The Local Germany

Damaged freighter blocks traffic at drought-hit Rhine

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:50:09 +0200

A stranded cargo ship caused traffic to be halted Wednesday at the Rhine river in western Germany after suffering a technical fault, authorities said, at a time when water transport was already ailing from a drought.

Weekend Wanderlust: From water to wine in the Rhineland's beautiful Boppard

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 17:07:26 +0200

After nine months of living in beer-obsessed Munich, I was ready to delve into the delights of another of Germany’s fine alcoholic products and explore the country's wine-growing haven.

8 unmissable events across Germany in June 2018

Thu, 31 May 2018 13:43:20 +0200

From drinking wine along the Rhine to cheering on the start of the World Cup en masse, June brings some fun and yet distinctly deutsch events.

Five acts you simply can’t miss at this year’s Düsseldorf Festival

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:00:58 +0200

What makes the Düsseldorf Festival so special? The fact that it is not bound by a single concept. Fiona Leonard gives insider tips on how to make the most of this most eclectic of events.

10 words and phrases that'll make you sound local in the Rhineland

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:24:12 +0100

You might not have heard of Rhenish before, but it's the regional dialect of The Rhineland. And by the end of this article you'll be able to astound western Germans with your knowledge of their lingo.

Rhineland women on Turkey's most wanted list

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:59:41 +0100

Two young women from western Germany are being hunted by Turkish authorities on suspicion of involvement in a recent spate of terrorist attacks by Isis.

Public urinator sprays man with tear gas

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:59:49 +0200

A man confronting a drunk watering his front garden in Duisburg got more than he bargained for when the culprit retaliated with a tear gas attack.

'What? No Becks?' Men set fire to shop

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 13:43:00 +0100

Two men set fire to a shop in western Germany because it did not stock the brand of beer they were looking for - Becks Gold.

Woman hides in car to sober up after crash

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:08:00 +0100

A woman hid in the boot of her car for a day-and-a-half after a minor crash - to avoid the police while sobering up.

Germany celebrates start of carnival season

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:39:00 +0100

Carnival season opened in Germany on Monday with a day of fancy dress costumes and drinking.

'St. Jude' storm hits Germany, kills four

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:52:00 +0100

UPDATE: The violent “St. Jude” storm that hit the UK on Sunday night reached Germany on Monday, killing a mother and child. Strong winds and heavy rain battered northern parts of the country grounding flights and halting trains.

Villagers kill marten after attack spree

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:21:00 +0100

A aggressive marten attacked several people in a village in western Germany on Saturday. It injured one victim badly enough to put them in hospital, before a shopkeeper managed to kill it with a broom.

Gaga to armed siege - seven days in pics

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:20:00 +0200

In this week's news review, our round-up of the best pictures ranges from an armed siege to Lady Gaga and phone tapping to autumnal sunshine.

Warm autumn weather set to continue

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:53:00 +0200

Germany’s Indian Summer is set to continue until later this week with temperatures staying unseasonably mild.

State bans teacher-pupil contact on Facebook

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:39:00 +0200

A German state has banned its teachers and pupils from being friends on Facebook, stating it was not possible for them to keep a professional relationship if they could see each others photos and postings on the social network site.

Medics wrongly keep man in clinic for 38 years

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:23:00 +0200

A Tourette’s sufferer has spent 38 years in a mental hospital in western Germany after being wrongly diagnosed with a mental illness. But despite being incorrectly admitted he is unable to leave as he is now incapable of living independently.

Winter's arrival to Berlin light festival - in pics

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 17:04:00 +0200

The Local’s weekly pictorial review of the news travels from Afghanistan to Bavaria to look at the last seven days in pictures.

Jobless EU citizens can claim benefits - court

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:49:00 +0200

EU citizens who have never worked in Germany but have been living in the country for a long time can claim unemployment benefits, a court ruled on Thursday, in a decision which could affect 130,000 foreigners in Germany.

World records and gas blasts - the week in pics

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 18:06:00 +0200

From world records, to gas explosions it was another eventful week for Germany. The Local takes a look back at the best photos from the last seven days.

Schoolboy, 12, stabbed in chest during fight

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:50:00 +0200

A schoolboy narrowly survived being stabbed in the chest, allegedly by a fellow 12-year-old pupil in a playground, police in North Rhine-Westphalia said on Friday.