first effects are apparently already being felt. Initial polls show the Vice President ahead…

Of the ten Democratic candidates surveyed, she performed best against Trump. In addition, 65 percent of Democratic supporters surveyed supported Harris’ candidacy as the party’s frontrunner, doubling her score from the previous month.

Heart-shaped box, OK

But Germany-shaped void?

That tune will never be a hit.

The Germany-shaped void at Europe’s heart – Olaf Scholz’s government is punching below its weight in Brussels.

Last month Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron entered an eu summit with a plan. The German and French leaders agreed that a “strategic agenda” document, drawn up to set the eu’s priorities for the next five years, was inadequate. The passages on climate and migration were weak, and what about defence? But their extensive rewrites, drawn up just before the meeting, sparked a revolt among the other leaders, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni among them. Voices were raised, fingers jabbed, and the pair retreated in humiliation…