Accessibility links
Esme Nicholson
Stories By

Esme Nicholson

Story Archive

Friday

Can Berlin's legendary nightclubs survive?

People dancing on the dance floor at Club Re:mise in Berlin on Oct. 7, 2023. Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images

State of the World from NPR

Can Berlin's legendary nightclubs survive?

Berlin's iconic nightclubs are a cultural institution. But they face dwindling revenue due to decreased tourism and strained relationships with their gentrifying neighborhoods.

Can Berlin's legendary nightclubs survive?

Listen · 7:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1196978439/1212285869" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday

Climate change threatens Germany's fairy tale forests

Dead trees in the forests of the Harz Region. Esme Nicholson/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Esme Nicholson/NPR

Europe

Climate change threatens Germany's fairy tale forests

Germany's dense green spruce forests are being decimated by parasites and climate change. It's unclear if planting different kinds of trees would help stop the decline.

Climate change threatens Germany's fairy tale forests

Listen · 3:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1191724399/1191727166" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Europe

Cyclists and car drivers in Berlin fight over road space

Berlin's conservative mayor ran on a pledge to stand up for car drivers against encroachment from bicyclists. But bike-riders have pushed back, forcing the government to backpedal.

Cyclists and car drivers in Berlin fight over road space

Listen · 4:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1190820684/1190824564" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Europe

German forests face threat from bark beetles following years of drought

Germany's woodlands, long associated with Grimm's Fairy Tales, are dying. After years of drought, the trees are now facing a new onslaught from bark beetles. Many believe climate change is the cause.

German forests face threat from bark beetles following years of drought

Listen · 3:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1190123365/1190123366" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Denmark's latest Quran burning sparks more outrage in Iraq and other Muslim nations

Iraqis raise copies of the Quran, Muslims' holy book, during a protest in Baghdad, Saturday. Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq's government, following reports of the burning of a Quran by a ultranationalist group in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen. Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Hadi Mizban/AP

World

Denmark's latest Quran burning sparks more outrage in Iraq and other Muslim nations

Protesters set fire to a copy of the Quran outside the Iraqi Embassy in Denmark's capital of Copenhagen, the latest such incident to draw condemnation from Muslim-majority countries.

Sunday

4 takeaways from this year's important Munich Security Conference

US Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, shake hands prior to a bilateral meeting at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. The 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) takes place from Feb. 17 to Feb. 19, 2023 at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich. Thomas Kienzle/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Thomas Kienzle/AP

National Security

4 takeaways from this year's important Munich Security Conference

The war in Ukraine dominated the annual conference in Germany, as Vice President Kamala Harris accused Russian forces of crimes against humanity.

Friday

World

The war in Ukraine is a main priority at the Munich Security conference

The Munich Security conference kicked off Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris, European leaders and China's top diplomat are in attendance. Top of the agenda is the war in Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine is a main priority at the Munich Security conference

Listen · 3:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1157999636/1157999637" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Europe

Many Berliners say repeat elections are a sign of the city's deeper dysfunction

German efficiency is a stereotype challenged by the city of Berlin. Its civil government is so dysfunctional that the city had to re-do municipal elections over the weekend.

Many Berliners say repeat elections are a sign of the city's deeper dysfunction

Listen · 4:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1156477680/1156477681" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Europe

Climate activists are turning up the heat in their protests against fossil fuels

Climate protesters are becoming increasingly disruptive in Germany as the country turns to coal to replace Russian natural gas.

Climate activists are turning up the heat in their protests against fossil fuels

Listen · 5:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1146953410/1146961011" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Climate activists are fuming as Germany turns to coal to replace Russian gas

Climate activists from the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) hold up commuter traffic on a Monday morning in Berlin by supergluing themselves to the road. Police unstick their hands using cooking oil and a pastry brush while irate drivers look on, stuck for more than an hour. Esme Nicholson/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Esme Nicholson/NPR

World

Climate activists are fuming as Germany turns to coal to replace Russian gas

Germany is firing up coal plants and importing liquefied natural gas to shore up energy supplies. Activists are carrying out increasingly disruptive protests, gluing themselves to roads and runways.

Wednesday

Europe

Police in Germany arrest 25 people allegedly planning to overthrow the government

Police in Germany have arrested 25 people who were allegedly planning to overthrow the government.

Police in Germany arrest 25 people allegedly planning to overthrow the government

Listen · 4:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1141363510/1141372647" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Europe

German Special Forces arrest 25 people for a plot to overthrow the government

German Special Forces arrested 25 people for a domestic terrorism plot to overthrow the government there.

German Special Forces arrest 25 people for a plot to overthrow the government

Listen · 3:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1141212893/1141236854" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Germany says it foiled a far-right coup plot. Here's what we know

German police arrest "Prince Heinrich XIII" — a 71-year-old man who has gained followers through his controversial political views — as part of an operation against suspected coup conspirators. Boris Roessler/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Boris Roessler/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Europe

Germany says it foiled a far-right coup plot. Here's what we know

The group hoped to replace Germany's government and install a new head of state known as Prince Heinrich XIII, prosecutors say. Some 3,000 officers were involved in Wednesday's police operation.

Thursday

Why Western leaders are warily watching the German leader's trip to China

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport for his flight to China on Thursday. Kay Nietfeld / DPA / Picture Alliance via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kay Nietfeld / DPA / Picture Alliance via Getty Images

World

Why Western leaders are warily watching the German leader's trip to China

As German Chancellor Olaf Scholz heads to China to meet with President Xi Jinping on Friday, he is under political pressure at home, and from Washington, to rethink Berlin's relationship with Beijing.

Why Western leaders are warily watching the German leader's trip to China

Listen · 3:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1133867028/1133951322" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Europe

Germany's chancellor is under pressure to reduce economic dependence on China

As Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz heads to China this week, he's under pressure from both his government and the opposition to reduce the country's economic dependence on China and diversify trade.

Germany's chancellor is under pressure to reduce economic dependence on China

Listen · 3:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1133667484/1133682096" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Europe

Major gas pipeline from Russia to Europe restarts after a break for maintenance

The operator announced that natural gas started flowing through a key pipeline after a 10-day shutdown. The gas flow was expected to fall well short of full capacity and the outlook was uncertain.

Major gas pipeline from Russia to Europe restarts after a break for maintenance

Listen · 3:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1112662966/1112662967" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Europe

Abortion-rights activists in Germany aim to make the procedure more widely available

Earlier this month, the EU Parliament voted in favor of a resolution to make abortion a fundamental right — a good sign for activists in Germany fighting to make the procedure more available.

Abortion-rights activists in Germany aim to make the procedure more widely available

Listen · 3:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1112411662/1112411663" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Europe

Northern Europe is bracing for unusually high temperatures this week

As the heat wave in southern Europe shows some signs of abating, temperatures in northern Europe are soaring. Record highs are expected in the U.K. where officials have declared a national emergency.

Northern Europe is bracing for unusually high temperatures this week

Listen · 3:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1112219573/1112219574" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Europe

Germany to send anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, despite worry of provoking conflict

Germany says it will send anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine — a decision that breaks with Berlin's traditional refusal to export heavy weapons to war zones.

Germany to send anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, despite worry of provoking conflict

Listen · 3:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1095100358/1095100359" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Ukrainian Holocaust survivors flee war again — this time to Germany

Alla Ilyinichna Sinelnikova (left), 90, and Sonya Leibovna Tartakovskaya, 83, were recently evacuated from Ukraine to Germany. Both are survivors of the Holocaust, and this is the second time they are fleeing war. "I never thought I would live to see such horror for the second time in my life," says Sinelnikova. "I thought it was in my past, all over and done with. And now we're reliving it." Esme Nicholson/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Esme Nicholson/NPR

Ukraine invasion — explained

Ukrainian Holocaust survivors flee war again — this time to Germany

Germany has welcomed dozens of the oldest refugees fleeing Ukraine — those who survived the Holocaust during World War II. They've now narrowly escaped death for the second time in their lives.

Ukrainian Holocaust survivors flee war again — this time to Germany

Listen · 4:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1092289301/1092414688" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Europe

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he had tough talks with Putin

Chancellor Nehammer says he held "very direct, open and tough" talks on Monday in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin — and told him the war in Ukraine needs to end.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he had tough talks with Putin

Listen · 2:05
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1092251173/1092251174" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Ukrainians fleeing war, and volunteers to help them, fill a Berlin train station

People fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine and volunteers to help them fill the Hauptbahnhof main railway station on Wednesday in Berlin. Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Ukrainians fleeing war, and volunteers to help them, fill a Berlin train station

At Berlin's main train station, hundreds of volunteers distribute food, hot drinks, diapers, toys, warm coats and a helping hand to the Ukrainians disembarking daily.

Ukrainians fleeing war, and volunteers to help them, fill a Berlin train station

Listen · 2:11
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1084571029/1084627311" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Europe

Berlin honors U.S. war veteran 'Candy Bomber'

Berliners are mourning U.S. veteran Gail Halvorsen, who died this week aged 101. He was one of the pilots who flew planes during the Berlin Airlift, dropping candy among other much-needed supplies.

Berlin honors U.S. war veteran 'Candy Bomber'

Listen · 2:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1081873346/1081873349" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

German chancellor warns of far-reaching sanctions if Russia moves on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, speaks to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their meeting at The Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Scholz visited Ukraine as part of a flurry of Western diplomacy aimed at heading off a feared Russian invasion that some warn could be just days away. AP hide caption

toggle caption
AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

German chancellor warns of far-reaching sanctions if Russia moves on Ukraine

Olaf Scholz did not elaborate on specifics during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday but he did pledge a new round of financial assistance to Kyiv.

Browse archive or search npr.org