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In Tübingen, homeowners are reporting high additional costs after switching to a heat pump. Specifically, they are facing charges of €3,332 for the final disconnection from the gas network. At the same time, a look at other German states shows that there is no uniform standard. Depending on the network operator, the charges range from […]

A French court has explicitly confirmed that wind turbines can cause health problems. The court in Strasbourg has thus established a rarely clear legal precedent. The Tribunal judiciaire de Strasbourg sees a direct link between the operation of a nearby wind farm and the complaints of a resident from the Somme region. The court considers

A large portion of Germany’s gold reserves is not stored in Frankfurt, but in New York. Specifically, the Bundesbank currently holds 1,236 tons of gold deposited with the US Federal Reserve. This represents more than a third of Germany’s total gold holdings. Moreover, the gold has a market value of approximately €164 billion, which is

ZF is prematurely ending several electric vehicle projects. The supplier is reacting to a slower market ramp-up. At the same time, the company wants to free up funds so that future programs can reliably generate returns. (ntv: 23.01.26) Why ZF terminates projects with customers early ZF describes the decision as the result of discussions with

Honda and General Motors are ending their joint production of fuel cell systems in the US. The FCSM joint venture in Michigan is being shut down because demand fell significantly short of expectations. Fuel cells played a central role in the original business model, but a lack of customers prevented the necessary ramp-up. Honda and

France is abolishing low-emission zones in many cities. The system disproportionately affected drivers of older cars, often people with limited budgets. Mobility became a question of cost, even though many depend on their cars. At the same time, political pressure mounted because the unfairness significantly impacted daily life. (lemonde: 21.01.26) January 20, 2026: Abolition confirmed

In Innsbruck, electric buses on line 502 are unable to reliably manage the steep section of Schusterbergweg. As a result, passengers are repeatedly forced to disembark so the bus can climb the incline. This situation is disrupting public transport, the operation of the electric buses, and city traffic alike. Especially in Innsbruck, where gradients are

Aldi Süd is restructuring its administration. At the same time, the discount retailer has confirmed that job cuts are planned at its headquarters in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Specifically, up to 500 of the approximately 2,000 jobs could be eliminated because the company is consolidating processes worldwide through an IT project. (fokus: 22.0.1.26) Global IT

A research team from Peking University has reported on an analog AI chip with unusual performance characteristics. According to a publication in Nature Communications, also reported by the South China Morning Post, the chip is said to perform calculations twelve times faster than advanced digital processors in selected tasks. At the same time, it consumed

Between 2019 and 2024, Germany transferred approximately €4.33 million to Colombia. This money, provided as development aid, funded a project for climate-friendly refrigerators. The German government cites its climate targets in this context and sees a direct benefit for Germany. (bz-berlin: 23.01.26) Project name, partners, and trigger for the debate Specifically, the debate concerned the

In Bern and Schaffhausen, winter is forcing new electric buses into a difficult conflict of objectives. With the heating system running at full power, the vehicles are sometimes unable to reliably complete their scheduled routes. The reason is simple and frustrating for passengers: the heating consumes so much electricity that the battery loses too much

A Trump confidant is emerging as a new power player in German energy logistics: Kelcy Warren, an owner associated with the Sunoco group, has reportedly gained influence over key parts of Germany’s energy infrastructure, according to a report in Der Spiegel. At the heart of this are tank farms and pipelines—facilities that not only ensure

More than 50,000 households suffered power and heating outages after the attack on Berlin’s electricity grid. The Federal Prosecutor General has so far found no concrete leads on the perpetrators and remains completely in the dark. Therefore, the authorities are considering offering a reward, as only a solid lead can put the investigation against the

Amazon is reportedly preparing to cut around 30,000 jobs in its corporate division. Amazon intends to significantly alter its central structures and reorganize several core areas. According to Reuters, AWS, Prime Video, online retail, and human resources are among the affected departments. The job cuts are expected to begin soon and will accompany a larger

Toy retailer ROFU-Kinderland has filed for insolvency under self-administration. This marks the beginning of a critical phase for its 1,970 employees. At the same time, business operations will initially remain stable, as the stores are to remain open. The insolvency filing also only marks the start of the restructuring process, not its end. Customers will