Monday's top story: Record number of pensioners reliant on income support
The number of pensioners in Germany who need financial support from the state has continued to rise with current figures the highest ever recorded.
At the end of September, around 755,300 senior citizens whose pensions were insufficient to cover their living expenses received basic old-age income support. This number represents an all-time high and an increase of 6,000 from June, according to figures from the Federal Statistical Office obtained by the left-wing BSW party.
According to the data, the number of over-67s receiving basic income support increased by 25,000 in the space of a year and has climbed 30 percent over the past four years.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED - What exactly is Germany's controversial pension package?
The data shows that women are disproportionately affected, too: at the end of September this year, almost 57 percent of those receiving basic income support in old age – 428,685 – were women, according to the BSW's inquiry.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 19 million people aged 65 and over were living in Germany in 2024.
Transport minister says 2027 driving licence reform won't cut costs quickly
The driving school course reform should come into effect "at the beginning of 2027", providing "everything goes smoothly in coordination with the federal states," transport minister Patrick Schnieder told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.
However, although the key goal of the reform is to make learning to drive less expensive, licences "won't be immediately cheaper," he said.
"We are giving driving schools options and freedoms - how this specifically affects prices will be regulated by the market," he explained.
READ ALSO: The plan to make it cheaper to get a driver's licence in Germany
Getting a driving licence in Germany currently costs around €3,500.
The Ministry of Transport's reform proposals include reducing the number of questions in the theory test, cutting down the number of compulsory night and motorway driving lessons, offering theory classes online and giving learners the option to take test drives with family members.
Over 100,000 family reunification visas issued in 2025
More than 100,000 spouses, children or parents of foreigners living in Germany travelled to Germany with a family reunification visa in 2025.
At the end of November, 101,756 of these visas had been issued, the Welt am Sonntag reported, citing the German Foreign Office.
The majority of people came from Turkey (almost 15,000), Syria, India, Kosovo and Albania.
READ ALSO: Germany moves to restrict family reunification for refugees
Most of the visas – 44,400 – were for a spouse to join their family member, while some 37,200 children joined their parents in Germany, and around 3,500 parents joined their children. A further 16,300 family reunification visas were issued to spouses with German citizenship.
The number of reunification visas has been declining since its 2023 peak, most probably as a result of the German government's July decision to suspend these visas for two years for those granted subsidiary protection.
Berlin to take tough stance against New Year's Eve troublemakers
Berlin mayor Kai Wegner has announced a tough security approach for New Year’s Eve, vowing a robust police response to hooligans and attacks with fireworks in the capital.
He stressed that while everyone should be able to celebrate and have fun, anyone committing crimes will “feel the full force of the rule of law”, with officers prepared to intervene “very consistently and robustly”.
Police have been planning the operation for months and will be highly visible across the city, with large numbers of officers deployed to prevent small groups from misusing the night for rioting or serious offences.
Wegner highlighted recent seizures of large quantities of illegal fireworks, describing them as both a success and a warning to smugglers and dealers.
READ ALSO: What are the rules for setting off fireworks in Germany on New Year's Eve?
On calls for a firework ban, he argued it would only be effective as a nationwide sales ban, noting there is currently no majority among Germany’s states. He urged tighter regulation at federal and EU level, especially against illegal “shells”, which caused serious injuries and property damage in Berlin last New Year’s Eve.
At least 46 Catholic churches permanently deconsecrated in 2025
At least 46 Roman Catholic churches and chapels across Germany had their sacred status permanently removed this year, the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.
In 2024, more than 66 churches were deconsecrated, the paper reported, citing data from the DBK.
A spokesperson for the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) told the paper that the data on abandoned Evangelical churches for the years 2023 to 2025 was still being compiled, but said that 23 churches, chapels, and community centres were sold or demolished in 2022.
READ ALSO: 'Flawed and guilty' - What happened when I left the Church in Germany
Germany's major Christian churches have been losing members for years as a result of demographic changes and people leaving the church. Currently, less than half of Germany's population is a member of an Evangelical or Catholic church.
Decathlete named Germany's Sports Personality of the Year
Leo Neugebauer, the 25-year-old decathlon world champion, was named Germany's Sports Personality of the Year (Sportler des Jahres) for 2025 on Sunday. The Stuttgart athlete, who clinched gold at the World Championships in Tokyo with 8,804 points, edged out swimmer Florian Wellbrock and cyclist Florian Lipowitz in the sports journalists' vote.
READ ALSO: Jugger to Sporthocking - Six off-the-wall German sports everybody should try
The award ceremony took place at the gala in Baden-Baden's Kurhaus, where Neugebauer's father presented the trophy. Sprint legend Usain Bolt sent video congratulations, praising his dedication. "Thanks to everyone – it takes a lot of people," Neugebauer said, vowing a big celebration ahead.
Franziska Preuß was named female Sports Personality of the Year for 2025, ahead of rhythmic gymnast Darja Varfolomeev and swimmer Anna Elendt.
Preuß enjoyed a standout 2025, including gold in the pursuit at the Lenzerheide World Championships, the overall World Cup title and multiple medals in mixed relays.
Germany's men's basketball national team won Team of the Year following their European Championship title in Riga, Latvia.
With additional reporting by AFP and Tom Pugh.
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