The thorny issue of what to do with Russian assets has not only stumped Western leaders but also officials in Berlin who are saddled with three crumbling buildings belonging to Moscow.

Whether you've just moved to Germany or have been settled here for years, knowing where to turn to for support is essential. Here are the organisations that can help you navigate the twists and turns of life in Germany.

Growing political polarisation means that debate about immigration is boiled down to 'pro' or 'anti'-immigration positions, but new surveys reveal that European public opinion is a little more nuanced than that.

Germany's lower chamber of parliament, the Bundestag, on Friday confirmed that it has banned seven staff members from entering the building after reports they were associates of the far-right AfD.

The UN's special rapporteur on freedom of expression on Friday said hate speech was rising in Germany but the government response was heavy-handed at times.

The UK government is set to further increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travellers from Europe, coinciding with the implementation of tougher entry rules.

From Team Germany's disappointing Olympic uniforms to the winter sports you can practice closer to home and how Germans really feel about how much they work, here's what we're talking about at The Local this week.

As part of the landmark trade agreement announced on January 27th, the EU and India adopted a ‘mobility framework’ that aims to make it easier for Indian students, researchers and young professionals to move to the EU.

German regulations around school attendance for children are notoriously strict. Here's what parents need to know about when children can miss school – and when they can't.

Germany publishes an official list of so‑called bottleneck jobs. If you’re trained in one of these fields, the process of securing a work permit or even permanent residency can be noticeably easier.

Germany publishes an official list of so‑called bottleneck jobs. If you’re trained in one of these fields, the process of securing a work permit or even permanent residency can be noticeably easier.

German exports to the United States plunged in 2025 amid President Donald Trump's tariff blitz, driving down the trade surplus of Europe's top economy with the crucial US market to a four-year low, data showed Friday.

French food giant Danone has enlarged its recall of infant formula to Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Switzerland, the company and national health authorities said.

Halfway through a bruising decade, the relentless focus on what is going wrong in Germany is making things worse for everyone except extremists. A more positive attitude is urgently needed, argues Brian Melican, and starting from the top.

In an effort to boost Germany's film industry, the government is pushing a plan to demand that streaming platforms invest at least part of their revenue in making productions locally.

Black ice on the runway at Berlin Brandenburg Airport has caused flight suspensions and cancellations for over 24 hours. As of Friday morning, there was no clear indication of when normal operations would resume.

Whether it's bad weather, staff shortages or a strike action, we look at your rights if your air travel plans from Germany are disrupted.

Flight cancellations continue into the second day at Berlin airport, marriages hit a record low number in 2024, exports to the US plunges last year due to tariffs and more news from around Germany on Friday, February 6th.

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.

It’s Six Nations season again. And this year it’s easier than ever to follow every scrum, tackle and try in Germany – even if most people in the country have still never heard of rugby.

Germany's competition watchdog ordered Amazon on Thursday to stop implementing price controls for retailers on its marketplace and told the US tech giant to return €59 million in what it deemed unfair gains.

With high numbers of job posts across technical trades, healthcare, engineering, logistics and administration, the Bavarian capital seems to have plenty of opportunities for job-seekers this year.

Applications for Germany’s state‑funded integration courses have not been processed since December, according to multiple reports. Despite mounting criticism, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has declined to say why.

One of the advantages of living in Europe is having access to a great transcontinental train network. In the winter months you don't need a car to get from Germany to these stunning winter sport destinations in the Alps.

Black ice and freezing rain were disrupting road and rail traffic in parts of Germany on Wednesday. The Berlin airport noted warned: 'No take-offs are currently possible'.

Admissions freeze for migrant integration courses condemned, Hungary jails German activist over attacks on far-right, tuberculosis case prompts mass testing at Brandenburg kindergarten and more news on Thursday, February 4th.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz headed to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to kick off a Gulf tour as the biggest EU economy seeks to diversify its key trade and energy partnerships.

Residents who've lived in Germany for more than five years may be considering applying for citizenship. What documents do you need to apply?

Germany's highest court ruled against a tenant who sublet his Berlin apartment for twice as much rent as he owed. If you plan to sublet your own home, or part of it, there are a few rules you should be aware of.

Looking for a hit of highbrow culture and glam to get you through the dismal winter? You're in luck: the Berlinale film festival is just around the corner. Here's what you should know about it and how to get tickets.

The EU hands out thousands of Blue Cards to highly-skilled third country nationals each year, according to the latest figures. But which nationalities receive the most and which EU country gives out the most?

A railway passenger fatally assaulted a train conductor in Rhineland‑Palatinate after being asked to show his ticket. The attacker has since been arrested.

British people who were living in Germany by the end of 2020 have their residence rights protected under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Here's how they can get permanent residency according to an immigration expert.

German Armed Forces sends out more than 40,000 military service letters in recruitment bid, AfD's new youth wing found to 'maintain extremist links', winter weather causes disruption and more news on Wednesday, February 4th.

Germany has the highest proportion of older workers of any European Union country, official data showed Tuesday, with almost a quarter of those in employment aged between 55 and 64.

A recent proposal to exclude dental care from public health insurance in Germany stirred up significant backlash. But exactly how much dental care does public health insurance in Germany get you anyway?

Germany maintains a 'special responsibility' to the state of Israel and expects its citizens to embody that. Here's a look at how certain statements, and even social media activity, can endanger a dual-nationals' citizenship status.

Set to start on Friday, the 2026 Winter Olympics take place in northern Italy – and aim to provide the injection of winter cheer we all need right now. From how to watch to what to see, here’s our guide to the Games.

While the east and northeast of Germany has been struggling with subzero temperatures in the last week, forecasters are now predicting slippery conditions in western and southern regions.

Rail punctuality slumps in January, German beer sales plunge to historic low, significantly more refugees use the government's return programme and more news on Tuesday, February 3rd.

Having gained a strong command of the German language in his seventeen years in the country, columnist Tom Pugh suggests there are still words he struggles to pronounce and sounds he can't differentiate between.

Germany has arrested five people for exporting goods worth at least 30 million euros to Russia, including to more than 20 arms companies, in violation of EU sanctions, prosecutors said Monday.

By the end of February, Saxony will become the latest German state to introduce a ban on smartphones in schools. Here are the current rules on phone use in school across the federal states, and a look at how well they're working.

When public transport strikes hit many commuters face serious challenges getting to work. So what are the rules in Germany around being late to work when the buses and trains are cancelled?

Public transport was severely disrupted across Germany on Monday as a large-scale warning strike brought buses, trams and underground lines in many regions to a halt. Here's where passengers are most affected.

Public transport strikes in place across the country, a former Bundestag president is remembered, Germany seeks energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia and more news on Monday, February 2nd.

From threats against digital doctor's notes and part time work to why Berlin is coated in ice and the sweet life in Duisburg, here's what we're talking about at The Local this week.

The deadline for the full implementation of the Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), the new EU digital border system, has been postponed from April to September amid concerns over travel disruptions during the summer season, a European Commission spokesperson said on Friday.

Passengers across Cologne, Wuppertal and Hagen can expect months of travel disruptions as one of North Rhine-Westphalia’s busiest railways is set for serious renovations.

Europe's largest economy grew more than expected at the end of last year, but this is likely not cause for celebration among three million unemployed workers in Germany as major companies continue with widespread job cuts.