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Germany bans fracking in its own country – but is aggressively pushing it forward in Patagonia
Despite its own bans, Germany continues to rely on fossil fuels, as a new LNG contract binds the country to Patagonia for the long term. Liquefied natural gas from southern Argentina is intended to strengthen energy security, even though fracking is causing massive damage there. The deal links economic interests with global responsibility, but social…
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The end of solar subsidies is drawing near – the government plans to discontinue them from 2027
Solar subsidies are facing a profound change, as the German government plans to completely abolish fixed feed-in tariffs. The energy policy debate is already increasingly focused on the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and future market prices, while the expansion of photovoltaics must accept new conditions. At the same time, electricity prices are coming into…
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China’s quiet automotive coup – now gasoline-powered cars from the Far East are dominating the world markets
While Europe is hotly debating electromobility, a development with enormous impact is quietly unfolding. Millions of gasoline-powered cars from China are flooding international markets, driven by state industrial policy, aggressive export strategies, and a shift in the balance of power within the automotive market. This advance has caught Western manufacturers unprepared, as it follows different…
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A desperate act – the increase in trade tax in Schweinfurt threatens industry and jobs
In Schweinfurt, the trade tax is at the heart of current austerity measures, as the city’s financial distress has reached a critical level with a budget shortfall of approximately 16 million euros. To close this gap, the municipality plans to raise the trade tax multiplier from 370 to 400 percent starting in 2026, an increase…
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EU relaxations of regulations for genetic engineering: Labeling on food products is partially eliminated
Fewer environmental tests and no mandatory labeling in supermarkets: The EU wants to relax its rules for handling certain genetically modified products. Representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the 27 EU countries reached an agreement on this in the early hours of Thursday. Critics were unable to prevail with their consumer protection…
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End of Cherry production in Germany
Cherry, the internationally renowned peripherals manufacturer from Auerbach in the Upper Palatinate region of Germany, is ceasing its German production after 60 years. Cherry became particularly famous for its iconic keyboards, which are expected to continue being manufactured in the Far East. Production in Germany, however, is no longer profitable, according to management. (WinFuture, 27.11.2025)…
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Rare earths: EU Commission wants to create a stockpile of raw materials for industry
The European Commission wants to secure access to raw materials such as lithium and rare earth elements for European companies. Industry Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné presented his plans for a European Centre for Critical Raw Materials in Brussels on Wednesday. This centre would coordinate joint purchases by several EU member states and create stockpiles. The aim…
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Risky for the German energy transition – so-called “phantom storage”
Battery storage systems are considered an indispensable component of Germany’s energy transition. They are being registered with grid operators on a massive scale, but most are not being built. The reasons are manifold, the consequences precarious. (focus, 02.12.2025) Example of a solar park in Zerbst In November 2025, a massive solar park covering 41 hectares…
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Survey: Majority of employees want to limit working hours to eight hours
A survey has revealed that a majority of employees in Germany support limiting their working hours. 72 percent of those surveyed want to restrict their daily working time to a maximum of eight hours, as announced by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Berlin on Thursday. DGB Chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi criticized any potential weakening…
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Fear of a lull: Tenders for wind farm projects flop
As is well known, the North Sea, with its strong winds, is an ideal location for wind power generation. The relatively shallow waters make the construction of wind farms comparatively inexpensive. This has attracted investors in the past, such as the energy companies BP and Totalenergies, which paid a total of €12.6 billion for new…
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Ifo: Business climate stagnated in 2025 – companies “sober and concerned”
Business sentiment among German companies has barely improved this year after initial euphoria. The business climate index compiled by the Munich-based Ifo Institute rose by only about 2.8 points between January and November, falling significantly short of previous years’ figures, the institute announced on Thursday. This is practically tantamount to stagnation. The current business situation…
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US gas prices are driving up the global market and leading to higher costs for German households
Rising natural gas prices in the US are triggering a chain reaction on international markets. The sharp increase is not only affecting North America – costs for consumers in Germany are also rising noticeably again. An early onset of winter, record-high exports, fluctuating gas prices, increasing taxes and levies, and global energy supply are shaping…
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OECD report: US tariffs impact global economy less than expected
The economic impact of US tariffs and political instability has been less severe than expected. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed its forecast of 3.2 percent for global growth this year. “The global economy has been resilient this year, despite the anticipated slowdown due to increasing trade barriers and significant political uncertainty,”…
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The US government plans to build ten new nuclear reactors for over $500 billion
The United States is launching an unprecedented investment offensive in the energy sector. Plans include the construction of ten large-scale nuclear reactors to meet the rising electricity demand from data centers, AI applications, and industrial projects. Officially, funding is to be provided in part by a multi-billion-dollar pledge from Japan – but given Tokyo’s chronic…
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Climate activists from WePlanet: Environmental consequences of Germany’s nuclear phase-out are alarming
Germany’s nuclear phase-out was, as is well known, decided more or less hastily after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. In retrospect, it is almost single-handedly decreed by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Today, it is considered arguably the most consequential energy policy decision in Germany in recent decades. (t-online 23.11.2025) Shutdown of Germany’s Nuclear Power…