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Industrial orders slumped in August – but three-month trend remains positive
After two sharp increases in June and July, orders for German industry slumped in August: incoming orders in the manufacturing sector fell by 10.6 percent compared to the previous month, the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Tuesday. However, looking at the three-month comparison, there was an overall increase of 1.3 percent. In July,…
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Paderborn faces drastic cost-cutting: a deficit of nearly 100 million euros – 400 jobs to be cut
Paderborn is heading toward drastic budgetary consolidation measures. Current forecasts indicate that the annual deficit will rise to €99.87 million by 2037. Without countermeasures, the city’s equity would turn negative as early as 2032; projections suggest a deficit of €544 million by 2037. Consequently, the city plans to cut services, raise fees, and eliminate nearly…
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165 suspected cases of sabotage in eight months – Schleswig-Holstein steps up protection of power grid
German security authorities recorded more than 165 suspected cases of sabotage nationwide between January and the end of August 2026. In addition, there were 747 suspicious drone incidents involving a total of 1,068 observed aircraft. Following specific attacks on the power grid in Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein is now also stepping up its…
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Battery storage: The next great hope for storage is cannibalizing itself
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: Following the sluggish ramp-up of the hydrogen sector, battery storage systems are increasingly moving to the heart of the energy transition. Fraunhofer ISE has now demonstrated that an additional 20 gigawatts of capacity could reduce daily price fluctuations in the electricity market by around 60 percent. Yet these…
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Power generation models based on historical weather data could underestimate periods of low wind and solar output
Two new scientific studies reveal a vulnerability in the planning of future power systems. Historical weather data may no longer adequately reflect critical gaps in generation. A study published in Nature calculates that, under a specific climate scenario, periods of low combined wind and solar output would last 155.7 percent longer. Another study, analyzing 35…
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Environment Minister Schneider floats the idea of higher water prices for data centers
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has floated the idea of higher water prices for data center operators. “Periods of water scarcity are becoming more frequent in Germany, too. This gives rise to new questions regarding allocation, for which we must find fair answers,” Schneider said in Berlin. “When water is scarce, citizens’ basic needs…
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EU Deforestation Regulation Burdens Indigenous Forestry in the USA
The EU Deforestation Regulation is now affecting indigenous forestry operations in the USA, even though they often do not sell their timber to Europe at all. American sawmills, paper manufacturers, and other buyers are increasingly demanding information on the origin of the wood so that they can subsequently sell their products in the EU. Requirements…
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Bergheim halts agri-PV on high-quality farmland – agriculture given priority
Bergheim, in the district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, is prioritizing the protection of high-yield arable land over the further expansion of solar power installations on agricultural sites. In late September, the municipal council rejected a proposal from Munich-based DoppelErnte GmbH, a project developer seeking to build an agri-PV facility. This concept involves placing solar panels on farmland…
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McCain scraps multi-billion project – planned french fry plant with 650 jobs will not go ahead
McCain is putting plans for a new French fry plant in Mehrum, Lower Saxony, on hold for the time being. The food company had intended to invest up to one billion euros at the site of the former coal-fired power plant, a project expected to create up to 650 new jobs. However, rising project costs,…
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Saxony considers a freeze on wind turbine permits
Dresden – Saxony is considering a temporary freeze on permits for new wind turbines located outside designated wind energy zones. The measure could remain in effect until the end of 2027, by which time regional planning associations are expected to have finalized their new wind energy areas. This move is prompted by the large number…
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Deutsche Telekom aims to save 2.5 billion euros by 2030 using AI and automation
Deutsche Telekom aims to save billions of euros through artificial intelligence (AI) and automation; the company announced on Monday that savings are expected to reach around 2.5 billion euros by 2030 compared to 2023 levels. By that time, AI-related revenue in the business sector outside the US is also projected to rise to approximately 800…
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Westlake closes PVC plant in Cologne – 120 jobs lost
Cologne: The US chemical company Westlake is closing its PVC plant in Cologne in the first quarter of 2027. Around 120 jobs are set to be cut as the company eliminates an annual capacity of approximately 165,000 tonnes of PVC. Westlake cites weak demand, high energy costs, and growing import pressure from Asia as reasons.…
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The F126 frigate debacle shows no signs of ending – the shipyard is now demanding 4.68 billion euros
The failed F126 frigate procurement project could end up costing the federal government significantly more. Following the project’s suspension, the Dutch shipyard Damen is claiming €4.68 billion (net) based on contractual payment and indemnification claims. According to their lawyer, Peter Gauweiler, this figure does not yet include additional compensation for damages. The background to the…
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The economic upturn is bypassing the labor market – number of employed persons continues to fall
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: According to a draft seen by Reuters, the federal government projects economic growth of 1.3 percent for 2026. Yet, for the workforce, the labor market continues to move in the opposite direction. In August, there were 235,000 fewer people employed than a year earlier. At the same time,…
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First gas stations running out of fuel – shortages following launch of fuel discount
Just days after the introduction of the new fuel tax rebate, some gas stations in Germany are running out of fuel. Reports of empty tanks or sold-out fuel grades have emerged from Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. Stations offering particularly low prices saw a surge in demand, while restocking efforts could not keep pace…