II. English News and Articles
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Conflict with Hezbollah - Why Israel is spraying pesticides in Lebanon
The Israeli army is apparently spraying high concentrations of glyphosate in southern Lebanon. Outrage is widespread there, as the consequences are likely to be dramatic. But what is the purpose of this?
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US oil blockade: How long before Cuba collapses?
As the US oil embargo on Cuba takes hold, the country is rapidly running out of fuel. The effects on the country's economy and population could be devastating, a Latin America expert in Havana told DW.
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Is Germany losing competitiveness in the EMU?
People often ask whether Germany’s competitive position has deteriorated in recent years compared to other members of the eurozone, given that nominal wages have risen significantly in this country. Looking at developments from around 2020 onwards, it is clear that Germany has fallen behind Italy and France, for example. However, comparisons based on arbitrarily selected starting years are misleading.
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Milei’s Argentina: Real downturn, continuing high inflation and rising unemployment
Heiner Flassbeck and Patrick Kaczmarczyk
Things have gone quiet around Argentina. The mainstream European press, which euphorically celebrated the president with chainsaws during his election, has largely remained silent two years after that election. Isolated reports of success, such as those published by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in December 2025, have met with comparatively little response. There is a reason for this. There is nothing to celebrate. After two years, it is becoming increasingly clear that the chainsaw has only caused damage and has not improved anything. The libertarian president, who forcibly reduced the government’s current debt to zero and received extra praise from the International Monetary Fund and the economically liberal press in Germany in January 2025, has failed in every respect.
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Iranian officials, including Khamenei, killed in Israeli strikes, Israeli sources say
Israeli officials informed of Khamenei's assasination • Netanyahu says objective to end Ayatollah's regime • Trump confirms US operation in Iran, tells IRGC to lay down arms
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III. Translated News in English
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Proposals from the Economic Council: A reckoning
Just when you think things can't get any more disrespectful, some economic council comes along. And as if it weren't enough that employees have been facing accusations about their willingness to work in recent weeks...and too many sick daysWe had to listen to them. Now the Economic Council, a nationwide business association with close ties to the CDU, has presented tax and social policy proposals that have come straight from the neoliberal playbook. And, to add insult to injury, they're even calling them an "Agenda for Employees." Words mean nothing anymore.
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Ahead of the CDU party conference - The Greens offer Merz cooperation on social reforms
The Greens are offering the federal government cross-party cooperation on major social reforms. In their "Immediate Action Program for the Future," they advocate for a restructuring of the pension and healthcare systems.
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Spahn's Mask Debacle - Expensive Waste
New figures on the mask record of former Health Minister Spahn: Around three billion masks have now been incinerated unused, and more will follow. The disposal costs are also high
Former Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) continues to burden German taxpayers: The majority of the 5.8 billion protective masks that Spahn procured during his controversial shopping spree at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis have now been incinerated unused. This is according to responses from the federal government to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green Party and to an inquiry from SPIEGEL.
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Brandenburg State Parliament : Corona inquiry regrets RKI's cancellation
The Brandenburg inquiry commission investigating the coronavirus pandemic has failed in its attempt to invite experts from the Robert Koch Institute to a specialist discussion. Politicians from all parties have expressed their disappointment.
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Merz wants to hand over retirement provisions to the capital market
The Chancellor plans to cut statutory pensions in favor of private retirement savings. This benefits the population little, but the capital market all the more.
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The Greens want to abolish "retirement at 63" – together with Merz's plan
The Greens have presented a pension plan. Its implementation would mean the end of the "retirement at 63" option. A Merz plan would also put an end to it.
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[Dossier] Germany - Pension-System
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Left Party presents wealth tax concept - High revenues possible
A capital tax, as proposed by the Left Party, could generate up to €147 billion annually. An economist has calculated this for them.
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Bach calculated that potential revenues could reach up to €147 billion per year. These would benefit the federal states and municipalities, as wealth taxes are traditionally a state tax. The primary borne by the top 1 percent of the population – multimillionaires and billionaires – would be the ones paying the brunt. Even if the tax rate remained at 1 percent above the tax-free allowances, the state would still generate an additional €42 billion in annual revenue.
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Following a proposal by the Left Party - The Union continues to reject the reintroduction of the wealth tax.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group rejects the Left Party's proposals to reintroduce a wealth tax. The group's finance policy spokesperson, Güntzler, stated on Deutschlandfunk radio that a large portion of wealth is not freely available but tied up in companies.
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Lack of interest - Too few soldiers are willing to volunteer for Lithuania – now the German Armed Forces are planning these measures.
The German Armed Forces are struggling with a shortage of volunteers for their first overseas brigade in Lithuania. For key units, only about ten percent of the required soldiers have reportedly signed up. Targeted measures are now being implemented to increase these numbers.
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To deter Russia, a German army brigade is to be stationed abroad for the first time. Specifically, this involves filling positions in Panzer Battalion 203 and Panzergrenadier Battalion 122. According to documents, current volunteer responses only reach between 28 and 47 percent. The two units are to be staffed with soldiers this year and deployed fully equipped to the eastern flank in 2027.
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Intelligence service downplays the issue - Nord Stream attackers apparently informed the CIA about their plans early on
The Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea were severely damaged by explosives four years ago in September. Investigations suggest that a Ukrainian commando was responsible. Now, a report suggests that the CIA at least had knowledge of the attack plans.
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Alleged meetings with masterminds: The CIA is said to have known about the plans of the Nord Stream attackers early on
The Nord Stream pipelines were attacked in September 2022. According to research, the CIA was already aware of the attack in the spring of 2022. The US intelligence agency denies this.
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Munich Security Conference - AfD politician advocates for German "assumption of the main military burden" on NATO's northeastern flank
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Lucassen said he wanted to promote the idea at the security conference of strengthening Germany as a leading European nation. "For example, I envision Germany taking on the main military burden on NATO's northeastern flank. In addition, Germany should be able to provide strong maritime support for security in the North Atlantic," he said.
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Despite the housing shortage - The federal government has been leaving its own properties vacant for years
Affordable housing is scarce, especially in large cities. The federal government also acts as a landlord, owning around 38,000 apartments. But instead of setting a good example, the opposite is happening: the government itself is demonstrating how poorly it can manage urgently needed housing. Thirteen percent of federally owned apartments are vacant.
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Despite the economic crisis - DAX-listed companies are paying out billions to shareholders
While many industries lament the crisis, investors are raking in the profits. One sector in particular is causing a stir.
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The silent rise in gas and oil prices – what's behind the reform of the heating law
Outrage is widespread. Some members of the Green Party are calling it a step backward in climate policy, the "abolition" of Robert Habeck 's heating law , officially the Building Energy Act. But a closer look reveals that there's no real turnaround. Rather, we're witnessing a political charade that does little to address the core issue.
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At the same time, starting in 2029, new oil and gas heating systems must be powered by at least ten percent so-called biofuels . What sounds like a moderate compromise on paper has significant financial consequences in practice. Biofuels are considerably more expensive than conventional gas or heating oil. The blending requirement is therefore nothing more than a politically mandated price increase.
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