Almost half want a ban on fireworks?

That means more than half don’t.

Let the Knaller (bangers) knallen (bang)!

Almost half of all Germans want a ban on fireworks – In Germany, it is only permitted to sell fireworks in the three days leading up to New Year’s Eve. Some line up early to buy them, but others have safety concerns and want to see them banned altogether.

Happy New Year!

German of the day: Stellenabbau

That means job cuts.

German business groups expect job cuts in 2026 as economic crisis drags on – A majority of German business associations expect job cuts in 2026 as the country’s economic crisis persists, with industry hit hardest by global protectionism and weak exports, a survey by the German Economic Institute IW showed on Monday.

Of 46 business associations surveyed, 22 anticipate workforce reductions next year. Only nine expect to increase hiring and 15 foresee stable employment levels.

Cheaper coffee?

Why, that’s capitalism!

Or maybe even Raubtierkapitalismus (predatory capitalism)! Or something else like that.

People really are confused these days, don’t you think? Not that they weren’t in the past. I just think they’re better at it now. Being confused.

Berlin’s budget chain cafes attacked by mobs of hard-Left activists – Protesters in Berlin are hurling red paint at outlets for a new chain that offers drinks at nearly half the price of others.

It is at night that the group of angry Berliners hurl red paint at the coffee shop front, scrawling “Boycott LAP” on the walls.

German of the day: Wenn das Geld alle ist

That means when the money’s gone.

And when the money’s gone, the money’s gone.

Sweden and Germany slash aid budgets to focus on Ukraine and defence spending – Echoing the dismantling of USAID, other countries are changing funding priorities and health and hunger programmes in Africa will lose out.

German of the day: Insolvenz

That means bankruptcy.

German business bankruptcies hit decade high amid downturn – Business bankruptcies have climbed to an 11-year high, with small firms hardest hit by Germany’s anemic growth. Economists warn of job losses but see tentative signs that the insolvency wave may be leveling off.

Don’t worry, in other words. Once everybody has gone bankrupt the bankruptcies will stop.

German of the day: Russisches Vermögen

That means Russian assets (frozen assets).

Merz also wants to use Russian assets in Germany.

Brilliant move, Germany. The Russians won’t notice and there won’t be any retaliation.

Can Russia’s assets frozen in the EU be used for Ukraine? Negotiations on this issue are gaining momentum. Germany is also making concessions.

Wurst case scenario

Yes, I actually used that awful pun.

I don’t care. Ich stehe dazu (I stand by it).

Germany news: Minister sounds alarm on food security – Germany’s farming minister says the country needs to be more prepared for future food emergencies.

Germany’s Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer says farms and food producers must be included in future Bundeswehr emergency exercises, calling them “critical infrastructure.”

He warned that if agriculture failed, “our food supply would collapse.”

“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.