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In Hefei, China has unveiled a prototype that researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences are developing for truck-based transport. This mobile nuclear reactor is designed to deliver approximately 10 megawatts of electrical power, providing electricity to AI data centers, remote regions, and ships for decades. The initiative is driven by the rising energy demand […]

In China, the electric car is increasingly becoming a disposable product, as many buyers expect technological updates to arrive just as rapidly as they do with smartphones. They prioritize the battery, software, charging performance, displays, and driver assistance systems. Consequently, as soon as significant technical innovations hit the market, many Chinese owners part ways with

In Germany, the number of civil servants, judges, and soldiers in state service rose to approximately 1.96 million as of June 30, 2024. This was reported by the Federal Statistical Office. Over a ten-year period, this represents an increase of 5.8 percent. At the same time, the public sector as a whole is expanding to

Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has announced increased financial burdens for those requiring long-term care and warned of a massive, multi-billion deficit should no reform of the long-term care insurance system be implemented. It must be clearly defined “what the long-term care insurance system is capable of covering,” Warken told the Rheinische Post on

In Germany, the situation in the labor market is tightening, as many skilled professionals are taking significantly longer to find a new position. The economy is currently shedding more jobs than are being created, leading to a marked increase in competition for open vacancies. At the same time, the “skilled worker shortage”—so frequently invoked by

Apple is intensifying its criticism of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The catalyst is an interim report by the European Commission, which attributes a positive impact to the legislation after two years. However, Apple executive Kyle Andeer strongly disagrees. He views the requirements imposed on the iPhone as a risk to data privacy, child protection,

On April 29, 2026, Soluxtec filed for insolvency with the Bitburg Local Court. The solar module manufacturer has been producing in Bitburg and Föhren for around 15 years; however, the sharp drop in photovoltaic module prices has severely impacted its business model. Approximately 70 employees are affected, although their salaries are initially secured through insolvency

U.S. automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis anticipate up to $5 billion in additional costs this year, as the conflict with Iran strains supply chains, transport routes, and raw material markets. In Detroit, the companies cited rising prices for aluminum, oil, plastics, paints, DRAM chips, and logistics when reporting their first-quarter earnings. The

Commerzbank intends to defend itself against a hostile takeover bid by UniCredit through job cuts and higher profit targets. On Friday, the Frankfurt-based bank announced the elimination of a further 3,000 jobs by 2030 and raised its business targets for that period. Lower costs and higher profits are driving up the share price, thereby making

Europe continues to rely on wood pellets for electricity generation. A significant portion of these pellets reaches power plants via cargo ships from North America. In 2023, the EU consumed approximately 24.5 million tons of pellets and imported 4.89 million tons—primarily from the USA and Canada. In 2024, EU imports stood at 4.48 million tons;

A solar power system with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt entails significant raw material requirements, regardless of whether it is constructed as a solar park or as a collection of many smaller rooftop installations. Construction, operation, and decommissioning require polysilicon, aluminum, silver, glass, cabling, inverters, transformers, and mounting systems. The manufacturing phase is particularly

Since November 2025, authorities in Australia have been investigating findings of asbestos in the brake pads of wind turbines. The affected components include service lifts, material hoists, and braking systems within the turbines. The investigations were triggered by positive test results on imported components originating from the supply chain of the Chinese supplier 3S Industry.

A modeling study by the Science Media Center Germany, dated April 29, 2026, suggests that Germany’s electricity supply could be jeopardized starting in 2031 without additional backup power plants. The analysis evaluates the Federal Government’s power plant strategy, which envisages approximately twelve gigawatts of new capacity. Of this total, ten gigawatts are to be generated

The trend toward electric vehicles in Germany continued in April. The number of newly registered electric cars rose by 41.3 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching over 64,000, as announced by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) in Flensburg on Thursday. Their market share thus stands significantly ahead of that of gasoline-powered

Since May 1, 2026, a fuel discount of 16.7 cents per liter of gasoline and diesel has been in effect in Germany; however, according to the ADAC, oil companies have so far failed to pass on this relief in full. The measure stems from a government reduction in energy taxes intended to cushion the impact