Cologne
most populous city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 9h ago
Deutsche Bahn bans drinking alcohol at about 5,700 stations from 15 October
Drinking alcohol becomes banned across Deutsche Bahn stations and platforms from 15 October, while restaurants and sealed drinks in luggage stay exempt. The company says the move is meant to make stations safer and cleaner after assaults on rail staff.
- 11h ago
Yann Sommer announces separation from wife Alina after seven years of marriage
The former Bayern Munich goalkeeper said on Instagram that he and Alina decided early in 2026 to part ways, one day after Club Brugge beat Inter Milan. The couple has two daughters and gave no reasons for the split.
- yesterday
Sebastian Lege leaves ZDF for RTL, accusing broadcaster of blocking new formats
ZDF says the contract of TV chef Sebastian Lege ends on 31 December 2026 at his own request, while he accuses the broadcaster of rejecting his ideas. From 2027 he works exclusively for the RTL Group.
- 2d ago
Trade Republic offers free state-subsidised old-age pension depot ahead of 2027 launch
Trade Republic has priced a zero-cost variant of Germany's state-subsidised Altersvorsorgedepot, pushing the fee war with banks and neobrokers ahead of the January 2027 start.
- 2d ago
German police probe two teenagers after robot allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl in Cologne
Police in Cologne seized a robot after it allegedly approached a 16-year-old girl from behind and made thrusting motions against her. The robot's owner, 16, and a 19-year-old companion are suspected of livestreaming the incident.
- 5d ago
French astronaut Sophie Adenot returns to Earth after record 235 days in orbit
Two days after splashing down off California, French astronaut Sophie Adenot made her first public appearance in Cologne, where she described her return as a mix of emotions and physical challenges.
- 6d ago
Convicted art forger Beltracchi seeks return of his fake painting at top court
Germany's Federal Court of Justice heard Wolfgang Beltracchi's claim on Friday, 9 October, over a 2006 sale of a painting he forged. A ruling is due on 15 January.
- 6d ago
Ryanair cuts 700,000 German winter seats and closes its Berlin base
Ryanair will offer about 700,000 fewer seats in Germany in its 2026/27 winter schedule, a 10% drop. Its seven-aircraft base at Berlin Brandenburg airport closes on 24 October.
- 6d ago
Cologne court strikes down order forcing Deutsche Bahn to free rail capacity for Italo
The Cologne Administrative Court ruled on Thursday that a Bundesnetzagentur order on competitor capacity is unlawful, and the decision cannot be appealed. The order had been meant to ease Italo's planned entry into German long-distance rail in 2028.
- Oct 7
Laura Wontorra and Riccardo Basile announce pregnancy, expecting first child in spring 2027
German sports television presenters Laura Wontorra and Riccardo Basile announced on Instagram that they are expecting their first child, with the birth expected in spring 2027.
- Oct 7
Japan extradites suspected Russian Qilin ransomware developer to Germany
A 28-year-old Russian national accused of developing ransomware for the Qilin group has been extradited from Tokyo to Germany following a months-long undercover operation by North Rhine-Westphalia police.
- Oct 7
Four astronauts land in the Pacific after eight months aboard ISS, delayed three weeks
Sophie Adenot and three crewmates splashed down off California on 8 October after more than 27 hours of return travel. Their homecoming came about three weeks late, because the capsule bringing their replacements needed repairs before launch.
- Oct 6
German conscientious objection filings reach 12,102 following new military service law
Applications for conscientious objection in Germany reached 12,102 from January to August 2026, doubling since June as authorities prepare mandatory muster for men born in 2008.
- Oct 4
NASA delays Crew-12 space station departure to 7 October due to Pacific weather conditions
NASA postponed the return of the Crew-12 mission from the International Space Station to Wednesday at the earliest after unfavorable sea conditions off California delayed undocking.
- Oct 3
Grasshopper appoints Olaf Janssen as head coach following Peter Zeidler dismissal
Grasshopper Club Zürich has named German manager Olaf Janssen as head coach on a contract until the end of the season, replacing Peter Zeidler after a tenth-place start in the Swiss Super League.
- Oct 2
Germany selects five new Excellence universities and consortia for 2027 funding
Three universities and two regional alliances in Germany won funding of up to 28 million euros annually starting in January 2027 following a three-year review in Bonn.
- Oct 2
Galeria files fourth insolvency in six years as co-owner Bernd Beetz criticizes management
Galeria filed for insolvency on 2 October 2026 at the Düsseldorf district court, putting 83 department stores and 12,000 jobs at risk as co-owner Bernd Beetz criticized management for slow operational changes.
- Sep 30
Rhine water levels drop into negative values, disrupting barge transport and industry
Water gauges across several Rhine checkpoints have dropped below zero, stranding a cargo ship in Düsseldorf and forcing chemical producers to reroute freight to road and rail.
- Sep 30
Rehearsals and stage conversion begin for Moulin Rouge musical in Hamburg
Cast rehearsals and stage conversion work are underway at the Theater im Großmarkt in Hamburg as the musical Moulin Rouge prepares for its late October debut.
- Sep 29
EPPO raids across 19 countries dismantle 300 million euro refurbished phone fraud ring
European authorities coordinated by the EPPO searched over 160 locations and arrested seven suspects accused of selling one million repackaged used phones as new products.
