News

Extension but no tightening of Corona measures in Bavaria

As Bavarias Prime Minister Markus Söder announced in a press conference today, the restrictions on public life that are already in effect since March 21st will be prolonged until April 19th 2020. This means that the following measures remain: limitations of movement as well as closure of schools, universities, restaurants and shops (except pharmacies, groceries stores, drugstores and other shops that ensure basic supplies). The reason for this is the fact that Bavaria is highly affected by...

Corona Crisis and its costs for the German Health Insurance System

Politicians, virologists and the leading health institutes in Germany expect 60 to 70 percent of the people in the country to become infected with the Corona Virus over the next one to two years. At the moment, the only issue is to slow down the spread so that the health system and infrastructure remain functional. It is already clear that medical practices and hospitals are expecting a large number of corona patients who will need treatment and medication. Even though health care is...

Bavaria under curfew

Markus Söder announced today, Friday 20th March, that the state parliament has voted to enact a sweeping curfew across Bavaria for the next two weeks.  Speaking at a press conference, Söder stated that there would be a fine of up to 25,000 Euros for those caught breaking the curfew, which will be enforced by the police. Exceptions will exist under the following circumstances:

• those going to and from work
• visiting local supermarkets for food shoping
• public exercising (runing, jogging,...

Coronavirus Impact On Tokyo 2020

As the Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China and has killed at least 3,120 people around the globe, spreads, a lot of major public events like Facebooks's annual F8 conference, or the World Athletics Indoor Championships have been cancelled or postponed and the same can be expected for future ones. But an even bigger public event, the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled from Friday the 24th of July to Sunday the 9th of August 2020, is upcoming and the question, if the Olympic games 2020 will take...

Germanwings Strike Action for New Years

The airline trade union UFO has called on flight attendants of the Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings to strike. A spokesman for the union said the call was valid from December 30th 2019 at midnight to January 1st 2020 at midnight. Initially, the strike call only referred to Germanwings. Further strikes should only be announced after January 2, "provided that the Lufthansa Group does not continue to escalate". To justify the strike call, deputy UFO chairman Daniel Flohr said that Germanwings...

Introduction of the Skilled Immigration Act

Germany facilitates immigration for skilled workers from abroad with the introduction of the Skilled Immigration Act, effective March 1, 2020 The shortage of skilled workers is becoming an increasing problem in Germany and a business risk for many companies. The Federal Government therefore now wants to attract qualified employees from non-EU countries to Germany. On March 1, 2020, a new law will enter into force to facilitate immigration for those skilled workers. With the "Skilled...

Capitalism not the cause of environmental destruction

Speaking on November 25 in the European Parliament (EP), left wing politician Mick Wallace voiced a hopelessly misguided theme we will likely hear more of during the big UN climate conference being held in Madrid from Dec 2 - 13: 'capitalism did it.' According to people like Wallace, the main problem for the environment is our capitalistic system. During the debate concerning the just passed EP resolution declaring a global "climate and environmental emergency," Wallace, a new Irish Member of...

Britons want British expats in Germany to help save the UK

Anti-Brexit campaigners in Britain are appealing to British expats in Germany to help save the UK. The campaigners - Proxy Voters Against Brexit - fear that Brexit will break up the UK, will harm Britain's economy, will trigger years of further economic uncertainty and will threaten German and other business confidence in Britain. They are appealing to all the Britons living in Germany to register to vote in next month's UK general election - and then make sure their vote is cast by...

Munich to host European Championships 2022

Munich is hosting another major event in the summer of 2022: the city has been awarded the contract for the European Championships. It will be the biggest sports event in Munich since the 1972 Summer Olympics. For this purpose, the Olympic Park will be rejuvenated, where most competitions will take place. "I do not only hope that the European Championships will provide a powerful impulse for competitive and competitive sports. Above all, such a large international sports festival also boosts...

Lufthansa strikes latest

The union UFO has called flight attendants in Munich and Frankfurt out on a five-hour strike next Sunday.  For updates see the update section at the end of this article. The strike action on October 20^th 2019 is to be limited to five hours between 6:00 am and 11:00 am. UFO calls for a wage increase of 1.8 percent. Lufthansa described the planned warning strikes as unlawful and is aiming to maintain their full flight program on October 20^th. Lufthansa does not expect flight cancellations due...

Health insurance for foreigners in Germany

Since 2009 it is mandatory for every person with a permanent residence in Germany to have health insurance. Health insurance is also required for short-term stays in Germany, otherwise the issuance of a visa is refused. Persons who wish to immigrate to Germany and thus seek a permanent residence must take out health insurance. In principle, citizens of a Member State of the European Union have the right to live in any EU country, even if they are not working there. However, the right of...

How Dangerous is a Headline?

In the golden age of printed newspapers, the headline was designed to capture the reader's attention and promise something of interest; a world of intellectual wealth and insightful commentary was only a glance away. Today, that age has crumpled, withered and passed. Yet, the hallowed headline is as much important, if not more so, today than it was during the print years. The answer to why this is so, lies in the capacity of the Internet to reduce attention span. Many studies have shown that...