[Hints] Voices from the Blätterwald - 2025-06-21

1. English Videos
1. Milei
2. Gaza
2. English News and Articles
1. Israel uses clans against Hamas - "What's wrong with that?"
2. Trump Wants Big Tech to Own the Dollar
3. US decision to sanction ICC judges ‘deeply corrosive’ to justice: UN rights chief
4. Britain sanctions 2 Israeli ministers for ‘inciting extremist violence’ against Palestinians
5. U.S. Spy Agencies Are Getting a One-Stop Shop to Buy Your Most Sensitive Personal Data
3. Translated News in English
1. Bundestag electoral law: BSW fails in Karlsruhe with electoral law lawsuits
2. Bundestag - MPs’ salaries increase by six percent
3. Capgemini Study - More Rich Thanks to High Stock Prices
4. Poverty
5. Natural Gas
6. Tax money for electricity not fed into the grid - Solar power becomes the main problem in the grid
7. Personnel gaps in the Bundeswehr - CDU fuels debate on conscription
8. Campaigns for climate policy - EU funds for environmental activists?
9. Corona
10. More than 100 signatures - SPD initiative calls for peace policy instead of rearmament
11. According to BSW notification - Investigations following BSW complaint against Robert Habeck
12. Iran - Israel
13. Euro to be introduced in Bulgaria from 2026

I. English Videos

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A 2

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II. English News and Articles

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-> Israel uses clans against Hamas - "What's wrong with that?"
Israel is supporting local militias in the Gaza Strip in their fight against Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu has confirmed the reports, but does not share the concern. Rather, he says the action is completely normal.
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-> Trump Wants Big Tech to Own the Dollar
Two parallel monetary systems – one based on public monies issued in China, India, and maybe the eurozone, and the other comprising private money, increasingly dominated by dollar-pegged stablecoins – appear to be emerging. Central bankers are not the only ones who should feel anxious.
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-> US decision to sanction ICC judges ‘deeply corrosive’ to justice: UN rights chief
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-> Britain sanctions 2 Israeli ministers for ‘inciting extremist violence’ against Palestinians
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich’s Gaza comments are “monstrous,” U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy says.
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-> U.S. Spy Agencies Are Getting a One-Stop Shop to Buy Your Most Sensitive Personal Data
The government wants to build a centralized platform where spy agencies can more easily buy private info about millions of people.
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III. Translated News in English

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-> Bundestag electoral law: BSW fails in Karlsruhe with electoral law lawsuits
Sahra Wagenknecht's coalition narrowly missed out on a seat in the federal election. The BSW appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court—and was ultimately defeated.
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-> Bundestag - MPs’ salaries increase by six percent
The salaries of members of the German Bundestag will increase by six percent starting in July. This follows the average wage increase of the past year. The increase has been criticized by the Left Party.
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-> Social benefits - Heil announces zero increase in citizen's income
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-> Amount of the monthly Hartz IV standard rate or citizen's allowance in Germany from 2005 to 2025
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note: So MPs' salaries are rising in line with nominal wages. And nominal wages should rise by the inflation rate and productivity growth. But social benefits should only rise by the inflation rate.

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-> Capgemini Study - More Rich Thanks to High Stock Prices
The number of rich people has never been higher. At the same time, their total wealth has never been greater – albeit in nominal terms and not adjusted for inflation. This is according to the "World Wealth Report" published on Wednesday by the consulting firm Capgemini. An estimated 23.4 million people, 2.6 percent more than in 2023, had investable assets of at least one million dollars last year. In Austria, however, the number declined.
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-> World Wealth Report 2025 - Den großen Vermögenstransfer meistern
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-> Survey commissioned by the Trade Union Confederation - Two-thirds support raising the minimum wage to 15 euros
According to a survey by the German Trade Union Confederation, 66 percent support raising the minimum wage to €15. Even among CDU/CSU supporters, a majority were open to it.
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-> More than 1.1 million - Never before have so many pensioners worked
They're retired but still working: The number of pensioners still working in Germany has reached a record high. Compared to 2004, the number has quadrupled.
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-> Letter from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy - Federal government wants to actively prevent operation of Nord Stream pipelines
US investors would like to make money from the Nord Stream pipelines. Germany is also interested in new gas deliveries from Russia. According to SPIEGEL information, the German government is actively trying to prevent this.
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-> Tax money for electricity not fed into the grid - Solar power becomes the main problem in the grid
Producers of electricity from renewable sources received almost 554 million euros in compensation from the federal government in 2024. Due to grid bottlenecks, they were unable to feed their energy into the grid.
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-> Personnel gaps in the Bundeswehr - CDU fuels debate on conscription
Will compulsory military service return? The new Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces considers it necessary, and the Chairman of the Defense Committee also calls for compulsory military service for both men and women. SPD parliamentary group leader Miersch puts the brakes on this.
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-> Campaigns for climate policy - EU funds for environmental activists?
According to a media report, the EU Commission allegedly paid environmental organizations for lawsuits and campaigns against companies. The goal, they say, was to convince the public of the EU's climate policy. NGOs are fighting back against the allegations.
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-> Billions in damage from corona masks? New accusations against Spahn
A new report places a heavy burden on former Health Minister Spahn: The CDU politician allegedly commissioned a company from his home country to procure masks at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis – without a tender. The resulting damage amounted to billions.
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-> More than 100 signatures - SPD initiative calls for peace policy instead of rearmament
In a letter, more than 100 people close to the SPD, including former parliamentary group leader Mützenich, are calling for a change of course in security and defense policy and talks with Russia. The letter could cause unrest within the coalition.
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-> According to BSW notification - Investigations following BSW complaint against Robert Habeck
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance has filed a defamation complaint against former Economics Minister Robert Habeck, alleging defamation over statements Habeck made during a campaign appearance in Dresden.
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-> Three of Iran’s most powerful men killed as Israel targets top military and nuclear leadership
Iran’s highest-ranking military officer, the head of its elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, and a former national security chief have all been killed in Israel’s unprecedented Operation Rising Lion.
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-> Confusion about Flightradar images - Bundeswehr rejects speculation about aid for Israel in Iran war
The flight path of a German Bundeswehr Airbus aircraft used to refuel fighter jets in flight has sparked speculation about German assistance to Israel in its attacks on Iran. The Defense Ministry in Berlin says no such assistance exists.
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-> Euro to be introduced in Bulgaria from 2026
EU Commission and European Central Bank see requirements met / Critics doubt fulfillment of criteria and fear dependence on Brussels / Majority of Bulgarians against introduction of euro
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