News • Table.Briefings

News | Military service

April 8th, 2026

Military Service: Ministry of Defense to allow men of military age to take long trips abroad

An exemption from the permit requirement could be issued by administrative regulation as early as this week.

By Redaktion Table

News | Defense industry

April 8th, 2026

DIHK Special Survey: Defense companies have better business prospects

For many companies, the defense industry is becoming a stable business area. While defense contractors and suppliers have positive expectations for the coming twelve months, other sectors are significantly more pessimistic.

By Lisa-Martina Klein

News | German Armed Forces Association

April 8th, 2026

Chair of the Bundeswehr Association calls for mandatory reserve duty

The head of the German Armed Forces Association wants to abolish the "double voluntarism" principle and has received support for this from the Union.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

News | Iran

April 8th, 2026

Last-minute deal: US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire

The United States and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, effective immediately. Further talks are due to take place in Islamabad on Friday.

By Lisa-Martina Klein

Symbolbild zum Thema digitaler Fingerabdruck, Cybercrime, Identitätsprüfung.

News | Digital omnibus

April 8th, 2026

Digital omnibus: France calls for stricter data protection

In the digital omnibus package, France is pushing for stricter data protection rules, aiming to preserve rather than modernize the nature of the GDPR. Poland and Romania are calling for more practical solutions for businesses.

By Corinna Visser

Bau einer Gaspipeline quer durch Norddeutschland für den Transport von Methangas zu einer Verteilstation. Die großen und schweren Stahlrohre werden zunächst jeweils für ein Teilstück zusammengeschweißt und anschliessend mit mehreren starken Kränen in den vorher ausgehobenen Trasengraben gehievt. Symbolfoto.

News | Natural gas

April 8th, 2026

Energy prices: BMWE considers extending the operation of gas networks

In light of the tensions in the Persian Gulf, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs is considering extending the operating hours of Germany’s gas networks. A leaked document evaluates various options for the gas market.

By Manuel Berkel

News | Energy policy

April 8th, 2026

Energy dependence: The US and Russia are profiting from Europe’s needs

Europe’s dependence on energy imports is generating huge profits for the US and Russia. In early 2026, both countries exported more liquefied natural gas to Europe than ever before.

By Viktor Funk

News | CO₂ price

April 8th, 2026

CBAM: Commission sets price for the first time

The European Commission has set the price for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at €75.36 for the first quarter. Emissions from imported goods such as steel and aluminum have been subject to this tax since the start of this year.

By Lukas Knigge

The trial for the masks case begins at the Supreme Court The businessman Víctor de Aldama on his arrival at the Supreme Court, on April 7, 2026, in Madrid Spain The former minister José Luis Ábalos, his former advisor Koldo García and the businessman Víctor de Aldama sit from today in the dock of the Supreme Court for alleged irregularities in the contracts of masks awarded from the Ministry of Transport during the pandemic Both Ábalos and Koldo are in provisional detention since last November 27 and plead not guilty, assuring in their defense briefs that they did not commit any crime, however, Anticorruption alleges that Ábalos, Koldo and Aldama agreed to take advantage of the position of the then minister since June 2018 to favor , in ex Copyright: xEduardoxParrax 7419353

News

April 8th, 2026

Spain: First major corruption case of the Sánchez era goes to trial

The first major corruption case under Pedro Sánchez’s tenure has gone to court. The trial of former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, once a close confidant of Sánchez, began on Tuesday. The case involves several ministries and government agencies.

By Isabel Cuesta

News | Iran

April 7th, 2026

Strait of Hormuz: China and Russia block UN resolution

China and Russia used their vetoes in the UN Security Council to block a resolution on safeguarding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

By Amelie Richter