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The X-author Klartext from Munich claimed that 288 million euros of German tax money would benefit the gold mines of the mining company Endeavour Mining in Senegal. Its largest shareholder is the asset manager BlackRock, for whose German branch Friedrich Merz had worked. During a recent appearance in the Bundestag, Merz defended development aid, arguing that wealthy countries need to contribute to the stability of other regions, the author wrote. He criticized that while debts are being serviced domestically and roads and bridges decayed, German tax money is being used abroad. He also referred to voices from the opposition that spoke of a misallocation of funds and raised allegations of corruption. https://t.co/YXelzFfb40 #Klöckner #Lanz #Koalition #Dienstwagen #Demokratie #Schröder #Landesverrat #Steuergelder #Entwicklungshilfe #Demokratie (translated)

The dilapidated German infrastructure means that, despite billions in investments, the federal government is falling far short of its goal of renovating 400 highway bridges each year, leading to constant traffic jams and misery for millions of drivers. #Infrastruktur #Stau #Brückenbau (translated)

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv is still threatened by Russian attacks on transport bridges, prompting the city administration to take various protective measures and to consider the construction of temporary bridges to maintain traffic. #Kiew #RussischeAngriffe #Schutzkonzepte (translated)

In Vienna, the municipal council plans to name a bridge after the Czech dissident Vaclav Havel on the occasion of his 90th birthday, which is supported by several political parties to honor his role as a bridge builder and a symbol of freedom. #VaclavHavel #Wien #Ehrung (translated)

The AfD faction in the Bundestag criticized Chancellor Merz's trip to Ukraine shortly after the Day of German Unity. The foreign policy spokesman for the faction, Markus Frohnmaier, stated that Merz wanted to pledge hundreds of millions of euros in taxpayer money there again. At the same time, he accused the federal government of making cuts in healthcare and nursing services domestically while supporting Ukraine with funds. Frohnmaier also referred to his representation of underfunded municipalities, daycare centers, and schools, as well as a dilapidated infrastructure. The AfD faction rejects what it sees as endless funding and armament and demands that taxpayer money be used for German bridges, energy supply, and municipalities. Instead of costly public relations during trips abroad, Frohnmaier stated that there needs to be a foreign policy that prioritizes German interests and diplomatic initiatives to end the war. #Deutschland #Ukraine #Politik (translated)

René Springer criticized that schools in Germany are dilapidated, bridges are broken, and municipalities are bankrupt, while another 1.35 billion euros are available for Kyiv. From his perspective, Friedrich Merz is setting the wrong priorities. Springer compared the amount to 1,350 investments of one million euros each, for example in schools, daycare centers, fire departments, roads, or municipal infrastructure. He called for Merz's resignation and a policy that prioritizes Germany again. #Deutschland #Politik #Infrastruktur (translated)

BrennpunktUA wrote that Volodymyr Zelensky showed surprise at how the war was being handled. According to Zelensky, Russian attacks initially targeted Ukrainian warehouses, to which Ukraine had responded appropriately. Now, Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian bridges. He asked whether Russia believes that Ukraine will not respond to this. https://t.co/xNIBbXYuAo #Krieg #Ukraine #Konflikt (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)

Regina Laska wrote that the Russian Foreign Ministry warned against a stay in Kyiv on Saturday and announced further massive attacks. Just a few hours later, the train of Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived unexpectedly at the main train station in Kyiv, accompanied by Minister of Economy Katherina Reiche and representatives from the defense and energy industries. Laska called Merz's trip a bold and important sign in light of the situation. Russia has been attacking the Dnipro bridges connecting East and West Kyiv for days, wrote Laska. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian intelligence service has seen documents indicating that Vladimir Putin has issued a new doctrine foreseeing attacks on roads, logistics, schools, and hospitals to drive people out of Kyiv and other cities. The documents are not public, and Moscow has denied the allegations, she added. Laska wrote that people might flee from cities that are becoming increasingly uninhabitable in winter to Poland, the Czech Republic, or Germany. The provision for Ukrainian refugees has cost Germany around 32.4 billion euros since the start of the war, she cited an overview from the Ministry of Finance quoted by Spiegel. She criticized that these costs are being used in Germany as an argument against supporting Ukraine, including against arms deliveries. Merz wrote from Kyiv that Germany is helping out of self-interest because its own security depends on the outcome of the war, Laska stated. He announced one billion euros in military aid, 350 million euros for the energy system, thousands of interception drones, and closer German-Ukrainian defense cooperation. Officially, Taurus cruise missiles are still missing, she wrote. In October 2024, Merz said Germany must deliver Taurus to hit Russian supply routes if Putin does not end the bombardment of the Ukrainian civilian population within 24 hours. Although Moscow has since openly announced further massive attacks, Taurus still has not arrived, wrote Laska. #Ukraine #Russland #Politik (translated)

Max Otte quoted Chay Bowes stating that Russia had begun attacking bridges in Kyiv after five years. Bowes compared this to the actions of the Americans, who, according to him, did something similar on the first day in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Iran, Laos, Syria, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Otte commented: "That's how it is." #Russland #Kiew #Konflikt (translated)

The author announced that the ninth episode of "FRONTLINE UUS" is now available for free in German and English. Among the topics he mentioned were what he called Russian "bridge terror" in Kyiv, the destruction of a 70-year-old T-55, and a Ukrainian tank counter-offensive in Kharkiv. https://t.co/yJBfgyOxRQ #Ukraine #Krieg #Nachrichten #UA #RU (translated)

The author criticized Steinmeier's speech on the Day of the Germans and portrayed the Federal President as a proponent of the firewall. He accused him of presenting himself as a bridge builder on the national holiday, while at the same time wielding a wrecking ball. #TagDerDeutschen #Bundespräsident #AfD #DE (translated)

Max Stirner wrote that it is remarkable that, according to his depiction, a country can neither complete a train station nor an airfield on time, must renovate 11,000 bridges, and watches as its capital deteriorates, yet believes it can victoriously conduct a possible war against Russia. #Politik #Krieg #Deutschland (translated)

Russia is now attacking the bridges over the Dnieper in Kyiv day and night. The goal: to bring life in the Ukrainian capital to a standstill. But please don't complain when millions of Russian civilians soon have to suffer under the war of their regime. https://t.co/1Ph7lPx36Y #Russland #Ukraine #Krieg #UA #RU (translated)