My (human) mistake- thanks

Israeli ambassador to Germany condemns Bezalel Smotrich’s tirade against chancellor Ron Prosor says verbal attack on Friedrich Merz referencing Nazi regime ‘erodes the memory of the Holocaust’

In a rare rebuke of a top Israeli official by an active ambassador, Ron Prosor said he wished to “unequivocally condemn” Bezalel Smotrich’s tirade against Merz, in which he made reference to the Nazi regime and said: “You will not force us into ghettos again.” www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Berlin: Der "Alte Ami": Radiomoderator Rik de Lisle ist gestorben Der "Alte Ami": Radiomoderator Rik de Lisle ist gestorben

Rest in power, Rik de Lisle, who forged many Berliners' notion of the genial American and inspired a million 'Icke bin's Alter Ami' impersonations of our accent www.tagesschau.de/inland/regio....

"The Orths say the shop has become something of a pilgrimage site for parents who have lost children. When they meet other grieving couples, the initial communication is often wordless. Some reach for a hug as soon as they see them."

How a mother turned her drowned daughter’s passion into a thriving patisserie Hamburg shop set up in tribute to aspiring pastry chef becomes ‘happy’ pilgrimage site for grieving parents

How a mother turned her drowned daughter’s passion into a thriving patisserie

Uproar in Germany over law requiring men get military approval for long stays abroad Ministry clarifies clause affecting those up to age 45 that is part of legislation that came into effect in January

Uproar in Germany over a law requiring men to get military approval for long stays abroad. Ministry clarifies a clause affecting those up to age 45 that is part of legislation which came into effect in January. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a... via @theguardian.com @deborahcole.bsky.social

I meet extraordinary people in this job. Thank you to Inka and Ralph Orth for sharing their daughter Johanna’s passion with me with such generosity and grace www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

How a mother turned her drowned daughter’s passion into a thriving patisserie How a mother turned her drowned daughter’s passion into a thriving patisserie: Hamburg shop set up in tribute to aspiring pastry chef becomes ‘happy’ pilgrimage site for grieving parents Johanna Orth was a fun-loving, determined little girl and later a purpose-driven young woman who rev...

How a mother turned her drowned daughter’s passion into a thriving patisserie: Hamburg shop set up in tribute to aspiring pastry chef becomes ‘happy’ pilgrimage site for grieving parents Johanna Orth was a fun-loving, determined little girl and later a purpose-driven young woman who rev...

High times or low blows? Experts fail to clear air over German drug legalisation Cannabis policy still divisive two years in, with SPD hailing it while CDU minister says it is risk to young people’s health

High times or low blows? After two years, Germany's cannabis policy is still divisive, with the SPD hailing it while a CDU minister says it is a risk to young people’s health www.theguardian.com/society/2026... via @theguardian.com @deborahcole.bsky.social

‘Raise our heads and resist’: how Europe’s civil society is fighting back against the far right Rightwing parties are using parliamentary queries, legal traps and policing to target NGOs and stifle dissent

"Not only Hungary". Proud to work on this 3-part series helmed by @jonhenley.bsky.social about threats to civil society, free media and the rule of law amid a far-right assault, even in parts of the EU once deemed invulnerable www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

The story takes in his backpedalling after criticism

Merz criticised after calling for Syrians in Germany to ‘go back’ home The German chancellor has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government Friedrich Merz has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government after he called for the vast majority of Syrians living in Germany to “go back to their homeland.” The German chancellor, who was elected last year after promising a tough line on immigration in a bid to beat the far right, made the remarks during a visit to Berlin on Monday by the interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa. Continue reading...

Merz criticised after calling for Syrians in Germany to ‘go back’ home

Alles Gute, liebe Wiebke! Bin gespannt, was als nächstes kommt.

Merz criticised after calling for Syrians in Germany to ‘go back’ home The German chancellor has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government

Merz criticised after calling for Syrians in Germany to ‘go back’ home

The German chancellor has drawn condemnation from NGOs and members of his own government
— @deborahcole.bsky.social for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Great “get”, Kim!

Excellent exit interview with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo on making the city cleaner & greener & loads more fun to navigate

Can Europe’s public service media survive attacks by the far right? From Italy to France, Germany to Hungary, nationalist governments and politicians are targeting media with the same playbook

"Not only Hungary" series: Far-right governments and politicians in the EU are targeting public media with the same playbook www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

‘Assault on justice’: how far-right attacks are threatening rule of law in Europe Judicial independence is under threat as populist politicians target judges and authoritarian governments attempt constitutional reforms

'Not only Hungary' series: judicial independence is under threat in several EU countries as populist politicians target judges and authoritarian governments attempt constitutional 'reforms' www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Podgorica’s Karver bookstore, named for Raymond C., is tucked in a former hammam & just about the closest thing to perfection I’ve seen in an age

On-the-nose Hamburg

Everything is a political weapon since Trump’s re-election, says Germany’s ex-economy minister Robert Habeck says world has moved on from weaponising energy to using tariffs, technology and more to inflict harm

“There was no dancing in the rain, there was no kissing in the rain,” Robert Habeck describes the formative experience of the Chornobyl disaster to the Guardian's Ajit Niranjan but why he would have been open to a temporary extension of nuclear power in 2022 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Wie eine Krisendeutung aussieht, die statt Migranten oder Transferempfängern die eigentlichen Schuldigen für die sinkende Kaufkraft identifiziert und probate politische Antworten anbietet, demonstriert der... Sprecher des Tankstellenverbands?

Cologne Cathedral’s plans to charge for tickets spark outcry Limiting access to German church to well-off visitors would be ‘socially unjust’, critics say

Cologne Cathedral’s plans to charge for tickets spark an outcry. Limiting access to German church to well-off visitors would be ‘socially unjust’, critics say. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign... via @theguardian.com @deborahcole.bsky.social

VW to cut 50,000 jobs amid Trump tariffs and falling Chinese sales Car group reports 54% drop in pre-tax profits as it says Iran war could affect demand for Audi and Porsche brands

Volkswagen to cut 50,000 jobs amid Trump tariffs and falling Chinese sales. The car group reports a 54% drop in pre-tax profits, saying that the Iran war could affect demand for Audi and Porsche brands. www.theguardian.com/business/202... via @theguardian.com @deborahcole.bsky.social

The trick is to suss out how much nat politics is weighing on a state poll. In Baden-Württemberg, homeland of Schäuble & the Swabian housewife, there was a lot of anger among CDU voters over Merz's big spending & management of the economy in a very tight race and that helped tip the scale

‘Bitter result’ for Friedrich Merz as Greens win in German car heartland Cem Özdemir gains 30.2% of vote in Baden-Württemberg, ahead of CDU, with far-right AfD in third

Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats have stumbled into a busy election year with a defeat to the Greens in a key state poll, as his embattled party struggles to fend off a challenge in other pivotal races from the far right www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Unlearning the myth of American innocence The long read: When she was 30, Suzy Hansen left the US for Istanbul – and began to realise that Americans will never understand their own country until they see it as the rest of the world does

A timely re-up of this one in our weekend Long Reads www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017...

A lone battle: Why is Pedro Sánchez the only European leader to take on Trump? As the Spanish PM decries the war in Iran, other politicians are unable – or unwilling – to speak against the US president

Why have other European leaders not joined Sánchez in standing up to Trump on Iran? It's complicated www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Germany moves to legalise wolf hunting in response to livestock ‘bloodlust’ Lower house votes in favour of polarising law after rapid increase in population and attack on grazing farm animals

Germany moves to legalise wolf hunting after a rapid increase in population and attacks on grazing farm animals www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m... via @theguardian.com @deborahcole.bsky.social

Berlin film festival head to keep job after Gaza free speech row The German government convened a crisis meeting after several prize winners at this year’s event condemned Israel’s actions against Palestinians

The Berlinale chief will keep her job. But the pro-Palestinian symbols and statements mentioned in the criticism of the festival are protected under German law, meaning the announced compromise will be complex to implement www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ma...