“Have died?”

Yeah. Technically, when you have “killed yourselves” you “have died.”

It’s a thing now in Germany, “humane Sterbehilfe.” That means humane or assisted suicide. And it’s getting more popular all the time.

Just look at Germany’s latest government.

Dancing twins Alice and Ellen Kessler have died, police in Germany said Tuesday – Alice and Ellen Kessler, twin dancers and singers who launched their career in the 1950s and performed with Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte among others, have died, police in Germany said Tuesday. They were 89.

Snipers in the subway?

Germans copying amerikanische Verhältnisse (American conditions, the American situation) again or what? Sheesh.

Snipers in the metro: German military conducts urban warfare drills in Berlin – German military forces began a five-day urban warfare training exercise in Berlin, focusing on rapid deployment and protection of critical infrastructure in a landmark event.

German military forces began five days of urban warfare training in Berlin, practising emergency deployment scenarios across the capital as Europe’s security landscape shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Bundeswehr’s guard battalion launched the “Bollwerk Bärlin III” exercise on Sunday at multiple locations including Jungfernheide underground station, the Ruhleben police training ground and a former chemical plant site in Rüdersdorf.

German of the day: Hin und her

That means back and forth. To and fro. Undecided.

“Until further notice” is now. For now.

The German government says it’s lifting restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel – The German government said Monday that it’s lifting its restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel, weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in early August that Berlin wouldn’t authorize any exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.” That was a response to a decision by the Israeli Cabinet to take over Gaza City.

Which Europe is he talking about?

If the future of the world is being shaped in Europe then the future looks pretty dim indeed.

The future of the world is being shaped in Europe, says German Chancellor Friedrich Merz – In his speech to his party’s youth wing on Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) clearly distanced himself from the far-right AfD and stressed the importance of Europe and the European Union.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) on Saturday stressed Europe’s strategic importance, saying that the future of the world is being shaped on the continent.

Speaking to the German youth at the Young Union (Junge Union)’s Germany Day conference in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Merz said this was not just about the European Union but the principles guiding the coexistence of people on the continent.

Berlin to become more car-friendly now?

That’ll be easy.

It couldn’t be any more car-unfriendly.

‘The car belongs in Berlin’: city backpedaling on bike-friendly policies, critics say – Car-critical measures have been slashed since the conservative CDU came into power in 2023, triggering protests and dividing communities.

Voluntary military service to introduce voluntary military service

But only on a voluntary basis.

Never touch a running system Not even when it’s not running.

Germany to introduce voluntary military service – After months of wrangling, the government has decided not to reintroduce conscription. But all 18-year-old males will have to fill in a questionnaire, and young men will soon have to undergo mandatory physical exams.

Maligning German politicians online?

The nerve. That ought to be strictly verboten – in Germany.

Oh. Thank goodness. It already is.

Germany news: Internet freedom in decline — Self-censorship and robust use of anti-defamation laws are on the rise in Germany, says the Freedom House agency.

Germany has witnessed a decline in internet freedom, an annual study by Freedom House said on Thursday.

The Washington-based democracy promotion group surveyed freedom on the internet in 72 nations for 2025, in a global landscape marred by persistent authoritarian repression and backsliding in western democracies when it comes to imposing growing curbs online.

Freedom House said that Germany fell by three points in the internet freedom score to a total of 74.