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 Growing numbers of Europeans no longer see the US as an ally, with a significant minority viewing the superpower as an adversary, a new survey has revealed. https://www.thelocal.de/20260610/a-new-low-europeans-no-longer-see-the-us-as-an-ally-and-blame-trump Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:30 +0200 a-new-low-europeans-no-longer-see-the-us-as-an-ally-and-blame-trump As debate grows across Germany, a local rule change could potentially reshape how wearable tech can be used in everyday public spaces. https://www.thelocal.de/20260607/potsdam-bans-smart-glasses-at-swimming-pools-amid-privacy-fears-in-germany Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:27:14 +0200 potsdam-bans-smart-glasses-at-swimming-pools-amid-privacy-fears-in-germany Concrete details of Germany’s long-term care reform have emerged, sparking intense criticism. Social organisations, states and municipalities are calling planned cuts a “raid” and a “slap in the face”. https://www.thelocal.de/20260605/long-term-care-reform-plans-spark-widespread-backlash-in-germany Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:39:25 +0200 long-term-care-reform-plans-spark-widespread-backlash-in-germany Two members of the far-right AfD are traveling to an economic forum in St. Petersburg this week, while critics accuse the party of representing Russia's interests more than Germany's. https://www.thelocal.de/20260602/alternative-for-germany-members-attend-russia-meeting-despite-criticism Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:41:36 +0200 alternative-for-germany-members-attend-russia-meeting-despite-criticism The German government Friday dismissed rumours that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's rivals were laying the groundwork to oust him as his popularity craters, reforms stall and the far right gains in strength. https://www.thelocal.de/20260530/chancellor-swap-rumours-swirl-about-german-leader-merzs-future Sat, 30 May 2026 08:39:06 +0200 chancellor-swap-rumours-swirl-about-german-leader-merzs-future A former German transport minister faces a perjury trial related to a failed scheme to charge foreign motorists highway tolls, a debacle that cost the government hundreds of millions of euros. https://www.thelocal.de/20260529/german-ex-minister-faces-perjury-charges-over-failed-car-toll-plan Fri, 29 May 2026 14:27:49 +0200 german-ex-minister-faces-perjury-charges-over-failed-car-toll-plan Foreign residents would gain the right to vote after five years in Germany under a new proposal. The move potentially gives millions a political voice but has also sparked sharp political opposition. https://www.thelocal.de/20260528/left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany Thu, 28 May 2026 12:40:37 +0200 left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany With support for the far-right AfD surging in Germany, here’s how politicians are rushing to future-proof the country’s laws and democratic guard-rails ahead of key state elections in September. https://www.thelocal.de/20260527/how-germanys-politicians-are-trying-to-afd-proof-the-country Wed, 27 May 2026 15:07:59 +0200 how-germanys-politicians-are-trying-to-afd-proof-the-country With the normal German visa route in Tehran suspended, Iranian students who have been granted spots in German university programmes say they've been left waiting indefinitely with no official communication about how to move forward. https://www.thelocal.de/20260527/iranian-students-left-in-limbo-due-to-german-visa-delays Wed, 27 May 2026 11:38:56 +0200 iranian-students-left-in-limbo-due-to-german-visa-delays A German court said Friday it had handed jail terms to three members of an extremist group that plotted to provoke "circumstances akin to civil war" and overthrow the government. https://www.thelocal.de/20260523/german-court-convicts-three-over-plot-to-overthrow-govt Sat, 23 May 2026 14:32:35 +0200 german-court-convicts-three-over-plot-to-overthrow-govt With governments across Europe tightening citizenship and residency requirements, language and country knowledge tests are often framed as measures of integration. But are governments really talking to domestic political audiences? https://www.thelocal.de/20260523/are-government-language-tests-in-europe-integration-policy-or-just-political-posturing Sat, 23 May 2026 10:24:29 +0200 are-government-language-tests-in-europe-integration-policy-or-just-political-posturing A wind turbine billed as the world's tallest is rising in eastern Germany, winning praise as a beacon for a clean, green energy future and headwinds from the far-right AfD party. https://www.thelocal.de/20260522/giant-wind-turbine-rises-in-brandenburg-taking-on-far-right-headwinds Fri, 22 May 2026 11:21:52 +0200 giant-wind-turbine-rises-in-brandenburg-taking-on-far-right-headwinds Germany is moving to lower air travel taxes from July of this year. The move could trim a few euros off ticket prices, but will travellers actually notice the difference? https://www.thelocal.de/20260522/will-passengers-really-benefit-after-germany-cut-its-air-travel-tax Fri, 22 May 2026 11:03:58 +0200 will-passengers-really-benefit-after-germany-cut-its-air-travel-tax In about four months, Germans in Saxony Anhalt will vote in a state election that could see the far-right AfD party take power. What would the party's proposed policies mean for the foreign residents who live there? https://www.thelocal.de/20260520/welcome-culture-to-farewell-culture-the-afds-plans-for-saxony-anhalt Wed, 20 May 2026 16:47:38 +0200 welcome-culture-to-farewell-culture-the-afds-plans-for-saxony-anhalt The coalition is planning a major tax overhaul next year, with the aim of providing relief to those with low and middle incomes. What does this look like and how will it be paid for? Here's what we know so far. https://www.thelocal.de/20260520/relief-for-low-earners-what-we-know-so-far-about-germanys-tax-shake-up Wed, 20 May 2026 12:08:05 +0200 relief-for-low-earners-what-we-know-so-far-about-germanys-tax-shake-up EU lawmakers and member states reached a deal in the early hours of Wednesday to implement the bloc's nearly year-old trade pact with the United States, with President Donald Trump threatening new tariffs unless it is done by July 4th. https://www.thelocal.de/20260520/eu-agrees-to-implement-us-trade-pact-after-trump-threats Wed, 20 May 2026 09:15:17 +0200 eu-agrees-to-implement-us-trade-pact-after-trump-threats As German politicians consider scrapping a planned pay rise for themselves, we look at how much MPs in the country actually earn – and what they get on top. https://www.thelocal.de/20260519/how-much-do-members-of-germanys-bundestag-really-earn Tue, 19 May 2026 14:04:44 +0200 how-much-do-members-of-germanys-bundestag-really-earn Germany is set to miss its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target, experts warned Monday, urging Berlin to swiftly overhaul a recently unveiled climate action plan. https://www.thelocal.de/20260518/germany-set-to-miss-2030-climate-goal Mon, 18 May 2026 16:39:32 +0200 germany-set-to-miss-2030-climate-goal German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday he would not advise young people in his country to move to the United States for study or work, in the latest sign of cooling ties between Berlin and Washington. https://www.thelocal.de/20260515/germanys-merz-wouldnt-advise-young-people-to-move-to-us Fri, 15 May 2026 15:24:37 +0200 germanys-merz-wouldnt-advise-young-people-to-move-to-us The German government is reopening some access to free integration courses for immigrants after it was criticised for slashing the programme earlier this year. However far fewer places will be available, and who qualifies will depend on strict quotas. https://www.thelocal.de/20260515/germany-backtracks-on-cuts-to-integration-courses-for-foreigners Fri, 15 May 2026 10:22:24 +0200 germany-backtracks-on-cuts-to-integration-courses-for-foreigners