Essen
Photo: Drdavid41, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- 4d ago
Masked attackers free 34-year-old inmate at Essen doctor's visit, still at large
Two masked men overpowered two justice officers escorting the 34-year-old to a doctor in central Essen on Wednesday, 14 October. The inmate and his two helpers fled in different directions, and reports from early Thursday said none had been found.
- 4d 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.
- Oct 9
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.
- Oct 9
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
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
Environmental group report finds diesel still powers 70% of city buses in Germany
A review of municipal transport by Deutsche Umwelthilfe shows that only three of Germany's largest cities had electrified more than half of their bus fleets as of December 2025.
- 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 28
Evonik rejects BASF takeover offer valuing chemical group at 14 billion euros
Essen-based specialty chemicals maker Evonik has dismissed an acquisition proposal of approximately 22.15 euros per share from Ludwigshafen rival BASF, citing an inadequate valuation.
- Sep 26
BASF approaches specialty chemical rival Evonik over potential takeover offer
German chemicals producer BASF has submitted a non-binding takeover approach for competitor Evonik, valuing the specialty chemicals manufacturer at an enterprise value of approximately 12 billion euros including debt.
- Sep 22
Evonik announces 3,200 job cuts worldwide and plans sale of two subsidiaries
German specialty chemicals company Evonik will eliminate 3,200 positions by 2029, with 2,150 cuts in Germany, while preparing to divest subsidiaries Oxeno and Syneqt.
- Sep 15
German Actor Ralf Richter, Star of Das Boot and Bang Boom Bang, Dies at 69
German actor Ralf Richter, known for his breakthrough in Das Boot and his cult portrayal of Kalle Grabowski in Bang Boom Bang, died overnight at age 69 following health complications.
- Aug 23
Rot-Weiss Essen eliminates FC St. Pauli from DFB-Pokal with 2:0 victory
Third-tier Rot-Weiss Essen advanced to the DFB-Pokal second round on Sunday with goals from Marek Janssen and Semir Telalovic, extending FC St. Pauli's winless start to three matches.
- Aug 22
Venomous scorpion stings passenger at Düsseldorf Airport after flight from Greece
A 52-year-old traveler was hospitalized after being stung by an eight-centimeter deathstalker scorpion that had concealed itself inside her jacket during a flight from the Greek island of Kos to Germany.
- Aug 15
18 lawsuits filed after million-euro safe deposit box heist at Gelsenkirchen Sparkasse
Customers of a Gelsenkirchen Sparkasse robbed in a late-2025 heist targeting over 3,000 safe deposit boxes have filed 18 lawsuits seeking full compensation, as a court-appointed expert review and a dispute over insurance payouts continue.
- Aug 6
RWE abandons US offshore wind for $1.22 billion gas pivot deal with Trump
German energy giant RWE will cancel all three of its US offshore wind leases and redirect $1.22 billion into LNG and natural gas projects after concluding no permit path exists under the Trump administration.
- Jul 25
Truck crash damages Essen bridge, disrupts rail links into Saturday
A truck collision in Essen-Frillendorf damaged a railway bridge on Friday, forcing Deutsche Bahn to close the Essen-Gelsenkirchen line and reroute three regional services. The closure was lifted Saturday afternoon, but speed restrictions remain.
- Jul 22
North Rhine-Westphalia summer holidays: free barefoot paths, centenary toboggan runs and wildlife parks for under €2
As summer holidays begin in Germany's most populous state, families can choose from a barefoot trail with a suspension bridge, a 100-year-old toboggan run at €1 a ride, and a free open-air pool in a former colliery.
- 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).
- Jun 29
At least 26 men and boys drown in Germany over the hottest weekend of the year as DLRG warns on overconfidence and alcohol
Rescue services across Germany responded to a surge of fatal bathing accidents from Friday to Sunday, with the DLRG water rescue organisation counting at least 26 dead, none of them female.
- Jun 24
Deutsche Bahn blames technical update for nationwide train halt that stranded thousands
A botched maintenance swap on Deutsche Bahn’s internal radio system brought all passenger and freight trains to a stop late Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded and prompting renewed criticism of the state-owned operator.
