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 Children should have "phased and gradual access" to social media, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday, as experts recommended under 13s only use online platforms under supervision. https://www.thelocal.de/20260713/eu-to-limit-childrens-access-to-social-media Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:02:47 +0200 eu-to-limit-childrens-access-to-social-media An American Ebola patient has arrived in Germany for treatment, the health ministry said on Monday, weeks after a previous US citizen infected with Ebola was treated in Berlin. https://www.thelocal.de/20260713/new-american-ebola-patient-arrives-in-germany-for-treatment Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:30:58 +0200 new-american-ebola-patient-arrives-in-germany-for-treatment Heat is becoming a serious public health issue in Germany, with rising numbers of people reporting exhaustion, sleep disruption and circulatory problems, according to a new nationwide survey. https://www.thelocal.de/20260713/one-in-three-people-in-germany-report-heat-related-health-problems Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:52:27 +0200 one-in-three-people-in-germany-report-heat-related-health-problems The summer holidays have started in some parts of Germany. We want to hear how families manage this period. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/tell-us-how-do-working-parents-in-germany-cover-the-summer-holidays Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:21:59 +0200 tell-us-how-do-working-parents-in-germany-cover-the-summer-holidays Ninety-nine people drowned in Germany last month, the most since a record heatwave swept Europe in 2003, according to official figures. https://www.thelocal.de/20260712/drownings-surge-as-heat-stifles-germany Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:07:12 +0200 drownings-surge-as-heat-stifles-germany Despite a year of searching, previous stints at big automotive suppliers and sending out about 50 applications, German software engineer Max Peil is still looking for a job. https://www.thelocal.de/20260712/car-crisis-takes-toll-on-germanys-young-engineers Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:07:58 +0200 car-crisis-takes-toll-on-germanys-young-engineers Germany's far-right AfD party on Saturday unveiled a manifesto for its first 100 days in office if it wins control of an eastern region, pledging to immediately expel all undocumented immigrants. https://www.thelocal.de/20260712/german-far-right-unveils-anti-migrant-policies-for-state-government Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:53:01 +0200 german-far-right-unveils-anti-migrant-policies-for-state-government Embattled centre-right Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner on Friday said he would not run for re-election in September after months of criticism over his handling of a major blackout apparently caused by sabotage. https://www.thelocal.de/20260711/berlin-mayor-abandons-re-election-bid-after-power-cut-controversy Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:50:33 +0200 berlin-mayor-abandons-re-election-bid-after-power-cut-controversy Belgium's three regions announced Friday they would introduce next year a road tax that foreign drivers transiting the country would also have to pay. https://www.thelocal.de/20260711/belgium-to-introduce-road-tax-for-transiting-drivers Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:21:29 +0200 belgium-to-introduce-road-tax-for-transiting-drivers Germany’s parliament has approved sweeping cost-cutting measures for the statutory health insurance system, despite fierce opposition warnings about higher costs for patients and growing pressure on hospitals. https://www.thelocal.de/20260710/germanys-health-insurance-austerity-package-becomes-law Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:36:59 +0200 germanys-health-insurance-austerity-package-becomes-law Volkswagen on Friday said that a slide in sales accelerated in the second quarter, as the crisis-hit German auto group reportedly considers cutting up to 100,000 jobs worldwide. https://www.thelocal.de/20260710/volkswagen-sales-slide-further-as-german-carmaker-weighs-mass-job-cuts Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:48:11 +0200 volkswagen-sales-slide-further-as-german-carmaker-weighs-mass-job-cuts Shoppers across several German states are being warned not to eat a specific batch of Rewe’s ja! Frozen Berry Mix after testing detected hepatitis A viruses in the product. https://www.thelocal.de/20260710/german-supermarket-recalls-frozen-berry-mix-after-hepatitis-a-virus-detected Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:48:11 +0200 german-supermarket-recalls-frozen-berry-mix-after-hepatitis-a-virus-detected Thousands of people have died in Germany in connection to the extreme up to the end of June, new figures show. https://www.thelocal.de/20260709/germany-sees-more-than-5000-heat-related-deaths-this-year Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:29:53 +0200 germany-sees-more-than-5000-heat-related-deaths-this-year The EU is expected to delay the launch of its travel authorisation scheme known as ETIAS until 2027 because of problems and delays with the rollout of the biometric EES border checks this year, according to reports. https://www.thelocal.de/20260709/eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:25:53 +0200 eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 German auto giant Volkswagen's management are set to meet on Thursday to thrash out plans for what could be the biggest ever restructuring in the global auto industry, with unions set to protest any mass job cuts. https://www.thelocal.de/20260709/unions-protest-in-germany-as-volkswagen-pitches-job-cuts-and-plant-closures Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:30:40 +0200 unions-protest-in-germany-as-volkswagen-pitches-job-cuts-and-plant-closures At least two girls have been seriously wounded and a 16-year-old suspect arrested after an attack at a secondary school in the southern German state of Bavaria on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/suspected-attack-at-bavarian-school-leaves-several-seriously-injured Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:54:20 +0200 suspected-attack-at-bavarian-school-leaves-several-seriously-injured A German palliative care doctor was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for murdering 15 people with lethal doses of sedatives. He remains under investigation for dozens more killings. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/german-doctor-given-life-sentence-for-15-murders Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:12:47 +0200 german-doctor-given-life-sentence-for-15-murders The European Commission is refusing to suspend strict new border controls despite pressure from airports and airlines who have demanded they be put on hold until after summer amid fears of chaos at holiday hotspots. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:42:33 +0200 europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Rail passengers in Germany frustrated by poor communication could soon see improvements. Deutsche Bahn has unveiled a new program featuring AI-powered travel information and thousands of new station displays. https://www.thelocal.de/20260708/how-deutsche-bahn-will-spend-e50-million-to-improve-information-for-passengers Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:24:33 +0200 how-deutsche-bahn-will-spend-e50-million-to-improve-information-for-passengers The coalition government approved a draft 2027 budget on Monday that would cut development aid again. Aid groups and UN agencies say the move risks damaging Germany’s ability to support countries facing crises – and its international reputation. https://www.thelocal.de/20260707/germany-cuts-development-aid-for-the-fifth-time-since-2023 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:27:34 +0200 germany-cuts-development-aid-for-the-fifth-time-since-2023