The Local Germany

Germany’s biggest pumpkin weighs in at almost 800 kilos

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:54:04 +0200

At the largest pumpkin festival in the world on Sunday, a Bavarian team became this year’s German champions with a pumpkin that was heavier than them all at 792.5 kilograms.

World Nose Championship brings big beaks to Bavaria

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 16:25:13 +0200

On Saturday evening the World Nose Championship took place in Langenbruck, Bavaria. The event takes place every five years, and participants flock to the Holledau hop-planting area from all over Europe.

German cartel authority punishes booking.com

Wed, 23 Dec 2015 15:04:16 +0100

The German cartel authorities have banned the online hotel booking portal, Booking.com, from requiring hotels across the country to offer it their lowest room prices.

'Hot Boy from Germany' wins Vietnam Idol

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:22:30 +0200

A 22-year-old from Hanover has become the latest winner of Vietnam Idol – bagging $27,000 along with his new title.

Germany, EU charged with Google-bashing

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 13:42:00 +0100

Germany is at the heart of moves to limit the power of US web companies and their involvement in surveillance as American voices cry foul.

Frankfurt court lifts national Uber ban

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:02:00 +0200

App-based chauffeur car service Uber is no longer illegal in Germany, a Frankfurt court ruled on Tuesday afternoon.

National Uber ban is revenge of the taxis

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 11:01:00 +0200

The Frankfurt regional court has imposed a temporary nationwide ban on chauffeur car service Uber, saying that it must pay a €250,000 fine if passengers continue to book rides through its app.

German beer giants accused of price-fixing

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:37:00 +0100

Competition regulators are investigating more than a dozen large German breweries suspected of illegally fixing prices on popular beers such as Jever, Becks, Warsteiner and Erdinger, it emerged over the weekend.

World Press Photo 2012 winners reach Hamburg

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:31:00 +0200

The world's most striking press images go on display in Hamburg, northern Germany on Friday, when the World Press Photo 2012 exhibition opens its doors to visitors.

Competition authority probes Lufthansa

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:51:00 +0200

German authorities are reportedly probing the airline Lufthansa for allegedly distorting competition among business travellers.

Top firms urge antitrust sanctions on Hungary

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:07:00 +0100

Thirteen leading European firms including Germany's RWE, EON and Deutsche Telekom have reportedly urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Hungary for anti-competitive measures.

Energy firms rake in massive profits

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:14:00 +0200

German energy firms continued to rake in massive profits despite the recent financial crisis, with the three biggest companies making profits of €23 billion last year, media reported Wednesday.

EU watchdog airs 'doubts' about HRE after approving more aid

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:34:00 +0200

Europe's top competition watchdog on Friday expressed "doubts" about the long-term viability of troubled German bank Hypo Real Estate, while granting temporary approval for ongoing state support.

Thuringians are best life-savers

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:34:00 +0200

A Thuringian Red Cross association won the honour of being Germany's best life-savers in an all-German Red Cross competition held on Saturday in their hometown of Sondershausen.

Watchdog eyes Opel state help

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:53:00 +0100

The European Union’s competition watchdog vowed on Sunday to keep a tight rein on how state aid is given to ailing carmaker Opel, as the firm’s parent company prepares its pitch for help from countries including Germany.

FDP mulls breaking up Deutsche Post to spur competition

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:01:00 +0100

The pro-business Free Democrats are considering breaking up Germany's national postal service Deutsche Post, according to classified parliamentary documents published on Thursday.

Competition watchdog raids major retailers

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:46:00 +0100

Germany’s federal competition watchdog raided the main offices of almost every large retail food and drugstore chain in the country on Thursday on suspicion of price-fixing. Among them were Edeka, Lidl, Metro, Rewe and Rossmann.

German coffee makers fined for massive price-fixing scheme

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:33:00 +0100

Coffee lovers have been overpaying in Germany, the competition watchdog announced this week as it slapped fines totalling €159.5 million on three of the country’s biggest coffee makers, Tchibo, Melitta and Dallmayr.

Deutsche Bahn faces long-distance bus rivals

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:41:00 +0100

National rail provider Deutsche Bahn will soon have competition from cheaper, faster bus coaches if the new government coalition’s plans to remove a long-haul bus ban go through, daily Berliner Zeitung reported on Thursday.

RWE to sell chunk of German gas grid

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:11:00 +0100

Energy company RWE is selling its German gas grid following a formal complaint by the European Commission on Wednesday.