German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has invited business leaders and unions to a summit addressing the energy price crisis, as reported by Der Spiegel. The meeting, scheduled for Friday at the Finance Ministry, will bring together representatives from major unions and employer groups, including IG Metall and IGBCE, as well as executives from the Federation of German Industries and Confederation...
... of German Employers' Associations. The talks aim to discuss measures to alleviate the burden of rising fuel costs on households and businesses, alongside broader economic and fiscal policy responses being considered by the coalition government. Energy markets have faced significant pressure since the onset of the Iran conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed by Iranian forces. This route typically handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, and recent attacks on oil facilities and tankers have driven prices sharply higher, exacerbating economic challenges in Germany and beyond. Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has issued a warning about a global cyber campaign targeting internet routers. The agency stated that the Russian-linked hacker group APT28, also known as "Fancy Bear," has infiltrated vulnerable routers manufactured by TP-Link. The alleged aim is to gather military, government, and critical infrastructure information, with several thousand devices targeted worldwide and about 30 identified as vulnerable in Germany. Authorities, including the Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have been notifying operators since mid-March, with some devices replaced or secured. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that men of military age will not require approval for extended stays abroad, clarifying that a regulation to suspend this requirement will be issued this week. This follows criticism of a provision in Germany's new military service law, which suggested that men aged 17 to 45 would need permission for stays longer than three months. Pistorius emphasized that procedures must remain simple and practical in peacetime, with no approval process or obligation to report travel, though different rules would apply in a crisis or defense scenario to ensure authorities are aware of available personnel.
Source: www.dw.com