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Dispute over energy laws – Klingbeil blocks Reich’s key reforms
In Berlin, the dispute over the energy policy of the center-right/center-left coalition is escalating. According to information from government and coalition circles, the Finance Ministry, headed by Lars Klingbeil, is blocking several key energy laws proposed by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche, including the Building Modernization Act, the power plant strategy, the amendment to the Renewable
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Decline under Merz – Altmaier, Spahn and Papier criticize Merz from within his own ranks
In Berlin, criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz is now growing even within his own party. Peter Altmaier recently warned that the German economic model is in acute danger, Jens Spahn said on television that they are “largely managing the decline,” and the former President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Hans-Jürgen Papier, even accused the federal
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Economist Fratzscher proposes a flat-rate energy cost payment instead of a tax relief bonus
The president of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Marcel Fratzscher, has criticized the German government’s energy price relief measures as “in some respects economically inefficient and socially unbalanced.” In a guest article for the “Fuldaer Zeitung” (Monday edition), he proposed instead a one-time energy cost allowance of €300 for all adults – linked
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Erich Jäger GmbH insolvent – around 1000 jobs at automotive supplier affected
Erich Jäger GmbH, based in Friedberg, filed for insolvency at the Friedberg District Court on April 14, 2026. The company, an automotive and industrial supplier with over 90 years of history and approximately 1,000 employees worldwide, including about 200 in Germany, is affected. The company produces connector systems for vehicles and agricultural machinery. The insolvency
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Former President of the Federal Constitutional Court accuses Merz of “refusing to govern”
Criticism of the Merz government is intensifying, and it is now coming from the highest court. In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, former President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Hans-Jürgen Papier, accuses the federal government of shortcomings in its governance. He even speaks of “a refusal to govern.” The criticism stems from key decisions
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Expert report on Tesla fire: Father and children died because the doors could not be opened
In Schwerte, North Rhine-Westphalia, a 43-year-old father and two children died in a burning Tesla in September 2025 after the car left the road and crashed into a tree following an alleged illegal overtaking maneuver by a 57-year-old Passat driver. The expert report now available identifies the malfunctioning doors and windows as a key risk
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Plastic waste becomes fuel – researchers develop process at temperatures below 200 degrees
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA, a research team has presented a process that converts polyethylene plastic waste into fuel at temperatures below 200 degrees Celsius. The study, published in the “Journal of the American Chemical Society,” utilizes a molten salt solution containing aluminum chloride as the reaction environment. The starting point is
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The German Bundestag creates the legal basis for the electric car bonus
Consumers will be able to apply for the German government’s electric vehicle subsidy retroactively to the beginning of the year – likely starting in May. The Bundestag passed the “Act to Promote Climate-Neutral Mobility,” providing the legal basis for this on Friday. Depending on the car model and income, the subsidy can range from €1,500
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Test facility for mini nuclear reactors – USA launches DOME in Idaho
A new test facility for mini nuclear reactors, DOME, has gone into operation in the US state of Idaho. For the first time, the US has created a place where developers can test mini nuclear reactors under real-world conditions. This is crucial for regulatory approvals, as authorities require reliable data on performance, safety, and operational
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EU increases LNG imports from Russia – Eni CEO calls for postponement of sanctions
The European Union is currently buying more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia, even though it actually wants to reduce its dependence. This is triggered by the tense situation on the global market, while new risks to key LNG routes are increasing. The Strait of Hormuz, in particular, is considered a critical factor because a
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Russia sells LNG to new markets at a 40% discount and with obscured origin
Russia is pushing sanctioned liquefied natural gas (LNG) into new markets at discounts of up to 40 percent. This is driven by the tense situation on the global market during the Iran-Iraq War, as the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of Qatari deliveries have cut off roughly one-fifth of the
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Electric cars: Car manufacturers suffer €60 billion in losses due to ideological mismanagement
According to experts, the global automotive industry is facing a “potentially existential crisis,” as losses in the electric vehicle segment are projected to reach approximately €60 billion in 2024. Corporations such as Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors have had to make substantial write-downs. The cause is the significantly weaker demand for electric vehicles. Many customers
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Plans for health insurance reform are receiving mixed reactions
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken’s (CDU) plans for a reform of statutory health insurance have met with mixed reactions. Criticism came from the opposition, but also from her coalition partner, the SPD. The planned increase in the so-called contribution assessment ceiling sparked particular debate on Friday. Statutory health insurance (GKV) is deeply in the red:
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Black Hawk procurement – Court of Auditors cites costly mistakes and years of delays
In 2026, the Austrian Court of Audit uncovered serious deficiencies in the procurement and modernization of Black Hawk helicopters for the Austrian Armed Forces. The audit examined a project spanning 2019 to 2024, encompassing nine modernized helicopters and three additional used aircraft. The criticism stemmed from errors in the tendering process, weak project management, and
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Australia’s energy transition is becoming a trillion-dollar risk for electricity customers and the economy
In Australia, the debate over the expansion of wind power, solar parks, and new power lines intensified significantly on April 7, 2026. New calculations for New South Wales and Victoria have drastically increased the project’s costs. This is due to more reliable data from ongoing grid projects. At the same time, policymakers are sticking to