Merz's Government Faces Unprecedented Unpopularity
The first two state elections of the year have come and gone in Germany, and things are starting to pick up again within the federal government.
Europe
Lufthansa at 100: Celebrations Amid Economic Strain
Skip next section Germany joins UK-led talks on Hormuz shipping April 2, 2026 Germany joins UK-led talks on Hormuz shipping Germany is taking part in UK-led talks on securing the Strait of Hormuz after the US signaled others should handle the issue.
Hungary's Intelligence Scandal: Spying on the Opposition
The Hungarian election campaign has been in a frenzy for weeks, but this latest scandal has shocked even the most cool-headed observers. Many have described it as a "return to dictatorship and Communist times."
CDU/CSU Call for Cannabis Law Rethink After Two-Year Report
Government ministers from Germany's conservative CDU and CSU parties on Wednesday called for changes to the 2024 partial legalization of cannabis introduced by the previous more left-leaning coalition government. They made the call amid the publication of a two-year report on the effects of the new law. What did conservative ministers say about the report?
Russian An-26 Crashes in Crimea, Dozens Reported Dead
A Russian military plane crashed in the Russian-annexed Crimea, killing 29 people on board, Russian news agencies reported Wednesday. "According to reports from the scene, the six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed," the TASS state news agency said, citing Russia's Defense Ministry.
Inflatable Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Turkey, 18 Dead
At least 18 people have died after an inflatable boat with an outboard motor capsized in Turkish waters early Wednesday morning. Turkish authorities said the vessel, which was ferrying migrants across the Aegean Sea en route to Europe, ignored repeated warnings to stop, with the pilot instead attempting to outrun them.
Conservative Ties Between Immigration and Crime in Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of "an explosion of violence" during a session of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, in March, where he was asked about violence against women. He said there was a need to talk about the causes of this, adding that "a significant portion of this violence comes from immigrant groups."
Were Our Ancestors Nazis?
Now, more than 80 years after the end of the Nazi dictatorship, anyone can click through millions of index cards in the US National Archives without registering, and search for the names of their own grandparents and great-grandparents.
A Stranger’s Kindness Turned Into Lifelong Friendship
Homesick in a foreign country, a teenager meets a lifelong friend Holly Deiaco-Smith (left) and Chantal Jouve (right) in Strasbourg, France, in 2014. The two met in the 1990s, during an encounter in a post office.
Wolf Bites Woman in Hamburg, a Rare Urban Incident
A wolf bit and injured a woman in the northern German city of Hamburg, police said late Monday. It represents a rare human encounter with the typically shy species. The incident occurred near an Ikea store about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the center of Germany's second-biggest city, authorities said.
Germany: Winners and Losers from the World Cup Friendlies
March 31, 2026 In the international friendlies before the FIFA World Cup, some players on Germany's national football team made the most of their chances, while others missed the opportunity to impress.
EU Diplomats Mark Four Years Since Bucha Massacre
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and foreign ministers from across the bloc arrived in Kyiv to attend a memorial on Tuesday for victims of the 2022 Bucha killings. The Russian army is accused of killing hundreds of civilians in the Kyiv suburb at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, as Moscow troops withdrew on March 31.