Netherlands expels diplomats: scandal over “diaspora tax”

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An Eritrean diplomat must leave the Netherlands. The background is Eritrea’s practice of deducting taxes from compatriots living abroad.

Architecture of classical modernism in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea Photo: dpa

Eritrean diplomat Tekeste Ghebremedhin Zemuy must leave the Netherlands. This was declared by Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra on Wednesday. In a letter he informed the parliament of this step, which he calls a "special exceptional case" and at the same time a "strong diplomatic signal".

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Maritime conference in bremerhaven: agenda for the world’s oceans

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The German government is easing the burden on shipowners and investing in port infrastructure. Deep-sea mining is also to be promoted.

Always forward, sailors, with the maritime economy. Photo: dpa

And another agenda. This time it will be valid for ten years and define Germany’s economic use of the world’s oceans. The new "Maritime Agenda 2025" is the result of the two-day National Maritime Conference in Bremerhaven. It creates "the perspective for a decade for the maritime economy," enthuses Uwe Beckmeyer (SPD), Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Maritime Coordinator of the German government. The agenda is to be adopted by the federal cabinet at the beginning of next year.

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After the state elections in brandenburg: potsdam remains red-red

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The SPD and the Left agree on a coalition agreement. The Social Democrats had first explored with the CDU, but then decided in favor of the tried-and-tested alliance.

The government remains red-red: state parliament in Potsdam. Photo: dpa

In Brandenburg, the SPD and the Left have set the course for a new edition of the red-red coalition. Three and a half weeks after the state election, they concluded their coalition negotiations late Wednesday night. The draft agreement is to be presented to the public on Friday, according to SPD Secretary-General Klara Geywitz. Still open is the distribution of cabinet posts. The Left Party wants to let its members vote on the coalition agreement. Personnel matters are to be discussed only afterwards.

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Leipzig city record: “the cream cake no longer exists”.

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Innkeeper Andreas Strobel experienced Leipzig in the early 1990s as a city of many opportunities. If he were younger, he would move on today.

Innkeeper Andreas Strobel wonders whether only coked-up architects are still at work in Leipzig Photo: Katharina Muller-Guldemeister

"I moved to Leipzig after the fall of the Wall. I thought: If everyone runs to the bananas, I’ll run in the other direction. So I quit my job as a social worker in the Wendland; I knew Leipzig from visits. When the Wall fell, I wanted to know where the city was going. Unfortunately, everything went haphazardly. Leipzig was a book city and had a wonderful trade fair. Any other city would have made something of it.

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Max kruse moves to 1. Fc union: iron eccentric

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The signing of Max Kruse is a transfer coup for Union Berlin. Club and player have much more in common than you might think.

Appreciates the coolness factor: Kruse decides for 1. FC Union despite better offers Photo: dpa

Now, the number of followers in social media is not always meaningful to measure the popularity of a soccer club or footballer. But it does give an indication of popularity. And it shows that that of a player like Max Kruse, who has 410,000 subscribers on the Instagram platform, far exceeds that of Bundesliga club Union Berlin (107,000).

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Measures against violence against women: federal government in no hurry

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In the Istanbul Convention, the German government pledges to create support services for women. In fact, however, little is being done.

Women’s March in Berlin: This woman demonstrated against misogyny in January Photo: Stefan Boness/Ipon

With the ratification of the Istanbul Convention a year ago, the German government committed itself to systematically combating violence against women and girls. Now, the Left Party asked about the status of implementation by means of a Bundestag question and was anything but satisfied. "The government is evading the obligations of the convention. This is more than disappointing," said Cornelia Mohring, women’s policy spokeswoman for the parliamentary group.

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Kreuzberg gerhart hauptmann school: raed saleh demands the impossible

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The SPD parliamentary group leader surprises again. Instead of 120 apartments, he calls for continued operation as a school. But that is no longer legally possible.

Left-wing populist or just populist? Raed Saleh Photo: dpa

Raed Saleh again. The author of these lines once described the SPD parliamentary group leader as a "left-wing populist". The taz portrait included the sentence: "Maybe it’s not about content at all. Perhaps the advancement of his person is more important to the politician Raed Saleh than the advancement of the cause."

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Molecular biology via epigenetics in space: the cosmonaut’s genes

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After a year in space, the genes of U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly have changed, NASA reports. Dirk Schubeler explains why.

Suddenly seven percent different from his twin: US astronaut Scott Kelly Photo: dpa

site: Mr. Schubeler, after a year on the International Space Station, the genes of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly have changed by seven percent compared to those of his identical twin brother on Earth. Why does life in space change our genes?

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New italian interior minister: a woman for hard cases

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Italy’s new Interior Minister Lamorgese may be less radical than predecessor Salvini. But a political turnaround is not to be expected from her.

It can only get better: Luciana Lamorgese with predecessor Matteo Salvini Photo: Imago Images/ Independent Photo Agency Int.

One would like to think that after Matteo Salvini, even Peppa Pig could take over the Italian Interior Ministry without causing major damage. But the "security decrees" by which Italy pursues a rigid anti-migration course are still in force. And they are the responsibility of all those who voted for them: in addition to the Lega, the majority of the Five Star Party, including Prime Minister Conte. Therefore, jubilation is premature when the Milanese prefect Luciana Lamorgese has been appointed in Salvini’s place.

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Modern slavery in belarus: those who quit pay back their salary

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Workers are emigrating in droves to neighboring countries. Belarusian dictator Lukashenko responds with bizarre punitive measures.

"A flawless democrat": Alexander Lukashenko. Photo: dpa

In Belarus, life is taking on increasingly absurd features. In the former Soviet republic, it is now not even possible to freely choose a job. "This is serfdom," criticizes trade unionist Alexander Yaroshuk in the capital Minsk.

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