https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Petrol and diesel are getting more expensive across Europe as conflict in the Middle East disrupts oil markets. But prices appear to be rising faster in Germany. Here’s why – and what drivers can do to spend less. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/why-fuel-prices-are-rising-faster-in-germany-than-in-other-european-countries Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:08:44 +0100 why-fuel-prices-are-rising-faster-in-germany-than-in-other-european-countries Germany will release part of its oil reserve as global energy costs soar as a result of the Middle East war, Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/germany-set-to-release-part-of-oil-reserve-amid-mideast-war Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:08:26 +0100 germany-set-to-release-part-of-oil-reserve-amid-mideast-war Just over two weeks before a new Paris-Berlin overnight rail service starts, operators have confirmed the service’s route and three new stops. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/three-extra-stops-on-new-paris-berlin-night-train Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:26:16 +0100 three-extra-stops-on-new-paris-berlin-night-train In most cases foreigners in Germany need to live in the country for five years and have B1 level language skills before they are qualified for permanent residency, but there are exceptions for certain groups, like skilled workers. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/what-are-the-language-requirements-for-permanent-residency-in-germany Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:46:16 +0100 what-are-the-language-requirements-for-permanent-residency-in-germany Deutsche Bahn is growing its cross-border services to the west, with extra high speed rail links to Belgium this summer, as well as new connections later in the year from Cologne to Brussels Airport and the North Sea coast. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/deutsche-bahn-expands-high-speed-train-services-between-cologne-and-brussels Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:45:08 +0100 deutsche-bahn-expands-high-speed-train-services-between-cologne-and-brussels Berlin is expected to need more than 500,000 workers in the next nine years. But while some sectors will see a boom in demand for workers, others will see jobs phased out. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/which-jobs-are-desperately-needed-in-berlin-and-which-are-being-cut Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:43:15 +0100 which-jobs-are-desperately-needed-in-berlin-and-which-are-being-cut The western German city of Cologne saw a sharp rise in naturalisations last year. We asked the city – which has previously struggled with a backlog of citizenship applications – what is behind the increase. https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/whats-behind-the-significant-rise-of-naturalisations-in-cologne Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:19:31 +0100 whats-behind-the-significant-rise-of-naturalisations-in-cologne Lufthansa pilots set to strike, Saharan dust particles cause poor air quality in parts of Germany, petrol prices set to keep rising and more news on Wednesday March 11th. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-111 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:21:12 +0100 today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-111 Pilots for German airline Lufthansa will go on strike for a second time on Thursday and Friday over a pensions dispute, the Vereinigung Cockpit union said in a statement. https://www.thelocal.de/20260311/pilots-at-germanys-lufthansa-to-stage-two-day-strike Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:24:22 +0100 pilots-at-germanys-lufthansa-to-stage-two-day-strike The Greens managed a strong comeback and an historic win in Baden-Württemberg's elections, and the CDU is not happy about it. We break down five key takeaways from this nail-biting regional vote. https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/five-key-takeaways-from-baden-wurttembergs-state-election Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:36:37 +0100 five-key-takeaways-from-baden-wurttembergs-state-election When do you actually need to file a tax return in Germany, and when can you safely skip it? The Local spoke to a tax lawyer to unpack exactly when filing pays off for foreign residents. https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/an-experts-best-advice-on-when-and-why-to-file-a-tax-return-in-germany Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:23:59 +0100 an-experts-best-advice-on-when-and-why-to-file-a-tax-return-in-germany EU's energy chief Dan Jorgensen called on member states to help consumers and businesses by lowering taxes on energy where possible, as war in the Middle East saw oil and gas prices surge. https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/eu-countries-urged-to-lower-energy-taxes-to-reduce-consumer-bills Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:18:48 +0100 eu-countries-urged-to-lower-energy-taxes-to-reduce-consumer-bills German is renowned for its lengthy words. As you might expect, the most unwieldy ones can be found in the worlds of law and finance. We've trawled around to put together the most useful ones for you here (and we've included some just for fun). https://www.thelocal.de/20240806/the-long-german-words-you-need-to-know-and-some-you-dont Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:50:56 +0200 the-long-german-words-you-need-to-know-and-some-you-dont Some would-be travellers from Germany had Easter trips booked, deposits paid and time off work approved well before the US and Israel escalated military conflicts in Iran. So is it still safe to visit places like Turkey, Egypt or Cyprus? https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/is-it-still-safe-to-travel-to-the-eastern-mediterranean-from-germany Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:37:48 +0100 is-it-still-safe-to-travel-to-the-eastern-mediterranean-from-germany The allergy season runs from March to September in Germany, and can be particularly hard on newcomers to the country. Here's a look at why allergies seem to be getting worse, and what you can do to deal with them. https://www.thelocal.de/20250604/how-to-manage-seasonal-allergies-in-germany Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:36:59 +0200 how-to-manage-seasonal-allergies-in-germany Volkswagen said Tuesday that it would cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as its profit slid to its lowest level since 2016. https://www.thelocal.de/20260310/volkswagen-to-cut-50000-jobs-in-germany-by-2030 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:03:59 +0100 volkswagen-to-cut-50000-jobs-in-germany-by-2030 More and more people in Germany are turning to mobile banking options for convenience and accessibility. Here’s our breakdown of how the best of the ‘new banks’ compare. https://www.thelocal.de/20260309/listed-eight-of-the-best-mobile-banks-for-foreign-residents-in-germany Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:24:43 +0100 listed-eight-of-the-best-mobile-banks-for-foreign-residents-in-germany The German Chancellor continues to voice strong support for the US and Israel as they continue to wage war against Iran's Islamic Republic, but has voiced concern around the fact that it will impact the economy. https://www.thelocal.de/20260309/germanys-merz-concerned-as-mideast-drives-up-energy-prices Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:05:32 +0100 germanys-merz-concerned-as-mideast-drives-up-energy-prices A recent report revealing that more EU citizens are leaving Germany than arriving got a huge response online. Here's what readers had to say about why some Europeans are opting out of life in the country and why others are determined to stay. https://www.thelocal.de/20260309/your-views-honestly-germany-is-not-as-bad-as-some-people-claim Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:46:35 +0100 your-views-honestly-germany-is-not-as-bad-as-some-people-claim Municipal and district elections were held across the state of Bavaria on Sunday. Run-off elections will go forward in Munich and several other large cities where legacy party candidates have seen their support slip. https://www.thelocal.de/20260309/the-winners-and-losers-of-bavarias-local-elections Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:02:36 +0100 the-winners-and-losers-of-bavarias-local-elections