Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is holding its national conference — and one of the major themes up for discussion is what Merz sees as an "exaggerated" work-life balance. Too many people are working part-time, he has repeatedly said, and for Germany to be prosperous, they must transition to full-time jobs.
Who were the big winners and losers? Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway is the undisputed king of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games. With six gold medals, the 29-year-old cross-country skier equaled the record of US speed skater Eric Heiden at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid.
China has overtaken the US as Germany's most important trading partner, according to figures released by Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Friday. The sum of exports and imports between the two countries last year totaled €251.8 billion ($296.6 billion), a 2.1% increase, according to Destatis. China was Germany's most important trading partner from 2016 all the way through to 2023.
Around 1.9 million people with university-level qualifications were at risk of poverty in 2025, an increase of 350,000 compared with 2022. The figures from Germany's official statistics office were released in response to a request from the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). The rise comes as the number of graduates grew to 21 million nationwide.
Skip next section Merz takes aim at far-right AfD February 20, 2026 Merz takes aim at far-right AfD Merz criticized his party's main challenger, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)Image: Thomas Kienzle/AFP/Getty Images During the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party conference on Friday, Merz largely attacked his rivals on the right — according to him, the
Is Christine Lagarde leaving the ECB early? Officially, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is not quitting her job early as head of the 21-member eurozone's central bank. However, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Lagarde has told people close to her that she is considering stepping down before her eight-year term ends in 2027.
The populist far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) likes to present itself as anti-establishment and as the voice of ordinary people. Nepotism in political parties, they believe, never goes down well with voters.
Published February 27, 2026 last updated February 27, 2026 German commuters are facing transport misery with local bus and tram strikes across the country. However, there's been good news for travelers who take trains with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn. DW has the latest.
People living across Europe, Russia and Central Asia together account for the highest number of tobacco users globally and it’s unlikely to change before 2030, according to the World Health Organization.
An administrative court in the western German city of Cologne on Thursday ordered the country's domestic intelligence agency to cease referring to the political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as "confirmed right-wing extremist" until the designation's legality can be determined.
Laureta* remembers the day she decided to break her silence. After 10 years of continual physical and psychological abuse by her husband, she walked into her local police station in a coastal city in Albania — afraid but with a new determination to save herself and her two daughters. Laureta reported her husband and sought legal protection.
Skip next section South Africa says 2 citizens died in Ukraine fighting for Russia February 26, 2026 South Africa says 2 citizens died in Ukraine fighting for Russia Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on Thursday said that at least two South African nationals had died fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine after being tricked