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 The German government has confirmed that it is laying the groundwork for a new form of civilian service, raising fresh questions about the return of compulsory military service. https://www.thelocal.de/20260804/germany-prepares-civilian-service-model-foreshadowing-return-of-conscription Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:42:39 +0200 germany-prepares-civilian-service-model-foreshadowing-return-of-conscription People were blocked from entering a shopping mall with rainbow flags during Hamburg's CSD celebration. Other similar incidents suggest that 'Pride' symbols are increasingly met with hostility in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260803/why-are-rainbow-pride-flags-being-banned-in-germany Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:41:54 +0200 why-are-rainbow-pride-flags-being-banned-in-germany The Left party and anti-immigration Alternative for Germany look to be the strongest political forces in Berlin, as the German capital prepares for a consequential election in September. https://www.thelocal.de/20260731/far-right-and-far-left-parties-face-off-in-berlins-coming-election Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:13:06 +0200 far-right-and-far-left-parties-face-off-in-berlins-coming-election The German government on Wednesday defended its decision to deport an Afghan back to their homeland despite not being convicted of any crime. https://www.thelocal.de/20260729/germany-defends-deporting-non-criminal-to-afghanistan Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:30:00 +0200 germany-defends-deporting-non-criminal-to-afghanistan German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced a rising chorus of criticism from within his own centre-right CDU party Wednesday as he completed a chaotic cabinet reshuffle. https://www.thelocal.de/20260729/german-chancellor-comes-under-fire-over-chaotic-reshuffle Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:03:15 +0200 german-chancellor-comes-under-fire-over-chaotic-reshuffle Germany's interior minister announced plans to toughen laws just two days after an extremist attack on Berlin's Pride parade. Within the justice system, voices warn against hasty action before a deeper investigation is concluded. https://www.thelocal.de/20260728/german-government-promises-tougher-laws-after-attack-on-berlins-pride Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:14:16 +0200 german-government-promises-tougher-laws-after-attack-on-berlins-pride Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday named a new transport minister, completing a chaotic cabinet reshuffle sparked by a senior party member resigning over a surrogacy scandal. https://www.thelocal.de/20260727/germanys-merz-completes-chaotic-cabinet-reshuffle Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:51:20 +0200 germanys-merz-completes-chaotic-cabinet-reshuffle Jens Spahn’s surrogacy scandal shines a light on a political class that has repeatedly shown contempt for the laws and standards it sets, argues columnist Brian Melican. Let it mark the beginning of more accountability in German public life. https://www.thelocal.de/20260724/opinion-spahns-resignation-is-a-rare-case-of-a-german-politician-facing-the-music Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:42:22 +0200 opinion-spahns-resignation-is-a-rare-case-of-a-german-politician-facing-the-music The German Chancellor announced several personnel changes for key positions in the federal government on Friday, after the conservatives' parliamentary group leader stepped down this week. https://www.thelocal.de/20260724/merz-shuffles-german-government-following-high-level-resignation Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:57:28 +0200 merz-shuffles-german-government-following-high-level-resignation The European Union expressed relief Friday over a new wave of US tariffs imposed by Washington on trading partners, following concerns of possible retaliation to a massive fine Brussels had slapped on US giant Google. https://www.thelocal.de/20260724/eu-breathes-sigh-of-relief-over-new-trump-tariffs Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:33:46 +0200 eu-breathes-sigh-of-relief-over-new-trump-tariffs Germany's federal authorities had already reduced access to language and integration courses for immigrants. Now a draft budget for next year reveals that funding for the state-funded classes is being slashed. https://www.thelocal.de/20260721/germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:18:35 +0200 germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday picked his right-hand man to lead the CDU/CSU alliance in parliament after the incumbent was forced out for using a surrogate mother. https://www.thelocal.de/20260722/germanys-merz-replaces-conservative-leader-ousted-over-surrogacy-scandal Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:21:05 +0200 germanys-merz-replaces-conservative-leader-ousted-over-surrogacy-scandal Lawmakers in France are scheduled to vote on Tuesday to ban social media for under-15s -- one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures, with many of them in Europe. 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 A prominent figure in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right party resigned his leadership post Saturday, party sources told AFP, amid controversy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US despite a ban on the practice in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260718/german-lawmaker-steps-down-over-surrogate-pregnancy-controversy-party-sources-to-afp Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:20:52 +0200 german-lawmaker-steps-down-over-surrogate-pregnancy-controversy-party-sources-to-afp The leaders of France and Germany on Friday sought to put the collapse of a flagship joint jet fighter project behind them as they agreed on a symbolic step towards greater nuclear deterrence and stronger defences for Europe. https://www.thelocal.de/20260718/germany-and-france-close-ranks-on-defence-after-jet-project-collapse Sat, 18 Jul 2026 09:39:01 +0200 germany-and-france-close-ranks-on-defence-after-jet-project-collapse Paris and Berlin want to come up with a joint "roadmap" by September to tackle China's unfair trade practices, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. https://www.thelocal.de/20260718/france-and-germany-plan-roadmap-to-tackle-china-trade-imbalances Sat, 18 Jul 2026 09:06:38 +0200 france-and-germany-plan-roadmap-to-tackle-china-trade-imbalances After France adopted a bill to allow assisted dying on Wednesday, here's a look at which European countries already authorise the terminally ill to end their lives. https://www.thelocal.de/20260716/compare-which-european-countries-allow-assisted-dying Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:25:07 +0200 compare-which-european-countries-allow-assisted-dying Germany's conservatives are embroiled in controversy after a high-profile CDU politician admitted his child had been carried by a surrogate mother in the United States. Why has this caused such a stir, and what are the rules on surrogacy in Germany? https://www.thelocal.de/20260717/what-are-germanys-rules-on-having-a-baby-through-surrogacy Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:55:48 +0200 what-are-germanys-rules-on-having-a-baby-through-surrogacy Online campaigns spread misinformation far and wide, and many of them prop up the far-right Alternative for Germany. Experts suspect that Russia is behind this. https://www.thelocal.de/20260715/russia-accused-of-spreading-disinformation-for-german-far-right-ahead-of-polls Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:15:03 +0200 russia-accused-of-spreading-disinformation-for-german-far-right-ahead-of-polls Following Kai Wegner’s dramatic decision to withdraw as the CDU’s lead candidate for Berlin’s September election, we look at his likely successor – and where the party stands following months of scandal and growing voter frustration. https://www.thelocal.de/20260713/what-the-berlin-mayors-shock-withdrawal-means-for-the-coming-election Mon, 13 Jul 2026 18:13:02 +0200 what-the-berlin-mayors-shock-withdrawal-means-for-the-coming-election