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 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 Struggling with German paperwork? From taxes to health insurance, these seven essential apps can help foreign residents decode official demands and stay one step ahead of the system. https://www.thelocal.de/20260529/the-seven-best-apps-for-navigating-bureaucracy-in-germany Fri, 29 May 2026 12:05:14 +0200 the-seven-best-apps-for-navigating-bureaucracy-in-germany Electric car buyers in Germany can benefit from a state-backed subsidy worth thousands of euros in 2026, and the portal to apply has just opened. Here's how much you can get depending on your income bracket. https://www.thelocal.de/20260119/how-much-money-you-can-get-towards-buying-an-ev-in-germany-this-year Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:22:12 +0100 how-much-money-you-can-get-towards-buying-an-ev-in-germany-this-year Did you know that doctors in Germany can prescribe more than 50 digital health apps to support various conditions, from social anxiety and depression to back pain, diabetes and migraine prevention? We break down the top-rated apps. https://www.thelocal.de/20260211/the-digital-health-apps-covered-by-public-health-insurance-in-germany Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:45:39 +0100 the-digital-health-apps-covered-by-public-health-insurance-in-germany Germans are famously protective of their privacy. With dashcams, doorbell cameras and personal assistants like Alexa becoming increasingly common, we look at what you need to know about using these devices in public. https://www.thelocal.de/20251202/what-are-the-rules-on-dashcams-and-doorbell-cameras-in-germany Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:07:13 +0100 what-are-the-rules-on-dashcams-and-doorbell-cameras-in-germany AI-powered language translation company DeepL said Thursday that it would cut about a quarter of its workforce as artificial intelligence had made the roles redundant. https://www.thelocal.de/20260507/translation-firm-deepl-cuts-quarter-of-staff-in-germany-citing-ai Thu, 07 May 2026 16:42:03 +0200 translation-firm-deepl-cuts-quarter-of-staff-in-germany-citing-ai BioNTech said Tuesday it will halt operations at several sites in Germany, in a move affecting up to 1,860 jobs, as sales of its blockbuster Covid vaccine drop. https://www.thelocal.de/20260505/germanys-biontech-to-cut-up-to-1860-jobs-as-covid-jab-sales-drop Tue, 05 May 2026 14:33:19 +0200 germanys-biontech-to-cut-up-to-1860-jobs-as-covid-jab-sales-drop In Germany relying solely on high customer ratings is a risky move, but a new Google Maps update reveals if a local business actually earned its high score or simply deleted all its bad reviews https://www.thelocal.de/20260504/how-a-google-maps-update-exposes-manipulated-ratings-in-germany Mon, 04 May 2026 16:59:04 +0200 how-a-google-maps-update-exposes-manipulated-ratings-in-germany After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.de/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Humanoid robots were on full display at an industry trade fair in Hanover this week. Chancellor Merz endorsed AI technologies as key to reviving German industry, but China still dominates the sector. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:47:34 +0200 ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories Filing taxes in Germany can be intimidating, particularly for foreign residents, and paid tax apps have long been a help. With the tax authorities about to launch a new free version, could this finally make tax season easier? https://www.thelocal.de/20260319/should-i-use-germanys-new-one-click-tax-return-service-from-elster Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:02:13 +0100 should-i-use-germanys-new-one-click-tax-return-service-from-elster Google will open an AI centre in Berlin on Thursday, the latest sign of Europe's deepening reliance on US firms in cutting edge technologies despite the continent's stated aim to catch up with its rivals. https://www.thelocal.de/20260305/google-opens-berlin-centre-for-ai-development Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:10:41 +0100 google-opens-berlin-centre-for-ai-development A collective legal challenge is seeking compensation for Facebook and Instagram users in Germany. Here's who can join the lawsuit and how to do so. https://www.thelocal.de/20260205/class-action-lawsuit-could-see-meta-users-in-germany-owed-e5000 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:38:11 +0100 class-action-lawsuit-could-see-meta-users-in-germany-owed-e5000 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is open to a social media ban for minors, he said Wednesday, following moves by Australia and other countries to keep young teens off popular platforms. https://www.thelocal.de/20260218/germany-chancellor-approves-of-social-media-ban-for-minors Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:26:08 +0100 germany-chancellor-approves-of-social-media-ban-for-minors Calls for a social media ban for people under the age of 16 are growing louder following similar restrictions in Australia and other European countries. So how might it work in Germany, and when would it take effect? https://www.thelocal.de/20260217/will-germany-ban-social-media-for-children Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:36:33 +0100 will-germany-ban-social-media-for-children Do you like and trust The Local? Then please take a moment to add us as a preferred source on Google to ensure our articles appear in your searches. https://www.thelocal.de/20260216/how-to-make-the-local-your-preferred-source-on-google Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:02:08 +0100 how-to-make-the-local-your-preferred-source-on-google Supporters say it would let Europeans make online payments without relying on US payment system, but critics fear it would allow governments to surveil citizens' payments. How would the digital euro work? https://www.thelocal.de/20260211/replacement-for-cash-how-the-new-digital-euro-would-work-for-europeans Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:58:55 +0100 replacement-for-cash-how-the-new-digital-euro-would-work-for-europeans Could you be a scent detective? Baden‑Württemberg’s Environment Agency is looking for volunteers to take part in a year‑long investigation into the source of Ulm’s periodic and unexplained stinks. https://www.thelocal.de/20260209/foul-or-musty-german-city-of-ulm-seeks-volunteers-to-sniff-out-mystery-odours Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:55:38 +0100 foul-or-musty-german-city-of-ulm-seeks-volunteers-to-sniff-out-mystery-odours People in Germany, and across Europe, continue to rely on strings of numbers or the names of their favourite football teams as passwords, with potentially disastrous consequences. https://www.thelocal.de/20260128/what-are-the-most-commonly-leaked-passwords-in-germany Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:20:17 +0100 what-are-the-most-commonly-leaked-passwords-in-germany A new menopause app became the latest addition to Germany’s list of digital health products covered by statutory health insurance on Tuesday, joining more than 50 digital health applications already available to insured residents. https://www.thelocal.de/20260122/women-in-germany-can-now-access-a-menopause-app-with-public-insurance Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:57:02 +0100 women-in-germany-can-now-access-a-menopause-app-with-public-insurance