Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. AP/AP hide caption toggle caption AP/AP WASHINGTON/ TEL AVIV — The U.S. and Israel have launched strikes against Iran, amid weeks of escalating tensions and heightened U.S. military presence in the region.
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.
A moratorium that has protected vital rainforest since 2009 is on shaky ground as several players from Brazil's soy industry say they are pulling out.
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.
Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Pakistan has bombed major cities in Afghanistan, declaring an 'open war' Afghanistan says it is carrying out operations in provinces along the border with Pakistan Both sides have reported heavy losses and issued conflicting death tolls Here are the latest news, headlines and
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan acknowledged fighting in border areas on Thursday, albeit disagreeing markedly on exact developments on the ground and the extent of each other's losses and gains.