The Local

Here in the waning weeks of 2019, it’s natural to look back at the decade that’s drawing to an end. But the close of a decade is not just about looking backward - it’s also a good time to consider what the next ten years have in store. Read more here: http://bit.ly/34X2iGm

We asked our readers across Europe what surprised them most about working and living in Europe. This is what they had to say. http://bit.ly/2PiGiiF

Frankfurt is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities yet can’t shake off an unfair reputation as a dull finance centre. We spoke to alumni of Frankfurt School of Finance and Management to get a better idea. http://bit.ly/34Iw2Xn  

Public healthcare in Germany is not as catch-all as one might hope. Find out why going private could benefit both your health and your bank account. http://bit.ly/2rpvcAd    

Berlin’s gritty bohemian allure has long appealed to voguish creative types. But its popularity has come at a cost. The city has undergone rapid gentrification, you’re as likely to hear English on the streets as German and, despite strict rent control laws, rental prices have soared. http://bit.ly/2K2jXUL

Health insurance policies are never one-size-fits-all and life circumstances have a habit of changing. The Local spoke to an expert from leading insurance broker ASN to help you get the best value bespoke insurance policy.Find out more via the article: http://bit.ly/36LRs7F

-Sponsored content- Moving abroad changes you in many ways but perhaps most surprising is the way it affects your relationship with your home country. The Local in Partnership with Readly asked international residents how they retain their connection to their home cultures while living abroad, read the article here.

Do you find the salary deductions in Germany a bit tricky to navigate? You're not alone. The Local in partnership with private health insurance company ottonova has written a useful guide on how to understand and minimize your salary deductions when working in Germany. See here for more information.  

The number of town pigeons in Germany's towns and cities has fallen dramatically over the past decade, with the Berlin population down by two thirds from its 2001 level.   Figures from the nature protection society Nabu say there are only around 10,000 town pigeons left in the capital, down from up to 30,000 thought to have been there in 2001. And although there are no recent figures in Frankfurt, officials say that complaints about them have declined over recent years.   One of the causes is building renovation, which is undertaken without any consideration for providing space for birds to nest, Lars Lachmann from Nabu told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper at the weekend.   Click to read the full article.