Germany in Focus – Details, episodes & analysis

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In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards.

Here's the links to the stories we talk about:

Germany's budget plans: 

• Kindergeld and tax relief - how Germany's planned 2025 budget could affect you
• Will Germany introduce a tax rebate for foreign skilled workers?

Taylor Swift comes to Germany:

• What you need to know about Taylor Swift's Germany concerts

Tenants' rights:

• What can you get you evicted as a tenant in Germany 

Berlin named Germany's most expensive city:

• Which German cities are the most expensive for residents?

Summer in Germany:

• How to make the most of Germany's long summer days

 We hope you have a fabulous summer and see you in September!

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Join The Local Germany with our podcast listener offer

In this episode Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Sarah Magill. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

Germany's fraught political landscape and budget woes:

• What the shock defection of a Greens MP to the CDU tells us about German politics

Future of the €49 ticket amid ailing rail infrastructure in Germany:

• Why has German train punctuality got so bad?
• Where to expect disruption due to rail upgrades in Germany this year

Confusion over whether people naturalising as German have to affirm Israel's right to exist:

• Do new German citizens have to affirm Israel's right to exist?

Underrated German tourist spots:

• Five lesser-known German summer destinations to visit this year

July events across Germany:

• 11 unmissable events happening around Germany this July
• CSD in Germany: The Pride events you won't want to miss this summer

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In this episode Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Aaron Burnett and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. 

Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

The spy scandals gripping Germany and rocking the AfD:

• 'How spying scandal has rocked troubled German far-right party
• What we know about the alleged spies accused of plotting attacks on Germany for Russia

Berlin's €29 ticket relaunch:

• 'Berlin-Abo' - Everything you need to know about Berlin's new €29 travel pass

Getting a lawyer involved with your German naturalisation application:

• When should you consider legal action on your German citizenship application?
• German word of the day - Untätigkeitsklage
• Does hiring a lawyer speed up your German citizenship application?

Is Germany an attractive spot for foreign workers?

• Germany ranked fifth most popular destination for foreign workers 
• Germany's plans to improve digital access to the job market

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Imogen Goodman and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. 

Here are some links to some of the stories we talk about:

Bavaria takes a stand against Germany's cannabis legalisation: 

• 'Bavaria moves to ban cannabis at Oktoberfest and beer gardens

Germany’s new self-determination law passed by parliament and the planned rule changes for double surnames: 

• How Germany's self-determination law will make it easier for people to change their gender
• Why Germany is changing its complicated rules around double surnames 

Commission urges German government to make abortion officially legal in first trimester:

• 'Untenable': Legalise abortions in first trimester, urges commission
• Will abortion in Germany soon become legal?

Transport Minister threatens weekend driving bans, and the plans for new climate rules:

• German minister threatens to introduce weekend driving bans
• Has Germany avoided driving bans by loosening its climate rules?

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Aaron Burnett and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. 

Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

German national football team's strip controversies:

• 'Lack of patriotism': German football team to cut ties with Adidas after 70 years

Can German trains improve their punctuality:

• German government expects more punctual trains... by Christmas

Germany's Deutschlandticket offer for students:

• Where can university students in Germany get a Deutschlandticket for €29?

Night trains:

• Prague and Dresden added to Brussels night train route

Asparagus season begins in Germany: 

• Warm weather marks the start of 'Spargelzeit' in Germany

How happy are Germans?

• Why are people in Germany getting unhappier?

Tax deadlines in 2024:

What are the 2024 deadlines to submit my tax return in Germany?

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Rachel Stern and Imogen Goodman. Our guest this week is historian and tour guide Jonny Whitlam. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. 

Here are some links to the stories we talk about:

Germany's citizenship law passes final hurdle and why the citizenship test is being shaken up:

• Elation and worry as Germany's citizenship law passes final hurdle
• Why Germany is shaking up citizenship test questions 
• The new questions being added to Germany's citizenship test

Changes residents should know in April: 

• Everything that changes in Germany this April 

Cannabis possession becomes legal in Germany plus vocab:

• What to know about Germany's partial legalisation of cannabis
• German word of the day - Kiffen
• German word of the day - Bubatz

Germany's culture of remembrance: 

• New hurdles for Germany's remembrance culture as Holocaust survivors dwindle

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, Rachel Loxton is joined by journalists Aaron Burnett and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. 

Here are some links to stories we talk about today:

Latest update on German citizenship law:

• When might Germany's dual citizenship law get final signature?

What the European elections mean for Germany: 

• What's at stake in Germany's European election vote?
• How to register to vote in Germany at the European elections

Why Berlin's techno scene has been given cultural icon status:

• Berlin techno scene added to UNESCO world heritage list

What does the future hold for skiing in Germany?

• How the climate crisis is changing Germany's ski resorts 
• The ski destinations you can reach by train from Germany 

Easter in Germany: 

• What's open in Germany over the Easter weekend?
• How to celebrate Easter like a German
• Easter travel - are German train strikes set to end?

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the generous support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panellists Imogen Goodman and Paul Krantz. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We are also joined by economist Friedhelm Pfeiffer, a senior researcher at the European Centre for Economic Research in Mannheim.

Here are some links to stories we talk about today:

Why a German city has launched a public light display for Ramadan:

• Frankfurt becomes first German city to light up for Ramadan

What's going on with strikes in Germany and can we expect disruption over Easter?

• How likely are strikes in Germany over the Easter weekend?

Update on the dual citizenship law and why foreign nationals are protesting against Berlin’s slow bureaucracy.

• Has Germany's upcoming dual citizenship law been delayed again?
• Foreigners in Berlin furious over German citizenship delays

The protests against US car company Tesla's expansion in Brandenburg:

• Why is Tesla's expansion in Berlin so controversial?

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Germany in Focus is made possible by the generous support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Imogen Goodman and Rachel Stern. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We are also joined by immigration lawyer Sven Hasse.

Here are links to some of the stories we talk about:

Germany's cannabis law approved in the Bundestag:

• German parliament votes to legalise cannabis possession
• Will cannabis legislation in Germany lead to a boom in sales
• What the partial legalisation of cannabis could mean for Germany

Berlin's film festival Berlinale accused of promoting anti-Semitism: 

• Germany launches probe over Berlin film festival 'anti-Semitism' row

Far-left militant on the run from police for decades arrested:

• Fugitive far-left militant wanted for decades arrested in Berlin
• What Germany's Red Army Faction can tell the world about terror

Changes in Germany in March including immigration rules:

• Everything that changes in Germany in March 2024
• What changes in Germany with immigration rules in 2024

Events in March across Germany:

• 8 unmissable events in Germany in March 2024

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Germany in Focus made possible by the generous support of subscribers to The Local - find out more here about becoming a member.

Our sponsor for this episode is US tax specialist BrightTax.

In this episode, host Rachel Loxton is joined by panelists Paul Krantz and Rachel Stern. Our sound engineer is Rhys Edwards. We are also joined by career coach Kevin Kocher from Immigrant Spirit.

Here are links to some of the stories we talk about:

Berlin's ruling on illegal holiday lets and Airbnbs:

• Could a landmark court ruling help solve Berlin's housing crisis?

Germany's invisible borders between east and west:

• How does Germany's phantom border still divide the country?

The new WerteUnion right wing party and why its founder is controversial:

• How a new anti-migrant party could cement Germany's lurch to the right

Why are people in Germany retiring later in life? 

• Why are so many people in Germany choosing to retire later?

What's the outlook for jobs in Germany, especially for foreign residents?

• Which German companies are planning to cut jobs?
• What's the outlook for the German job market in 2024
• How foreign jobseekers in Germany can maximise their changes in 2024

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