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 A higher basic allowance and more benefits for parents: Germany is pushing forward with its major income tax reforms, aimed at relieving low and middle income households. So how much can you really expect to save? https://www.thelocal.de/20260902/what-does-germanys-e10-billion-income-tax-reform-mean-for-you Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:53:15 +0200 what-does-germanys-e10-billion-income-tax-reform-mean-for-you From singing certain lines of the national anthem to sending birthday greetings on the wrong day, there are many ways to make yourself unpopular in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20230217/25-sure-fire-ways-to-annoy-a-german Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:06:44 +0100 25-sure-fire-ways-to-annoy-a-german As summer gives way to autumn, Germany comes alive with world-famous festivals, major sporting events, cutting-edge art, classical music and centuries-old traditions. https://www.thelocal.de/20260824/whats-on-in-germany-nine-unmissable-events-in-september Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:44:00 +0200 whats-on-in-germany-nine-unmissable-events-in-september German authorities are reportedly recognising foreigners' qualifications at break-neck speeds. We asked readers how the process was for them. https://www.thelocal.de/20260901/germany-is-40-years-behind-foreigners-share-their-struggle-getting-qualifications-recognised Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:19:06 +0200 germany-is-40-years-behind-foreigners-share-their-struggle-getting-qualifications-recognised Many foreigners need a residence permit to stay in Germany legally. Residence permits can be renewed a few weeks before expiry, but waiting times of several months or more are common. So what are your rights while you wait to hear back? https://www.thelocal.de/20250121/qa-what-are-your-rights-while-waiting-for-a-german-residence-permit Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:12:41 +0100 qa-what-are-your-rights-while-waiting-for-a-german-residence-permit To assume that 'Europeans don't tip' would be a serious blunder. Here's a quick guide to tipping in Germany, from the standard amount to the cool and easy way to do so. https://www.thelocal.de/20260901/how-much-should-i-tip-in-germany Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:35:26 +0200 how-much-should-i-tip-in-germany British photographer Katie Edwards has likely taken more photographs of Germany through train windows than anyone else. She spoke to The Local about her project, and the ups and down of travelling with Deutsche Bahn. https://www.thelocal.de/20260831/meet-the-woman-who-photographed-germany-from-its-trains Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:57:03 +0200 meet-the-woman-who-photographed-germany-from-its-trains From the end of the summer holidays and regional elections to alcohol bans at train stations, a lot is changing in September in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-september-2026 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:07:37 +0200 everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-september-2026 Ahead of contentious elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD's vice president in the state has called for making Germany's knowledge test for naturalisation more difficult. https://www.thelocal.de/20260831/why-is-the-afd-pushing-for-a-harder-german-citizenship-test Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:30:24 +0200 why-is-the-afd-pushing-for-a-harder-german-citizenship-test The summer holidays are over for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. As politicians get back to work, we look at the biggest challenges facing the country in September and the coming months. https://www.thelocal.de/20260826/analysis-the-five-big-challenges-facing-germany-this-september Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:16:27 +0200 analysis-the-five-big-challenges-facing-germany-this-september For some, proving financial independence can be the hardest hurdle to clear to achieve German citizenship - that's especially true for anyone who has recently lost their job. Stephanie Liao shares her experience. https://www.thelocal.de/20250925/i-got-rejected-how-one-womans-path-to-german-citizenship-was-blocked-by-unemployment Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:05:58 +0200 i-got-rejected-how-one-womans-path-to-german-citizenship-was-blocked-by-unemployment As summer slowly begins to wind down, many people in Germany are already looking ahead to autumn city breaks and seeking a bit of winter sunshine. Here's a round-up of the new destinations you'll soon reach from German airports. https://www.thelocal.de/20260820/listed-the-new-direct-flights-from-germany-in-autumn-2026 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:44:05 +0200 listed-the-new-direct-flights-from-germany-in-autumn-2026 From the AfD's plan to defund one of Germany's most successful cultural exports, to the claim that Berlin is Europe's true capital of love, Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the recent news and talking points you may have missed. https://www.thelocal.de/20260829/inside-germany-the-fascist-urge-to-attack-bauhaus-and-the-real-city-of-love Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:44:07 +0200 inside-germany-the-fascist-urge-to-attack-bauhaus-and-the-real-city-of-love As the new school year gets under way, we asked our readers with kids in German schools to share their views on the good, the bad, and the surprising aspects of the country's education system. https://www.thelocal.de/20250825/super-relaxed-what-foreign-parents-really-think-of-schools-in-germany Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:12:37 +0200 super-relaxed-what-foreign-parents-really-think-of-schools-in-germany Why is everything paprika flavoured? From the history behind Germany's favourite flavour to the tastes newcomers yearn for, and the top ones to try – here’s the scoop on German chips. https://www.thelocal.de/20260828/a-snack-lovers-guide-to-german-crisps Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:21:13 +0200 a-snack-lovers-guide-to-german-crisps As Donald Trump's administration seeks to limit mail-in voting, overseas Americans have been left wondering what to expect for the upcoming midterm elections. https://www.thelocal.de/20260828/midterms-what-americans-in-europe-need-to-know-about-changes-to-mail-in-voting Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:22:28 +0200 midterms-what-americans-in-europe-need-to-know-about-changes-to-mail-in-voting From Berlin to Munich, politicians and investors are increasingly looking at vacant office blocks as a potential answer to Germany’s housing shortage. But can conversions really make a meaningful difference? https://www.thelocal.de/20260828/could-your-next-apartment-in-germany-be-in-a-former-office-building Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:28:31 +0200 could-your-next-apartment-in-germany-be-in-a-former-office-building A long-awaited plan to make public transport between Austria's Salzburg and a part of neighbouring Bavaria in southern Germany more straightforward has received around €750,000 in European funding. https://www.thelocal.de/20260828/cross-border-transport-between-salzburg-and-bavaria-to-get-easier-after-eu-funding-boost Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:20:54 +0200 cross-border-transport-between-salzburg-and-bavaria-to-get-easier-after-eu-funding-boost Elections in two of Germany's eastern states have become a litmus test for how the country is responding to far-right politics. So who has a say in these votes, who doesn't and why? https://www.thelocal.de/20260827/who-can-vote-in-germanys-high-stakes-state-elections-this-september Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:41:03 +0200 who-can-vote-in-germanys-high-stakes-state-elections-this-september New government figures show foreign workers earn more than €1,000 a month less than German employees on average. But the numbers tell a more complicated story than some politicians claim. https://www.thelocal.de/20260827/foreign-workers-earn-nearly-a-quarter-less-than-germans Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:07:13 +0200 foreign-workers-earn-nearly-a-quarter-less-than-germans