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II. English News and Articles
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Central banks dominate capital markets – in the US and Europe
Readers repeatedly point out that I should take note of the fact that long-term interest rates are currently not following the short-term rates set by the central bank, as I normally assume they do. They point out, for example, that long-term interest rates in Germany are currently tending to rise, while short-term rates have been clearly lowered by the ECB. There is also heated debate at present as to whether the US could be financially ruined if people stop ‘investing’ there or even liquidate investments held there. Caution! Anyone who fails to understand the global interrelationships of the capital markets and the power of the central banks will very quickly get their fingers badly burned.
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Mercosur, Ludwig Erhard and German mercantilism
Mercosur is on everyone’s lips. Wouldn’t the free trade agreement with several countries in Latin America be a golden opportunity to get one over on the USA? Couldn’t a new source of prosperity be tapped with the South Americans? But why has it taken over twenty years to seize this unique opportunity?
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EU agrees on complete ban of Russian gas imports by 2027
The European Union has taken another step toward ending its energy reliance on Russia by agreeing to stop gas imports from the country. But not all countries voted in favor of the ban.
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India and Europe, both stung by Trump, turn to each other in a ‘mother of all deals’ on trade
The European Union and India agreed a free trade deal Tuesday, the largest such deal ever clinched by either side, as they contend with an erratic trade policy from key trading partner the United States.
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Shots fired during robbery - Gaddafi's son killed in Libya
Saif al-Islam, the son of Libyan long-time ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi, has been shot dead. The public prosecutor's office is investigating. Gaddafi spent several years in prison after his father's overthrow.
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Did Israel conduct nuclear test? Earthquake in Negev Desert near Dimona sparks buzz amid Iran crisis
A sharp 4.2 magnitude earthquake rattled southern Israel's Negev Desert Thursday morning at exactly 9 a.m., sending sirens screaming across communities and setting off wild speculation online that Israel may have secretly tested a nuclear weapon. The tremor hit right in the middle of a nationwide school emergency drill and during one of the most tense periods in years between Israel, Iran, and the United States.
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The Negev Desert, where the quake struck, is no stranger to small seismic activity because it sits along the Dead Sea portion of the Syrian-African Rift. Mild to moderate quakes happen there from time to time. Still, the location raised eyebrows: the epicenter was close to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near Dimona.
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The last Russia-US nuclear treaty is about to expire. What happens next?
. New START nuclear treaty set to expire on February 5
. Putin proposes extending warhead limits, Trump yet to respond
. China's growing arsenal is a concern for Washington
. Expert says risk reduction steps could offer way forward
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III. Translated News in English
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New study - Germany is short 1.4 million apartments
The housing shortage has reached a record high nationwide, and the situation is not expected to improve anytime soon. This is the conclusion of a new study by the Pestel Institute. Western German states are particularly affected.
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Rental of plot apartments - Nearly 600 euros rent for eight square meters
. Apartment subdivision as a new business model
. Monthly rent for furnished "rooms" up to 800 euros
. Neukölln district office bans business model in social preservation area
. All districts are hoping for a landmark ruling.
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AI euphoria will be disappointed - Executives see the future as bleakly as it has been in years.
According to a survey, only three out of ten CEOs worldwide expect revenue growth – the lowest figure in years. The numbers are even more alarming for Germany. However, Germany remains one of the world's top destinations for international investment.
According to a survey, boardrooms worldwide are more pessimistic about their own companies than they have been in a long time. Confidence in the revenue prospects of company leaders has fallen to a five-year low. This is the finding of a survey conducted by the consulting firm PwC among approximately 4,450 CEOs in 95 countries and regions, published at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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Former investigator Brorhilker on Cum-Cum fraud - "Politicians are systematically influenced by the financial lobby"
Through cum-cum transactions, banks defrauded the German state of nearly 30 billion euros. Despite this, politicians prefer to talk about welfare fraud. Former senior public prosecutor Anne Brorhilker explains in an interview why this is the case and what Hesse is doing well in recovering the billions in lost tax revenue.
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These words must, of course, be followed by action. And unfortunately, we are lagging behind in this regard. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, we have recovered approximately €3.1 billion in Cum-Ex cases – out of an estimated tax loss of around €10 billion. In the Cum-Cum case, we assume that the German state and its taxpayers were defrauded of approximately €28 billion – according to the Federal Ministry of Finance, only around €227 million has been recovered so far, which is just one percent.
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Trump withdraws tariff threat - Turning point in the Greenland dispute: This is what is known
Apparently no new tariffs after all: US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agree on a framework for a future agreement on Greenland.
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Tax Reforms:Billions Lost
Over the past 15 years, politicians have drastically cut taxes. As a result, the state is now missing out on approximately 45 billion euros annually. By Achim Truger, Professor of Economics at the Berlin School of Economics and Law.
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Debate over Working Time Act: 8-Hour Day is Essential
The attacks on the Working Time Act and the 8-hour day are gaining momentum again. Now even the Chancellor has spoken out in favor of abolishing it and encouraging more willingness to work. This is an affront to employees. They already do enough and need protection from overwork, argues #schlaglicht 02/2026 from Lower Saxony.
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"The actual working life must increase.": Banaszak is prepared to raise the retirement age if necessary.
The pension system is in crisis due to demographic change. While the pension commission deliberates on possible reforms to old-age security, Banaszak takes a stand.
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Too many sick days? Stop the employee bashing!
Oops, he did it again. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has once again scored major points with employees. This comes after he recently called for greater willingness to work and the abolition of the Working Time Act.He had demanded the allegedly excessive sickness rate , which he now faces.A thorn in the side. And a culprit has already been found: sick leave by phone. According to Merz, it creates the wrong incentives, invites abuse, and thus prevents an increase in economic output. Apparently, Doc Holiday is too busy. Sarcasm off.
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CDU Economic Council - Tax cuts and radical reductions in social spending demanded
With high unemployment, an economy in crisis, and no recovery in sight, the CDU's Economic Council is calling for tax cuts and the elimination of many public services – even dental visits should have to be paid for privately.
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CDU plan for employment agency - "Debts must be repaid – especially by benefit recipients."
Numerous current or former recipients of social benefits owe the employment agency money; for the basic income alone, the total amounts to more than four billion euros. However, the agency often fails to collect these debts. Now the CDU is presenting a plan to change that.
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Fewer additional payments - Fewer tax auditors! The government is foregoing billions in revenue.
Countries are employing fewer and fewer tax auditors and consequently collecting fewer back payments – micro-enterprises are only audited every 150 years.
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Federal Court of Auditors Report - German State Forgoes Billions in Revenue
Loopholes in the tax system, superfluous subsidies, lax controls: According to a recent report by the Federal Court of Auditors, the tax authorities regularly leave billions of euros on the table
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Tax evasion - The dangerous loophole in money laundering law
A reform to the money laundering law is protecting tax evaders, of all people. Why lawmakers must finally act. A column.
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