Germany

Bad Homburg – September 07, 2026 -- Lilly Germany has launched a nationwide awareness campaign arguing that obesity is a chronic, treatable disease rather than a personal failing, rolling out across TV, social media, outdoor advertising and pharmacy displays starting September 1.

A father's apology anchors the campaign film

The centerpiece is a short film depicting a father calling his adult daughter, who lives with obesity, to apologize. He admits that for years he withheld the support she needed because he believed weight loss was simply a matter of discipline. Lindsay Zeckel, Vice President of Cardiometabolic Health at Lilly Deutschland, said the apology scene is meant to invite viewers to reconsider their own assumptions about obesity, adding that genuine support is only possible once the condition is recognized as a chronic disease.

September 07, 2026 – Mainz -- German broadcaster ZDF has revised its programming for the week of September 6 to 11, with the biggest shift coming on Sunday, September 6, when live coverage of the Saxony-Anhalt state election takes over the 7:25 p.m. slot. The change bumps the documentary series "Terra X: Weltstädte" from that evening's lineup, though the rest of the night's schedule from 8:20 p.m. onward proceeds as planned.

A cast credit gets corrected in a 9/11 documentary

ZDF also flagged a casting correction for "9/11 - Die Geiseln des Terrors," airing Tuesday, September 8 at 8:15 p.m. The actress previously listed as "Kathrin Jelinek" is credited under the correct spelling, Katrin Jelinek. The fix carries over to the program's repeat broadcast early Wednesday, September 9 at 1:45 a.m.

Düsseldorf – September 07, 2026 -- German energy provider Grünwelt Energie is urging households to unplug idle electronics before long trips, a move it says cuts both power bills and storm-related damage risk.

Standby devices still drain power even when switched off

Televisions, game consoles, computers and charging stations for large appliances continue to draw electricity in standby mode. Grünwelt Energie recommends disconnecting these fully before departure, which also protects the equipment from surge damage caused by summer thunderstorms.

Frankfurt – September 07, 2026 -- Youth clubs, associations, and groups across Germany are reporting break-ins, threats, and physical attacks linked to far-right extremists, according to a new study cited exclusively by the Frankfurter Rundschau.

The findings come from the "Bedrohungsstudie 2026" (Threat Study 2026), compiled by education researcher Benno Hafeneger, education expert Jana Sämann, and Deutscher Bundesjugendring (DBJR) staff members Maximilian Lorenz and Lars Reisner. The study is set to be published in the November issue of the trade journal "deutsche jugend," though the Frankfurter Rundschau has already obtained a copy.

Cologne – September 04, 2026 -- Moving into a first apartment or shared flat this autumn means learning to separate household waste correctly, according to the German initiative "Mülltrennung wirkt." On average, 30 percent of what ends up in yellow bins and yellow bags across Germany doesn't belong there, the group says.

While landlords or property managers provide the necessary waste bins, tenants themselves are responsible for sorting correctly. "Improperly disposed waste can cause additional costs for all tenants. Even more important: correct waste separation is a prerequisite for functioning recycling loops," said Axel Subklew, spokesperson for the initiative. Packaging made of plastic, glass, or paper that ends up in general waste cannot be recycled.

Hamburg – September 04, 2026 -- The SPORT BILD Award 2026 handed out ten trophies to the year's biggest sports names at Hamburg's Fischauktionshalle on Monday evening, honoring standout performances, comebacks and charity work in front of roughly 700 guests from sport, politics, business and media.

TV host Esther Sedlaczek co-presented the show for the first time alongside SPORT BILD editor-in-chief Henning Feindt.

Uli Hoeneß receives the Legend Award for a 48-title career

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß won the Legend Award for his life's work. As player and executive he collected 48 titles, including the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup with West Germany. He took over as Bayern manager in 1979 at age 27 when the club was in debt, later serving as president and supervisory board chairman. Comedian Bruno Jonas delivered the laudatio. Hoeneß said his hunger for success remains: "I love people who are hungry."

Munich – September 04, 2026 -- A new episode of "Hartz und herzlich - Tag für Tag Rostock" airs September 1, 2026 at 8:15 PM on RTLZWEI, with the episode available seven days early on RTL+.

Jasmin and Maik juggle housing search with benefits renewal

The couple currently lives temporarily with Maik's mother Bärbel while searching for their own apartment. They face a Jobcenter appointment to renew their social benefits applications. Maik has also interviewed in person at a landscaping company, with the conversation opening up the possibility of a mini-job as a starting point.

Hamburg – September 04, 2026 -- German public broadcaster NDR is celebrating 20 years of its documentary series "Die Nordreportage" with a free cinema tour across northern Germany and a two-week television special starting September 28.

Four cities host premiere screenings between September 28 and October 2

The tour stops at Kino Center Husum on September 28, Ozeaneum Stralsund on September 29, Filmpalast Lüneburg on October 1, and ASTOR Film Lounge HafenCity in Hamburg on October 2. Each evening pairs a classic episode with an unreleased new production, followed by a chance for audiences to meet the filmmakers and the people featured on screen.

Premieres include "Notruf auf Fehmarn" in Husum, "110 hautnah" in Stralsund, a new installment of "Rollys Trucker-Imbiss" in Lüneburg, and a feature on Hamburg's Davidwache police station in the HafenCity screening.

Mainz – September 03, 2026 -- German broadcaster ZDF is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a lineup of specials, a two-part docudrama, and a science-focused segment airing across ZDF, ZDFinfo, and 3sat in early September 2026.

A live special airs from New York on the anniversary itself

On Friday, September 11, 2026, at 7:25 p.m., "ZDF spezial: 11. September – Der Tag, der die Welt veränderte" broadcasts live from a set above Ground Zero in New York. Host Shakuntala Banerjee speaks with eyewitnesses and experts about the lasting impact of the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, and about how the anniversary is being marked amid shifting U.S.-NATO relations under President Donald Trump.

Kaiserslautern – September 03, 2026 -- Public broadcaster SWR handed out its 2026 "Ehrensache" awards live from Stiftsplatz in Kaiserslautern, honoring volunteers from Rhineland-Palatinate during the regional Volunteer Day on August 30. The ceremony aired live on SWR television starting at 6:15 p.m. as the centerpiece of the day's events.

Viewers picked Karina Peters as the public favorite

Karina Peters from Bleialf won the audience-voted prize for her work supporting the Alftal Blasorchester, a youth-heavy brass band in the Bitburg-Prüm district. Viewers of SWR Landesschau Rheinland-Pfalz and SWR4 radio listeners chose her from a field of ten candidates in an online vote.