Düsseldorf
capital city of the German federated state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Photo: Kai Pilger, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 11h ago
NRW government opposes BASF takeover bid for Evonik, RAG foundation stays silent
Economy minister Mona Neubaur told the state parliament on Wednesday, 14 October, that the NRW government is against the takeover. The RAG foundation, which holds about 44 percent of Evonik, has not yet set out its position.
- 2d ago
Haftbefehl cancels concerts as brother says rapper is under medical supervision
Brother Cem Anhan says the rapper, 40, is under medical supervision and must focus on his health. Bild reports he was in a Swiss clinic after using up to 30 grams of cocaine, a claim not independently confirmed.
- 2d ago
Galeria staff to receive insolvency pay after fourth insolvency in six years
Germany's Federal Employment Agency approved insolvency benefit on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, covering wages while formal insolvency proceedings for the department store chain are still pending.
- 2d ago
Crédit Agricole agrees to buy German bank IKB from Lone Star, closing in 2027
Crédit Agricole has agreed to acquire 100% of IKB Deutsche Industriebank from Lone Star Funds, ending the Texan fund's 18-year ownership. The price is undisclosed, and completion is expected in the second quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
- 2d ago
Deutsche Bahn's December timetable adds faster Hamburg to Munich trains, but keeps fares stable
The new timetable takes effect on 13 December 2026, and tickets go on sale from Wednesday, 14 October. Hamburg to Munich ICE-Sprinters will run three times daily in each direction, cutting 20 minutes from the journey.
- 6d ago
Deutsche Bahn cuts planned rail corridor renovations to 13 through 2031
Only 13 of 21 planned corridor renovations will go ahead between 2027 and 2031, the transport ministry and Deutsche Bahn said on Friday. The completion date for the full programme is now open, and northwest routes, Bremen-Hamburg and the German side of the Berlin-Szczecin line face later works.
- 6d ago
Evonik rebuffs BASF takeover approach as RAG foundation holds the final word
Evonik has turned down BASF's approach, but the decision rests with the RAG foundation, which holds 44% of Evonik's shares. Trade union IG BCE has raised doubts about the foundation's resolve.
- 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
Galeria employees may receive insolvency wages despite recent 2024 restructuring
Germany's Federal Employment Agency is evaluating insolvency wage claims for Galeria staff after an operating company transfer created a legal pathway to state-backed wage support.
- Oct 6
Hendrik Wüst leads Markus Söder in poll on potential successors to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
A Forsa survey shows 47% of familiar respondents favor Hendrik Wüst as chancellor over Markus Söder at 26%, as Friedrich Merz records 11% approval.
- Oct 6
German court dismisses victims' relatives lawsuit over 2015 Germanwings crash
The Braunschweig Regional Court has dismissed a civil damages lawsuit filed by 30 relatives of Germanwings Flight 9525 victims against the Federal Republic of Germany, ruling that state liability is secondary to airline claims.
- Oct 4
German Environment Minister urges states to direct infrastructure funds into water management
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider called on German states to invest part of a 100 billion euro federal infrastructure fund into water retention systems following low river levels on the Rhine and Danube.
- Oct 3
Stranded freighter carrying Mercedes vans leaves Düsseldorf after five days
A 135-meter cargo ship carrying Mercedes-Benz vans has navigated out of Düsseldorf harbor toward Rotterdam after being stuck on a sandbank for five days during low river levels.
- Oct 2
Düsseldorf prosecutors seek up to 13 years in prison in €11M 'Rich Kids' drug trial
Public prosecutors in Düsseldorf requested prison sentences of up to 13 years for six defendants from wealthy Rhineland backgrounds accused of running an 11 million euro narcotics syndicate.
- Oct 2
Muse expands European arena tour to January 2027 with new dates in Lisbon, France, and Spain
British rock band Muse has added eight arena concerts in January 2027 to their European schedule, booking performances in Lisbon, Bordeaux, Lyon, Madrid, and Valencia.
- 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.
- Oct 2
Deutsche Bahn closes Berlin-Hannover railway for 14-month overhaul, extending travel times by 80 minutes
Deutsche Bahn took the busy east-west rail line between Berlin and Hannover out of service on 2 October 2026. Long-distance trains are diverted through Braunschweig and Magdeburg, while regional passengers face bus replacement services.
- Oct 1
German federal court invalidates Amazon Prime price increases over transparency violations
Germany's Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe ruled that Amazon's contract clauses for raising Prime fees violate transparency rules, forcing a temporary price rollback for long-term members.
- Oct 1
Collien Fernandes testifies on digital violence and deepfakes before NRW Landtag committee
Actress Collien Fernandes and journalist Georgine Kellermann appear as expert witnesses before lawmakers in Düsseldorf on Thursday to address sexualised deepfakes and the legal accountability of online platforms.
- Oct 1
Jan Böhmermann explains decision to end ZDF Magazin Royale in December 2026
German satirist Jan Böhmermann announced that his late-night satire format ZDF Magazin Royale will conclude on 18 December 2026, describing the move as a deliberate personal choice to refresh his television work.
