- 2d ago
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.
- 2d ago
Uber launches €13 billion takeover of Delivery Hero, creating world's largest food delivery outside China
The US ride-hailing giant offers €41.50 per share in cash, valuing the Berlin-based company at nearly €13 billion, and plans to sell 14 overlapping markets to SSW Partners for €1.4 billion to ease antitrust concerns.
- 2d ago
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.
- 2d ago
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.
- 2d ago
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.
- 4d ago
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.
- 4d ago
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.
- 5d ago
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'.
- 5d ago
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.
- 6d ago
BMW global deliveries fall 4.9% in Q2 as China sales crash 30% to 117,815 units
BMW Group delivered 590,962 vehicles in the second quarter, a 4.9% decline year-on-year, as a prolonged property crisis in China crushed demand for luxury cars. Europe and the US grew, but not enough to offset the 30% slump in the group's biggest market.
- Jul 10
France beats Morocco 2-0, police in Brussels and Dutch cities brace for unrest after quarterfinal
France advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco, but the quarterfinal triggered a heavy police response in Brussels and scattered clashes in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.
- Jul 9
Volkswagen CEO reveals up to 100,000 job cuts and four plant closures as costs run 20% above rivals
Oliver Blume confirms a second wave of layoffs may be needed, adding to 50,000 positions already agreed, in a leaked internal interview that puts four German plants at risk.
- Jul 8
NRW and the Netherlands double flood protection spending, expand cross-border cooperation five years after deadly 2021 floods
Five years after floods killed over 180 people in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands are pooling resources, doubling annual budgets, and deploying AI to prevent a repeat.
- Jul 8
UniCredit nears majority at Commerzbank with 49.65% voting stake, Commerzbank signals openness to dialogue
UniCredit's tender offer for Commerzbank expired with acceptances for 17.6% of shares, lifting its direct stake to 44.37% and, with options, to 47.59% of capital, equivalent to 49.65% of voting rights. Commerzbank says it remains open to constructive dialogue but accuses the Italian bank of intransparency.
- Jul 7
Germany to build strategic gas reserve, consumers face new levy to cover €1.5 billion cost
The German government is set to approve a strategic gas reserve of 24 terawatt hours in mid-August, financed by a new levy on gas consumers. The reserve aims to protect against sabotage and import outages.
- Jul 6
German retail lobby pushes for full Sunday trading after government eases bakery and library hours
The Bundestag's economic committee and trade associations are calling for a sweeping liberalisation of Sunday shop opening hours, days after the government announced longer Sunday hours for bakeries and libraries from 2027.
- Jul 4
NRW's new police commissioner seeks retired officers to staff oversight office before October launch
Ursula Mecklenbrauck, the incoming police commissioner of North Rhine-Westphalia, is advertising for two part-time retired officers to handle citizen complaints and legal monitoring, citing quick availability and no strain on active forces.
- Jul 3
Tens of thousands protest at Mercedes-Benz across Germany against plans to extend working hours without pay
More than 33,000 Mercedes-Benz employees across Germany walked out in protest on Friday against management plans to raise the working week from 35 to 40 hours without extra pay and to cut other benefits.
- Jul 1
Meta builds cloud business to sell spare AI computing capacity, shares jump 10%
Meta is developing a cloud unit to sell excess AI computing capacity, Bloomberg reported, putting it in direct competition with AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. Shares climbed as much as 10%, their best intraday gain since January.
- Jul 1
German police raid DFB and city offices over Euro 2024 ticket corruption allegations
Authorities searched the German football federation HQ and host city administrations nationwide on Wednesday, investigating suspected bribery tied to preferential Euro 2024 ticket allocations.
