1. Odd speech by NATO Chief Rutte yesterday...telling Europe to prepare for war with Russia....on a scale not seen since WW II.
Hyping people up.
Pro-war folks don't grasp financial costs. Other growing problem...fair sum of German youth (I would estimate nearing 50-percent)....aren't likely to play along with conscription/draft/enlistment.
2. From last night....a 16-year-old boy was critically injured in a knife attack in Herford (NW Germany). Cops are searching for "one or more unknown perpetrators." Attack occurred near the Christmas market.
3. Driving schools in Germany are saying they've seen 50-percent less applicants in 2025...blaming the cost of a license/training. They are suggesting the gov't needs to take action. Hard to say what could happen....cost nearing an average of 3,400 Euro.
Sounds like they want the gov't to get in the middle and cover half the cost.
4. EU gas/diesel ban (was to occur in 2035)....flipped.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly agreed in negotiations with European People’s Party (EPP) leader Manfred Weber to adjust the 2035 mandate from a 100% emissions reduction to a 90% cut.
What this leads to? This proposed change would allow manufacturers to continue selling some internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including those running on gas or diesel, as long as their overall fleet meets the average efficiency target—potentially incorporating e-fuels or hybrids.
It also drops plans for a full zero-emissions requirement by 2040.
Two groups in a daze....the environmentalists thought the gas/diesel era was finished/over....bothered by this change.
Second group....car companies....angered a bit because they spent billions to develop the E-cars....finding that three-quarters of the general public simply don't want to mess with E-cars. They now need to spend billions more...developing E-fuel/hybrid technology.
For the public? I noted that when E-cars started to get up to 7 to 10 years in age....new battery discussion came up, and cost was 5k Euro to 15k Euro (battery, dump-fee, and service). Lot of heartburn to have a car valued at 8k Euro....needing a replacement battery.
5. Ticket shock....€155 for the World Cup opener Germany against Curaçao. I should note....this is for a regular seat....not a premium seat.
6. Lindt, the German chocolate company....starting new strategy....refusing to sell at discount rates.
7. My local state (Hessen)....amending the law governing the treatment of the mentally ill.
Starting in 2026....anyone who continues to pose a danger after a hospital stay must be reported to the police. Occurs after several incidents where people were released and were still a threat.
8. Two evil villain's.....cover of Spiegel this week.
9. WELT health piece this AM.....199-percent increase in identifying adults in Germany for ADHD.
10. Locally in my town of Wiesbaden....22-year old arrested....pretending to be a policeman. Was attempting to rob a senior citizen. Popular trend for past five years in the region....fake-cops.
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