News from Berlin

3,000 people commemorate the Nakba in Berlin

For the first time in years, the Berlin Nakba demonstration was allowed to proceed. After four and a half hours, this year’s Berlin demonstration commemorating the 78th anniversary of the Nakba on May 16 arrived at its destination, Südstern, at 6:30 p.m. in 2025, the assembly authorities prohibited a demonstration; only a stationary rally, also at Südstern, was permitted. This year, around 3,000 people participated in the demonstration. “We had the impression beforehand that the police genuinely wanted the demonstration to proceed peacefully,” Ali C., from the alliance that organized the demonstration, told “nd.” Except for one incident, this was the case. Source: nd-aktuell

140 Berlin primary schools in socially disadvantaged areas will have smaller classes

Teachers at Berlin schools are set to receive relief from their workloads in the future. This also applies to the educators employed at these institutions. Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) and the Berlin branch of the Education and Science Union (GEW) signed an agreement regarding a corresponding package of measures, as announced on May 18. According to the agreement, classes at primary schools located in socially disadvantaged areas—among other institutions—are to be reduced in size from 24 to 20 children starting in August. This means that 140 of the capital’s 457 primary schools (a bit more than 30%) will feature smaller class sizes. Source: rbb

News from Germany

No time for evaluation

Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) is currently restructuring “Demokratie Leben”, a federal program for enhancing democracy. The Greens have criticised the changes. One point is about the timing since the evaluation of the current funding cycle (2025 to 2032) has not yet been completed. Around 140 organizations recently called upon Federal Family Minister Prien in an open letter not to act prematurely, by axing projects she dislikes. Prien justifies the restructuring by citing the allegedly lacking public acceptance of “Demokratie leben.” The 2020-2024 program cycle has received positive evaluations. Source: taz

Germany could miss climate targets, experts warn

The impact of the climate protection program presented by Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) is likely to be significantly smaller than the government planned, affirms the German independent Council of Experts on Climate Issues (“Expertenrat Klimafragen“). Even if the program were fully implemented, none of the targets set for the year 2040 would be achieved, the independent agency has said. Although the Council of Experts confirms the calculations made by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) for 2025, indicating that greenhouse gas emissions fell by 0.1% compared to 2024, it believes UBA’s projections for greenhouse gas emissions up to 2030 to be overly optimistic. Source: spiegel

Greens alarmed by child poverty in Germany

According to an international comparative study on child well-being recently published by UNICEF, Germany ranks a mere 25th out of the 37 countries evaluated. UNICEF notes that Germany’s child poverty rate has stagnated for years at a high level of 15%. Considering such persistently high levels of child poverty in Germany, the Greens are criticizing the planned budget cuts to the education and social welfare sectors. This is “scandalous,” affirmed Misbah Khan, deputy parliamentary group leader for the Greens. She also pointed out that “The fact that the Federal Government is doing the exact opposite with its planned cuts amounts to an admission of failure regarding education and social policy in Germany.” Source: n-tv

Germany launches program for civil protection

The Federal Government aims to bolster civil defense and disaster relief capabilities through multi-billion-euro investments, a new command structure, and an improved warning system. According to government sources, the Federal Cabinet is expected to soon approve a corresponding package of measures. Particularly considering the Russian threat, this initiative is intended to fortify Germany’s resilience—running parallel to the expansion of the Bundeswehr. “We are integrating military and civil defense to ensure greater security and resilience,” as the German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated. The plan is quite comprehensive, with the goal of informing the public of all public shelters via “NINA”, a federal government’s digital warning system. Source: dw

“Atlas of Civil Society”: downgrade for Germany

The report “Atlas of Civil Society” is published annually by Brot für die Welt — an organization supported by Protestant churches in Germany. This year’s report focuses on disinformation as a global phenomenon. According to that “Atlas”, only 3.4% of the world’s population lives in truly open societies, and Germany is no longer considered a fully open society amid concerns over disinformation and police brutality. “This year, there has been a 7% increase on societies categorized as having ‘limited’ openness,” said Brot für die Welt human rights expert Silke Pfeiffer. She pointed out to increased police brutality and arrests at protests in Germany as a major factor to its placement in the rankings. Source: dw

News from Berlin

The Barn barista allegedly harassed customer

An Instagram post is putting pressure on the Berlin-based café chain The Barn. Poetry slammer Kevin-Ahn Kwang Soo-Groen recounts a visit on May 1st to the branch at Hackescher Markt, where he was criticized by a barista for wearing a necklace featuring Palestine. The barista introduced himself as a former IDF soldier and claimed to have witnessed atrocities committed by Hamas. Soo-Groen concluded his post by stating that he does not have high hopes for an official complaint. However, the coffee chain has already answered to the post, stating it takes the matter very seriously. There is “zero tolerance for racism.” Source: morgenpost

News from Germany

SPD Wins in Barnim – AfD, in Zehdenick

In a runoff election for District Administrator in Barnim, Brandenburg, Daniel Kurth (SPD) secured a clear victory with 66.1% of the vote against his AfD challenger, Matthäus Mikolaszek (33.9%). In April, during its first round of voting, none of the then four candidates had secured the necessary majority of votes. In another town in Brandenburg, Zehdenick, an AfD candidate has been elected as the full-time mayor. René Stadtkewitz prevailed with 58.4% of the vote. He thus becomes the first directly elected AfD mayor in Brandenburg (Arne Raue in Jüterbog, also from AfD, was an independent candidate at the time of his election, in 2011). Source: taz

Gaza protest at Allianz Group annual meeting

Activists from the No Alliance with Genocide campaign disrupted Allianz’s annual general meeting in Munich on May 7. “You are financing billions that enable the genocide in Gaza,” a protester shouted inside the Olympiahalle. The protest was accompanied by a rally held outside the venue. The campaign called upon Allianz to completely withdraw from any business activities that fuel the war in Gaza and the climate crisis. The company is investing the equivalent of 426 million euros in 15 arms manufacturers that supply Israel, activist Line Niedeggen told nd. These include Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, and Rheinmetall, among others. Source: nd

One in four 18-year-old men disregards the Bundeswehr

Of the 18-year-old men contacted by the Bundeswehr so far as part of the new military service scheme, just under three-quarters (72%) have completed the questionnaire sent to them. Slightly more than one in four young men (28%) have failed to respond to the Bundeswehr’s letter—even though men born in 2008 or later are legally obliged to do so—according to reports by newspapers belonging to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) media group, citing sources within the Bundeswehr. On May 8, students across the country took to the streets to protest against military service. Source: taz

Organizers defend pro-Palestine camp against accusations of antisemitism

After a legal tug-of-war, the pro-Palestinian camp “Bridges of Resistance” began on Saturday at Moorweide in Hamburg. The camp aims to commemorate the Nakba as well as to refer to the current war in the Middle East. Hamburg, as a hub for weapons destined for the Israeli military, is the focus of attention, say the organizers. The camp has been the subject of heated debate since last week. Given its history, Moorweide is not just any public space. Thousands of people were deported from there during the Nazi era. Local authorities wanted to relocate the camp to Sternschanzenpark. However, the organizers took the matter to court and were upheld. Source: ndr

Spending money on the issue

When it comes to weaponry, the Federal Government in Germany does not suffer from a lack of funds. Rather, it operates under the motto of “spending money on the issue.” Following the US decision to cancel the deployment of Tomahawk missiles in Germany, Berlin intends to approach the US regarding the purchase of the long-range cruise missiles, according to a Financial Times report on May 10. The newspaper cited a German government insider suggesting that Berlin might even be willing to pay a financial premium. Fittingly, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, announced: “Later this year, we will begin manufacturing cruise missiles for deep-strike operations at our facility in Unterlüß.” Source: jw

One in nine internet users in Germany fell victim to cybercrime last year

According to the latest Cybersecurity Monitor (CyMon), published by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Police Crime Prevention Council of the Federal States and the Federation (ProPK), around 11% of internet users in the country fell victim to cybercrime in 2025. The study is based on a representative survey of 3,060 individuals aged 16 and older, interviewed in January 2026. The most prevalent offense is online shopping fraud (22% of the cases). Despite the high rate of victimization, many consumers remain inadequately protected in the digital realm: more than half of the respondents (55%) consider their personal risk of falling victim to cybercrime to be low or non-existent. Source: n-tv

News from Berlin

On May 1st, the Mariannenplatz festival, under the motto “Making Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg danceable,” marks a turning point for the Berlin Left Party once the party succeeded in attracting the masses of young people. Their “Pied Piper”: the rapper Ikkimel. Instead of celebrating the success of the mobilization and accepting that culture and political protest can coexist, two left-wing events pitted against each other, under the accusation that their concerts contribute to the commercialization of International Workers’ Day. However, the accusation that protest is being replaced by partying falls short: the day was full of left-wing artist concerts on the streets. To name a few, system-critical rap trio RAPK; the rapper Apsilon; and Kurdish rapper Ebow, who released her song “ARBAYT.” Source: taz

News from Germany

Where Germany’s economy leads

Germany still ranks among the top five largest economies in the world. This isn’t solely due to the few big names (SAP, DHL, Deutsche Telekom, to name a few), but rather to the small businesses. There are many of these “hidden champions” in Germany. For instance, less than half of German employees have worked for a large corporation, where innovations such as the MP3 audio compression format and the magnetic levitation train happened. However, it’s striking that while Germany has often been a major center for development, German society and economy doesn’t seem to reap the rewards – the money simply flows elsewhere. Source: dw

Birth rates in Germany continue to decline

In 2025, the number of babies born in Germany was the lowest since 1946. According to preliminary results, there were approximately 654,300 children, 3.4% fewer than in 2024. This marks the fourth consecutive year of decline in the birth rate. If the desire for children expressed by 19- to 29-year-olds in surveys were the deciding factor, the birth rate in Germany would be higher, says population expert C. Katharina Spieß. “Security is a crucial factor in fulfilling the desire to have children.” Fewer people overall wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. But the country is aging, too. In recent years, low birth rates have been someway offset by immigration. Source: dw

No stage for Palestine

Last year, the artist Maidline Aurie and a small team of collaborators (among them, the Frankfurter rapper Chima) joined forces to organize a benefit concert under the motto “Together4Palestine Germany.” But the implementation has proved more difficult than expected. For instance, the venue in Cologne, where the concert was supposed to happen, unexpectedly withdrew its commitment, citing security concerns. It is also seeming that many artists don’t dare to speak openly about such an event. Nevertheless, as Chima affirmed, “We have already invested eight months; we will simply continue. This is a personal matter for us.” Considering the last events, it might be possible that the concert will ultimately be called “Together4Palestine & Lebanon”. Source: taz

Israeli defence firm “Rafael”: interested in VW’s factory, German lawmaker says

Israeli defence company “Rafael” is in talks to take over Volkswagen’s Osnabruck plant as the automaker phases out car production in the northwestern city after 2027. Bastian Ernst (CDU), confirmed that indeed “There are talks between Rafael and Volkswagen.” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said last week the company would cease manufacturing Volkswagen Group vehicles at Osnabruck starting in 2027 and was negotiating with defence firms to repurpose the facility. “I am very confident we will reach a decision this year,” Blume told “Bild”. “We will not produce weapons. We will contribute our ‘know-how’ where we are best. Vehicles for military transport could be one direction.” Source: Middle East monitor

What a setback!

Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has introduced an austerity package because the health insurance funds are overwhelmed by their expenses. There’s a shortfall of 15 billion euros next year alone. However, the federal government considers such a moment as an opportunity for cutting the federal subsidy to the health. As a result, the savings package will provide far less relief for those paying into the system than needed. It’s quite unjust that the government is imposing a considerable burden on policyholders with this austerity package, while simultaneously excuses itself of its responsibility. Source: Zeit

Attack on antisemitism commissioner

After an arson attack on the property of Brandenburg’s antisemitism commissioner, Andreas Büttner (independent), in January, two suspects have now been identified. According to the prosecutor’s office, they come from the antisemitism commissioner’s personal circle, with whom he had founded a company. The business, which was intended to work in the solar energy sector, never implemented any projects: “Nothing happened there, it’s a dead company,” Büttner affirmed. He met with the suspects twice after the incident. If such suspicion is confirmed, the previously presumed antisemitic motive would be rather unlikely. Source: tagesschau

News from Berlin

“Clearly illegal”

The Berlin State Audit Office considers the allocation of funding for antisemitism projects to be “clearly illegal.” Its report mentions that the cultural affairs department under Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson (independent, affiliated with the CDU) committed systematic errors, violating budgetary obligations and breaking laws. Project selection is particularly problematic because they were only formally reviewed by the administration, not substantively, at the express request of CDU members of parliament and Senators Joe Chialo (CDU) and his successor, Sarah Wedl-Wilson (independent, affiliated with the CDU), who ultimately signed off on the funding decisions. On April 24, Wedl-Wilson offered her resignation. Source: taz

Associations see cultural funding in Berlin at risk

Following the resignation of Berlin’s Senator for Culture, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, Franziska Stoff, chair of the Berlin Cultural Conference, is demanding swift stability at the top of the cultural administration. The cultural sector warns against cuts and demands their reversal. “The overall situation is, of course, a threat to cultural funding in the city and to culture as a whole,” she declared to the rbb24 Inforadio. According to its own description, the Berlin Culture Conference is the largest alliance of Berlin cultural associations, which sees itself as a direct point of contact for politics and administration. Source: rbb

Thousands demonstrate for Shah’s son Reza Pahlavi and demand Coup in Iran

Iranian opposition politician Reza Pahlavi was in Berlin on April 23 for political talks. According to the police, around 9,500 of his supporters gathered in the afternoon in front of the Reichstag building. The rally for the son of the last Iranian Shah was peaceful. Police also reported that about 100 counter-demonstrators were present. Pahlavi was pelted with red liquid at midday. The incident occurred after Pahlavi had appeared at the Federal Press Conference. Security forces arrested the suspected attacker shortly after the incident. Police reported that the arrested man had no prior criminal record. Source: rbb

Jewish Voice temporarily excluded from domestic intelligence report

The pro-Palestinian association Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East may not be classified as a confirmed extremist organization by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Germany’s domestic intelligence agency), as it was in the 2024 report. This was the ruling of the Berlin Administrative Court in preliminary injunction proceedings on April 27. The judges justified their decision by stating that the classification as a confirmed extremist organization lacked a sufficient factual basis. An appeal against this ruling can be filed with the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. Source: deutschlandfunk

News from Germany

Draft law to criminalize denying Israel’s right to exist

Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) and Justice Minister Christian Heinz (CDU) have presented a draft law that would criminalize the denial of the State of Israel’s right to exist. Establishing and maintaining a safe haven for Jews is, according to Minister Heinz, “essential to the identity” of the constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany. The draft law will be introduced by the State of Hesse to the Federal Council on May 8. Source: hessen.de

Germany reveals first-ever military strategy for Bundeswehr

The German Bundeswehr has for the first time officially implemented a military strategy, citing an increasingly dangerous international situation. “Rarely has a military strategy been as necessary as it is in this historic period,” affirmed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) during the presentation in Berlin. According to the military strategy, Russia represents “the greatest and most immediate threat for the foreseeable future” to Germany and transatlantic security. The document then goes on to analyze how the Bundeswehr should respond to potential war scenarios, though the details are largely classified. Source: dw

Record global military spending—Germany ranks 4th

Last year, global military spending reached an all-time high. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), countries invested a total of approximately €2.5 trillion. This marks the eleventh consecutive year of military spending increases. According to SIPRI, Germany invested around €97 billion in its armed forces last year. This represents a quarter more than in 2024—only the US, China, and Russia spent more. The European NATO member states increased their investments by around 14% to €476 billion, according to the report. This is the largest increase since the early years of the military alliance. Source: deutschlandfunk

Suspected far-right attacks in Cottbus keep State Security busy

In Cottbus, suspected far-right attacks on institutions and individuals are currently on the rise. Police confirmed that a flare was ignited in the hallway of an alternative housing project shortly before midnight on April 27. Due to the smoke, all residents had to temporarily evacuate the building. No one was injured. On the same night, the synagogue in Cottbus was defaced with a large swastika. On April 24, unknown individuals had already painted an antisemitic slogan on the building’s wall. The State Security Department of the police, responsible for politically motivated crimes, is investigating these and other cases in Cottbus. Source: rbb

News from Berlin

Thousands of people demand faster energy transition in Berlin

Several thousand people gathered in the district of Berlin-Mitte on April 18 to demonstrate for a faster energy transition. According to the police, approximately 9,000 participants marched through the government district. Organisers spoke of up to 24,000 people. Under the motto “Defend Renewable Energies!”, an alliance of environmental organizations called for protests in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Cologne. Among the organisations are Greenpeace, WWF, Fridays for Future, and the Campact network. The call to action stated: “Escalating energy prices, geopolitical crises, and authoritarian regimes show us how risky fossil fuels are.” Source: rbb

News from Germany

Germany’s most modern Courthouse

The historic Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (OLG) building in Stammheim, where trials against the leaders of the Red Army Faction (RAF) were held in the 1970s, is now history. Starting next week, trials against suspected terrorists and other criminals will take place in the OLG’s new high-security building, located right next to Stammheim Prison. Before the official handover of the keys, the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court offered a glimpse into what Presiding Judge Katrin Dobler described as “Germany’s most modern courthouse.” Construction began in 2015 and cost €29 million. There, two courtrooms will be available, with completely separate entrances and security checkpoints. The defendants can communicate with their lawyers via a wireless system. Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten

Electricity prices remain stable

Electricity became cheaper in Germany in March, and prices are expected to continue falling in April. While the war in Iran is driving up gas and oil prices, prices on the electricity exchange remain stable, according to the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. The reason for this is the expansion of renewable energy and the beginning of spring, when both wind and solar power plants produce a lot of electricity. This effect is likely to increase much further in the summer: In June 2025, a good 77% of electricity came from renewable sources, and this figure will probably be even higher in 2026. Source: taz

He was not an isolated case

A year ago, Lorenz A., a Black man, was shot and killed by the police in Oldenburg. To this day, there has been no trial. According to the public prosecutor’s office, A. showed a knife to people persuing him. However, contrary to several media reports, he did not use the knife while interacting with the police, nor did he attack anyone with it. During his escape, A. ran past a police patrol and is said to have used pepper spray again. Then, without warning, a police officer shot him. On April 19, several hundred people commemorated Lorenz and demonstrated against racist police violence. The speakers repeatedly emphasized one point: he was not an isolated case. Source: taz

CDU defeats AfD in Uckermark district council election

Karina Dörk (CDU) was first elected district administrator of the Uckermark region in 2018. On April 19, she defended her position and defeated state parliament member Felix Teichner (AfD) with 60%. Voter turnout was 55.3%. Therefore, the Brandenburg Action Alliance against Violence, Right-Wing Extremism, and Racism reacted with relief. Initiatives such as the “Livable Uckermark” association worked tirelessly to raise awareness and send a clear message of diversity and solidarity, as the Action Alliance stated. Its chairman, Thomas Wisch, nevertheless notes that the election result should not obscure the fact that “right-wing extremist attitudes remain a challenge.” Source: nd-aktuell

German crime statistics: false blaming on migrants?

Is it true that the crime rate in Germany is higher among immigrants? For instance, more than a third of all suspects are not German citizens. The statistics may suggest this, but they can also be misleading. Ahead of the presentation of the 2025 figures for crime in Germany by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Susann Prätor has shared her thoughts on the issue of nationality and statistics. For instance, she believes that “studies show that people perceived as foreign are more likely to be reported to police.” According to a 2024 study by the Criminological Institute of Lower Saxony, non-Germans were reported nearly three times as often as Germans. Source: dw

“Excessive use of force”

“Disproportionate restrictions” on assemblies, “excessive use of force” by the police, “increasing pressure on democratic freedoms”—What sounds like conditions in an authoritarian state are in fact the findings of a Council of Europe study on the situation in Germany, published on April 15. Its Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, notes there is a “worrying increase in both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred.” Restrictions on freedom of expression are also “clearly evident” at universities. In a statement obtained by “taz”, the government rejects such accusations, pointing out that critical or controversial views on Judaism or the State of Israel are protected by freedom of expression, but subject to the limitations stipulated by national laws. Source: taz