Berlin
- 4h ago
Deutsche Bahn CEO slams management's 'organized irresponsibility' as punctuality languishes at 58.7%
Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla says the state-owned railway's past performance culture was inadequate, calling it 'organized irresponsibility,' as she pushes a restructuring to improve punctuality, which hit just 58.7% in the first half of 2026.
- 5h ago
Berlin CSD attack: Union demands swift security law reforms, police union urges caution
One week after an Islamist attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day killed a Polish woman and injured 31, the CDU/CSU Union is pressing for rapid legislative changes, while the police union warns against hasty measures.
- 6h ago
Five men injured in two Berlin knife attacks within 24 hours, one critically
Two separate knife attacks in Berlin within 24 hours left five men injured, one critically, as police launched investigations into the overnight violence.
- 12h ago
Autumn grass mites: tiny arachnids cause severe itching up to two weeks, German health officials advise
The larvae of autumn grass mites, barely visible at 0.25 mm, secrete a fluid that dissolves skin, causing delayed itching that can last up to two weeks, according to German health experts.
- 2d ago
Deutsche Bahn demands ZDF pull Hayali documentary after two factual corrections, citing skewed portrayal
The state-owned railway escalated a legal fight over the film 'Am Puls mit Dunja Hayali,' arguing that even after edits the report remains one-sided and omits billions in digitalisation investment.
- 2d ago
Wim Wenders cuts nude scene from 'Falsche Bewegung' and apologizes to Nastassja Kinski after 15-year dispute
Director Wim Wenders permanently removed a controversial nude scene from his 1975 film 'Falsche Bewegung' and apologized to actress Nastassja Kinski, who was 13 when it was shot. A joint statement ended the 15-year conflict and expressed hope to restore their friendship.
- 3d ago
From panting foxes to dung-smeared storks: How wildlife copes with extreme heat
As extreme heat grips Europe, wild animals from bats to storks deploy an array of physiological and behavioral tricks to stay cool, while some species face lethal consequences.
- 3d ago
Germany records nearly 10,000 heat-related deaths in 2026, surpassing any full year since 2016
The Robert Koch Institute estimates 9,800 heat-related deaths by 19 July, with over 5,000 during June's 40°C heatwave. Elderly most affected; calls grow for a national heat protection strategy.
- 3d ago
Deutsche Bahn returns to profit with €147 million half-year surplus, but punctuality drops to 59%
Germany’s state-owned railway posted a net profit of €147 million in the first half of 2026, breaking a seven-year loss streak, while long-distance on-time arrivals fell to 59 percent amid record construction and extreme weather.
- 4d ago
Berlin SPD launches campaign with rent cap and cleanliness slogans for September election
Lead candidate Steffen Krach presented the Berlin SPD's election campaign on 29 July, unveiling 70,000 posters with slogans targeting affordable housing, public cleanliness, and family support ahead of the 20 September state vote.
- 4d ago
Brandenburg's environment minister calls for higher water prices as Spree reaches historic lows
Minister Hanka Mittelstädt says water is too cheap while most Brandenburg rivers run at low water, groundwater-fed lakes hit all-time lows, and the Spree faces a long-term supply threat from the 2028 coal phase-out.
- 5d ago
Two dead from Vibrio infections in Germany as Baltic Sea season starts early
Germany's Robert Koch Institute reports 17 domestically acquired Vibrio infections this year, with two fatalities among elderly patients, as warm coastal waters fuel an early start to the bacterial season.
- 5d ago
Berlin mayor proposes state-supervised Islamic education to prevent radicalization after deadly attack
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner calls for state-supervised Islamic religious education in schools, framing it as a shield against radicalization days after a fatal Islamist attack in the capital.
- 5d ago
Germany's cabinet to approve energy reform: Reiche pushes grid synchronization and cost cuts
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche's plan to tie renewable expansion to grid capacity and slash redispatch costs goes to cabinet today, with the EU's state aid approval for the current system expiring at year's end.
- 5d ago
Thousands gather at Amsterdam's Homomonument to mourn Berlin Pride attack, defiantly vowing visibility
A vigil at the Homomonument on Tuesday evening honored the Polish woman killed and 29 people injured when a van plowed into Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade on Saturday, as speakers urged the queer community to remain visible during the ongoing WorldPride in Amsterdam.
- 5d ago
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal rejects recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other EU countries
The Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw has struck down a regulation that would have required civil registries to record same-sex marriages performed abroad, defying a 2025 EU court ruling and setting up a legal confrontation between Polish and European law.
- 5d ago
Germany's online vacation rental bookings hit record 68.3 million overnight stays in 2025, driven by domestic demand
Travellers booked 68.3 million nights through Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia in 2025, a 13% jump from last year and more than 83% above pre-pandemic levels. Domestic demand drove the boom, while Berlin drew two-thirds of its guests from abroad.
- 5d ago
Berlin Pride attacker was under police surveillance an hour before the rampage, had been freed in May despite terror risk
Abdul Ballout, 21, killed a 65-year-old Polish woman and injured 29 others at Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade on Saturday night. Security services had assessed him as high-risk but reduced surveillance and did not inform the court that the Joint Counter-Terrorism Center believed he could carry out an attack.
- 6d ago
Berlin Pride van attack: Second suspect freed, Polish woman named as victim
German federal prosecutors released a second suspect detained after the July 25 van attack at Berlin's Pride celebrations, as authorities confirmed the victim was a 65-year-old Polish woman.
- 6d ago
Berlin Pride attacker was under police surveillance; Polish woman dead, 31 injured
On Saturday evening, a van rammed into Berlin's Pride parade, killing a 65-year-old Polish woman and injuring 31. The suspect, a known Islamist under police surveillance, attacked with a machete and was shot dead by police the next day.
