Germany alert: Level 2!

But at least Germany’s not a ‘wasted cause’ like Spain.

US cites terrorism risk in Germany – Alongside Germany, Sweden, France and Italy are also listed by the US government at security level 2. In these countries, travellers from the US are urged to be particularly vigilant in busy places because of an increased terrorist threat.

“Terrorist groups and lone actors remain a constant threat in Germany and Europe, attacking people in public places with knives, small arms, improvised explosive devices and vehicles. Such attacks can occur with little or no warning and target: tourist sites, transport hubs (airports, railway stations or bus terminals), markets and shopping centres, municipal facilities, hotels, clubs and restaurants, places of worship and educational institutions, parks, major sporting and cultural events, schools.”

When German public servants call in “sick”

They don’t mess around.

“Wenn schon denn schon.” If you’re going to do it, do it right.

Off sick for up to ten years: What lies behind Germany’s teacher shortage – At the start of the new school year, many German schools face an acute staffing crisis, with teachers missing in several subjects and lengthy sick leave further tightening an already tense situation.

Germany’s schools are facing a structural staffing crisis. More teachers have been hired and the federal states are trying to counter this by creating additional posts, recruiting lateral entrants and offering financial incentives.

But, everybody will be in church!

Not.

Opening on Sunday, the taboo for stores in Germany that the government wants to break.

The coalition of conservatives and social democrats is debating ending a century-old tradition by giving certain establishments greater flexibility on business hours. Half the population supports it.

German of the day: Neuer Gefahrenqualität

That means “a new level of risk.”

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) considers the incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport to be an attack carried out by highly professional perpetrators. He does not rule out the possibility that “foreign powers” were behind it. It was a “hybrid attack scenario,” Dobrindt said at a press conference in Leipzig.

Such threats must be prepared and carried out with a high degree of professionalism. This requires a high level of technical expertise and experience in handling explosives. Furthermore, it can be assumed that the explosives used were military-grade. “None of this points to an amateurish approach. We are talking here about a professional hybrid threat scenario that we must continue to address,” Dobrindt said.

Climate skepticism in Germany now “a mass phenomenon”

This must be addressed immediately!

Germany: As temperatures rise, so does climate skepticism – Some 98% of active climate scientists say climate change is happening, and is man-made. Nonetheless, a new study shows the number of climate-change skeptics in Germany has increased. Why is that?

Climate skeptics are no longer a small but noisy minority. They are now “a mass phenomenon,” according to researchers at Flensburg University.

In a study published in the scientific journal Global Environmental Change, authors Katharina Gies and Emanuel Deutschmann reported that between 2022 and 2023 there was a big jump in skeptical attitudes to climate change among the majority of the 3,074 people surveyed. Some 59% said they had more doubts about climate change in 2023 than they had had in the previous year.

German of the day: Arbeitslosigkeit

That means unemployment.

Germany news: Unemployment tops 3 million as industry slumps – Over three million people are currently unemployed in Germany, with 1.1 million drawing unemployment checks, authorities say.

Germany’s employment agency recorded a jump of 71,000 in monthly unemployment numbers, pushing the total to over 3 million.

EU’s biggest economy reports 6.4% overall unemployment rate.

Maybe this turnaround of the previous turnaround…

Will finally turn things around.

Germany Is Reducing Its Subsidization of Renewables – Germany, with some of the highest electricity rates in the world, is reducing its subsidies on some renewable energy programs to better control costs and limit price increases.

Germany plans to scale back renewable-energy subsidies as the country overhauls its funding system, seeking to reduce energy transition costs and address growing pressure on the electricity grid.

“More investment is needed”

Duh. More investment (taxpayer subsidies) will always be needed because wind and solar don’t deliver.

Why Germany keeps switching off its solar and wind farms – and three ways to stop the problem…

Europe’s solar and wind farms are actively choosing not to produce energy, as experts warn more investment is needed in storage and flexible technologies.