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Published on: 09/03/2026 - 07:59 Modified on: 09/03/2026 - 08:49

On the front page of the press on Thursday: tensions between Germany and Russia, which threatens to respond to German sanctions with a “direct blow”. Tensions which worry other European countries, also in Moscow's sights; very bad news about global warming; but a good one for the kakapos of New Zealand.

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On the front page of the press, Thursday September 3: tensions between Germany and Russia, which threatens to respond to German sanctions with "a direct blow".

“Hybrid warfare” and European concern

The Kremlin's response to Berlin's retaliation, which accuses it of being responsible for an "attempted attack" last month at Leipizig airport, made the front page of Tagesspiegel this morning. The Berlin newspaper which is also concerned about the "vulnerability" of German infrastructure after two "attacks", in the last 48 hours, against the electricity network and an explosion in a Bavarian station. If no responsibility has yet been established for these latest incidents, the German government says it has no doubt, however, about Russian culpability for Leipzig. And the weekly Die Zeit warns that "the hybrid war" led by Russia is not close to being over and calls for "coolness despite the concern".

"The German government does not expect Russia to put an end to its hybrid war, quite the contrary": the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung even says it is waiting for "the next level of escalation" - contrary to the Federal Minister of the Interior, whom it accuses of "minimizing the seriousness of the situation" when he assures that Germany "is not at war". On the Russian side, Kommersant reports Putin's statements on "the absence of evidence implicating Russia" and on the fact that this escalation would be linked, according to him, "to Germany's internal political problems". According to the official newspaper, Moscow is in turn preparing “retaliations”. The closure of the Goethe Institute in Russia would be “an option being considered”.

These tensions between Germany and Russia are being scrutinized with concern in Europe. L'Opinion observes the "measured reaction" of Chancellor Merz, "anxious not to give grist to the far right just before the regional elections" in the east of the country, where some of the voters "retain sympathy for Russia and criticize arms deliveries to Ukraine", the aim being not to "feed" the AfD, whose discourse is aligned with the Kremlin's positions.

Beyond Germany, Russia is accused of waging a “silent war” against all of Europe, according to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. “War”, also says Libération, which accuses the head of the Kremlin of “sowing doubt, of dividing Europeans, of strengthening the extreme right wherever it has a chance of breaking through”, notably, therefore, in Saxony-Anhalt, in Germany, “in short, of playing with fire”. Ulterior motives attributed by Il Fatto Quotidiano... to the Europeans: "Now they are declaring war on Russia without proof", denounced this morning the Italian newspaper, considered close to the 5 Star Movement.

“Still much to do to limit global warming”

A word, also, from a UN report, published on Wednesday, noting the excess of +1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era. Eleven years after the Paris climate agreements, this document, relayed in particular by The Washington Post, affirms that "the challenge is no longer to avoid (this) overshooting, but to manage it", and that "there is still much to do to limit warming".

The leading country emitting greenhouse gases, China has reduced its emissions by 1% since the outbreak of war against Iran, according to another report, this time cited by The Guardian, which shows a sharp reduction in oil consumption and a constant increase in public transport and electric vehicles. This fuels hopes that China will begin to decarbonize its economy.

New Zealand kakapo “mating frenzy”

The other good news of the day, perhaps more unexpected, comes to us from New Zealand, where a species of parrot in danger of extinction is experiencing a boom in births this year. The New York Times announces that the country now has exactly 325 kakapos, 90 more than last year, the largest population of this species of giant parrot in decades since their number fell to just 51 individuals in 1995.

A baby boom attributed to a "mating frenzy", according to the newspaper, which explains the phenomenon by the fact that the rimus, which are evergreen trees, gave birth this year. an unusual quantity of their bright red fruits, rich in calcium and vitamin D, thus providing the necessary nutrients for kakapos to indulge in wild antics - especially since their reproduction only takes place once every two to four years. The Viagra of kakapos, in short.

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