Germany's whopping new boat lift could lug the weight of 50 blue whales over a stretch of canal between Poland and Berlin.

When The Local reader Michelle Jung applied to renew her UK passport from Germany, she had no idea that the process would take months on end. Here's her account of the ordeal - and why she is concerned for other Brits abroad.

Long lines, ballot shortages, and logistical snafus mean the capital will probably have to repeat the 2021 election. Now the federal traffic light is weighing in. We explain a few possible scenarios.

The German cabinet has approved a one-time payment in December for pensioners to provide relief for rising energy bills.

Germany has a number of specialised nursery schools that focus primarily on helping children with their German language skills. Here's what foreigners need to know about them.

Germany's economy minister on Wednesday accused countries including the US of charging too much for gas as Europe's biggest economy struggles to rebalance its energy mix without Russian supplies.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) is seeking talks with state leaders to arrange a possible extension to the deadline for submitting the new property tax declaration. Here's what's going on.

People in Germany should expect inflation to continue to rise in the coming months, according to a group of economic experts.

Federal Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck says friendly countries are charging Germany too much for gas and should show more solidarity.

Describe how you’re feeling with this versatile word.

Eurowings pilots will go on a one-day strike on Thursday after negotiations on improving working conditions at the low-cost German airline broke down, their union said.

Being a citizen of your country of long-term residence brings a lot of advantages, especially when it comes to peace of mind, but some countries in Europe have far stricter rules than others.

Many working people in Germany will have received their energy relief payment by now. But if you haven’t got yours yet, there’s no need to worry, here are some reasons why that could be and what you can do.

Energy and some supermarket items in Germany are rising in price much faster than the overall inflation rate - and that has more than half of German households worried about their budgets, a new survey shows.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday pushed back against European criticism of Germany's €200 billion energy fund, saying other countries were also taking steps to shield citizens from historic price shocks.

The EU parliament on Tuesday passed a new law requiring USB-C to be the single charger standard for all new smartphones, tablets and cameras from late 2024 in a move that was heralded a "great day for consumers".

It’s that time of year again when many of us will be coughing and blowing our noses. If you're feeling a bit under the weather, here are the German words you'll need and some tips on what to do.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday won the United Nations refugee agency's prestigious Nansen Award, receiving praise for her determination to protect asylum seekers while in office.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting with Germany’s 16 state leaders on Tuesday to work out the details of the country’s energy relief packages and a cap on the price of gas. But a few questions remain open.

German energy giant RWE brought forward its exit from coal power to 2030 on Tuesday amid fears the country's plans to abandon fossil fuels are wobbling following the energy crisis caused by Russia's war in Ukraine.

Since the start of Germany’s Oktoberfest, the incidence of Covid infections in Munich has risen sharply. Though a connection with the festival can’t yet be proven, it seems likely.

Though the hot summer days are long gone, autumn in Germany can be just as charming. Here are 7 great places to visit in the colder months.

EU finance ministers on Monday pleaded for unity after Germany announced a €200 billion plan to help German households and businesses pay for high energy prices, amid accusations that the EU's biggest economy was acting alone.

Thirty-two years after German reunification, dissatisfaction with German democracy is on the rise in the former East, while leaders of eastern German states warn that the energy crisis is jeopardizing the successes achieved in rebuilding since then.

Just as different words and meanings played a key role in a sense of separate identity between former East and West Germany before reunification, language has remained key to regional identities in eastern states, writes Antonia Harrison.

German Unity Day falls on October 3rd. Did you know these facts about reunification and German Unity Day?

Germany's new €12/hour minimum wage, which came into force on October 1st, is set to benefit more than six million people. We look at exactly who is going to be helped by the €1.55/hour increase.

Germany, Denmark and Norway will supply Ukraine with 16 armoured howitzer artillery systems from next year, Berlin said Sunday, as Kyiv seeks heavier weapons to boost its fightback against Russia.

Germany's most strategically important building site is at the end of a windswept pier on the North Sea coast, where workers are assembling the country's first terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Germany's Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Saturday, her first since Russia's invasion in February, as Kyiv urges Berlin to send it battle tanks.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is no longer leaking under the Baltic Sea because an equilibrium has been reached between the gas and water pressure, a spokesman told AFP.

German police were patrolling the North and Baltic Seas with "all available forces" following explosions at the underwater Nord Stream pipelines from Russia, its interior minister said Friday.

From dazzling light shows to quirky food festivals, October is a jam-packed month in Germany. Here are some of the events you won't want to miss.

Germany's gas levy has been dropped and a price cap is on the way. But there are some other changes coming from October including a VAT cut and smaller surcharges. Here's what it means for your bills.

The four underwater explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea were caused by a force corresponding to hundreds of kilograms of explosives, a Danish-Swedish report said Friday, as Russian president Vladimir Putin accused the West of being behind the blasts.

It's been an extraordinary week in German politics after the government announced a U-turn on the gas levy, and plans for a new gas price cap. Here's what we know so far.

With infection numbers shooting up once again in Germany, states are set to bring in a new set of Covid measures on October 1st.

Anyone who has ever had to come up with a great idea on the fly can probably relate to this German phrase.

Nord Stream's operator said Thursday it was unable to immediately assess damage to pipelines linking Russia to Europe, threatening an indeterminate outage -- after Sweden detected a fourth leak and NATO decried "acts of sabotage". 

Compared to many other countries, October 3rd is a relatively new nationwide holiday, marking 32 years since German reunification. Aaron Burnett explains the background to it and why it's celebrated on this particular date.

The first episode of our Germany in Focus podcast looks at the energy crisis and how the government is supporting people, the €9 ticket follow-ups and a ruling that says employers in Germany have to record all staff hours - plus we talk about our favourite German words.

Many households in Germany could be eligible for increased financial support with their rents and bills from next year. We break down who should apply and how much help they could receive.

Germany is to ditch plans for a gas levy on consumers and introduce an energy price cap to curb soaring bills, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Thursday.

Security experts are increasingly convinced that leaks in the Nord Stream pipelines are the result of sabotage. Could there be further attempts to damage infrastructure - and what would the consequences be for people in Germany?

Germany's top energy regulator on Thursday issued an urgent warning to consumers to save more gas regardless of chilly weather as figures showed above-average usage, despite repeated pleas for restraint.

Planning to travel by train across Europe but not sure where to start? Here are the best websites to help make it happen.

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The German economy will contract in 2023 as inflation continues to rise on the back of soaring energy prices, the country's leading economic institutes said in a forecast published Thursday.

The cost of long-distance train travel in Germany is to go up significantly from December.

German state leaders are calling for the government to introduce an energy price cap to help households with rising bills. But there's still uncertainty over who would foot the bill.