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What's making news in Germany? From Bundestag debates to political controversy and pressing social issues, we bring you the stories and the people behind the headlines.
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German lawmaker resigns over face mask scandal
Revelations emerged that Nikolas Löbel's company earned hundreds of thousands of euros by procuring coronavirus masks.
PoliticsMarch 8, 2021
Germany rolls back some COVID lockdown restrictions
For the first time in over two months, people in Germany will be allowed to experience certain "normal" things again.
HealthMarch 8, 2021
Expert suggests COVID-19 vaccine priority reversal
A German immunology expert has put forward a radically different vaccination plan.
HealthMarch 7, 2021
Cocaine: The drug pipeline to Europe
Lockdown — a time without drug use? Not quite. Despite coronavirus, record amounts of cocaine is ending up in Germany.
PoliticsMarch 7, 2021
Is Germany throwing away vaccine doses?
FDP leader Christian Lindner claims vaccine doses are being discarded due to poor logistics planning. Are they?
HealthMarch 6, 2021
Angela Merkel calls for gender equality in face of pandemic
The German chancellor has warned that the coronavirus pandemic threatens to roll back advances in women's rights.
SocietyMarch 6, 2021
China's CGTN returns to German TV screens
French media regulators have stepped in to preserve the Chinese state-run channel's permission to broadcast in Europe.
PoliticsMarch 6, 2021
Germany's COVID vaccine shortage 'over soon'
The head of Germany's vaccination committee says a shortage of vaccines will come to an end in the next months.
HealthMarch 6, 2021
Germany's DB to spend €12.7 billion on infrastructure
The German rail carrier says the money will go to overhauling rails, switches and stations, as well as digital systems
Cars and TransportationMarch 5, 2021
German-Russian relations flare up over state-run TV channel
Moscow has accused Berlin of restricting press freedoms over RT bank account closures in Germany.
PoliticsMarch 5, 2021
German police arrest Croatian wanted for war crimes
Wanted by Croatia under suspicion of multiple counts of murder, the alleged war criminal was arrested in Frankfurt.
SocietyMarch 5, 2021
Is COVID breaking Angela Merkel's political toolbox? (E06)
How did Angela Merkel go from Europe's leadership champion in the COVID fight to lagging behind on vaccines and testing?
PoliticsMarch 5, 202141:32 min
German court suspends surveillance of AfD, for now
The court said it had to block surveillance of the far-right party to prevent "unjustifiable interference" in politics.
PoliticsMarch 5, 2021
Germany agrees on nuclear energy company payout
Germany is ending years of litigation with energy companies with around €2.4 billion to compensate for their losses.
PoliticsMarch 5, 2021
German town fears huge loss on Greensill bank investment
The potential loss to Monheim am Rhein equates to about€1,000 per inhabitant.
BusinessMarch 5, 2021
AfD is under observation by state intelligence
The domestic intelligence service has been examining how dangerous the Alternative for Germany is since 2019.
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
Greens seek to halt German uranium exports in Europe
Germany's Greens are using the 10th anniversary of the f*ckushima disaster to push for an EU nuclear phase-out.
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
Germany starts COVID testing drive
German officials have spent weeks debating if and how to roll out rapid tests for mass use. Now they have a plan
HealthMarch 4, 2021
Syrian pair appear in German court over filmed 'execution'
They are accused of taking part in and filming the "execution" of a Syrian regime soldier for propaganda purposes.
CrimeMarch 4, 2021
Why charge Saudi crown prince in Germany?
Reporters Without Borders has accused the Saudi crown prince of crimes against humanity. Will Germany take the case?
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
Germany extends lockdown with plan to relax restrictions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has revealed the government's plan to relax lockdown measures.
HealthMarch 4, 2021
German police arrest 20 suspected drug smugglers
The suspects allegedly imported tons of drugs from southern Europe to sell in Germany, including cannabis and cocaine.
CrimeMarch 3, 2021
Germany to implement supply chain law against exploitation
By the summer Germany will introduce a a law obliging companies to take responsibility.
PoliticsMarch 3, 2021
Germany places far-right AfD under surveillance — reports
Domestic intelligence is investigating the far-right Alternative for Germany, according to German national media.
PoliticsMarch 3, 2021
Germany's special forces look the other way
Germany's elite commando is under scrutiny for several reasons. Now, there are doubts about whether they welcome reform.
CrimeMarch 2, 2021
Germany plans to extend lockdown to March 28
Politicians plan to extend the lockdown but lift some restrictions — particularly in areas with a low infection rates.
PoliticsMarch 2, 2021
Saudi crown prince hit with criminal complaint in Germany
The complaint was filed for his role in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
PoliticsMarch 2, 2021
Where smart rail connections are not just a dream
People usually associate automated driving with cars and maybe trucks and buses, but that's not where it ends.
BusinessMarch 2, 2021
Gorbi and the Germans: Mikhail Gorbachev at 90
DW looks at the special relationship between Germany and the first and only president of the Soviet Union.
PoliticsMarch 2, 202111 images
Hairdressers in Germany reopen after COVID-19 shutdown
Hairdressers and barbers, closed since December to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, are reopening.
SocietyMarch 1, 2021
A look at Germany's political parties
Here's a who's who of German political parties.
PoliticsMarch 1, 2021
German hair salons reopen as COVID rules eased
Hairdressers in Germany are reopening for business, along with hardware stores and flower shops in some states.
HealthMarch 1, 2021
Germany: AstraZeneca priority groups 'should be abolished'
German state ministers have demanded that the AstraZeneca vaccine be used on all adults, or it will go to waste.
HealthFebruary 28, 2021
What will Germany's foreign policy be after Merkel?
Berlin's influence on the world stage has only grown in recent years. What will the next chancellor bring?
PoliticsFebruary 28, 2021
Will Germany follow UK example on vaccines?
Pressure is mounting on the German government to speed up the vaccine program and potentially save up to 15,000 lives.
HealthFebruary 28, 2021
33-year-old mom wins Miss Germany contest
This year's contest has been won by Miss Thuringia but struggles to separate itself from its past.
SocietyFebruary 28, 2021
Germany's Left party attempts a fresh start
A few months before Germany's national election, the socialists hope a new leadership duo will give them fresh momentum.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2021
What should be Germany's role in the world?
A group of more than 150 "ordinary people" has made recommendations how to shape German foreign policy.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2021
German court jails would-be UK hospital bomber
A 33-year-old Italian national threatened to bomb British hospitals unless he was paid more than €11 million.
Law and JusticeFebruary 26, 2021
Court sends synagogue attacker to psychiatric hospital
The man who tried to kill a Jewish student in front of a Hamburg synagogue is "mentally ill," a German court ruled.
CrimeFebruary 26, 2021
Pressure rises on German lawmaker over COVID mask scandal
The corruption scandal around conservative lawmaker Georg Nüsslein is "infuriating," center-left MP Dirk Wiese told DW.
PoliticsFebruary 26, 2021
BioNTech founders receive one of Germany's highest honors
President Steinmeier will award Özlem Türeci and Ugur Sahin with the Order of Merit for developing a COVID vaccine.
PoliticsFebruary 26, 2021
Germany in COVID lockdown lethargy
Psychiatrists and psychologists have warned that an extended lockdown could have severelong-termeffects.
SocietyFebruary 26, 2021
Germany committed to Afghan peace process, says AKK
The defense minister made the statement during a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif.
PoliticsFebruary 26, 2021
K-pop racism storm engulfs German radio station
A radio host in Bavaria has been accused of racism after comparing South Korean boy band BTS to the coronavirus.
MusicFebruary 26, 2021
German MP faces bribery allegations over COVID masks deal
The Bundestag lifted Georg Nüsslein's immunity over accusations of receiving €660,000 to lobby for a mask supplier.
PoliticsFebruary 25, 2021
German man charged with spying for Russia
Federal prosecutors have charged a German man with passing Bundestag blueprints to a suspected Russian agent.
PoliticsFebruary 25, 2021
Salafist group outlawed in Berlin
Authorities in the German capital have banned Jama'atu Berlin, saying the group was advocating terror attacks.
CrimeFebruary 25, 2021
German cabinet agrees to extend Afghanistan mission
The German government has agreed to extend its military mandate in Afghanistan into 2022.
ConflictsFebruary 25, 2021
German forest decline hits record levels
Bark beetles are the main driver of spruce tree deaths in the country. But this was exacerbated by a dry summer.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 24, 2021