- 2d ago
Germany introduces station alcohol bans, election votes, and new EU consumer labels for September 2026
Railway stations will prohibit alcohol consumption across 5,400 locations, while three federal states hold elections and the EU introduces mandatory warranty labelling alongside strict greenwashing penalties.
- Aug 24
Northern German cities replace vulnerable trees to withstand extreme weather
Municipalities in Schleswig-Holstein, including Kiel, Lübeck, and Norderstedt, are overhauling their urban tree stock to handle intensifying heat, droughts, and severe storms.
- 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
SSV Jeddeloh II defeats 1. FC Heidenheim 5-2 in DFB-Pokal opening round
Fourth-tier SSV Jeddeloh II eliminated 1. FC Heidenheim with a 5-2 victory in Oldenburg, while Großaspach advanced on penalties and Bochum beat Fürth 2-1.
- Aug 22
Persistent summer drought delays autumn mushroom season across northern Germany
Mycologists report that weeks of high temperatures and minimal rainfall have halted fungal growth in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, pushing the primary harvest into late autumn.
- Aug 19
Schleswig-Holstein reviews €3.9m solar ferry Missunde III after recurring breakdowns
Schleswig-Holstein transport officials are evaluating whether to repair, replace, or decommission the €3.9 million solar ferry Missunde III following recurring technical failures on the Schlei crossing.
- Aug 15
Lübeck main station to close all weekend for signal-box renewal, tens of thousands forced onto replacement buses
Lübeck's main station will stay closed all weekend for signal-box renewal, forcing tens of thousands of passengers onto replacement buses during Lübeck Pride, a football derby and the end of school holidays.
- Aug 13
Dead whale found in Greifswalder Bodden, second Baltic whale death within a year
An approximately seven-meter whale was found dead in the Greifswalder Bodden off Rügen's southern tip on Thursday morning, with an autopsy planned for Friday at the Nautineum on Dänholm.
- Aug 13
Deutsche Bahn cancels and reroutes trains across Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein through Sunday 16 August
Deutsche Bahn will suspend or reroute multiple regional trains in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein through Sunday 16 August, with Hauptbahnhof and Dammtor unserved until Saturday and full-day cancellations on three lines on Sunday.
- Aug 12
Prosecutors investigate parents of drowned three-year-old Bella in Preetz
German prosecutors have opened a negligent homicide investigation against the parents of three-year-old Bella, who was found dead in a garden pool in Preetz, Schleswig-Holstein, after being reported missing last week.
- Aug 10
Economist Schularick says Pistorius wastes €700 billion Bundeswehr budget on tanks and frigates
Kiel Institute president Moritz Schularick told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is spending much of the €700 billion Bundeswehr modernization budget on tanks and frigates instead of AI, drones and robotics, warning the program risks fizzling out.
- Aug 9
Rhine water levels hit record lows at Kaub, splitting Europe's key waterway and disrupting industry
The gauge at Kaub fell to 6 centimetres on Friday, the lowest since records began, forcing cargo ships to cut loads to a fifth of normal capacity and effectively dividing the river into two non-connecting sections.
- Aug 8
Three-year-old autistic girl from Preetz drowned in parents' garden pool after search missed it twice
A three-year-old autistic girl who went missing from Preetz in Schleswig-Holstein was found dead in a pool on her parents' property after a multi-hour search. A preliminary autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death, with no signs of violence.
- Jul 21
Northern Germany braces for midweek storms as DWD warns of gale-force gusts along the North and Baltic Sea coasts
After a sunny Tuesday, the German Weather Service forecasts a sharp turn to unsettled conditions with showers, thunderstorms, and gale-force winds striking Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, and Bremen from Wednesday.
- Jul 6
Canada selects Germany's TKMS for record submarine deal ahead of NATO summit
The multi-billion-euro contract for 212 CD class submarines deepens defense ties between Canada, Germany, and Norway, and marks Canada's largest-ever military procurement.
- Jul 4
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival opens in Lübeck with Dvořák and Mahler, Stockholm as city focus
The 2026 Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival launched on Saturday evening in Lübeck with a sold-out concert featuring Dvořák and Mahler, kicking off a summer programme of 205 events with Stockholm as this year's city focus.
- Jun 28
Kieler Woche 2026 attracts three million visitors, police report fewer crimes despite summer heat
The nine-day sailing regatta and folk festival in Kiel drew around 3 million guests, down from 3.3 million in 2025. Authorities described the atmosphere as peaceful and considerate even as temperatures soared, with criminal offences falling 21% year on year.
- Jun 24
Australia doubles social media ban fines to A$99m after study shows 85% of teens still online
Australia will double the maximum penalty for social media firms breaching its under-16 ban to A$99 million and give its online safety regulator new powers to compel evidence, as research reveals 85% of 12–15-year-olds still access platforms despite the world-first restriction.
- Jun 24
Germany cancels flagship F126 frigate programme after €2.3bn sunk, buys smaller TKMS ships
Defence minister Boris Pistorius cancelled the €10 billion-plus F126 programme after the Dutch contractor failed to meet cost and schedule targets, with the alternative switch to NVL pushing the bill to €18.8 billion. Eight smaller MEKO A-200 frigates from Thyssenkrupp subsidiary TKMS will be bought instead for an estimated €11.6 billion.
- Jun 22
CDU rejects new Linke chief's apology for calling party 'fascist', demands resignation
Newly elected Die Linke co-chair Luigi Pantisano apologized Monday for claiming there is 'no difference' between CDU, AfD and 'the fascists themselves,' but CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann dismissed the apology as 'an impertinence' and reiterated his demand that Pantisano resign.
