Ludwigshafen
Photo: Dominik Lott (Dolo280), CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- Oct 14
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
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 4
Ludwigshafen Tatort episode Explosive Mischung airs in real time on ARD and ORF
The Ludwigshafen Tatort episode Explosive Mischung, directed by Martin Eigler, premiered on ARD and ORF 2 using an 85-minute real-time format set across a single night.
- Oct 1
German cost-of-living fears rise to 59% as 2026 annual study shows broad economic anxiety
The 35th R+V Versicherung annual study in Berlin reveals that 59% of Germans fear rising living expenses, while Friedrich Merz recorded the lowest approval rating for any chancellor in the survey history.
- 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.
- Aug 26
German actor Andreas Hoppe, Tatort detective Mario Kopper, dies at 66
German actor Andreas Hoppe, who portrayed Detective Mario Kopper in 57 episodes of the crime drama Tatort, died unexpectedly in Berlin at the age of 66.
- Jul 26
From topless debate to UV shirts: German outdoor pools mirror society's shifting norms
A dpa feature on 26 July 2026 uses the open-air swimming pool as a lens for conflicting German lifestyles, from tattoos and topless bathing to full-body swimwear and the quiet crisis of decaying infrastructure.
- Jul 22
Drought accelerates harvest, strains Rhine shipping and tourism in Rhineland-Palatinate
Despite better-than-expected harvests, heat and low water are stressing crops, forcing BASF to deploy extra ships, and threatening hotel vessels on the Rhine.
- Jun 15
At 104, Albert Corrieri asks European court to order France to pay for WWII forced labour
Albert Corrieri, 104, has petitioned the European Court of Human Rights to secure 43,200 euros in unpaid wages for forced labour he performed in Nazi Germany from 1943 to 1945, after French courts dismissed his claim.
- May 31
Chemistry Meets Champagne: Inside BASF's Secret Million-Bottle Wine Cellar, Now 125 Years Old
Twelve meters beneath its flagship chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, the world's largest chemical company operates a vast wine cellar housing around one million bottles, a tradition that began in 1901 and now marks its 125th anniversary.
