That means to nail one’s colors to the mast, to plant your flag.
Afghan Embassy in Berlin: The flag of their enemy – German soldiers and veterans are appalled: two Taliban representatives have entered Germany as diplomats. Now they are even announcing that they will raise their flag.
To put it nicely.
German industrial output posts biggest decline in more than three years – German industrial output fell much further than expected in August, pushed down by a sharp decrease in car production as frontloaded demand ahead of U.S. tariffs dried up.
Industrial production fell by 4.3% compared with the previous month, the federal statistics office said on Wednesday, the biggest fall since March 2022, just after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 1.0% fall.
That means escalation trap.
Berlin calls for strengthening defenses without falling into Putin’s “escalation trap” – The German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, said Sunday that Germany must strengthen its defense capabilities, particularly against drones, while avoiding falling into what he called “the escalation trap” set by the Russian president Vladimir Putin.
During a defense exercise in Hamburg, the minister stressed the need for Berlin to invest in anti-drone and electronic jamming systems, as incursions into European airspace have increased since the start of the war in Ukraine.
“We must build strong defenses, but without responding precipitously to every provocation. This is exactly what Putin wants: a spiral of reactions that would lead to a direct confrontation,” Pistorius warned.
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.
That means bomb threat.
Munich Oktoberfest fairgrounds closed after bomb threat and deadly explosion – Police closed the Oktoberfest fairgrounds Wednesday morning following a bomb threat from the suspected perpetrator of an explosion in northern Munich, city officials said.
At least one person’s death was believed to be connected to the explosion at a residential building early Wednesday, which Munich police said was deliberately set on fire and part of a domestic dispute.
Everybody’s a depressed German loaf of bread these days.
Seems like, anyway.
How a gloomy German loaf of bread went viral in the US – Bernd the Bread has been an icon of German children’s TV for 25 years. After a TV appearance on John Oliver’s show, he’s now gained new fans.
He’s certainly not funny in English. Go for it, Jimmy.
When can we book your flight?
Jimmy Kimmel says ‘Germany offered’ him a job as he slams Trump in show return – Late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC on September 23, almost a week after the network pulled it off the air last week.
“The guy in Germany offered me a job. Can you imagine?”
In his comments on the Sept. 15 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk at his Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, was “one of” President Donald Trump’s MAGA, Make America Great Again, movement.
But it’s a good start, I guess.
Germany slashes aid and development budget – Germany has cut its budget for international development by 8% and emergency aid has been halved. Aid agencies warn of drastic consequences.
The governing coalition of the conservatives (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) has slashed the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) by 8% to just under €10 billion ($11.47 billion).
Development Minister Reen Alabali Radovan (SPD) is clear about the impact of the cut: “My budget is down by around €910 million compared to the previous year. In view of increasing crises, Germany is investing far less in international cooperation than is actually urgently needed.”
That means house ban.
“Nothing personal, nor is this anti-Semitism, I just can’t stand you.”
“Jews are not allowed here!!!!”
German shop sign banning Jews sparks wide condemnation, police action – Flensburg store owner claims ban ‘not even antisemitism. I just can’t stand you’; Israeli envoy: ‘The 1930s are back’; German official slams sign as Jew hatred ‘in its purest form.’
That means false nostalgia.
Germany’s Merz warns against ‘false nostalgia’ over US alliance – The chancellor’s comments show European leaders are girding for a future in which the transatlantic alliance is no longer the bedrock on which the continent’s defense and economy stand.
“We must face the fact that our relationship with the U.S. is changing, The U.S. is reassessing its interests — and not just since yesterday. And so we in Europe must also adjust our interests, without false nostalgia.”
Observing Hermann 