Friday, February 23, 2024

23 Feb 2024: Nine German News Stories

 1.  Up until this week, Brandenburg region had a record  for rainfall established and sitting since 1948.  This week....the winter rainfall has been added up, and broke the old record.

Even in my region around Wiesbaden, if you count the massive snow in November...we are probably around 120-percent for winter rain/snow mix.   

However, I'll point this out....drought conditions for spring/summer of 2023?  There were around 21 weeks of almost zero rain  (one single storm in that period that dropped a quarter-inch of rainfall).  For about 3 months, I didn't have to mow the lawn.

2.  There had been a plan to contract out German soccer league (both the first and second league) games to a commercial operation, and they would sell the content beyond the German border.  Back in January, this was hyped-up and two companies were in the biding 'war'.  Amount being discussed?  1-billion Euro for the two leagues.

Well...both bidding companies have dropped out.  Varying reasons....some relate to fans not happy over the deal.  But if you gauge viewers in China.....which would have been a major part of this.....dismal economic conditions are in play as well.

It would appear....all of the clubs were hoping on the cash distribution....so it hurts.

3.  All this effort to pass cannabis legalization?  Well....both the FDP and CSU parties have said 'nein'.  So the Greens and SPD.....desperately need either the CDU or the AfD Party to step up and support the effort.

If this fails?  I'd say around 20-percent of the nation will be disturbed how they were led along for the past two years.

Big vote?  Friday afternoon at the Bundestag.

4.  Thursday storm warnings?  If you lived in the northern third of Germany....160 kph winds.

5.  Some meeting yesterday at the EU.....representatives of 73 big-name companies (17 different sectors) told the EU that if their Net Zero carbon plan proceeds...there will be a massive downturn of their companies (hint: jobs) to occur.  The word 'wipe-out' was uttered.

To be honest, I doubt if the EU on their Net Zero plan had ever considered industry or jobs when discussing Net Zero creation.  

6.  Just a weird story.

There was this professor with a German university  up in Göttingen (2 hours driving north of Frankfurt)....who got dragged into court.

Accusation?  Basically, he wanted doctoral students to allow him to beat them naked.   

Apparently, the doctoral students to some degree.....agreed,  then reported the incident.

Court heard the case. Agreed....totally illegal.  They gave the guy 18 months of a suspended sentence (two students involved).  

What the guy said in his defense....something to the effect that he was preparing the ladies for future employment.  

7.   Mercedes had a strategy where most all of its production would be E-car related.  Yesterday, they said....they had evolved....gas cars would get a higher priority.  Not direct, but I suspect they are figuring out that the bulk of Germans  just won't go to E-cars.

8.   The planned target of Germany's economic growth this year?  It was 1.3 percent.  They announced yesterday....at best, it will ONLY be 0.2 percent. 

9.  There is some build-up of consumer chatter in Germany....if you make any food that has even marginal alcohol in it....you need to have labeling  on the product.  

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