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Paper mill in Baiersbronn closes following insolvency – 220 employees lose their jobs
The Baiersbronn virgin-fiber paperboard mill in the Freudenstadt district will cease production in September 2026. The company had already filed for insolvency in June but initially continued operations. High energy and production costs, a lack of orders, and difficult market conditions weighed on the site. Furthermore, a planned takeover fell through because a prospective buyer…
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Gravity storage in China: 148-meter tower delivers 100 MWh of electricity
A 148-meter-tall gravity energy storage system is set to be located in Rudong, eastern China, by 2026; it mechanically stores surplus electricity generated from renewable sources. The facility, built by Energy Vault, has a power output of 25 megawatts and a capacity of 100 megawatt-hours. It operates by using surplus electricity to lift heavy composite…
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Halberstadt Sausages: Plant closing for good – all remaining employees laid off
Halberstadt, August 26, 2026 – Production operations at the historic site of the famous Halberstadt sausages have failed. Halberstädter Konserven GmbH is ceasing business operations permanently. Production has been at a standstill since early June, and all remaining employees have since received termination notices. At the start of the most recent insolvency proceedings, 152 workers…
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Solar farms: New Science study measures decline in bird diversity in China
China, August 2026: A new study published in Science links the rapid expansion of solar farms to a measurable decline in bird diversity. Researchers analyzed data from 2,344 counties covering the period from 2014 to 2023. For every one-standard-deviation increase in the intensity of PV promotion policies, the Shannon index of bird diversity fell by…
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ArcelorMittal closes steel plant in Duisburg – 550 jobs lost
Duisburg – ArcelorMittal plans to largely discontinue its steel production operations in the Ruhrort district of Duisburg after September 2027. Consequently, around 550 jobs are set to be cut across the steel plant, the continuous casting facility, and the billet rolling mill. The site currently employs approximately 800 people. However, the wire rod mill is…
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Battery storage facility in Romania on fire – firefighters forced to keep 200-meter distance due to heat
On the night of August 27, 2026, a storage hall measuring approximately 500 square meters burned down in Stâlpu, in Romania’s Buzău County. The building housed a battery energy storage system. Firefighters later identified the heat generated by a faulty electrical conductor as the probable cause. However, high temperatures, dense smoke, and the presence of…
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Despite promised reductions in bureaucracy: the government is creating more jobs for civil servants than the traffic lights
Berlin – The federal government promises to cut red tape and reduce administrative staff, yet it plans to add a significant number of civil service positions by 2027. Compared to the last full budget of the “traffic-light” coalition in 2024, the number of authorized civil service posts is set to rise by 13,324. In total,…
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R-Pharm in Illertissen to close: 280 jobs to be lost
Illertissen – The insolvent pharmaceutical manufacturer R-Pharm is ceasing operations following a failed search for investors. This move results in the loss of approximately 280 jobs at the site. Insolvency administrator Markus Fröhlich informed the workforce of the closure on August 26. The final two prospective buyers were unable to demonstrate secured financing for an…
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Creditreform warns: Personal over-indebtedness – 5.67 million adults affected
Over-indebtedness in Germany could rise significantly again in 2026. On August 26, Creditreform warned in Berlin of a further substantial increase. As early as 2025, 5.67 million adults were classified as over-indebted—an increase of 111,000 compared to the previous year. The credit information agency cites high living costs and a weak labor market as the…
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Nordzucker closes plant in Denmark after 144 years – up to 150 jobs affected
Nakskov, Denmark – Nordzucker plans to cease sugar production at its Nakskov plant in Denmark in January 2027, following the 2026/27 campaign. The company cites overcapacity in the European sugar industry and the plant’s high investment requirements as key reasons for the decision. At the same time, Nordzucker anticipates a further decline in European sugar…
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German government considers using coal-fired power plants from reserve to combat high electricity prices
Berlin – The Federal Ministry of Economics is examining whether coal-fired power plants currently held in reserve should generate electricity more frequently. This move was prompted by a proposal from Sepp Müller, deputy leader of the Union parliamentary group, in response to high gas and electricity prices. These plants could replace gas in electricity generation,…
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Overvoltage: 360 volts from the power outlet cause €600,000 in damage in Apfelstetten
In Apfelstetten near Münsingen, a voltage surge caused extensive damage to private households. A technical fault at a Netze BW substation caused the voltage to rise to as much as 360 volts; household outlets normally supply 230 volts. Consequently, at least 50 of the 209 households reported damage to electrical appliances and systems. The total…
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Major fire in Emsdetten: Battery and electrical appliance recycling plant goes up in flames
A major fire broke out at a battery and electrical appliance recycling facility in Emsdetten on August 31, 2026. The fire alarm system on Gutenbergstraße was triggered at approximately 10:11 p.m. By the time the fire department arrived, however, the interior of the hall—measuring roughly 20 by 25 meters—was already fully ablaze, and the flames…
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Von der Leyen wants to mobilize 10 trillion euros of private savings for EU companies.
A commentary by our author Klaus Bastian: On August 27, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the issue of approximately €10 trillion in private savings before French business leaders. “Unfortunately, these savings are sluggish,” she said at the La REF business conference hosted by the employers’ association MEDEF. She also lamented that…
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Traffic chaos in Bonn: North Bridge closed, 60 out of 75 light rail vehicles taken out of service
For weeks, Bonn has been grappling with the simultaneous failure of several key transport links. Since June 3, 2026, the North Bridge has been completely closed to cars due to severe damage and the resulting need for renovation—work that was already deemed urgently necessary back in 2007. Furthermore, since July 21, 60 of the 75…