Germany

Many EU countries opt to reopen despite record infections as WHO suggests Omicron may signal more manageable phase of pandemicCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Netherlands has lifted its toughest Covid controls, Denmark is set to remove all restrictions within days and France will begin easing curbs next week, as many – but […]

The German government is considering a ban on encrypted messaging app Telegram after it was repeatedly used as a channel for spreading anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and even death threats.

French and German officials will also take part in diplomatic effort to de-escalate crisisUkrainian and Russian representatives are due to meet in Paris on Wednesday, together with France and Germany, in the latest diplomatic effort to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.The Kremlin’s top official on Ukraine, Dmitry Kozak, will hold talks with Andriy […]

With the Omicron wave sweeping through Germany, the government has introduced strict rules on entering restaurants, bars and cafes. Many agree that the changes are necessary, but believe politicians should improve communication.

EU countries have agreed to make it easier for anyone with an EU Covid-19 certificate to travel within the bloc without having to face any further restrictions such as tests or quarantine.

Germany is known for being eco-friendly, but a Berlin-based duo says the country needs to do better. They've launched a non-profit project to encourage residents to increase the lifespan of their clothes.

German MPs are to debate a general vaccine mandate for the first time on Wednesday, but many people are divided over the proposals.

If you've got the dreaded red alert and found out a friend or colleague has Covid, you may have to quarantine for up to 10 days - even if you don't have symptoms. But what does German law say about whether you still need to work while stuck at home?

Analysis: Differing views over Russia within Nato alliance resurface in Ukraine crisisCan the western alliance against Russia over its buildup of troops on the Ukrainian border hold together? It is a question that politicians and diplomats are increasingly grappling with amid fears that Germany and, to a lesser extent, France are in danger of dividing from […]

Prime minister tells MPs Britain will push for ‘tough package’ of economic sanctions if invasion happensBoris Johnson has hinted that Germany may be concerned about the imposition of sanctions against Russia because of its dependence on Russian gas and told MPs diplomatic efforts are being made to persuade Berlin and others to go further.The British […]

The university city of Cottbus held one of 2,000 rallies across Germany on Monday, stoked by the far rightCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOn Monday evening on the dot of 7pm people emerged from dimly lit side streets and gathered on the Oberkirchplatz square in Cottbus for what has become a weekly ritual in towns and cities […]

The German state of Bavaria has announced some Covid relaxations, including allowing up to 10,000 spectators at major events.

From dealing with the unexpected and embracing culture to the hell of German bureaucracy and flat-hunting, here's what The Local's Rachel Loxton has learned from five years of life in Berlin.

People who've had one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are not seen as fully vaccinated for entry to Germany under new regulations. We break down what you should be aware of.

For people in Germany, Covid 'recovery' status has been restricted to infections that occurred in the past three months - but according to media reports, a different rule applies to parliamentarians while in the debate chamber of the Bundestag.

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday ordered Turkey to pay damages in excess of €12,300 ($14,000) to a German-Turkish journalist, ruling that his rights were violated by a year-long detention.

From keeping the 2G-plus rules in place to prioritising PCR tests, here's what you should know about Germany's latest Covid decisions.

As Germany is slammed for failing to take a firm stance against Russia in the Ukraine crisis, Brian Melican examines the two countries' complicated history, and how "ostalgia" and fishy deals have led to the Nord Stream II pipeline getting this far.

An 18-year-old German student opened fire in a lecture hall at Heidelberg University in southwestern Germany on Monday, killing a young woman and injuring three others before fleeing the scene and turning the weapon on himself.

Lone gunman, 18, opens fire on peers at Germany’s oldest university before killing himselfOne person was shot dead and three others were injured when an 18-year-old man opened fire on his fellow students in a packed lecture hall in the German university town of Heidelberg, according to police.The gunman, who was enrolled in the same course in life […]

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday that Germany will stick to the current Covid restrictions for now, but PCR tests will be prioritised in future.

The British government has announced the end of testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers, including the post-arrival Day 2 tests that travellers from Europe have previously been forced to pay for.

A few days before the first deliberations on compulsory Covid vaccinations in the German Bundestag, politicians in favour of a vaccine mandate have set out details of their plans.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting with regional leaders on Monday to talk about Covid restrictions in Germany. Here's a look at their draft agreement and what we can expect.

Calls are growing from some politicians for a firm plan to relax Covid restrictions in Germany.

More than 100 Catholic church officials in Germany came out as LGBT, queer or non-binary on Monday, adding to calls for reform within the crisis-hit church.

The chief of Germany’s navy has resigned after arguing during a livestreamed event that Vladimir Putin 'deserves respect' and Kyiv will not win back annexed Crimea. Ukraine’s ambassador in Berlin said Kay-Achim Schönbach's comments 'massively' called into question Germany’s trustworthinessGerman navy chief quits after saying Putin deserves respect […]

Kay-Achim Schönbach said it was ‘nonsense’ that Russia wanted to invade its neighbour and that Kyiv would never win back CrimeaThe chief of Germany’s navy has resigned after arguing at a livestreamed event that Putin “deserves respect” and Kyiv will never win back annexed Crimea – comments that Ukraine’s ambassador in Berlin said […]

Concerns about new Omicron offshoot in England; France to bring in strict restrictions for unvaccinated peopleSee all our coronavirus coverageGermany’s seven-day incidence rate has risen to a high of 772.7 infections per 100,000 people, up from 706.3. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported 135,461 new infections on Saturday, an increase of 57,439 on […]

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