EU Commission holds bring-your-pet-to-work days — but attack dogs are banned  – POLITICO

The Commission provided five pages of guidelines to civil servants before the trial run. “Research shows that interacting with dogs can reduce stress and anxiety and increase well-being,” it says.  But it adds that workers who are allergic to dogs or feel uncomfortable should “consider teleworking (if applicable).”  Other than reducing stress and anxiety among … Read more

Elephants trample on German coalition’s fragile vibes – POLITICO

While Germany started colonizing other countries comparatively late — at the end of the 19th century, hundreds of years after other European nations — its colonial empire in Africa and Asia was considered the third biggest by 1914. Germany was forced to give up its colonies after World War I, and to this day, it … Read more

Could Germany host 20,000 elephants? We asked an expert. – POLITICO

But but but … let’s say the elephants did end up in Germany — which originally triggered Botswana’s ire by moving to bring in a ban on trophy-hunting imports, thereby nullifying a popular population-reduction method — where would be the ideal spot for them to live? We asked an expert, Nuremberg Zoo director Dag Encke, … Read more