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 Six EU countries are stepping up calls for a bloc-wide windfall tax on oil companies as profits soar due to the Middle East war, according to a letter seen by AFP Saturday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260823/six-eu-countries-urge-windfall-tax-on-energy-firms Sun, 23 Aug 2026 12:37:46 +0200 six-eu-countries-urge-windfall-tax-on-energy-firms Germany is working on a major pension reform, with plans to scrap the 'Rente mit 63' early retirement scheme. What is it and why is it being targeted? https://www.thelocal.de/20260818/will-germany-scrap-its-early-retirement-scheme Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:22:27 +0200 will-germany-scrap-its-early-retirement-scheme Germans are famously protective of their privacy. With dashcams, doorbell cameras and personal assistants like Alexa becoming increasingly common, we look at what you need to know about using these devices in public. https://www.thelocal.de/20251202/what-are-the-rules-on-dashcams-and-doorbell-cameras-in-germany Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:07:13 +0100 what-are-the-rules-on-dashcams-and-doorbell-cameras-in-germany If you live in Germany and have an account with a UK, US or other non-EU bank, you may have recently received a message telling you about a new EU directive. Here's what it means for foreigners in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260818/what-new-eu-banking-law-means-for-foreigners-in-germany Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:23:12 +0200 what-new-eu-banking-law-means-for-foreigners-in-germany From a series of mishaps for the CDU ahead of coming state elections, to a gorgeous mountain destination and an evening full of ice cream in Berlin, Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the recent news and events you may have missed. https://www.thelocal.de/20260822/inside-germany-its-one-thing-after-another-for-merzs-embattled-conservatives Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:12:53 +0200 inside-germany-its-one-thing-after-another-for-merzs-embattled-conservatives Europe saw at least 30,000 excess deaths across a blistering summer of back-to-back heatwaves and drought which scientists have blamed on man-made climate change, according to provisional figures. https://www.thelocal.de/20260822/heatwave-hit-europe-logs-over-30000-excess-summer-deaths Sat, 22 Aug 2026 10:53:02 +0200 heatwave-hit-europe-logs-over-30000-excess-summer-deaths Germany's highest court ruled against a tenant who sublet his Berlin apartment for twice as much rent as he owed. If you plan to sublet your own home, or part of it, there are a few rules you should be aware of. https://www.thelocal.de/20260204/how-much-can-you-sublet-your-apartment-for-in-germany Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:02:52 +0100 how-much-can-you-sublet-your-apartment-for-in-germany What do you need to earn to be considered a top earner in Germany? New government data shows where your salary stands compared to the rest of the population. https://www.thelocal.de/20260512/compare-how-does-your-salary-stack-up-against-germanys-top-earners Tue, 12 May 2026 16:11:30 +0200 compare-how-does-your-salary-stack-up-against-germanys-top-earners Your landlord could block you from installing a fixed air conditioning unit on your apartment in Germany under current tenancy law. The justice minister would like to change that. https://www.thelocal.de/20260819/will-tenants-in-germany-get-the-right-to-install-air-conditioning Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:31:05 +0200 will-tenants-in-germany-get-the-right-to-install-air-conditioning Germany's culture minister and a group of art and design institutions voiced support Thursday for the iconic Bauhaus art school, whose modernist legacy has come under attack from the far-right AfD. https://www.thelocal.de/20260821/culture-minister-defends-germanys-iconic-bauhaus-against-populist-attacks Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:48:58 +0200 culture-minister-defends-germanys-iconic-bauhaus-against-populist-attacks How well do you know your local politics? While most people have heard of the CDU, the SPD and the Greens, a host of lesser-known parties in Germany are also vying for voters' attention. https://www.thelocal.de/20260821/six-smaller-parties-running-in-berlins-state-elections Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:35:57 +0200 six-smaller-parties-running-in-berlins-state-elections With what is set to be an historic election in Saxony Anhalt just a couple weeks away, we asked our audience of foreigners in Germany how they're feeling about a potential victory for the far-right, anti-immigration party. https://www.thelocal.de/20260821/disaster-for-democracy-readers-sound-the-alarm-on-afd-in-saxony-anhalt Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:06:45 +0200 disaster-for-democracy-readers-sound-the-alarm-on-afd-in-saxony-anhalt Here’s a wonderfully specific German word to describe the moment when standards slip, everyone notices – and nobody quite does anything about it. https://www.thelocal.de/20260821/german-word-of-the-day-schlendrian Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:27:20 +0200 german-word-of-the-day-schlendrian While Germany is famous for its 'tuition-free' universities, international students often find that the costs add up. Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll need to budget before you start your university course in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260424/explained-how-much-does-it-cost-to-study-in-germany-in-2026 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:22:32 +0200 explained-how-much-does-it-cost-to-study-in-germany-in-2026 More foreign qualifications are being recognised in Germany than ever before, but despite its best efforts to get more and more immigrant workers into the labour force, growth appears to be slowing. https://www.thelocal.de/20260821/germany-recognises-record-number-of-foreign-qualifications-2 Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:39:23 +0200 germany-recognises-record-number-of-foreign-qualifications-2 From six week long summer breaks, to keeping mosquitos out of your home, to managing money in a country whose banks dislike US citizens, here's our latest newsletter for the Americans living in Germany, or who visit frequently. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/americans-in-germany-europes-vacation-season-and-what-to-know-about-banking Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:19:18 +0200 americans-in-germany-europes-vacation-season-and-what-to-know-about-banking The price of a litre of the good stuff at Munich's Oktoberfest goes up a bit each year. But beer is not the main expense that most visitors shell out for. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/in-numbers-how-expensive-are-drinks-at-oktoberfest-in-2026 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:49:16 +0200 in-numbers-how-expensive-are-drinks-at-oktoberfest-in-2026 Multiple heatwaves pushed temperatures to record highs and fuelled wildfires across Germany this summer. Now that rain and cooler air have settled in, we're asking if we've reached the end of the scorching summer of 2026? https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/is-germanys-summer-of-extreme-heat-finally-over Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:37:50 +0200 is-germanys-summer-of-extreme-heat-finally-over Former health minister Karl Lauterbach says the record-breaking figure is probably an underestimate. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/at-least-14000-heat-related-deaths-recorded-in-germany-this-summer Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:50:54 +0200 at-least-14000-heat-related-deaths-recorded-in-germany-this-summer As summer slowly begins to wind down, many people in Germany are already looking ahead to autumn city breaks and seeking a bit of winter sunshine. Here's a round-up of the new destinations you'll soon reach from German airports. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/listed-the-new-direct-flights-from-germany-in-autumn-2026 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:44:05 +0200 listed-the-new-direct-flights-from-germany-in-autumn-2026