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 Following the run-off mayoral election on Sunday, the capital of Bavaria is set to have a Green party mayor for the first time - and that's not the only surprising detail of this sensational election. https://www.thelocal.de/20260323/who-is-munichs-new-green-mayor-and-what-does-his-victory-mean Mon, 23 Mar 2026 13:20:29 +0100 who-is-munichs-new-green-mayor-and-what-does-his-victory-mean 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 The far-right party's Bavarian chapter is further intensifying its hard-line immigration stance in calling for an authoritarian police force similar to the US's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. https://www.thelocal.de/20260128/anti-immigration-afd-party-wants-to-bring-ice-to-germany Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:19:32 +0100 anti-immigration-afd-party-wants-to-bring-ice-to-germany More deportations, tighter immigration rules and the return of nuclear energy – Germany's CSU party has some dramatic policy goals in mind for the coming year that could concern some of the country's foreign residents. https://www.thelocal.de/20260107/major-deportation-offensive-what-bavarias-conservatives-want-for-germany-in-2026 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:03:53 +0100 major-deportation-offensive-what-bavarias-conservatives-want-for-germany-in-2026 A picture-perfect Alpine mountain lake in Germany draws so many visitors every summer that the first thing they see is crowded busses, traffic jams and a packed-out carpark. https://www.thelocal.de/20250823/summer-brings-overtourism-fears-for-bavarian-caribbean Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:57:13 +0200 summer-brings-overtourism-fears-for-bavarian-caribbean Germany is not particularly well known for suffering from mass tourism but parts of Bavaria – including the stunning Eibsee – are struggling with overcrowding. How much of a problem is it and how should communities respond? https://www.thelocal.de/20250820/chaos-for-us-how-much-of-a-problem-is-mass-tourism-in-germany Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:15:02 +0200 chaos-for-us-how-much-of-a-problem-is-mass-tourism-in-germany Some of the harshest critics of legal cannabis come from Germany's southern state, where three cannabis clubs have just been approved. The state's conservative leadership says it doesn't change their goal of repealing the legalisation. https://www.thelocal.de/20250425/bavaria-approves-first-three-cannabis-clubs-after-german-legalisation Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:00:47 +0200 bavaria-approves-first-three-cannabis-clubs-after-german-legalisation There is perhaps no better place for an awe-inspiring Christmas market experience than Bavaria, so here's an essential guide for readers. https://www.thelocal.de/20231115/an-essential-guide-to-bavarias-christmas-markets-this-winter Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:08:48 +0100 an-essential-guide-to-bavarias-christmas-markets-this-winter Germany's southern 'Free State' has long been a draw for tourists from around the world. The authors of Lonely Planet travel guides have billed it as one of the world's top destinations to visit in 2025. https://www.thelocal.de/20241023/why-bavaria-is-one-the-worlds-top-travel-destinations-for-2025 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:35 +0200 why-bavaria-is-one-the-worlds-top-travel-destinations-for-2025 With the exception of workers who get a job offer from one of the region's bigger firms, Nuremberg may not be on the radar for many foreigners. But Bavaria's second largest city has more to offer than it gets credit for, writes Paul Krantz. https://www.thelocal.de/20240415/five-reasons-foreigners-should-move-to-nuremberg Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:14:03 +0200 five-reasons-foreigners-should-move-to-nuremberg In a bid to improve lacklustre results in reading and writing following the international PISA study, the state of Bavaria is to overhaul primary education with a greater emphasis on maths and German and proposed cuts to creative arts and English lessons. https://www.thelocal.de/20240228/why-bavaria-is-increasing-maths-and-german-lessons-in-primary-schools Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:15:54 +0100 why-bavaria-is-increasing-maths-and-german-lessons-in-primary-schools Bavaria's state premier Markus Söder has been making headlines during a visit to Sweden. It begs the question: why is he there? And why is he on a stage with hologram versions of the pop legends ABBA? https://www.thelocal.de/20240223/why-is-bavarias-premier-singing-with-abba-on-stage-during-an-official-visit-to-sweden Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:08:57 +0100 why-is-bavarias-premier-singing-with-abba-on-stage-during-an-official-visit-to-sweden The southern German state of Bavaria is reportedly taking the snack known as 'Hot Chip Challenge' off the shelves over concerns for consumers' health. https://www.thelocal.de/20231110/bavaria-bans-sale-of-hot-chips-over-health-concerns Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:17:04 +0100 bavaria-bans-sale-of-hot-chips-over-health-concerns Seven people including a child were killed and several others injured early Friday after a minibus believed to be packed with migrants crashed trying to evade a German road check. https://www.thelocal.de/20231013/seven-dead-after-vehicle-suspected-of-people-smuggling-crashes-in-bavaria Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:15:17 +0200 seven-dead-after-vehicle-suspected-of-people-smuggling-crashes-in-bavaria German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's troubled coalition suffered heavy losses in two state elections Sunday seen as a crucial test halfway through its term, while the resurgent far right made new gains. https://www.thelocal.de/20231008/scholzs-coalition-suffers-losses-in-germany-state-polls-exit-polls Sun, 08 Oct 2023 20:37:07 +0200 scholzs-coalition-suffers-losses-in-germany-state-polls-exit-polls The last major wave of summer holiday traffic is expected this weekend as the holidays come to an end in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. https://www.thelocal.de/20230904/heavy-traffic-expected-in-southern-germany-as-summer-holidays-end Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:20:56 +0200 heavy-traffic-expected-in-southern-germany-as-summer-holidays-end Hubert Aiwanger, the leader of Bavaria's populist Free Voters' party, has been caught up in an anti-Semitism controversy this week, sparking a storm in German media. Here's what to know about the right-wing politician and what he's accused of. https://www.thelocal.de/20230901/why-a-high-profile-bavarian-politician-is-embroiled-in-an-anti-semitic-row Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:24:20 +0200 why-a-high-profile-bavarian-politician-is-embroiled-in-an-anti-semitic-row The residents of a village in Lower Bavaria have the power to influence the future of BMW's electric car production in a referendum that pits fears over land use and traffic against the prospect of more jobs and greater prosperity. https://www.thelocal.de/20230830/bavarias-business-future-at-risk-as-village-votes-on-bmw-battery-factory Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:40:21 +0200 bavarias-business-future-at-risk-as-village-votes-on-bmw-battery-factory Almost four decades after the Chernobyl reactor disaster, many mushrooms, particularly in Bavaria, continue to be contaminated with radioactive cesium. https://www.thelocal.de/20230828/wild-mushrooms-in-southern-germany-still-radioactive-decades-after-chernobyl Mon, 28 Aug 2023 16:38:40 +0200 wild-mushrooms-in-southern-germany-still-radioactive-decades-after-chernobyl The German Weather Service (DWD) issued a severe weather warning in several parts of Bavaria on Thursday as the southern state was struck by heavy snowfall and 100km-per-hour winds. https://www.thelocal.de/20230202/bavaria-hit-by-severe-snowstorms-and-gales Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:51:32 +0100 bavaria-hit-by-severe-snowstorms-and-gales