Russia

'Russia will remain difficult partner for Europe,' says German foreign minister

Germany’s new foreign minister Heiko Maas has said Russia will remain a difficult partner for Europe following Vladimir Putin's re-election - and questioned the fairness of the vote.

drinking

10 words and phrases you'll need to survive Oktoberfest

If you want to mingle with local beer drinkers, you'd better speak their tongue. And your school German won't be of much help in the deep south.

series

Germans celebrate 40th birthday of a very cheeky bee

Generations of Germans rejoice as the cartoon character Biene Maya (Maya the Bee) celebrates 40 years as a TV star on Friday.

Crime

'I am not a bad person'

He's a hacker, a gamer, a party animal, a legal resident of New Zealand, and a self-proclaimed defender of internet freedom. <b>Kim Schmitz, aka Kim Dotcom</b>, is The Local's <b>German of the week</b>.