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21.10.20 update

Today's corona news in 60 seconds

+++ Mask up at markets +++ house party rules +++ desperate Neukölln +++ the stats +++

Maurice Frank, 23.09.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#17: Mauerspecht

To mark 30 years of German reunification, we're taking you on a linguistic journey through 30 phrases that charted Germany's division and reunification. Today: Mauerspecht.

Elizabeth Rushton, 20.10.2020

Crime

Did fans of a rightwing vegan chef vandalise Berlin museums?

An oily substance was sprayed on art and artefacts at three Berlin museums on the Day of German Unity. Police are looking for suspects ... and a motive.

okb, ct, 20.10.2020

Police

Seehofer gives green light to racism study

The German interior minister has agreed to commission a study on police racism - and "everyday issues" faced by the police themselves.

BLZ, 20.10.2020

EssayConspiracy theories: "Reality is crumbling"

Corona doesn’t exist, testing is pointless and the pandemic has been made up – conspiracy theories are on the rise. The problem is they’re coming from supposedly serious scientists.

20.10.2020

Road accidents

Cycling deaths up: Are licence plates the answer?

Total accidents are down but Berlin's top cop thinks bike plates could help catch rowdy riders.

BLZ, 19.10.2020

Interview

Are we headed back to Stasiland?

Anna Funder's Stasiland has become a classic of the literature on communist East Germany. 30 years after reunification, the book could serve as a warning for now.

Maurice Frank, 19.10.2020

100 years Greater Berlin

Looking for ... a nice, affordable place to live

A hundred years ago, the construction of social housing eased difficult conditions. What needs to happen today?

Jens Blankennagel, 15.10.2020

Instagram

Anmeldung not possible: a chat with Berlin Ausländer Memes

Two members of Berlin's international community are taking aim at the things we hate - and love - about the city with a popular Instagram meme page.

Elizabeth Rushton, 16.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#16: Eingabe

To mark 30 years of German reunification, we're taking you on a linguistic journey through 30 phrases that charted Germany's division and reunification. Today: Eingabe.

Andrew Bulkeley, 20.10.2020

Racism

Construction firm rejects Muslim applicant with shocking letter

A young Muslim applicant for a construction trainee position in Brandenburg was rejected with a letter full of discriminatory comments.

Okan Bellikli, 14.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#15: Arbeiterschließfach

To mark 30 years of German reunification, we're taking you on a linguistic journey through 30 key German words and phrases that charted Germany's Cold War division, reunification and what happened next. Today: Arbeiterschließfach.

Elizabeth Rushton, 12.10.2020

Travel

A backpack for the corona era

Part-time Berliner Sarah Giblin created a company from her safe, innovative design for backpacks. A doctor's desperation led her to her latest creation.

Andrew Bulkeley, 16.10.2020

What to do

Three tips for the weekend

Cute baby animals with something for football fans, a last chance Hannah Arendt and some X-Berg wine fun.

Elizabeth Rushton, 17.09.2020

Corona

Berlin court overturns 11pm bar curfew - but alcohol ban remains

Judges say there's little evidence that the locations have contributed significantly to the second wave.

pde, 16.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#14: Tal der Ahnungslosen

Elizabeth Rushton, 12.10.2020

Emergency response

Serious accidents, possible homicide, keep emergency personnel busy Friday

A mother died and her two children were seriously injured in a Schöneberg fire, another mother and her child were injured in a collision with a truck and a woman's body was found in a Gesundbrunnen flat.

BLZ, 16.10.2020

16.10.20 update

Today's corona news in 60 seconds

+++ Bar curfew overturned +++ more mask rules coming? +++ cash support for bars +++ the stats

Maurice Frank, 23.09.2020

Coronavirus regulations

Berlin's corona rules at a glance

We decipher the guidelines so you don’t have to – bookmark this page and keep checking back for the up-to-date lowdown on all the rules you need to follow in Berlin to keep yourself and others safe.

Elizabeth Rushton, Andrew Bulkeley, Maurice Frank, 30.09.2020

Gigafactory

Tesla forgot to pay its water bill

The utility supplying the Tesla construction site outside of Berlin has turned off the faucet. Building work has been suspended.

BLZ, 15.10.2020

Opinion

Berlin's painful squat house dilemma

Berlin wants it all: a booming economy and a thriving alternative scene. Maintaining a balance is almost impossible.

Maurice Frank, 15.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#13: Urst

Andrew Bulkeley, 12.10.2020

Corona summit

Merkel unhappy about new Germany-wide corona rules

Germany's 16 states met with Angela Merkel and agreed on new rules - but the chancellor is not amused.

BLZ, 14.10.2020

Reunification

From London to Halle in a pink Beetle

Of West Berlin pizzas, East German students and an unexamined Stasi file: after graduation, Catherine Hickley took a job teaching English in East Germany in 1989.

Catherine Hickley, 13.10.2020

Eurovision 2020

Daði Freyr:"If the song hadn’t taken off like it did, I probably would have moved back to Iceland"

Corona cancelled Eurovision 2020 – but Icelandic musician Daði Freyr took over the internet with his song Think About Things anyway. We met him for a chat about his life in Berlin, Will Ferrell's Eurovision movie and next year’s competition.

Elizabeth Rushton, 08.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#10: Ketwurst

Maurice Frank, 12.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#12: Polylux

Elizabeth Rushton, 12.10.2020

German reunification in 30 words

#11: Sandmännchen

Andrew Bulkeley, 12.10.2020

BER

Two weeks to go: Is the new airport really going to open?

Thousands of volunteers have been participating in a BER trial run. The airport's boss says it will open on 31 October but don't expect perfection.

14.10.2020

Turbulence

Climate activists to protest long-awaited BER opening

Berlin's new airport will debut on 31 October – but protesters say more air travel is the last thing the city needs during the climate crisis.

Peter Neumann, 14.10.2020

Tempelhof

FDP campaign to allow building on Tempelhof pushing ahead despite corona

The FDP wants to overturn a 2014 referendum banning construction at the former airport.

BLZ, 13.10.2020

Moabit monument

Why has a Korean statue in Berlin got Germany in trouble with Japan?

The controversy around the removal of a wartime memorial in Mitte continues as the local mayor says a court will make the final decision.

Tomasz Kurianowicz, 13.10.2020

Corona precautions

Kids should bundle up for winter classes

City to spend €1m on CO₂ devices to monitor ventilation while experts say filters may be the answer.

Eva Corino, 13.10.2020

Berlin history

1989/1990: When anything was possible

Unforgettable years: the peaceful revolution, the fall of the Wall, reunification. We got the mayors of West Berlin and East Berlin, Walter Momper and Thomas Krüger, to sit down for a chat about that time.

Anne-Kattrin Palmer, 08.10.2020

Last call

This 71-year party has ended - and corona is to blame

An American general trying to outwit his Soviet counterpart inadvertantly created a party culture seven decades ago.

Norbert Koch-Klaucke, 07.10.2020

S-Bahn

Ringbahn back in the loop after cable fire

S41 and S42 trains are back on track following last week's suspected arson attack near Frankfurter Allee - but expect more disruption on other lines.

BLZ/dpa, 12.10.2020

BDS controversyIsraeli art show loses Berlin funding over BDS links

A project at the Weißensee Art Academy has been stripped of funding over alleged BDS links. The artists feel patronised by Germany's own sensitivities around antisemitism.

11.10.2020