Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

LIVING IN GERMANY

Today in Germany: A round-up of the latest news on Tuesday

From an announcement about vaccine availability to a particularly strict shutdown in Bavaria, here's a roundup of the news in Germany on Tuesday.

Published: 1 December 2020 14:31 CET
Today in Germany: A round-up of the latest news on Tuesday
A man and his daughter ride bikes through fresh snow in Munich on Tuesday. Photo: DPA

First vaccinations to be made available by January

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) is counting on the first round of coronavirus vaccinations being completed in January.

“Our aim is to ensure that the first risk groups and care workers are vaccinated as early as January,” said Spahn on Tuesday on Deutschlandfunk radio.

In doing so, he maintained that old people and people with pre-existing conditions are also among the first to be vaccinated. This was also recommended by the Ethics Council, the National Academy of Science Leopoldina and the Standing Vaccination Committee. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, had said in her government statement on Thursday.

“We agreed that these vaccines would then be offered to people working in the medical, nursing and care sector and that they would be the first to have access to them,” Merkel said.

READ ALSO: Analysis: How close is Germany to receiving a Covid-19 vaccine?

Photo of the day

Photo: DPA

Snow fell in many parts of Germany on Tuesday – in some cases causing traffic hazards but in others simply giving way for a winter wonderland, as this photo from the Harz Mountains in Lower Saxony on Tuesday shows.

Tractor protest in Kiel

According to the police, more than 100 farmers with up to 70 tractors blocked access to the Rewe logistics centre in Kiel late Monday evening. The farmers' protest was directed against the pricing policies of the major supermarket chain.

They demanded a greater share of the profits than before, and also more money for their products.

According to the police, the farmers released the blockade at 10:30 pm. There were no major traffic problems and police were on site during the blockade.

Over the past year, several such protests have occurred around Germany, some taking to the streets of big cities en masse and blocking traffic.

READ ALSO: Traffic chaos hits German cities as farmers stage tractor protest

Strict shutdown in Nuremberg

Nuremberg has become the first major city in Bavaria to impose additional strict restrictions during the shutdown in order to curb its sharp rise in coronavirus infections. 

The restrictions are to apply with immediate effect and initially until December 20th, said Mayor Marcus König (CSU) on Tuesday. Nuremberg residents are now only allowed to leave their homes for good reason, for example to go to work, to the doctor or to go shopping.

Furthermore, the compulsory wearing of masks and the ban on alcohol in the city centre will be extended. 

From December 7th onwards, classes from the fifth grade onwards will be divided and taught in rotation – with the exception of special needs schools, preparatory schools and final classes.

The southern city has reported 1,662 coronavirus cases in the past week, bringing its 7-day incidence rate of cases per 150,000 residents to 320.62. Over 50 qualifies a region as a hotspot.

Man on trial for offering apartment in exchange for sex

A man in Munich went on trial Tuesday for renting out his apartment under one condition: that the female tenant would have sex with him. The tenant, worried about homelessness and addicted to drugs, eventually gave in to the man’s requests. 

She is also said to have prostituted herself for the first time, at his insistence, in order to pay the rent.

The 58-year-old on trial is accused of having recognised and deliberately exploited the woman's financial plight, psychological problems and drug addiction.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

SHOW COMMENTS