The Local Germany
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PODCAST🎧: How Germany is grappling with far-right gains and rising transport costs
We're back! This week we're looking at what's happening in Saxony-Anhalt after the AfD victory, how parts of German society are fighting back against the far right, rising transport costs and preparing for autumn like a German.
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Americans in Germany: Deadlines for voting in the US midterms
The US midterms take place on November 3rd 2026, and Americans in France can still vote - but for some states, time is running out. Here's who can vote, how to request and return a ballot, and what to do if yours hasn't arrived.
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Are the EU's new rules on AI enough to protect Europeans?
AI agents going rogue and ever-louder doomsday warnings have led many in Europe to wonder: are the EU's artificial intelligence rules enough to protect against the potential dangers?
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Germany's far-right AfD gains first ever state parliament speaker
A candidate for Germany's AfD was elected parliament speaker in the state of Saxony Anhalt Tuesday, the first time a far-right party has held such a post in the country since 1945.
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German word of the day: Gruppenzwang
Have you ever felt you had to order dessert, buy the latest gadget or stay late at work simply because everyone else was doing it? Then you need to know this word.
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'It's too easy': The verdict on how Germany's citizenship test should be changed
Should Germany's citizenship test be be rewritten, made harder or simply scrapped? We asked readers, and also political parties, how they would change the 'Einbürgerungstest'.
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Are young people in Germany better off in a traineeship or university programme?
Unemployment rates are rising among graduates in Germany while traineeships, for jobs facing a shortage of workers, are increasingly vacant. So has vocational training become the better bet for job security?
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Merz insists Baltic defence is Germany's defence, German researchers win Nobel prize in medicine, flight prices from Germany have doubled since 2010 and more news on Tuesday, October 6th.
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Ex-German spy chief arrested for espionage and treason
Germany's former foreign spy chief was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage, accused of seeking to pass sensitive information to overseas intelligence services, prosecutors said.
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Where in Germany rental costs are rising fastest
Rents are continuing to rise in Germany, but the situation differs between cities. From rocketing rents in Hamburg and Frankfurt to a slowdown in Berlin, here's the latest price developments on the rental market this year.
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Russian strikes hit Kyiv while German Chancellor Merz visits
Ukraine and Germany have signed a $1.5-billion deal to help fight the surge in Russian drone attacks, while fresh strikes and air raid sirens greeted Chancellor Friedrich Merz on a solidarity visit Sunday.
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Deutsch Bahn makes its 'family ticket' a permanent offer
Germany's national railway operator is extending its €99.99 family ticket beyond the summer season, giving eligible groups of up to five people a cheaper way to travel together.
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Will Saxony-Anhalt's parliament elect a far-right president?
Saxony-Anhalt's state parliament is to meet Tuesday for the first time since the AfD won its landslide victory there last month. Here's what is to be decided.
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Monday
Oktoberfest comes to a close in Munich, Kyiv battered by Russian strikes during Chancellor Merz's visit, Germany's EV bonus has been granted to 100,000 households and more news on Monday, October 5th.
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German spy chief warns of escalation in Russia's 'shadow war'
Germany's foreign intelligence chief warned Monday that the country risks being drawn into a conflict with Russia as hybrid attacks ordered by Moscow increase.
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What tenants and landlords need to know about Germany’s heating meter deadline
Millions of renters in Germany could be affected by new heating meter rules from January 2027. Here's how to check whether your building complies and when you could be entitled to a reduction in heating costs.
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Germany's Merz in Kyiv for talks with Zelensky
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Sunday on an unannounced visit in a show of support for the country in its war with Russia.
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Inside Germany: Why I travelled half way around the world to be married
Whether it's just over the border in Denmark or the other side of the world in your home country, for non-Germans getting married is often easier literally anywhere but Germany, writes The Local editor Paul Krantz.
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Germany's crisis-hit rail operator looks to AI future
From AI-assisted trains to autonomous road shuttles, Germany's rail operator Deutsche Bahn – long the country's laughingstock for its poor punctuality – is working on the future of mobility.
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The German cities with the most and least expensive student housing
Tuition at German universities can be quite cheap, but affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce. A new report reveals which cities are getting harder for students to afford to live in.
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How you can celebrate German Unity Day this weekend
Workers are missing out on a day off this year, but Germany's Unity Day holiday still offers plenty to do. From official celebrations in Bremen to cultural events in Berlin and open mosques around the country, here's what to expect on October 3rd.
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Germany's Merz hails NATO unity on Russia and rejects AfD claims
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday called for unity in backing Ukraine against Russia – within NATO, Europe and his own country where the far-right and Moscow-friendly AfD is on the rise.
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What rail passengers need to know as Berlin-Hanover line closes for renovation
If you travel regularly between Berlin and Hanover - or western Germany and beyond - you can expect longer journeys, replacement buses and timetable changes in the coming year as a major construction work begins.
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
Chancellor’s office halts sugar tax plan in coalition showdown, Klopp hits out at racist criticism ahead of first victory, shops to close on Saturday while Berliners could face earlier disruptions and more news on Friday, October 2nd.
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What's closed for German Unity Day on Saturday?
Falling on a Saturday this year, most regular employees won't get a day off work for the Day of German Reunification, but shoppers be warned, most grocery stores will be closed.
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EU nations to hold emergency meeting on diesel prices amid US pressure
EU nations will meet Friday, aiming to develop a unified response to soaring diesel prices, a day after the US called on its European allies to release strategic reserves "immediately" to stem the crisis.
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How to appeal if your application for German citizenship is rejected
After making significant effort to prepare your German citizenship application, and then waiting for months, receiving a rejection can be devastating. But there is a process you can use to appeal the decision.
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'We won't change approach': EU wants actions from UK, rather than words
After a rollercoaster decade since the Brexit vote, the idea of the UK rejoining is still only a distant prospect and the European Union is waiting first to see what London wants next.
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German word of the day: Zugezogene
This word serves as solid evidence that it's not only international foreigners that can be made to feel less than welcome when they move to a new German community.
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Why is the Left Party in Berlin being accused of antisemitism?
Die Linke's election victory in Berlin has been overshadowed by a row about antisemitism. As the party pushes forward with efforts to take the helm in the capital's next government, we look at the accusations and how the Left has reacted.
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German state ministers scrap unanimity rule amid AfD concerns
A decades-old unanimity rule concerning decisions by Germany’s Conference of Interior Ministers has been scrapped due to concerns that a state ministry controlled by the far-right could block joint decisions.
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
An initial hearing on an AfD ban procedure was held in Thuringia, inflation in Germany nears a three year high, childless workers to see care insurance contributions raised and more news on Thursday, October 1st.
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What does Germany's care reform mean for you?
Significant reform measures are designed to balance costs related to long-term care insurance in Germany. What do these measures mean for workers, carers and patients in the country?
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IN NUMBERS: How much will Germany's fuel tax cut save drivers?
From the start of October, Germany is set to bring back a fuel price cut meant to relieve drivers from record costs at the pump. Here's a look at the numbers, and how much you might really save.
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EU plans cross-border emergency comms system to replace radio
The EU put forward Wednesday plans for a new bloc-wide communication system allowing police, firefighters and other national emergency services to better coordinate during cross-border crises.
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German top leadership strikes deal on elder care reforms
The black-red coalition has agreed on a draft law on care reforms, which is primarily focused on savings.
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Germany's Deutschlandticket to cost €66,80 from 2027
The cost of Germany's nationwide public transport pass will rise by €3.80 per month next year, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
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Germany moves to slash independent advice for asylum seekers
Germany's interior ministry is preparing to cut funding for independent asylum counselling by around 80 percent. This would save a small sum for the state, but could have life-changing consequences for the most vulnerable immigrants.
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Germany orders winter gas reserves boost as Middle East war worries mount
The German government on Wednesday ordered a state-owned company to boost gas reserves as worries mount about low storage levels ahead of winter, citing "geopolitical risks" amid the Iran war.
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What passengers in Baden-Württemberg need to know about the three-day transport strike
Passengers across parts of Baden-Württemberg are facing three days of major bus and train disruption this week due to a strike affecting SWEG transport. School services are also expected to be hit.
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday
Lead candidate of the far-right AfD in Saxony-Anhalt aiming to become state premier in December, Amazon to hire 13,000 seasonal workers in Germany, Berlin's Philharmonie concert hall due for major upgrade and more news this Wednesday.
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German far-right aims to lead Saxony-Anhalt government in December
The leader of the far-right AfD in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt says he hopes to become state premier in December after the party's crushing election victory earlier this month.
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TELL US: How has Germany changed since you moved here?
Germany has changed in different ways over the past years. We want to hear from international residents about what feels different, what has become easier or harder, and how life in the country has developed since they arrived.
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Rejoining the EU is among options for future ties, says UK prime minister
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in an interview broadcast Wednesday that rejoining the EU was among the potential answers to the unavoidable question of what Britain's future relationship with Europe could look like.
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What's on in Germany: 10 unmissable events in October 2026
From giant pumpkin displays and harvest traditions to illuminated landmarks and Halloween scares, October is one of the most varied months of the year for events in Germany.
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'We need rain': Germany's Rhine unnavigable for most shipping at new low
Continued dry weather in west Germany has pushed water levels on the Rhine river to a new record low, rendering a large part of the country's inland cargo shipping impossible.
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How long are EES waiting times at German airports?
With the autumn break coming up, many people may be wondering what kind of delays to expect at German airports due to the Entry and Exit System (EES) checks.
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Does Germany really have the most punishing tax system for foreigners?
Germany sits dead last in a recent ranking of countries by 'tax optimisation for global citizens', but it's also near the top of the list for quality of life.
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Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Left Party accuses Government of smear campaign, German wholesale retailer Metro’s Russian operations seized by authorities, Söder and Munich mayor celebrate Olympic bid victory with roller coaster bet and more news on Tuesday, September 29th.
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Why launching a career is getting harder in Germany
New figures suggest the number of entry-level jobs in Germany is falling rapidly in some sectors. Here's what that means for international professionals, students and parents raising children here.