The Bear on KCRW Berlin: Stories of chance encounters
These true, personal stories were recorded live at The Bear on September 26 at ZENTRUM danziger50 in Prenzlauer Berg. The theme of the serendipity: stories of chance encounters.
In Brief: Farmers take to German city streets with tractors to protest federal agricultural package
Among the measures being protested in the new agricultural package are regulations that reduce the use of fertilizers and phase out the pesticide glyphosate by 2023.
In Brief: Construction on Oberbaumbrücke expected to finish Tuesday with wider lanes for cyclists
Car traffic on the Oberbaumbrücke is being reduced to one lane in each direction, while cyclists have widened lanes – measuring two meters wide – on each side.
In Brief: Berlin Senate to vote on rent cap regulations
The compromise reached by Berlin’s Red-Red-Green coalition has been praised by the Berlin Tenants’ Association and sharply criticized by both the CDU and two dozen real estate companies, construction businesses, and other organizations in the housing industry.
In Brief: Merkel condemns Turkey’s military offensive in Syria
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed that under the “current conditions” the federal government will not provide any weapons to Turkey, adding she is glad that this is also the position of the European partners.
In Brief: Germany’s finance ministry announces new tax measures that make train travel cheaper and flying pricier
In a statement, Germany’s Finance Minister Olaf Scholz highlighted some of the new tax new measures, including making train travel cheaper by reducing the value-added tax while at the same time increasing the tax rates on airline tickets.
In Brief: Berlin officials focusing on dog owners this week to see if they are following regulations
The office in charge of public order in Berlin will be taking a closer look at dog owners this week to ensure they are following regulations for their pets.
In Brief: Interior Minister Seehofer instructs police to increase random checks at Germany’s borders
The interior ministry said the aim of the increased border checks is to combat what’s known as “secondary migration,” or when non-EU individuals move illegally between EU member states. In other news, the first hearing began on Monday in a mass class action lawsuit against Volkswagen.
In Brief: Rossmann recalls children’s shower gel containing potentially dangerous germs
A children’s shower gel packaged in animal shapes has been taken off the shelves at Rossmann after it was discovered the product could be contaminated with potentially dangerous, antibiotic-resistant germs. In other news, the Berlin Senate is in the process of amending the mobility law to make the city safer for pedestrians.
In Brief: Berlin Senate aims to decriminalize ‘Schwarzfahren,’ riding without a ticket on public transport
The initiative to decriminalize the act of riding public transportation without a ticket will be presented to Germany’s Federal Council, the Bundesrat, on Friday.
