German Agricultural Producer Prices Fall 8.3 % in December 2025 After 5.7 % Drop in November and 1.7 % in October
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced that producer prices for agricultural products in December 2025 were 8.3 percent lower than in December 2024. In the two preceding months, the year‑on‑year change had been -5.7 percent in November and -1.7 percent in October, and compared with November the December price level fell 1.6 percent. Plant‑based products fell by…
February 13, 2026
Spahn Calls for Sharp Increase in Retirement Age as Germany Faces Aging Workforce
Jens Spahn, the CDU’s parliamentary group leader, says the retirement age is expected to rise sharply. “If you reach 100, you can’t simply stop working in your mid‑60s” he told newspapers of the Funke Media Group. He notes that about every second newborn girl in Germany is likely to live to 100 years. According to Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis),…
A survey conducted by the polling firm YouGov for insurer AXA reveals that many homes in Germany are evidently poorly prepared for extreme weather events, even as global warming is expected to increase flooding. The study, which interviewed 2,005 people nationwide-of whom 991 were property owners-shows that most basements still have open window grilles. Only about a third of…
February 13, 2026
German Environmental Group Files Enforcement Petition to Safeguard Groundwater
The German Environment Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DUH) has filed an enforcement action against the federal government to compel the implementation of effective measures for groundwater protection, the organisation announced on Friday. A judgment from the Federal Administrative Court, which became final in October 2025, obliges the government to establish a robust action…
February 13, 2026
Greens Slam Merz’s EU Carbon Trade Overhaul Plans Warn of Market Weakening
Franziska Brantner, co‑chair of the Greens, rejected Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to overhaul the EU’s existing CO₂‑emission trading system and, if necessary, postpone the next steps due to the strained economic situation. Speaking on RTL’s “Frühstart” and ntv on Thursday, she said that Germany must preserve and renew its prosperity…
February 13, 2026
Greens Block Merz’s EU CO2 Trading Revamp, Warn of Market Weakening
Franziska Brantner, co‑chair of the Green Party, rejected Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) saying that the proposal to overhaul the EU’s existing CO₂‑emissions trading system-and postponing the next steps if the economy warrants-would be a mistake. In an interview on RTL’s “Frühstart” and ntv she said the goal must be to preserve and renew prosperity…
February 13, 2026
Olympic Committee Bans Ukrainian Skeletoner Vladylsav Heraskevych From 2026 Winter Games Over Memorial Helmet
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revoked the accreditation of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, preventing him from competing at the Thursday start. The decision was based on the fact that the helmet Heraskevych wished to wear did not comply with IOC guidelines on athlete expression. The helmet would have…
February 13, 2026
IOC Strips Ukrainian Skeleton Racer of 2026 Accredit Over Memorial Jersey
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revoked the accreditation of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladylsav Heraskevych for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Consequently, he will not be able to start in the event on Thursday. The IOC said the decision was based on a helmet that Heraskevych wanted to wear, which did not meet the Committee’s guidelines for athletes’…
February 13, 2026
IOC Bars Ukrainian Skeletoner Vladyslav Heraskevych Over Commemorative Helmet
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladylsav Heraskevych’s accreditation for the 2026 Winter Olympics, meaning he will not be able to compete on Thursday. The IOC said the helmet Heraskevych wanted to wear did not conform to its policy on athlete expression. The helmet would have displayed portraits of Ukrainian sportsmen who…
February 13, 2026
IOC Expels Ukrainian Skeletoner Vladylsav Heraskevych From Olympic Accreditations After Commemorative Helmet
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked the accreditation of Ukrainian skeleton rider Vladylsav Heraskevych for the 2026 Winter Olympics, meaning he will not be able to compete on Thursday. The IOC said the helmet that Heraskevych wanted to wear did not meet its rules on athlete expression. The helmet would display portraits of Ukrainian athletes who were killed in…
February 13, 2026
KAS Chair Kramp‑Karrenbauer Claims Merz Campaign Left No Trace as Stipulated Relationship Remains Good
The chairwoman of the Konrad‑Adenauer‑Stiftung (KAS), Annegret Kramp‑Karrenbauer, denies that her successful campaign against Chancellor‑candidate Friedrich Merz has left any lasting mark. She told “Tagesspiegel” that she and the Chancellor have exchanged several notes since then and are on good terms. “We maintain a healthy relationship, just as it should…
February 13, 2026
IOC Bans Ukrainian Skeleton Racer for Memorial Helmet, Citing Rule Violation at 2026 Winter Games
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladylsav Heraskevych’s accreditation for the 2026 Winter Olympics, meaning he will not be able to start on Thursday. The IOC said it made this decision because the helmet Heraskevych intended to wear did not meet the committee’s rules on athlete expression. The helmet would show…
