German regulator

Germany is gearing up for the switch to winter time in 2026, with clocks due to go back one hour as usual. German media are explaining when the change happens and how it works, while debate continues over whether the twice-yearly time change should be abolished altogether. In Austria, a new regulation on scrapping the time change has drawn particular attention, adding to confusion about what rules will apply in future.

Police temporarily blocked access to the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart after nearly 80,000 visitors flooded the festival grounds, German outlet T-Online reports. The closures were a safety measure to ease overcrowding at one of Germany's largest folk festivals, second only to Munich's Oktoberfest. Visitors reported long waits and packed walkways as officers regulated entry through the main gates.

German drivers, especially pensioners, are preparing for a set of new motor vehicle regulations taking effect in 2027. Coverage from Echo24.de outlines what older drivers need to watch regarding their cars and driving licences, amid wider debate about licence renewals and health checks for seniors. Motorists are being urged to check the changes in advance.

Alphabet is suing the European Union over regulatory orders concerning its Android operating system and Google Search, German tech outlet heise online reports. The legal action targets decisions linked to the EU's Digital Markets Act, the law designed to curb the market power of large tech platforms. Observers see the suit as a major test of the EU's ability to enforce its new digital rules against the world's largest technology companies.

A BBC Sport feature examines German clubs that win their league titles but are barred from moving up, a rule known to fans as the 'Unpromotables'. The restriction applies mainly to reserve teams of top-flight clubs, who may not play in the same league as their parent side. The article explains how this rule shapes their seasons and frustrates players and fans.

The Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen (BDP) has come out in favour of planned measures to better protect minors on the internet. The professional association of German psychologists is calling for strict rules, arguing that stronger regulation is needed to safeguard young people online. The intervention adds a professional voice to Germany's ongoing debate over how far the state should go in shielding children from harmful content and services online.

France and Germany are working towards a compromise on proposed EU car regulations and the 'Made in Europe' policy, according to EU Today. The two largest EU members have often clashed over emissions targets and industrial policy, so a deal between Paris and Berlin would likely shape the final rules for the European car industry. Details of the compromise have not yet been made public.

Germany's energy regulator has approved rules allowing electric vehicle batteries to be used for home energy storage and to feed electricity back into the grid, according to a Reuters report. The decision opens the door for bidirectional charging, letting EV owners supply power to their homes or sell it to the network, a step with implications for grid stability and the wider energy transition.