Practical news on daily life, integration, education, housing and orientation for living in Germany.
According to the German School Barometer 2026 by the Robert Bosch Foundation, 46 percent of teachers see student behavior as the biggest challenge in the classroom – a significant increase from previous years.
Deutsche Bahn is removing french fries from its onboard bistro menu. The reason is an EU regulation banning certain refrigerants.
The number of complaints about insurers has risen sharply again this year. In the first five months of 2026, the insurance ombudsman received over 50 percent more submissions than in the same period last year.
According to a survey by the institute Appinio on behalf of Indeed, two-thirds of employees in Germany can imagine working abroad. One-third have already made concrete inquiries.
An outdoor swimming pool in Halle (Saxony-Anhalt) will now require sufficient German language skills for entry. According to the managing director, the measure aims to ensure safety and relieve lifeguards.
A broad alliance of eleven organizations is rejecting a blanket social media ban for minors and instead calling for more training for parents and teachers.
When temperatures rise, employees have certain rights. From 26 degrees Celsius, employers must take protective measures; above 35 degrees, work is considered unreasonable.
Three people have died in swimming accidents in Germany this weekend, and three more swimmers are missing, according to the German Press Agency.
A fire broke out in a hotel near Hamburg's main train station early Sunday morning, injuring 14 people. One person was seriously hurt, while the others sustained minor injuries.
In inheritance disputes, legal fees can be deducted from inheritance tax under certain conditions. A ruling by the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) on March 11 (case II R 10/23) provides clarity.
If body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, it becomes life-threatening. According to ZDF, the body's cooling system then fails.
A lightning strike during a handball festival in Rastatt injured nine people, six of whom were taken to hospital, police confirmed.
An 11-year-old boy died on Thursday during a school trip in Aerzen, Lower Saxony. According to police, the child complained of shortness of breath and lost consciousness.
Starting June 19, companies must offer a cancellation button on their websites. According to ZDFheute, consumers can then cancel contracts as easily as they signed them.
Temperatures in Berlin could reach 35 degrees Celsius on Friday. According to Tagesspiegel, schools may send students home early due to the heat – but for working parents, that doesn't mean a day off.
At the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, a specialized clinic for gender identity is seeing a surge in young patients. Psychotherapist Saskia Fahrenkrug observes a clear trend: around 80 percent of adolescents seeking help were assigned female at birth and now identify as male.
An 18-year-old driver was caught speeding at 160 km/h on Dortmund's Ruhrallee on Monday evening – the speed limit was 60 km/h. Police confiscated his license, as reported by FAZ.
Comedian Gaby Köster has exhausted her financial reserves after her stroke in 2008. She told the magazine 'Bunte' that she now lives on her overdraft and has taken out a loan on her house.
Berlin-Neukölln's integration commissioner Güner Balci has expressed alarm over the creeping Islamist infiltration of German institutions, sparking a heated debate on the talk show 'Markus Lanz'.
A court in Berlin has ruled that the city must pay €500 in compensation to a man who was stopped by police based on his skin color. The Berlin-Mitte district court classified the data query as racial discrimination, a court spokesperson said.
A large US study suggests a surprising link between low blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 800,000 adults, as reported by T-online.
Rents in Darmstadt are still rising, but not as fast as in previous years. This is according to the new rent index published by the city administration, as reported by FAZ.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published its annual report on bathing water quality. According to FAZ, Germany performs well in the EU comparison: 98 percent of waters meet EU standards.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, sniffer dogs have been trained for the first time to detect new psychoactive substances (NPS) in prisons, as reported by the FAZ.
A man died in an explosion at a multi-family home in Kropp, Schleswig-Holstein. Several residents suffered smoke inhalation, according to Spiegel.
Tenants pay operating costs in advance – but how high can the monthly advance payment be? The Süddeutsche Zeitung explains the rules landlords must follow.
A four-year-old girl in Dortmund climbed out of a fourth-floor window unnoticed and was rescued by firefighters from a rain gutter. The situation was life-threatening, according to Spiegel.
The youth club Club 18 in the Potsdam district Am Stern will get a new operator. The reason is violence allegations and threats against social workers, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
Used electric cars are booming like never before. According to NDR, experts explain in a report what buyers need to consider – from battery checks to warranty.
As of Sunday, jam can once again be called jam for all fruit varieties. The change follows the implementation of the EU Breakfast Directive into German law, as reported by Tagesschau.
The entire railway line between Hamburg and Hanover is now closed to train traffic. According to Die Zeit, Deutsche Bahn is renewing tracks, switches, and bridges as part of its quality offensive – the work will last until July 10.
Power outages in Germany are causing concern, from Reutlingen to Berlin, affecting thousands. According to Die Zeit, experts recommend individual preparedness – a small stock of water and canned goods can make a big difference in an emergency.
A study by the University of Cologne shows that political beliefs increasingly determine willingness to go on a date in the US. Sociologist Ansgar Hudde sees parallels to Germany.
A family of three was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-trailer truck on the B12 in Oberbayern, according to police cited by Spiegel.
Experts consider disability insurance the most important coverage for young people in Germany. The FAZ provides an overview of pitfalls and key points to consider when taking out a policy.
Josef Deutskens, an entrepreneur in the care sector, reports systematic abuse of long-term care insurance. The solidarity system is being exploited in practice, Deutskens told Spiegel.
Sleep medicine specialist Sandra Nischwitz gives Spiegel an interview with tips for parents suffering from sleep deprivation. She explains what sleepless nights do to mothers and fathers and how they can better cope with everyday life.
Master butcher Michael Hoffmann is closing his shop in Mörfelden-Walldorf for good – the reason is a lack of staff, not a lack of customers. After 88 years, the family business on Flughafenstraße comes to an end.
Till Ritzert has an IT degree, sent 117 applications, and now relies on citizen's benefit. The 27-year-old exemplifies the tough situation for many graduates, as Spiegel reports.
The humpback whale that stranded in the Baltic Sea died four to five days after its release, according to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister Till Backhaus (SPD). The whale was still alive and diving after being transported to the North Sea, Backhaus said.