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Cadmium in solar modules: Hazardous substances become a problem of the solar boom
A major fire at a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights illustrates the difficulty of managing destroyed photovoltaic modules in the event of damage. The roof of the approximately 500,000-square-foot building was covered with solar panels. The fire broke out on June 17 and lasted for several days, prompting authorities to issue warnings regarding smoke,…
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Labor market losing industrial jobs: 15,000 positions lost per month
In June 2026, the industrial crisis in the German labor market is intensifying, even though unemployment is falling slightly. The Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg reports 2.936 million unemployed persons and an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. At the same time, the manufacturing sector is currently losing around 15,000 jobs per month; over a twelve-month…
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Old heating law to be scrapped – heating subsidies to decrease
The federal government is fast-tracking reforms to the rules governing heating system replacements. The “traffic light” coalition’s unpopular heating law—which mandates climate-friendly heating systems—is set to be scrapped as early as Friday. The Federal Constitutional Court cleared the way for this on Thursday by dismissing a procedural challenge filed by the Left Party parliamentary group.…
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Wind turbine accident near Aalen: Rotor blade falls from 100 meters
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, a rotor blade detached from a wind turbine near Aalen-Waldhausen in the Ostalb district. Waldhausen is located east of the main town of Aalen on the Härtsfeld plateau in Baden-Württemberg; the wind farm in question is situated between Waldhausen and Hülen. The blade fell from a hub height of approximately…
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Blackouts and Power Outages: 5 Important Points Every Household Should Consider
A blackout or prolonged power outage can affect households far more severely than a brief grid disruption. If the power fails for many hours or even days, appliances and services such as refrigerators, heating pumps, the internet, card payment systems, lighting, elevators, and often even parts of the water supply will function only to a…
Blackout News on Social Media
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Germany’s infrastructure is crumbling – and policymakers are shuffling billions around
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian Bridges, railway stations, and roads in Germany are now visibly falling into disrepair: the Carola Bridge in Dresden remains out of commission for years following its partial collapse in 2024, the North Bridge in Bonn has been completely closed due to structural damage, and the completion of the…
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Chat control back through the back door: EU Parliament paves the way for message scanning
On July 7, 2026, the European Parliament authorized an expedited procedure for “chat control,” even though the measure had appeared politically dead following its rejection in March and had lapsed on April 3. This move was prompted by a Council position from July 2 that seeks to once again allow private online services to scan…
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Water levy in Bavaria: New charge raises cost of groundwater starting in July
A water levy has been in effect in Bavaria since July 1, 2026. The state government now charges ten cents per cubic meter of groundwater extracted. Those required to pay include, above all, water suppliers, businesses, farmers, and operators of private wells; however, households are usually affected indirectly through higher water prices. The measure stems…
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Netherlands sending decommissioned wind turbines to Ukraine
Decommissioned wind turbines from the Netherlands are set to supply electricity in Ukraine. The project serves a dual purpose: Ukraine is seeking additional decentralized power generation following Russian attacks on power plants and the grid, while Dutch operators are finding buyers for turbines that have largely reached the end of their economic viability in their…
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Performative action instead of reform – this tax package does not deserve the name
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian In early July 2026, the federal government unveiled its tax package for 2027 and 2028, yet the announced reform amounts to little more than a bare-minimum measure. The CDU, CSU, and SPD plan to raise the basic tax-free allowance from €12,348 to €12,900, increase the standard deduction for…
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Despite the change in leadership at Deutsche Bahn, the crisis is worsening despite the new female CEO
The change in leadership at the helm of Deutsche Bahn was intended to mark a fresh start, yet so far, there is no discernible turnaround. In long-distance transport, operational punctuality stood at just 52.6 percent in June, while delays, cancellations, and construction sites continue to shape the daily lives of passengers, commuters, businesses, and freight…
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Study: Gas grid expected to be shut down by 2045 despite green gas quota
The German government intends to once again permit the installation of new gas heating systems and instead utilize more green gases for climate protection. However, according to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute published on Monday, Germany’s gas supply network has no future. Energy providers are unlikely to be able to offer competitive gas prices…
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Double-decker bus burns out in London: Electric bus fire also destroys charging points
On June 24, 2026, a fire destroyed an electric double-decker bus at a depot in Westbourne Park, West London. The cause of the fire was initially unclear, though the London Fire Brigade investigated the incident. The fire affected a sensitive area containing charging infrastructure; the flames also destroyed two electric vehicle charging points. Emergency services…
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Despite the economic crisis in Baden-Württemberg: Özdemir sticks to climate course
Baden-Württemberg’s Minister-President Cem Özdemir is sticking to his climate agenda despite a weak economy, declining municipal tax revenues, and high debt levels. This stance was prompted by the heatwave in late June, which the Green Party politician interprets as a warning signal calling for greater climate action. As the state once again lags behind the…
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Great Britain plans 14 mini-nuclear power plants for eight million households
Great Britain is set to receive a private fleet of new mini-nuclear power plants starting in 2034. SGE SMR UK plans to deploy 14 reactors across three sites for this purpose. Together, the facilities are expected to generate 4.2 gigawatts of power and supply nearly eight million households. However, the project cannot begin until the…