Stories from Cologne · Germany

A collaboration has emerged that was previously unimaginable.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, can provide answers to questions, but these responses should be verified.

Journalist Lisa Seemann noted that Donald Trump's reactions to the current conflict are not surprising to many, given his short temper. However, the journalist believes neither party is acting responsibly.

More than 150 subsea cables connect Europe with the rest of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. These fiber optic cables, up to 20 cm thick, carry electricity and data. Experts consider these cables to be lifelines for the German economy. A German parliamentary motion calls for effective cable diplomacy to said the future importance of protecting undersea cables. One developed method can sever subsea cables at depths of up to 4,000 meters.

A speaker argued that the heating transition in Germany needs to be organized socially, not just through gas. This includes socially tiered subsidy programs and targeted support for small landlords who cannot afford to switch heating systems alone.

Germany will split gas network charges and green gas quotas for fuels, including biofuels intended to replace fossil fuels. The CO2 price will also be divided.

Across Germany, there are over 500 different electric vehicle charging providers, each with varying fees. Using a charging card can result in different costs, and charging without one is typically more expensive.

The state parliament approved a preamble to the state constitution that includes a reference to God. The Green and FDP parties criticized the decision as unnecessary. The state of Saarland has incorporated a reference to God into its constitution, though not as a state religion.

Hundreds of thousands across Germany followed union calls to demonstrate for workers' rights on May Day. In the Netherlands, large areas of vegetation burned in multiple wildfires.

Authorities are investigating an incident in Cologne where a carcass was placed on a crescent moon symbol attached to a wall.