Esme Nicholson
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
- 
                        Three Austrian nuns have left a retirement home to break into their old convent — with local support and an Instagram following.
 - 
                        President Trump's 39% tariff on goods from Switzerland is among the world's steepest import taxes. For the European nation, the announcement comes at an unwelcome time.
 - 
                        The head of parliament banned the rainbow flag from the legislative building. Far-right groups have rallied against the LGBTQ+ community and attacks are on the rise. It all casts a shadow over Pride.
 - 
                        In Germany, lawmakers have approved changes to the constitution to allow for unprecedented spending on defense. The historic vote brings an end to decades of austerity.
 - 
                        
 - 
                        Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has struck a groundbreaking deal with the Green party. The agreement ends a tradition of fiscal austerity in order to rearm, help Ukraine and build infrastructure.
 - 
                        With Germany's election in six weeks, Elon Musk was full of praise for his livestream guest on X: Alice Weidel, the far-right Alternative for Germany party's candidate for chancellor.
 - 
                        Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she had to consider whether she is a "feminist." She joined NPR's Mary Louise Kelly to discuss her new memoir, Freedom.
 - 
                        Voters in a small German town added the name of a third man to their ballot papers who they thought would be more suitable than those officially running. He politely turned down the opportunity.
 - 
                        German intelligence chiefs believe Russia will be in a position to launch a direct attack on NATO by the end of this decade. Germany is already dealing with cyber attacks on infrastructure.