Court Rules Jewish Peace Group Is Not Extremist
In 2024, Germany's intelligence agency designated Jewish Voice for Just Peace as "confirmed extremist". A Berlin court has now ruled that incorrect.
HEIST
HEIST - a worker-owned magazine for Berlin
“Make Berlin Affordable”: Die Linke Puts Housing at the Centre of Election Bid
The left-wing party announced election plans to expropriate private landlords, cap rents, and crack down on rent gouging — and the mayor isn't happy.
What are you up to this weekend?
We cast our eye across Berlin to provide a short round-up of what's going on.
Berlin Culture Senator Resigns: Report Finds CDU Antisemitism Funding “Clearly Illegal”
The state audit into CDU antisemitism funding finds Senator Wedl-Wilson knew she was breaking the law. On Friday, she resigned her post.
Berlin Identified The Origins of 574 Stolen Colonial Skulls. Will They Get To Go Home?
Berlin's S-Collection holds thousands of colonial-era human skulls. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has now traced the origins of 574 - and says it wants to return them.
New Poll: Friedrich Merz Is The Most Unpopular World Leader
A new international survey puts Germany’s chancellor at the bottom, with just 19% approval.
Have Berlin Rents Finally Hit Their Ceiling?
For the first time in years, rents in Berlin fell. But with asking rents around double what's being paid on average, don't expect to feel it yet.
S-Bahn “Hijackings” On The Rise
S-Bahn surfing is on the rise. Reports of improper train travel in Berlin quadrupled last year, with teenagers posting their misdeeds to social media.
This Year's Christopher Street Day Will Be The Biggest Ever
For the first time in half a century, Berlin's biggest Pride event will span two days – and it's explicitly focused on the upcoming elections.
This AfD Influencer Does Not Exist
From fake influencers to OnlyFans links, far-right accounts are combining AI-generated content and sexualised imagery to spread pro-AfD messaging on Instagram.
“I Stick To Money”: Activist Disguised As CDU Minister Glues Herself to Museum Display
The protest targeted the economics minister's corporate ties, and briefly brought police to the Bode Museum.
This Is the Slowest Bus in Berlin
At 13.1 kilometres per hour, the 147 bus travels the speed of a brisk jog, or a child's bicycle.
Executions Are Now Banned at Demos
The Berlin police have decided that while they can still employ violence at protests, nobody can reenact any.
CDU Offices Rebranded as “Egg Houses” on Google Maps
A wave of map hijackings across Germany saw party offices renamed after eggs, with some linking the stunt to anti-conscription protests.
Was Your Grandfather a Nazi? NSDAP Membership Now Searchable Online
The US National Archives has made 12 million Nazi membership cards searchable online. The database includes some familiar names.
Copies of Görlitzer Park "Master Key" Distributed By Mysterious Bunnies
The masked "Union of Easter Bunnies" handed out chocolates with the master key to the park's controversial fence locks – and also hid a few for members of the press.
German Men Now Need Army Permission to Leave the Country
Conscription law now requires men ages 18–45 to get approval before travelling abroad for more than three months.
The 9,540 Tonnes of Winter Gravel are Finally Gone
Just in time for the Easter deadline, the BSR have swept up all those little black rocks. It's still stuck in the escalators, though.
Instagram Deactivates KitKat Club and Insomnia
Two sex-positive nightclubs had their Instagram accounts deactivated in what one called "blatant American censorship."
Protests Outside Babylon Kino as Francesca Albanese Speaks on Gaza
Around 150 people gathered in Mitte as Francesca Albanese accused Germany of complicity in what she called Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Who Was Hiding in the S-Bahn Tunnels at Potsdamer Platz?
With the Syrian president in town, police were on high alert – but they still didn't catch whoever was lurking in the tunnels.
Syria's Controversial New Leader Comes to Berlin
Police are readying for protests Monday as interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for a rescheduled lunch with Merz – presumably to talk about their shared interest in relocating Germany's Syrian refugees.
Beware the SlopDoc: Charité Warns Of AI Videos Advertising Miracle Drugs
Deepfake videos of the hospital's doctors promising "technically impossible" medical solutions are circulating in Berlin.
Activists Scale Rheinmetall Weapons Factory in Wedding to Protest Genocide
Activists poured red paint from the roof of the Wedding Rheinmetall factory, which went from making car parts to weapons.
Police Launch Mass Raids Over Grid Sabotage — And Remain in the Dark
Police raided 14 Berlin properties associated with Berlin's left-wing scene. But after 500 officers deployed and zero arrests, evidence seems to be thin on the ground.