Search

Alex reported that a colleague bought Velux windows, a heat pump, drywall, and screed in Poland for the renovation of his house because the prices in Germany were too high for him. The Velux windows cost about half there; even the product description was in German. Alex asked why identical products were significantly more expensive in this country and wrote that the savings from shopping in the neighboring country raised questions about what was going wrong in Germany. He believed that if this development continued, even a working person here would soon be unable to afford anything. #Bauprojekte #PreiseVergleichen #Hausbau (translated)

A Kiel businessman criticized a sugar tax as pointless and referred to it as theft. As an alternative, he pointed to Chile, where strict labeling for foods with too much fat, sugar, or calories was introduced in 2016. The products received large warning labels on the packaging; additionally, their advertising on children's television and their sale in schools were banned. According to the Kiel businessman, manufacturers subsequently made their products significantly healthier. Within a few years, children and adults became slimmer, and the awareness of healthy eating increased among the population. He advocated for clear labeling instead of a tax and criticized the traffic light system used in Germany as opaque. He cited the influence of the food manufacturers' lobby as the reason for this. #Zuckersteuer #Lebensmittelkennzeichnung #GesundeErnährung (translated)

The account BrennpunktUA stated that the US Congress is planning to block an energy deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick announced that a bipartisan coalition would soon introduce a bill aimed at prohibiting all purchases of Russian oil products. The draft is to be called the "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act." According to Fitzpatrick, a vote in Plenary would be forced using a so-called "Discharge Petition" procedure, and the draft would be passed by an overwhelming majority. If successful, the procedure could be completed very quickly, according to BrennpunktUA. #USPolitics #Trump #Putin (translated)

The Japanese Fair Trade Commission has raided the four largest brewing groups in Japan, including Asahi, over suspicion of secret agreements on beer prices and other products, while investigating possible cartel activities of these companies. #pivo #AntimonopolníÚřad #JaponskýTrh (translated)

Emanuel Boeminghaus wrote that indirect taxes continued to rise. Following taxes on tobacco and discussions about a sugar tax, there should now also be a tax on plastic packaging. According to the food newspaper he referenced, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry for the Environment were planning such a levy, which was expected to generate around 1.3 billion euros in additional revenue. Boeminghaus explained that the tax could increase the burden on consumers alongside other taxes, as such costs are often passed on to private households through higher prices. He wrote that as more consumer goods are taxed additionally, real purchasing power declines and many people become poorer. He ironically referred to Germany as a country where people "pay gladly and well." https://t.co/HO9LlEgy8r #Steuern #Deutschland #Plastiksteuer (translated)

Christian Miele listed twelve challenges that Germany must overcome, in his opinion. Electricity and labor are expensive for companies: employers pay an average of around 45 euros per work hour, about 29 percent more than in the EU. In addition, high network fees and levies have increased energy costs; Germany exited nuclear power before sufficiently cheap and reliable alternatives were available. Long approval processes, according to Miele, also deter companies from investing. He named demographic change, rising contributions, and immigration that often does not lead to employment quickly enough as further problems. The shortage of skilled workers is real, he wrote, but uncontrolled immigration burdens households and municipalities. The Bundeswehr is also still inadequately equipped after decades of underfunding: the NATO target of 2 percent has long been missed, and there is still a lack of personnel, ammunition, and operational equipment. Miele wrote that Germany’s economy is hardly growing on its own: it shrank in 2023 and 2024 and only grew by 0.2 percent in 2025. Industry is producing less than it did a few years ago. In addition to taxes, levies, and energy costs, he pointed to weak demand, competition from China, and a lack of new products. In education, about one in three 15-year-olds does not reach the basic level in mathematics and reading; the gap between children from poor and rich families is as large as it has been since the beginning of the PISA tests. At the same time, there is a shortage of teachers and many school buildings are dilapidated. Among the further challenges, Miele listed the need for renovation of roads, bridges, railways, and schools. The municipal investment backlog is over 200 billion euros, about 55 billion of which is for schools alone. In his view, excessively high rents, low construction activity, and long approval processes also make it difficult to move to cities with open positions. The state is slow in digitization; many applications are still on paper, and internet coverage in rural areas is patchy. Finally, Miele warned that government spending is increasing without the economy growing correspondingly. Pensions, social services, and interest compete with defense and infrastructure for the same funds. If debt grows faster than economic output, there will be less room for investment later on, he wrote. Ultimately, the working people would bear the consequences, Miele explained, and he asked for his readers' assessments. #Herausforderungen #Wirtschaft #Deutschland (translated)

The sugar tax should primarily aim to make manufacturers reduce sugar in their products, not for the state to collect as much money as possible. In the UK, manufacturers have done exactly that: reformulated to avoid the tax. There was no sustainable economic damage. #Zuckersteuer #Nachhaltigkeit #Lebensmittelindustrie (translated)

Biontech, das nach dem Erfolg seines Corona-Impfstoffs Comirnaty als deutscher Pharmastandort gefeiert wurde, befindet sich nun in einer schweren Krise, da die Nachfrage nach seinen Produkten stark gesunken ist und das Unternehmen massive Verluste verzeichnet sowie drei Produktionsstandorte in Deutschland schließen muss. #Biontech #Pharma #Krebsmedizin

Har Säpo eller ISP godkänt Palantir VDns jätteköp i Härjedalen eftersom han är utanför EU? Svaret är nej. Affären har inte granskats av Inspektionen för strategiska produkter (ISP). Den nya säkerhetslagen för utländska investeringar (UDI) missar helt vanlig skogsmark. 1/3 #Säkerhet #Utrikesinvesteringar #Palantir