Articles by Mike Dorning, Brian Parkin and Ainslie Chandler

Coronavirus Safety: U.S. Behind Global Rivals in Protecting Meat Plant Workers

The U.S. government is falling behind global rivals when it comes to protecting meatpacking workers from Covid-19 infections, even though the nation’s plants were among the first to confront rampant cases across factories. In Germany, the government is ready to …

German Economy Relies on Rhine River – But Levels Are Low Without April Rainfall

Germany’s spring showers haven’t materialized this year, and that’s drying out the country’s most important river, prompting concerns that key industrial goods might have trouble making it to their destination. Typically one of the wettest months, Europe’s biggest economy has …

Sweltering Heatwave in Germany Sparks Wildfires, Forces Speed Cut on Autobahn

A blistering heatwave prompted Germany to impose speed restrictions on usually limit-free stretches of its high-speed motorways Wednesday, the latest sign of extreme weather events ruffling Europe’s largest economy. State authorities are reducing speeds to as low as 100 kilometers …

Climate Change, Shrinking Glaciers Threaten Rhine River Shipping Access

Kevin Kilps’s car ferry churns the waters of Germany’s Rhine river as he steers toward the bank opposite Kaub, a scenic village just south of the rocky outcropping named after the legendary siren Lorelei. It’s typically a busy stretch of …

Germany’s Talanx Invests in Renewable Energy to Counter Low Interest Rates

Talanx AG, the German insurance company buying into its first offshore wind farm, said it’s likely to purchase more renewable-energy assets. The insurer sees renewables as offering “long-term, bigger yields than from assets such as state bonds,” Chief Financial Officer …

German Insurers Weigh Funding to Plug Merkel Infrastructure Gap

Germany’s insurers said they may back a government call to invest in infrastructure to help cover an annual €7 billion ($9.23 billion) taxpayer shortfall to repair roads and bridges. The GDV, the Berlin-based group that represents insurers including Allianz SE, …

German Insurers Say Schaeuble Amendment Will Scare off Investors

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has deflected complaints from insurers worried that his revamp of how they meet obligations to policy holders will scare off investors, a ministry document released today shows. Schaeuble’s ministry is preparing a bill to secure …