Defense Spending: "The 700 Billion Euro Program Risks Fizzling Out"
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has an astonishing 700 billion euros at his disposal until 2030 to overhaul the long-neglected Bundeswehr, recruit additional soldiers, and modernize the nation's arsenal. The vast majority of this funding comes from loans, making it an unprecedented modernization, stimulus, and debt program for the country. Few economists have delved as deeply into the challenge of how Germany can simultaneously achieve defense capability and overcome its economic growth crisis as Moritz Schularick. The 51-year-old has led the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), one of Germany's leading research institutions, since 2023. Together with his economist colleagues Clemens Fuest, Jens Südekum, and Michael Hüther, he devised the exceptional rule to bypass the debt brake after the 2024 federal election, which the CDU/CSU, SPD, and Greens ultimately adopted, making these substantial defense expenditures possible in the first place.
Fresh materials — General News
US Fighter Jets Intercept Aircraft Near Trump's Golf Course
Two aircraft violated a temporary no-fly zone established around President Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday. F-16 fighter jets intercepted the aircraft and safely escorted them out of the restricted airspace, according to the relevant military command (NORAD). Tru
Sportpolitik: Eskalation auf dem Eis
Es erfordert Mut, ein Athlet im Bundeskader zu sein. Nicht nur, um mit Geschwindigkeiten von rund 50 km/h auf schmalen Kufen durch die Kurven zu jagen, sondern auch, um sich vor laufender Kamera auf einen Stuhl zu setzen und über seine Wahrnehmung von Entscheidungen im Verband zu sprechen. "Ich
Hammer, Sickle, and Utility Bills: The Leftist Dilemma
It's likely not a particularly pleasant experience to be a left-wing politician. One half of the party aspires to be a people's party, while the other half desires revolution – but preferably in a way that avoids awkward questions about arms deliveries. Someone is constantly nagging: China! Cub
Transport Minister Aims to Link Bonus Payments to Railway Targets
Germany's new Federal Minister of Transport, Steffen Bilger, is increasing pressure on Deutsche Bahn's leadership. In response to the ongoing punctuality crisis plaguing the state-owned railway company and criticism over multi-million euro payments, the CDU politician announced in Bild am Sonnt
Ceuta: How Exclaves Are Formed – And Why They Still Exist
Around 600 years before a rapid influx of over 70,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta, resulting in at least 75 deaths along the journey, Portugal conquered the city on the North African coast in 1415. This marked the first time a European nation claimed territory on the African continent, a
Colombia: A Firm Hand Instead of "Total Peace"
And then Abelardo de la Espriella suddenly disappears. The lights go out in the arena of the Santiago de Cali University, "Hallelujah" rings out, and when the lights come back on, he's gone. The Spanish King, several presidents, and about 2000 invited guests watch the first speech of the newly