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 Lufthansa is cancelling thousands of short‑haul flights as sky‑high fuel prices linked to the war in Iran force the airline to 'optimise' its schedule. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/lufthansa-cuts-20000-flights-as-fuel-crisis-bites-in-germany Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:16:24 +0200 lufthansa-cuts-20000-flights-as-fuel-crisis-bites-in-germany Humanoid robots were on full display at an industry trade fair in Hanover this week. Chancellor Merz endorsed AI technologies as key to reviving German industry, but China still dominates the sector. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:47:34 +0200 ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories The EU has moved to tighten rules on pet passports, closing a loophole that has been used by many British second-home owners since Brexit. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:29:35 +0200 eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Applicants for German citizenship need to jump through a number of hoops before they can be naturalised - and not everyone manages to clear these hurdles. Here are some of the most common reasons a German citizenship application may be turned down. https://www.thelocal.de/20241217/the-reasons-your-german-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:51:09 +0100 the-reasons-your-german-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected The EU Commission plans measures against the energy crisis, Chancellor Merz to address German policy at climate talks in Berlin, Amnesty International says Germany is contributing to global human rights crisis and more news on Wednesday, April 22nd. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-117 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:32:48 +0200 today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-wednesday-117 German investor morale slid to its lowest level in over three years in April, a survey showed Tuesday, as the Middle East war threatens to snuff out a tentative recovery in Europe's top economy. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/german-investor-morale-lowest-in-over-three-years-amid-iran-war-fallout Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:51:16 +0200 german-investor-morale-lowest-in-over-three-years-amid-iran-war-fallout Experts have been warning for years about Germany's shortage of skilled workers. How bad is it – and what can be expected in the long term? https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/how-bad-is-germanys-skilled-worker-shortage-in-2026 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:29:50 +0200 how-bad-is-germanys-skilled-worker-shortage-in-2026 Germany and Italy on Tuesday rebuffed calls to suspend an EU cooperation deal with Israel, despite rising anger over the war in Lebanon and the situation in the West Bank. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/germany-and-italy-reject-suspending-eu-israel-cooperation-deal Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:56:42 +0200 germany-and-italy-reject-suspending-eu-israel-cooperation-deal Looking to learn German without spending a cent? From flashcard apps to online courses and video series, here are the best free online resources to help you build up your language skills. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/listed-the-best-free-websites-and-apps-for-german-language-learners Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:26:53 +0200 listed-the-best-free-websites-and-apps-for-german-language-learners From residence permits to health insurance to moving over and finding a home, we'd like to hear from readers about what the main problems are in 2026 for international residents living in Germany. Please take part in our one minute survey. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/tell-us-what-are-the-biggest-problems-facing-foreign-residents-in-germany Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:25:00 +0200 tell-us-what-are-the-biggest-problems-facing-foreign-residents-in-germany The European Union said on Tuesday that it was considering importing more jet fuel from the US and requiring member states to hold minimum reserves as the Middle East war squeezes supplies. Brussels will lay out a series of measures on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:48:22 +0200 we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Popular flight routes around Europe are almost impossible for passengers to book by train because of a "stone age" ticketing system, a new report has found as the EU is set to unveil plans for it single ticket system. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:50:54 +0200 stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains As war in Iran pushes jet‑fuel prices higher, flights from Germany could become more expensive and less predictable in the months ahead. Here’s what that means for bookings, prices – and your rights. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/what-travellers-in-germany-need-to-know-about-the-jet-fuel-crisis Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:41:44 +0200 what-travellers-in-germany-need-to-know-about-the-jet-fuel-crisis Long waits for appointments, burdensome bureaucracy and language barriers: applying for a residence permit can be a tricky business for foreigners in Germany. We asked readers to share their experience and their top tips. https://www.thelocal.de/20260210/you-need-patience-what-its-like-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-germany Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:26:01 +0100 you-need-patience-what-its-like-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-germany Germany is encouraging employers to give their staff a €1,000 tax-free bonus. Now the government plans to extend the time that firms are allowed to pay it out by six months. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/germany-to-allow-tax-free-e1000-employee-bonus-until-next-year Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:59:31 +0200 germany-to-allow-tax-free-e1000-employee-bonus-until-next-year Police statistics show drop in crime, Siemens warns EU risks falling behind in AI race, asylum applications to Germany fall sharply as France becomes top EU destination and more news on Tuesday, April 21st. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-120 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:28:06 +0200 today-in-germany-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-120 Berlin summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday over "direct threats from Russia" against "targets in Germany", the foreign ministry said. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/germany-summons-russian-envoy-over-threats Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:10:34 +0200 germany-summons-russian-envoy-over-threats Finding an unlimited apartment to rent in Germany is getting harder, with new figures confirming that standard leases are steadily declining while furnished and fixed‑term contracts continue to grow. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/more-and-more-furnished-flats-in-german-cities-are-making-standard-rentals-hard-to-find Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:21:00 +0200 more-and-more-furnished-flats-in-german-cities-are-making-standard-rentals-hard-to-find A German woman has been arrested in Russia, allegedly for plotting a 'terrorist attack' on behalf of Ukraine. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/russia-arrests-german-woman-in-alleged-bomb-plot Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:07:23 +0200 russia-arrests-german-woman-in-alleged-bomb-plot A new survey suggests Germans think manners are slipping across the country – with some regions judged far more harshly than others. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/are-manners-really-declining-in-germany Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:53:50 +0200 are-manners-really-declining-in-germany