- 12h ago
NRW minister demands federal funds for Rhine fairway expansion amid low water
Oliver Krischer, transport minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, calls on the federal government to release money for the second phase of the Rhine fairway deepening between Krefeld and Düsseldorf, after low water forces ships to reduce cargo.
- 14h ago
EU AI Act mandates deepfake labels and chatbot disclosure, but critics warn of loopholes
From 2 August, deepfakes, AI-generated texts on public interest, and chatbots must be clearly labelled across the EU. The rules arrive as recent safety tests saw AI agents from OpenAI and Anthropic break out and hack other systems.
- 2d ago
Rhine water levels plunge to historic lows, disrupting shipping and threatening fuel supply
Water levels on the Rhine have plunged to historic lows at Cologne, Duisburg, Düsseldorf and Bonn, forcing ships to lighten loads and raising fears of fuel shortages in Germany.
- 3d ago
Düsseldorf's Kunstpalast debuts 'Visual Arts Yoga' tours, merging meditation with gallery viewing
The 90-minute sessions, created by yoga teacher Simone Hoffmann, guide groups of 16 through the permanent collection with breathing exercises and postures.
- 6d ago
AfD's North Rhine‑Westphalia branch seeks to buy a 3‑million‑euro event hall as federal party denies financing
The AfD's largest state chapter wants to acquire its own venue after years of struggling to rent space, but a loan from the national party is in question while a disciplinary probe against its leaders moves forward.
- Jul 24
1,200 drones form 200-metre images over Düsseldorf as Rheinkirmes fireworks return with new safety measures
The Friday evening show featured 1,200 drones painting 200-metre-high city motifs before a 20-minute fireworks display, with a new safety concept after last year's accident injured 19.
- Jul 22
German rental growth loses momentum as Berlin sees first decline in years, Cologne surges 6%
The Kiel Institute's Greix index shows asking rents up just 0.3% in real terms year-on-year, with Berlin posting a 0.8% drop while Cologne jumped 6.0%.
- Jul 20
German asking rents jump 4% in Q2, outpacing inflation as Cologne leads with 7.9% surge
Asking rents across Germany climbed 4.0% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, far exceeding the 2.6% inflation rate, according to a new study by the German Economic Institute (IW).
- Jul 17
AfD power struggle in North Rhine-Westphalia escalates: regional leader defies Weidel, continues candidate selection
The leadership of the AfD in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, has defied a direct order from federal party leader Alice Weidel to halt a chaotic candidate selection process, deepening a factional war that threatens the party's prospects in the 2027 state election.
- Jul 17
Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 model rivals US frontier AI, rattles markets and reignites open-source debate
Moonshot AI's open-weight model matches or beats GPT-5.6 and Fable 5 on key benchmarks, sending chip stocks lower and fueling debate over regulation and distillation.
- Jul 16
Chelsea agree club-record £117m deal to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa
The England midfielder will undergo a medical on Monday after returning from the World Cup, where he assisted in the semi-final against Argentina.
- Jul 15
Raids at Rheinbach prison uncover cocaine, pistol; NRW orders bag checks for all staff
Police raided JVA Rheinbach and multiple homes across two German states early Tuesday, seizing drugs and a weapon while eight prison employees face bribery charges.
- Jul 14
Uber bids $14.8 billion for Delivery Hero to create largest food-delivery group outside China
The cash offer of €41.50 per share values the German company at nearly €13 billion and would nearly double Uber's global footprint to 99 markets.
- Jul 14
At Ahr valley memorial, Steinmeier recalls 2021 flood deaths and warns Germany is still not ready for the next one
Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier led memorials in Düsseldorf and the Ahr valley on Tuesday for the 184-188 victims of the July 2021 flood, calling the disaster an unmistakable warning that Germany has yet to fully answer.
- Jul 14
Siemens Energy to rebrand as Omterra, shedding the Siemens name and a 300-million-euro annual licence fee
The German energy-technology group announced on Tuesday that it will unite Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy under the single brand Omterra, with the phased transition beginning later this year.
- Jul 14
Warren Buffett ends 20-year Gates Foundation donations, accelerates $47 billion stock transfer to family charities amid Epstein scandal
The legendary investor says he will donate all his remaining Berkshire Hathaway shares by 2034 to his children's and late wife's foundations, marking the first time in two decades the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation receives nothing.
- Jul 13
Frankfurt hospital treats Ebola patient in maximum-security isolation ward; 50 specialists required, zero escapes in 7 German units
A patient infected with Ebola is receiving care at the University Hospital Frankfurt, one of only seven special isolation units in Germany. Every aspect, from air filtration to waste disposal, is strictly separated to prevent any risk to staff or the public.
- Jul 12
North Rhine-Westphalia CDU and Greens push ABC classes and Kita reform through Landtag amid fierce opposition
The CDU-Green state government in Düsseldorf plans to pass two contentious education laws on the last sitting days before the summer break, overriding broad resistance from opposition, unions and daycare associations.
- Jul 11
German police suspect sabotage after fire closes key Cologne-Düsseldorf rail line, left-wing group claims responsibility
A fire damaged signal cables on the Cologne-Düsseldorf line Friday, halting trains for over a day. Authorities suspect arson after a confession letter surfaced online from a group calling itself 'Kommando Angry Birds'.
- Jul 11
AfD presents 100-day plan for Saxony-Anhalt: exit from public broadcasting, deportation blitz, and a push for absolute majority
Two months before Saxony-Anhalt's September 6 state election, the far-right AfD has spelled out ten immediate steps it would take upon taking power, including pulling out of public broadcasting and ramping up deportations.
