[Hints] Voices from the Blätterwald - 2025-06-26

1. English Videos
1. The real reasons for the US-Israeli war on Iran, explained
2. Palantir
2. English News and Articles
1. Iran & Israel
2. Oil price shock
3. Irish MEPs condemn Ursula von der Leyen’s 'pro-Israeli solo run' amid Iran-Israel conflict
4. Press freedom - European journalists targeted with Paragon
3. Translated News in English
1. Recession
2. Poverty
3. Natural Gas
4. BSW & AfD
5. Justice in Germany - Fewer tax audits for top earners
6. Pension
7. Corona
8. Federal Audit Office: Risks related to Northvolt were systematically underestimated
9. Heat pump: excessive additional costs at the LEG housing group?
10. From Microsoft to Open Source: How Schleswig-Holstein plans to make the switch
11. Tax tricks of large companies - Is BlackRock cheating in the EU?
12. Hydrogen
13. NATO
14. EU Commission plans to expand the fact-checking network
15. Decision in Leipzig - Federal Administrative Court lifts “Compact” ban

I. English Videos

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II. English News and Articles

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-> NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
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-> Statement on the Situation in Iran
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This development is deeply concerning. I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment. Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security.
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-> G7 expresses support for Israel, calls Iran source of instability 2025-06-17
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-> Trump to make a decision on Iran within two weeks 2025-06-19
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-> WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS COMING IN IRAN
The initial battle plan for a new war 2025-06-19
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-> Hersh details alleged US 'All-Out Bombing Campaign' in Iran
Veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, citing a network of long-standing Israeli insiders and American officials, alleges a US-backed plan for extensive bombing in Iran, outlined in his latest report, “what I have been told is coming in Iran.”
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-> Visualizing US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and retaliation in maps 2025-06-21
The US entered the Israel-Iran conflict Saturday, striking three nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump said. The move comes after he weighed involvement following Israel’s unprecedented strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and other military sites earlier in the month, which triggered a days-long, ongoing exchange of missile attacks between the two countries.
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-> Atomic bomb still far away - US intelligence agencies doubt Israel's justification for attacking Iran
Israel is attacking Iran because the nuclear bomb it is striving for is not far away. That's the justification. However, US intelligence agencies consider this to be incorrect, as a report shows. Moreover, the sustainable destruction of the facilities can only be achieved with US assistance. And President Trump is unwilling to provide that.
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-> 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community
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We continue to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003, though pressure has probably built on him to do so.
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-> Attacks by Israel and Iran - What does international law allow - and what does it not?
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"However, 'preventive self-defense' against a merely possible future attack that is not yet imminent is inadmissible," said the international law expert.
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-> War against Iran - US attack on nuclear facilities – what does international law say?
... The Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, adopted in 1977, stipulates that nuclear power plants may not be attacked even if they are military objectives, "provided that such an attack may release dangerous forces and thereby cause heavy casualties among the civilian population."
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-> Retaliatory strike on US base: "Informed early": Trump thanks Iran

-> WHICH PATH TO PERSIA? - Options for a New American Strategy toward Iran
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LEAVE IT TO BIBI - Allowing or Encouraging an Israeli Military Strike
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-> Iran's Parliament Votes To Close Straits of Hormuz After US Attacks
The Iranian Parliament has voted in support of closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, according to media reports.
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-> Strait of Hormuz oil flows at risk amid Israel-Iran tensions
... Around 20 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels are estimated to flow via the waterway daily, according to data from Vortexa, an energy and freight market consultant. ... The EIA estimates that around 2.6 million barrels of crude per day could be available to bypass the Strait of Hormuz in the event of disruptions in the waterway.
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-> Irish MEPs condemn Ursula von der Leyen’s 'pro-Israeli solo run' amid Iran-Israel conflict
The European leader has faced backlash for blaming Iran and backing Israel without EU consensus, according to Irish MEPs.
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-> Press freedom - European journalists targeted with Paragon Solutions spyware, say researchers
Citizen Lab says it found ‘digital fingerprints’ of military-grade spyware that Italy has admitted using against activists
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III. Translated News in English

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-> VW job cuts: Internal document reveals surprising details
The planned job cuts at Volkswagen are taking shape – faster than many expected. According to Human Resources Director Gunnar Kilian, "around 20,000 departures from the company by 2030 have already been contractually agreed." This is more than half of the total 35,000 jobs that VW plans to eliminate in Germany by 2030 in a socially responsible manner . This figure was first made public at a staff meeting in early June. An internal document now provides detailed insights.
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-> Combating old-age poverty - Minimum wage rises to 15 euros – why that is not enough for pensioners
The CDU-SPD coalition wants to raise the minimum wage to €15 per hour. This implements an EU directive to combat poverty, but it would still be too low for millions of Germans. FOCUS online calculates how high the minimum wage would need to be.
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-> Older people bear particularly high debt burdens
- Older people have significantly higher debts relative to income than younger people
- People aged 65 and over are most often indebted to credit institutions, while those under 25 are indebted to telecommunications companies
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-> Sanctions - EU Commission wants to completely ban Russian gas imports
The EU has effectively cut off supply routes for coal and oil. However, some member states still don't want to give up gas. Now the Commission is seeking decisive action.
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-> Gas storage levy - Klingbeil's billion-dollar scam plan
With a minor amendment to the law, Minister Klingbeil wants to reclassify expensive gas procurement as a climate measure. Gas customers will no longer be the only ones who would have to pay.
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-> Berlin & Brandenburg - BSW parliamentary group leader expresses concerns about AfD surveillance
AfD under observation? The Brandenburg BSW parliamentary group leader warns against general suspicion – and doesn't believe in the firewall.
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-> Thuringia - Committee blockade: BSW parliamentary group leader wants to talk to AfD
BSW parliamentary group leader Frank Augsten has announced that he will seek talks with the AfD to end the blockade of important committees. Now, these talks are actually set to take place.
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-> Justice in Germany - Fewer tax audits for top earners
Those earning more than half a million euros a year have recently been audited less frequently by the tax office. The Left Party blames the FDP for this, calling it a "politically motivated failure."
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-> Widows' and widowers' pensions: Millions of pensioners will probably receive less money
It's a hot topic in Germany: retirement . Citizens in the Federal Republic must follow a number of rules. One example is the retirement age and the question: When do you retire ? Another example is retirement at 63 and the question of how early retirement actually works.
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-> Federal government investigations implicate former Health Minister Spahn
Jens Spahn personally responsible for excessive fixed price for procurement of FFP2 masks / Media: Union-affiliated companies commissioned with mask logistics / Greens: Current health minister keeps report under wraps to protect Spahn
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-> Federal Audit Office: Risks related to Northvolt were systematically underestimated
Did the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology fail to adequately consider Northvolt's financial situation? The Federal Audit Office reached this conclusion in a confidential report.

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-> Heat pump: excessive additional costs at the LEG housing group?
The listed housing group LEG wants to profit from the heating transition at the expense of tenants. The conversion of heating systems from gas boilers to air-to-air heat pumps (AHPs), as practiced by LEG, leads to significantly higher heating costs, which are not solely the result of the more expensive heat pump. Corresponding calculations by the German Tenants' Association (DMB) have been confirmed by research conducted by the ARD magazine "Panorama." LEG denies these price increases.
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-> Heat transition: Landlords cash in
The housing group LEG plans to equip its apartments with heat pumps. This could be significantly more expensive for tenants. The CEO of LEG could even benefit personally.
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-> From Microsoft to Open Source: How Schleswig-Holstein plans to make the switch
While many other federal states continue to rely on Microsoft, Schleswig-Holstein is taking its own path and opting for open source software.
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-> Tax tricks of large companies - Is BlackRock cheating in the EU?
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The co-chair of the Left Party in the European Parliament commissioned the study and sees the results as a burden for Friedrich Merz, who served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BlackRock Germany from 2016 to 2020.
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-> Climate showcase project canceled - ArcelorMittal stops plans for "green" steel production
The steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal was supposed to lead the way in the climate-friendly transformation of the German steel industry—with financial support from politicians. Now the company is canceling the billion-dollar project.
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-> Green light from Brussels: Bremen steelworks receives 840 million euros
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note: Hydrogen is technically very challenging: - Hydrogen embrittlement - Low energy density at constant pressure - Low melting point of water (only partially winter-proof fuel cells) Its use must therefore be carefully selected. And subsidies must, of course, be results-based.

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-> Before the summit in The Hague - NATO countries agree on new spending target of five percent
NATO countries are expected to invest at least five percent of their gross domestic product in defense in the future. One member state has been granted an exception.
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-> Everyone else should pay more -Trump wants exception for USA from higher NATO spending target
At the upcoming NATO summit, the target for defense spending among alliance members is to be significantly increased – after prolonged pressure from the US President. However, Donald Trump has now clarified that the five percent target will not apply to the US itself.
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-> Spain agrees with NATO to skip 5% defence spending target

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-> EU Commission plans to expand the fact-checking network
Southeastern Europe and non-member states in the crosshairs / Warning against "Kremlin-friendly disinformation narratives" / Critics: "Conflict of interest" and "interference" in the affairs of other states
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-> Decision in Leipzig - Federal Administrative Court lifts “Compact” ban
Jürgen Elsässer successfully challenged the ban on his right-wing extremist magazine "Compact" before the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. It remains legal.
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