Want to Bring Your Creativity to Life? Kaohsiung New Immigrant Empowerment Workshop is Here to Help!

Service Downtime Notice Time: March 19, 2025 (Wednesday) from 00:00 to 01:30 Due to system maintenance, the website may experience service instability during this period. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding

Germany's unemployment rate rises less than expected, economic reforms are imperative

Germany's Unemployment Rate Rises Less Than Expected, Economic Reforms InevitableGermany's unemployment figure increased by 5,000 people, bringing the total unemployed population to 2.89 million, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 6.2%. Although the number of unemployed rose, the increase was lower than the market's expected figure of 15,000, indicating some resilience in Germany's labor market.However, the overall economic outlook remains bleak. Germany's economy faces multiple challenges due to the global economic slowdown, sluggish manufacturing, and reduced household consumption and government spending. Many companies have begun cutting staff, particularly in the manufacturing, retail, and construction sectors.The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) recently won the election and are preparing to form a coalition government to address the current economic difficulties. According to a report by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, German businesses remain pessimistic about the economic outlook for the coming months, especially as small and medium-sized enterprises struggle with rising costs and weak market demand.Many companies have begun downsizing their workforce, with the manufacturing, retail, and construction sectors being hit the hardest. (Image/Source: Pexels)Experts believe the German government needs to implement a series of economic reforms to improve the current situation. Proposed measures include reducing corporate taxes, relaxing burdensome regulatory procedures, and enhancing labor market flexibility to attract more investment. Additionally, the government may relax immigration policies to draw more skilled workers and address the ongoing labor shortage.Joachim Nagel, President of the German Bundesbank, warned that uncertainty in global trade could result in a 1% reduction in Germany's GDP. He emphasized that the government must act swiftly to prevent further economic deterioration. In the coming months, markets will closely monitor the new government's economic policies to assess whether Germany's economy can recover from its current challenges.

The farthest spacecraft from Earth are shutting off instruments in interstellar space

NASA's twin Voyager probes, which have been exploring space for 47 years, are now shutting down some scientific instruments to conserve power and extend their missions. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are currently operating in interstellar space, the unexplored territory beyond our solar system.On February 25, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) instructed Voyager 1 to shut down its cosmic ray subsystem experiment, while Voyager 2 is scheduled to power off its low-energy charged particle instrument on March 24. This leaves each probe with three functioning science instruments.The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, initially carried 10 science instruments each. Over the years, as the plutonium power supply decayed, the mission team gradually turned off instruments to extend the probes' lifespan. Each year, the power supply loses around 4 watts.Despite their original mission to study the outer planets, the Voyager probes have exceeded expectations by collecting invaluable data on the heliosphere and interstellar space. Scientists have utilized the twin spacecraft’s identical instruments to compare different environments in the cosmos.An illustration of Voyager shows some of the antennas and instruments aboard each spacecraft, including those still operating and those about to be shut off. NASA/JPL-CaltechWith the recent instrument shutdowns, the probes will still continue measuring cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and plasma waves. The team expects the Voyagers to keep operating until at least the 2030s, although unforeseen issues may arise.“Every day could be our last,” said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL. “But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we’re doing everything possible to maximize the Voyagers' journey.”