News

In Germany, with current fuel prices, the largest share of each liter goes to the state. In mid-March 2026, Super E10 cost an average of around €2.006 per liter, and diesel about €2.130. This high cost is due to energy tax, value-added tax, and CO₂ emissions charges. As a result, the state collects around €1.13 […]

The Russian LNG tanker “Arctic Metagaz” apparently did not sink after an explosion and a major fire off the Libyan coast on the morning of March 3, as had been reported previously, but is still drifting in the Mediterranean. Initially, the Libyan coast guard reported the sinking of the 277-meter-long vessel, but several subsequent reports

At the latest auction of ten-year German government bonds, demand fell significantly short of supply. The federal government aimed to raise five billion euros through an increase in the offering, but received bids totaling only 4.511 billion euros and ultimately placed 3.811 billion euros. At the same time, the average yield rose to 2.89 percent,

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

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

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

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,

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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