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Japan’s debt bombshell: Why the interest rate turnaround in Tokyo could shake the global financial system
Japan’s debt has been considered a special case for years. Despite its extreme national debt, many investors long failed to see the country as an immediate threat. The reason was simple: interest rates remained ultra-low. The Bank of Japan kept the money market cheap. This very model is now beginning to crumble, increasing the risk
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Barclays warns of billions in risk – renewable energies threaten to lose massive value
In early March 2026, the British investment bank Barclays, one of the world’s largest investment banks and financial services providers, warned investors of increasing risks associated with renewable energy investments. According to an analysis by the bank, the trigger is not a lack of wind or solar projects, but primarily the weak integration with the
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VW crisis drags down car suppliers – bankruptcies, factory closures and job losses are looming
The Volkswagen crisis is exacerbating the situation for the German automotive industry, hitting suppliers particularly hard. The massive drop in Volkswagen’s profits is acting as an accelerator in an already fragile environment, as high production costs, the stalled transition to electric vehicles, new US tariffs under President Donald Trump, and growing competitive pressure from China
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Attack on asphalt plant in Wandlitz – another left-wing extremist arson attack near Berlin
In Schönerlinde near Wandlitz, north of Berlin, a fire broke out at an asphalt plant near the Pankow interchange between 2:55 and 3:00 a.m. on March 11. A truck driver spotted the blaze early and alerted emergency services, but the damage is estimated at millions of euros. Police are investigating the incident in all directions,
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A wave of bankruptcies is sweeping across Germany – in 2025, a company went bankrupt every 20 minutes
In 2025, around 24,000 companies in Germany filed for insolvency. This was almost ten percent more than the previous year and the highest number since 2014. On average, this wave of insolvencies hit a company every 20 minutes. High energy costs, increasing bureaucracy, geopolitical risks, and weak demand are increasingly burdening Germany as a business
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Onshore wind power – study warns of severe damage to biodiversity worldwide
A new study describes the significant environmental damage caused worldwide by onshore wind farms, focusing on the impact on biodiversity. The study examined onshore wind farms, the expansion of which poses major risks, particularly in biodiverse regions and areas with limited infrastructure. The authors identify collisions, habitat loss, changes in animal behavior, and disruption of
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Energy-intensive industries facing collapse – Ifo Institute chief warns of serious consequences for Germany
“Energy-intensive industries have no future here”: With this warning, ifo Institute head Clemens Fuest describes the situation of key sectors in Germany. Steel and chemicals are particularly affected because these sectors depend on large quantities of affordable energy. According to Fuest, the triggers are political decisions that have exacerbated energy shortages, while restructuring the energy
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China plans to put a new type of reactor into operation in 2027 that uses nuclear waste as fuel
In Guangdong, in southern China, a pilot plant for a novel hybrid reactor, the “China Initiative Accelerator Driven System,” is currently under construction. This reactor will use a particle accelerator to convert highly radioactive nuclear waste into new fuel. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences aim to commission the megawatt-scale prototype by 2027. The
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EU climate advisory council demands: Agriculture should pay for its emissions
In Brussels, the EU’s Climate Change Advisory Board is urging a fundamental transformation of agriculture and food production, because, according to experts, the sector is not reducing its climate impact quickly enough. This call is prompted by a new report from the independent body, chaired by German climate economist Ottmar Edenhofer, which makes it clear
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Energy crisis – scientific advisors recommend domestic fracking for the wealthy
In Berlin, the scientific advisors to Economics Minister Katherina Reiche presented their impact assessment of the new energy crisis. The trigger is the Iran-Iraq War, which is once again putting pressure on energy markets and leading to higher prices for gas and oil in Germany. The economists therefore advise against rapid price controls such as
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LNG shortage drives storage filling costs for next winter up by 11.7 billion
Europe’s gas supply is coming under acute pressure ahead of next winter because gas storage facilities are currently at a historic low and the Iran crisis is simultaneously threatening key LNG supply routes. The triggers are Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of production at Qatar’s largest LNG export complex. Europe
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Study classifies the safety risk of new nuclear reactors as negligible
In Switzerland, the debate surrounding new nuclear power plants is intensifying as parliamentary discussions on the blackout initiative begin. The trigger is a study by Economiesuisse, which classifies the safety risk of modern Generation 3+ reactors as negligible from an economic perspective. The central question is whether a new nuclear power plant would be viable
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Government overturns heating law and stops mandatory electric heating in the heating sector
In Germany, the center-right/center-left coalition is initiating a fundamental shift in energy policy. This is prompted by the planned repeal of key provisions in the existing heating law, its renaming to the Building Modernization Act, and further amendments to energy legislation. The focus is on the heating sector, but also on the broader question of
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Iran conflict drives up energy prices – fuel, heating and electricity in Germany are becoming even more expensive
The escalation of the conflict with Iran exacerbated Germany’s energy crisis in early March 2026. At the heart of the conflict was the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. Tankers were attacked, insurers slowed down shipments, and many ships were diverted to longer routes. This drove up oil and gas
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Funded by the EU with over 650 million euros – Mediterranean power cable on the verge of collapse
The planned Great Sea Interconnector power cable across the Mediterranean, connecting Crete, Cyprus, and eventually Israel, is on the verge of collapse despite EU funding. The project aims to end Cyprus’s energy isolation. It received €657.9 million in EU funding and was considered a strategic project in the eastern Mediterranean. Originally slated for completion by