DHL delivery driver convicted of assault in Herne
A DHL delivery driver has been convicted of dangerous bodily harm after beating two people in Herne-Wanne. According to Spiegel, the man felt provoked.
Category Life in Germany
Practical news on daily life, integration, education, housing and orientation for living in Germany.
Cocaine use among young adults in Germany rises sharply
Nearly one in five young adults in Germany has experimented with illegal drugs. According to the Drug Affinity Study by the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG), cocaine use among 18- to 25-year-olds has risen particularly sharply.
17 Million People Living Alone in Germany: One in Five Lives Without a Partner
More than 17 million people in Germany live alone – that's one in five. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of people living alone has risen by 22 percent since 2005.
Naturbad Untere Au: A Popular Destination for Sunbathers and Water Sports Enthusiasts
On Sunday, summer temperatures caused a rush at the Naturbad Untere Au in Frastanz. Queues formed as early as the early afternoon.
School Barometer 2026: Student Behavior Biggest Challenge for Teachers
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.
German railway removes fries from onboard bistro due to EU climate regulation
Deutsche Bahn is removing french fries from its onboard bistro menu. The reason is an EU regulation banning certain refrigerants.
Complaints about insurers surge dramatically
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.
Survey: Two-Thirds of Employees in Germany Consider Working Abroad
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.
Heidebad Halle: No Entry Without German Language Skills
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.
Alliance warns against blanket social media ban for minors
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.
Heatwave: Your Rights When Working in High Temperatures
When temperatures rise, employees have certain rights. From 26 degrees Celsius, employers must take protective measures; above 35 degrees, work is considered unreasonable.
Three Dead and Three Missing in Swimming Accidents Over Weekend
Three people have died in swimming accidents in Germany this weekend, and three more swimmers are missing, according to the German Press Agency.
14 Injured in Fire at Hamburg Hotel
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.
Inheritance Disputes: Legal Fees Now Tax-Deductible
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.
When heat becomes dangerous for the body
If body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, it becomes life-threatening. According to ZDF, the body's cooling system then fails.
Lightning Strike at Handball Festival in Rastatt: Several Injured
A lightning strike during a handball festival in Rastatt injured nine people, six of whom were taken to hospital, police confirmed.
11-year-old dies on school trip in Lower Saxony
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.
Cancellation button: Online contracts now easier to cancel
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.
Up to 35°C in Berlin: Schools May Close Early – What Parents Need to Know
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.
Why More Girls Are Identifying as Boys
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.
160 km/h in Dortmund: 18-Year-Old Loses Driver’s License
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.
Gaby Köster: ‘I Live on My Overdraft and Have Taken Out a Loan on My House’
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.
Güner Balci warns of Islamist infiltration in Germany
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'.
Berlin must pay €500 compensation after discriminatory police check
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.
Low Blood Pressure Identified as Alzheimer Risk Factor
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.
Darmstadt: Rents Rise More Slowly, but Many Cases of Rent Gouging
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.
EU Report: Bathing Water Quality Top in Germany
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.
NRW Justice: Sniffer Dogs Now Also Detect NPS in Prisons
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.
Explosion in Kropp: Dead Man Found in Senior Residence
A man died in an explosion at a multi-family home in Kropp, Schleswig-Holstein. Several residents suffered smoke inhalation, according to Spiegel.
Advance Payment of Operating Costs: How High Can It Be?
Tenants pay operating costs in advance – but how high can the monthly advance payment be? The Süddeutsche Zeitung explains the rules landlords must follow.
Dortmund: Firefighters Rescue Toddler from Rain Gutter on Fourth Floor
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.
Potsdam youth club Club 18 gets new operator after violence allegations
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: What buyers should look out for
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.
Jam Can Be Called Jam Again – EU Law Implemented
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.
Hamburg–Hanover railway line completely closed from today
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.
Crisis Preparedness: Why a Small Emergency Supply at Home Makes Sense
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.
Political Orientation Becomes a Dealbreaker in Dating
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.
Oberbayern: Family with toddler dies in head-on collision with truck
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.
Disability Insurance: What Young People Should Watch Out For
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.
Care Fraud: Entrepreneur Denounces Exploitation of Insurance Fund
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.