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LEAG halts Gigabattery project in Brandenburg – network charges jeopardize the billion-euro project
In April 2026, LEAG put the brakes on its large-scale battery storage plans in Lusatia. The focus is on Jänschwalde in Brandenburg, but Boxberg in Saxony is also affected. The trigger was considerations regarding new grid fees, which could place a greater burden on large-scale storage facilities. This jeopardizes a multi-billion-euro project intended to store
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Siemens warns: EU AI rules are hindering Europe as a development location for artificial intelligence
At the Hannover Messe trade fair, Siemens CEO Roland Busch warned of the consequences of EU AI regulations for Europe as a development and application hub for artificial intelligence. The company plans to invest around one billion euros in industrial AI, but a large portion of this is slated to flow to the US if
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Submarine construction to be relocated: Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is considering production in Spain
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), based in Kiel, plans to relocate parts of its submarine construction to Spain due to the global arms boom. The move was announced in April 2026 after the company and the Spanish shipyard Navantia signed a letter of intent. The impetus is the sharply increased demand for naval projects, while available
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Three factory closures in one day – 900 jobs affected
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, three plant closures in Germany and Austria were decided upon or announced: MANN+HUMMEL plans to close its plant in Speyer by the end of 2028, ZF will scale down its Lebring site by the end of 2027, and Hydro will cease production in Lüdenscheid as early as May 31, 2026.
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Report: Acute food shortages have increased significantly in many countries
According to international organizations, acute food shortages have increased significantly in numerous countries around the world. Around 266 million people in 47 countries were affected by severe food shortages last year, according to the “Global Report on Food Crises” published Friday in Rome. This is almost twice as many as in 2016. According to the
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Boom in nuclear power and space travel triggers stock rally in energy and space stocks
A stock rally has begun in the nuclear and aerospace sector on international stock markets, driven by investments in small modular reactors (SMRs), new US space plans, and an optimistic outlook for uranium stocks. Notable gainers include Oklo, NuScale Power, and Energy Fuels, while Denison Mines, Lightbridge, and Uranium Energy also posted gains. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce
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Solar parks are displacing farmers – leased land is disappearing and threatening livelihoods
In Germany, farmers have been increasingly losing leased land to operators of large solar parks since 2023, while government subsidies and high energy prices are accelerating expansion. Regions with intensive agriculture are particularly affected, as investors are paying significantly higher leases. The decisive risk factor lies in this financial superiority, which is crowding out agricultural
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Savings depleted – millions of households fear the next price shock
In Germany, following the recent rise in oil prices, fears are growing of further price shocks affecting everyday shopping, as many households have hardly any savings left. The trigger is significantly higher costs for energy, fuel, and daily groceries, which have noticeably increased the cost of living recently. In March, the inflation rate rose to
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Sensor specialist Sick AG is cutting 500 jobs in southern Baden – every tenth position is at risk
Sensor specialist Sick AG, based in Waldkirch, plans to cut around 500 jobs in southern Baden-Württemberg. The cuts will affect the Waldkirch, Reute, Freiburg, and Donaueschingen locations, which currently employ approximately 5,000 people. The reduction was recently announced after the company had already warned of further cuts in November and, in January, announced the closure
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Reich’s plans for future energy supply continue to draw criticism
Plans by Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) for Germany’s energy supply continue to draw criticism – even within the coalition. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) criticized the reform plans for the electricity grids on Wednesday: “I still see considerable room for improvement,” he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Green Party leader Felix Banaszak accused
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MANN+HUMMEL is closing its plant in Speyer – 600 employees face job loss
MANN+HUMMEL plans to close its plant in Speyer by 2028. This will affect 600 employees, including 400 production workers. The site produces filter elements such as air, oil, and air-oil separators for agriculture and mechanical engineering. Production will be gradually transferred to other plants. The company cites weak economic growth in Europe, higher energy and
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Leaked data reveals: Tesla concealed Autopilot accidents that resulted in fatalities
In the US, Tesla is alleged to have failed to fully disclose serious accidents involving its Autopilot system for years, even though these very incidents were crucial for assessing the system’s risks in real-world use. This renewed criticism stems from a massive data leak that exposed thousands of internal processes and customer complaints. The documents
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Higher Regional Court overturns building permit for wind turbines in the Westerwald region
On April 16, 2026, the Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate in Koblenz revoked the building permit for two wind turbines on the Hümmerich hill in the district of Altenkirchen. The project is located within the Westerwald bird sanctuary, making species protection the central issue in the proceedings. The case was triggered by a lawsuit filed
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Renault is cutting up to 2400 engineering jobs worldwide
Renault plans to cut 15 to 20 percent of its engineering positions worldwide over the next two years. This could result in the elimination of up to 2,400 jobs. The cuts will affect a division currently employing around 11,000 to 12,000 engineers. The French automaker is responding to growing pressure from Chinese manufacturers in key
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National Security Council: No energy emergency – but increased monitoring of the situation
The German government’s National Security Council currently sees no threat to Germany’s energy supply. According to information obtained by the AFP news agency from participants, it was unanimously agreed at a meeting of the council on Monday evening that no energy emergency is expected in Germany in the foreseeable future. However, to continuously monitor the