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II. English News and Articles
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US grants Hungary exemption on Russia sanctions after warm Trump-Orban meeting
- Orban warns of consequences to Hungarian people, economy without Russian oil
- Trump says US is looking at the issue
- IMF figures show Hungary relied on Russia for 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil in 2024
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BBC director resigns after row over Trump documentary edit
The director general of Britain's BBC, Tim Davie, and the chief executive of news, Deborah Turness, have stepped down following criticism over bias at the corporation, including in the way it edited a speech by US President Donald Trump.
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Zelenskyy's former business partner Mindich left Ukraine hours before searches by anti-corruption agency – sources
Tymur Mindich, a businessman and co-owner of Kvartal 95, the Ukrainian production company Volodymyr Zelenskyy founded before he became president, left Ukraine on 10 November – just hours before a search by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU).
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Scandal in Ukraine - Zelenskyy's attempt to disempower corruption investigators has backfired.
Ukraine is rocked by a corruption scandal. One of the main suspects, a friend of the Ukrainian president, has fled abroad. But for Zelenskyy, the issue is uncomfortable for another reason as well.
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On Monday, NABU announced initial findings from "Operation Midas"—named after the king from Greek mythology who turned everything he touched to gold. "Operation Midas" concerns alleged corruption in the Ukrainian energy sector. In addition to four current and former ministers, businessman Tymur Mindich, a friend of the president, is also said to be involved. Among other things, he is a co-owner of the television production company Kvartal 95, founded by Zelenskyy.
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Corruption allegations - Scandal in Zelensky's circle rocks Ukraine
A close associate of President Zelenskyy is at the center of a new corruption scandal in Ukraine. Government officials are also under scrutiny. Critics suspect further involvement.
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Corruption scandal rocks Ukraine: What is known so far
A bribery scandal is putting the Ukrainian government under increasing pressure. At the center of the investigation: a close confidant of President Zelenskyy. Now, two ministers have also been forced to resign. Here's an overview.
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Europe’s New Spy Hub? Von der Leyen Pushes for Centralized EU Intelligence Agency
The European Commission, under the leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen, has commenced establishing a new intelligence coordination body aimed at significantly improving the strategic utilization of data collected by national spy agencies across the bloc, Financial Times reported on November 11.
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US announces ‘Southern Spear’ mission amid naval buildup in Latin America
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced “Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR” to target “narco-terrorists", as regional tensions rose over a US naval buildup in Latin American waters. Hegseth gave no details on the mission or how it differs from existing military operations.
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China, the big threat?
China and its economic successes are on everyone’s lips. Under the previous government (and under pressure from the US), Germany already designated China a ‘systemic rival,’ whatever that may mean in concrete terms. In any case, it means that Germany does not want to maintain normal friendly relations with the country. Several years have passed since a Swabian Chancellor warned of the ‘yellow peril’ in the 1960s with the words: ‘I’m just saying China, China, China.’ We could have learned that China is far less dangerous than it appears to us, who generally know little to nothing about the country’s history, language, culture and economy.
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Nobel peace prize officials investigate surge in bets for winner
Bets for Maria Corina Machado spiked on Polymarket gambling site hours before she was awarded prize
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III. Translated News in English
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Study on steel production - Outsourcing steel production would have serious consequences
What would happen if Germany were to forgo its domestic steel production? According to a recent study, this would result in significant economic damage in the event of a crisis.
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The German economy faces up to €50 billion in annual value added loss if it were to experience a global "steel shock" without domestic steel production, according to the study entitled "Green Steel as a Central Pillar of a Resilient Economy ." The authors are referring to a scenario in which major steel exporters such as China would significantly reduce their exports to Europe in a short period of time due to geopolitical conflicts or supply chain problems.
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A “steel shock” could cost 50 billion euros in added value annually – reducing steel production would weaken the resilience of the economy.
The German economy faces up to €50 billion in annual value-added losses if it were to experience a global "steel shock" without domestic steel production. This scenario, in which geopolitical conflicts or supply chain problems would cause major steel exporters like China to drastically reduce their exports to Europe in a short period, is essentially a heavyweight version of the current problems with computer chips or rare earth elements. This is the conclusion of a new study by economists at the University of Mannheim, funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation.* "Economic resilience for Germany and Europe requires a strong German steel industry that transitions to climate-friendly production quickly and comprehensively," summarize the authors, Prof. Dr. Tom Krebs and Dr. Patrick Kaczmarczyk. Therefore, political support for the transformation in the steel sector is economically sound, and if necessary, should extend well beyond current plans. Time is of the essence: According to the study, the coke-fired blast furnaces currently operating at German sites will reach the end of their technical lifespan by 2035. They should be replaced by low-CO2 direct reduction plants.
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Local communities fear for their independence - How the Zelenskyy government is expanding its power
President Zelensky's government is increasingly restricting local self-government. Military administrations have already been installed in 200 municipalities – and in the remaining municipalities, pressure on politicians is apparently mounting.
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Announced trip to Russia - "Mr. Rothfuß will stay here"
AfD party leader Weidel has issued a clear rejection of a member of parliament's planned trip to Russia. While criticism of her members' contacts with Russia is growing, the party is grappling with its foreign policy direction.
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"Rarely has someone been so publicly rebuked by the party leadership in recent times. Particularly noteworthy: This is directed at Markus Frohnmaier, foreign policy spokesman and actually one of Weidel's closest confidants.
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Criticism of the party leader - Chrupalla's statements about Russia cause anger in the AfD
Drones, espionage, sabotage? AfD leader Tino Chrupalla currently sees no Russian threat to Germany. Even some of his own party members find this argument excessive.
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AfD defense policy expert Hannes Gnauck, also a former Bundeswehr soldier, points to a possible participation in a government: "We are aiming for governmental responsibility in 2029 and must acknowledge the security policy realities: There are hostile Russian activities in Europe , including disinformation, espionage, sabotage attempts, and highly provocative behavior in the Baltic Sea region. The safety of German soldiers has also been endangered," Gnauck told the "Bild" newspaper . A realistic foreign and security policy requires a sober assessment of the situation, not wishful thinking.
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Coalition crisis in Brandenburg - Four BSW MPs leave the party, putting the government in a difficult position.
The majority of the SPD-BSW coalition in the Brandenburg state parliament is in jeopardy. The parliamentary group leaders are attempting to downplay the situation following the party resignations, but the majority is slim.
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The coalition was thrown into crisis by a dispute over two state media treaties. These concern the reform of ARD , ZDF , and Deutschlandradio, as well as increased media protection for young people. The BSW parliamentary group had announced by majority vote that it would vote against them in the state parliament. It is demanding a more comprehensive reform and fears excessive state intervention in the plans for youth media protection.
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BSW voted against it by a majority - Brandenburg approves broadcasting reform - opposition saves majority
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The SPD and CDU, as well as BSW Finance Minister Robert Crumbach, voted in favor. Ten of the 14 BSW representatives – including, surprisingly, Reinhard Simon, who had recently left the BSW – and the AfD voted against. Three BSW representatives were deliberately absent from the chamber, and one AfD representative was ill.
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Debate about citizen's income reform - Klingbeil criticizes SPD members' petition
The planned reform of the basic income is controversial within the SPD. Party leader Klingbeil has now made it clear that he is not in favor of a membership referendum against the reform.
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Working Time Act: Maximum working hours, breaks, overtime
There are legal limits to daily working hours. The federal government now wants to abolish these limits. Everything employees need to know about this, including night and Sunday work, breaks, rest periods, and exceptions.
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ref:
Agenda 2010
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Black-red reform plans - What will happen to the pension level?
What happens if the center-right coalition fails to reach an agreement on pensions – and the reform is put on hold? A look at the mechanics of the pension system reveals that Germany's pensioners could even receive more money initially.
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If the safety net is extended, the German Pension Insurance (DRV) expects a pension increase of 3.73 percent for 2026. Without a safety net, however, it could be more – even 3.8 percent. "This is due to the sustainability factor, which could further increase the pension adjustment next year," said the current chairman of the pension insurance, Alexander Gunkel.
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Senior Citizens' Union on the pension dispute - "The concerns of the younger generation are justified"
The Young Union is receiving support for its criticism of the government's pension policy. The chairman of the Senior Citizens' Union, Hüppe, told the RND that the concerns of the younger generation are justified with regard to the financing of pensions
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A call from the scientific community - Top economists call for a halt to the pension package
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In a joint guest article for Handelsblatt, Rocholl, along with two other signatories - Michael Eilfort, board member of the Stiftung Marktwirtschaft, and ifo President Clemens Fuest - writes that the reform plans of the black-red federal government violate central principles of successful pension policy.
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They are objecting to the fact that not only is the pension level fixed at a minimum of 48 percent until 2031, but that this would also lead to a higher starting point for the development of pensions in subsequent years.
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Overall the annual balance of the pension insurance is well balanced.
This also makes sense despite an ageing society.
The explanation for this is that labor productivity exceeds the ageing of society.
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With exceptions the contribution rate has been falling since 1999.
And since 2011 the contribution rate has only been falling.
This deliberately slew down the income of the pension insurance.
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It's about Rheinmetall - Pistorius is building himself an escape route in a 10 billion euro warship deal
Construction of the new F126 frigates for the German Navy is stalled. Now Boris Pistorius is building himself an escape route from the deal – partly because the minister fears Rheinmetall.
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The defense contractor acquired NVL in September 2025. Pistorius's department and its budget experts now fear that Rheinmetall will use the still-unnegotiated contract takeover for the F126 frigates to drive up the price further. The six ships are already estimated to cost around €9.8 billion.
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The alternative to the F126 frigates could therefore be Meko 200-class warships, built by Thyssenkrupp subsidiary TKMS. The advantage of these ships is that the construction plans already exist, as other countries are already using this model. Furthermore, TKMS would guarantee delivery of the first ships in 2029.
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FCAS - Why the fighter jet project has gone off the rails
Billions are at stake, and leadership is at stake: For months, tensions have been running high in the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project. At the center of the wrangling is a self-assured manager.
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The discontent on the German side is directed primarily against a man in Paris, who is also publicly named by the German Defense Minister: "This is not solely a question decided by the French state, but where Mr. Trappier from Dassault also plays an obviously central role, at least in public communication."
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Restrictions are being lifted - Germany will again supply all arms to Israel
In August, Germany restricted arms exports to Israel due to the Gaza war. Now the Federal Government is lifting these restrictions. This is justified by the ceasefire in the Middle East, which has "stabilized".
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The CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups do not want to prohibit "politically motivated" account terminations.
CDU MP: Those whose accounts were terminated should first look for the fault within themselves / SPD MP: Account terminations against opposition parties are "an expression of democratic values" / Green Party MP: Account terminations serve to prevent sensitive information from reaching the Kremlin
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Roughly one in seven children is at risk of poverty
- Minors with a migration background are four times more likely to be affected than their peers without a migration background.
- 11.3% of those under 16 are disadvantaged for financial reasons
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Similar to the latter, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for children and young people has also recently increased: in 2023 it stood at 14.0% (compared to 14.4% for the general population).
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Gas storage: The current fill level in Germany
What percentage of the gas storage facilities are currently full? How much gas is consumed in Germany? And where does the gas come from? Track all the important data in our live overview.
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LNG: How much liquefied natural gas currently arrives in Germany?
Which LNG terminals in the north are feeding in how much liquefied natural gas? What share of total gas imports does LNG represent? Follow all the important data in our live overview.
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New military service model - More and more conscientious objectors: Number of applications at a record high
While the center-right/center-left coalition has agreed on a new, initially voluntary, military service, a growing number of people are refusing to serve in the armed forces. The Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society has recorded a record number of applications since the suspension of conscription.
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2019: 110
2020: 137
2021: 201
2022: 951
2023: 1.079
2024: 2.249
2025: 3.034
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Franziska Brantner - "For emergencies" – Green Party leader proposes voluntary military register for older people
Programming drones, cooking food for more than 1,000 people – these are all defense-relevant skills that older people could also contribute in the event of war. Franziska Brantner of the Green Party wants to register volunteers for these services now.
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