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 As the colder months approach, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the country's 16 state premieres are meeting to discuss new measures to stem the spread of the virus indoors. Here are their main proposals. https://www.thelocal.de/20200929/what-are-germanys-proposed-new-rules-for-events-and-restaurants Tue, 29 Sep 2020 12:07:03 +0200 what-are-germanys-proposed-new-rules-for-events-and-restaurants Germany plans to take on €96.2 billion in new debt in 2021, shattering its cherished no-deficit rule for a second year running to combat the pandemic's economic fallout, Finance Ministry sources said Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20200918/doing-nothing-would-be-more-expensive-germany-to-take-on-debt-again-in-2021-in-coronavirus-fightback Fri, 18 Sep 2020 19:09:36 +0200 doing-nothing-would-be-more-expensive-germany-to-take-on-debt-again-in-2021-in-coronavirus-fightback Germany’s first nationwide 'catastrophe awareness day' was described as “a fiasco”, after cities reported having no sirens, while too many digital warnings sent at once led to a system meltdown. https://www.thelocal.de/20200910/no-sirens-since-cold-war-catastrophe-awareness-day-flop-embarrasses-government Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:12:50 +0200 no-sirens-since-cold-war-catastrophe-awareness-day-flop-embarrasses-government Nicknamed the “Cheers of techno”, the cocktail bar John Muir is a beloved starting-point for a night out in Berlin. Now the coronavirus - and an aggressive landlord - have pushed it into bankruptcy. https://www.thelocal.de/20200910/im-afraid-of-being-deported-american-owner-of-popular-berlin-bar-fears-for-future-after-coronavirus-eviction-john-muir Thu, 10 Sep 2020 12:13:56 +0200 im-afraid-of-being-deported-american-owner-of-popular-berlin-bar-fears-for-future-after-coronavirus-eviction-john-muir A uniform nationwide fine of at least €50 will be slapped on people who don't wear a mask when it's obligatory, a government draft agreement states. https://www.thelocal.de/20200827/germany-agrees-nationwide-50-fines-for-anyone-who-flouts-face-mask-rules Thu, 27 Aug 2020 11:14:55 +0200 germany-agrees-nationwide-50-fines-for-anyone-who-flouts-face-mask-rules We look back at some of the key moments and photos that have shaped Angela Merkel's remarkable life in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20190717/angela-merkel-at-65-10-photos-that-tell-the-story-of-germanys-eternal-chancellor Wed, 17 Jul 2019 16:35:35 +0200 angela-merkel-at-65-10-photos-that-tell-the-story-of-germanys-eternal-chancellor More than 14.4 million people have downloaded the Corona-Warn-App in Germany so far. What's the verdict on it? This is what The Local readers had to say. https://www.thelocal.de/20200702/only-problem-is-that-its-optional-the-verdict-on-germanys-coronavirus-tracing-app Thu, 02 Jul 2020 17:04:05 +0200 only-problem-is-that-its-optional-the-verdict-on-germanys-coronavirus-tracing-app The German government unveiled the new coronavirus tracing app on Tuesday, calling it a "big step" in the pandemic fight. https://www.thelocal.de/20200616/germanys-new-tracing-app-is-big-step-in-fight-against-coronavirus Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:21:45 +0200 germanys-new-tracing-app-is-big-step-in-fight-against-coronavirus German ministers met Tuesday to thrash out an economic stimulus package to speed recovery from the coronavirus shutdown, with the vital auto industry and possible subsidies for it a key sticking point. https://www.thelocal.de/20200602/german-divisions-on-show-over-new-coronavirus-stimulus-package Tue, 02 Jun 2020 13:54:52 +0200 german-divisions-on-show-over-new-coronavirus-stimulus-package More support, extra testing and bonuses for some care workers – but 'immunity passports' off the table: the Bundestag has passed a second package of measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Here's an overview. https://www.thelocal.de/20200514/explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-new-coronavirus-pandemic-law Thu, 14 May 2020 13:04:49 +0200 explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-new-coronavirus-pandemic-law The German government is extending a warning against international travel, put in place to stem the spread of coronavirus, until the middle of June. https://www.thelocal.de/20200429/germany-set-to-extend-worldwide-travel-warning-until-mid-june-coronavirus Wed, 29 Apr 2020 11:00:23 +0200 germany-set-to-extend-worldwide-travel-warning-until-mid-june-coronavirus Germany’s record federal budget surplus has renewed a fiery debate about tax cuts. Different coalitions are now proposing their own tax-relief programs, with widely different priorities. https://www.thelocal.de/20200124/demand-for-tax-cuts-grows Fri, 24 Jan 2020 12:48:38 +0100 demand-for-tax-cuts-grows The German government will next year issue its first so-called green bonds, borrowing on financial markets to fund projects that are positive for the environment as calls grow for climate action. https://www.thelocal.de/20191219/germany-to-issue-first-green-bonds-in-bid-to-support-climate-action Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:37:53 +0100 germany-to-issue-first-green-bonds-in-bid-to-support-climate-action The new, leftist leaders of Germany's Social Democrats offered Angela Merkel's struggling coalition a lifeline at a key congress on Friday but vowed to push for more action on climate protection and public investments. https://www.thelocal.de/20191207/germanys-spd-shifts-left-but-gives-merkel-coalition-a-chance Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:31:01 +0100 germanys-spd-shifts-left-but-gives-merkel-coalition-a-chance The German government is set to approve on Friday a number of laws in its climate protection package on Friday. From more expensive plane tickets to higher commuter allowances, here's how they could affect you. https://www.thelocal.de/20191115/what-does-germanys-planned-climate-protection-package-mean-for-you Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:44:58 +0100 what-does-germanys-planned-climate-protection-package-mean-for-you Germany faced renewed pressure on Friday to boost public spending and help revive a sputtering European economy, a day after the European Central Bank warned it had reached the limit of its powers to avert recession. https://www.thelocal.de/20190913/should-germany-give-into-pressure-and-boost-spending-to-revive-europe Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:05:58 +0200 should-germany-give-into-pressure-and-boost-spending-to-revive-europe German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz presented a 2020 budget that sticks to the country's longstanding no-new-debts "black zero" policy, defying speculation on financial markets that Berlin might borrow to fund investments. https://www.thelocal.de/20190910/germany-clings-to-no-debt-policy-in-2020-budget Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:21:15 +0200 germany-clings-to-no-debt-policy-in-2020-budget Angela Merkel is returning from her summer break on Monday, but she's in for a busy few months ahead. From climate change action to tax amendments, this is what the government is planning. https://www.thelocal.de/20190812/from-climate-action-to-soli-tax-reform-what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-planned-changes Mon, 12 Aug 2019 12:13:41 +0200 from-climate-action-to-soli-tax-reform-what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-planned-changes Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn wants to overhaul medical care to take the pressure off hospitals and reduce emergency room waiting times. Here's how the proposals are shaping up. https://www.thelocal.de/20190722/how-germany-plans-to-revamp-emergency-care-to-beat-er-overcrowding Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:35:17 +0200 how-germany-plans-to-revamp-emergency-care-to-beat-er-overcrowding German ministers on Wednesday agreed to toughen the law on so-called "cyber-grooming" of prospective victims by predators, making illegal even attempts to communicate online with a child for sexual purposes. https://www.thelocal.de/20190626/cyber-grooming-germany-toughens-law-on-online-predators Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:38:47 +0200 cyber-grooming-germany-toughens-law-on-online-predators