Conservative leader accuses Scholz of sowing division in Germany’s economy
Friedrich Merz calls the SDP party leader’s actions as ‘unworthy of a chancellor’
Germany
German parties agree to February federal election
Vote will come seven months early following collapse of coalition led by Olaf Scholz
Germany’s memory battle over ‘Nie Wieder’: never again
Once the cornerstone of the country’s remembrance culture, the slogan’s meaning has become increasingly blurred
Fiction in translation: Darkenbloom a profoundly disturbing Austrian satire
Reviews of books by Eva Menasse, Federico Falco, SJ Nolde, Aharon Appelfeld and Leonid Tsypkin
Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai: A paean to depth and meaning amid violence and death
The novel’s protagonist, Florian Herscht, writes and rewrites a letter to Angela Merkel about what he believes to be an existential threat to the world
Winter election in the air for Germany as Olaf Scholz under pressure to get the timing right
Chancellor is open to moving poll date forward to January, but some fear early vote will bring high risks for smaller parties
Two German wines that are a little bit more expensive, but certainly worth it
Wines for the Weekend: This Reisling and Pinot Noir are the ones to go for when on promotion
Olaf Scholz finally delivers on dynamic promise as firing of Germany’s finance chief blows up his coalition
German chancellor morphs from soft-spoken lawyer into Scholzilla on live TV, saying there is ‘no basis of trust for further co-operation’
Germany’s political instability hurting Europe, EU leaders say
European Union leaders sound alarm over weak governments in Germany and France
Germany’s coalition stands on a knife edge after Olaf Scholz fires finance minister
Chancellor accuses FDP leader Christian Lindner of ‘egotism’, but will wait until January to call snap election
ECHR to examine case of Irishman Oisín Osborn, shot dead by Hamburg police in May 2019
Osborn family believe killing of son resulted from excessive police force
Lithuania says Russia responsible for exploding parcels in Europe
‘It’s part of military operations,’ says adviser to Lithuanian president amid concern sabotage nearly caused air disaster
German police arrest eight suspected members of right-wing group plotting ‘ethnic cleansing’ campaign
Prosecutors say members 'share a fundamental renunciation of the free democratic order' of the German state
Investors will bypass Ireland for renewable energy projects unless delays on planning and the grid are resolved
Onshore wind developments can take up to 10 years for a development to become operational in Ireland, from planning to grid connection and construction
Ireland is not the only resource-rich nation that cannot figure out housing
When prices in Ireland began to surge in the 2000s, we looked to the German housing market as a more stable, affordable exemplar. Not any more
The Lost Music of the Holocaust: a problematic study
Francesco Lotoro’s research is unclear and ignores how music-making in the Nazi camps was sometimes a form of torture
Multi-billion stimulus plan proposed for Germany
German economics minister Robert Habeck argues country trapped in vicious circle of low growth and a tight fiscal corset
Germany’s Scholz faces wrath of business leaders against grim economic backdrop
Chancellor under pressure amid sluggish economy and opposition leader’s popularity
German mayor resigns over homophobic abuse
Neubrandenburg’s town council has voted to ban the LGBT+ rainbow flag from its train station
Biden calls for greater backing for Ukraine and praises German support on short visit to Berlin
US president in Germany to hold talks with Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer
An intervention from Germany’s opposition could prove important to the EU’s approach to migration
The party is calling for a temporary closure of the country’s borders to asylum claimants
Germany wrestles with its arms sales to Israel
Legal and ideological concerns including claims of genocide influence Berlin as it calibrates its supply of weapons in the context of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon
Ex-Stasi officer sentenced over Berlin Wall killing in 1974
Polish man Czeslaw Kukuczka was shot in the back as he tried to escape to West Germany
Germany struggles with complexities of its relationship with Israel as war and suffering continue
In the country of the Holocaust, pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps have spent the last year facing off on a daily basis
Populist German politicians agree on Russia but clash on migration in first debate
Parties of two alpha females of German politics now attract nearly 30% of national support in opinion polls
How Hazel Behan was treated in German rape trial of Madeleine McCann suspect
Presiding judge Uta Engemann has been criticised for her lack of sensitivity and empathy with Hazel Behan. She asked questions that prompted regular gasps from the public gallery
Up in smoke: Germany’s bright new cannabis dawn obscured by cloud of bureaucracy
Recreational drug legalised in April, but promised licensed shops have not materialised, while cannabis clubs are still waiting for permits
How Northern Ireland’s Oskar Schindler helped Austrian Jews flee Nazi terror
Just before the second World War broke out, in 1938 the New Industries (Development) Act sought to lure employers to the North. It helped some escape the evil of the Nazis
Life imitates art as populists collapse Thuringia parliament
Far-right AfD’s collapse of inaugural sitting of Thuringia state parliament provides timely backdrop to new play in which populist governor sparks constitutional crisis
Angela Merkel thwarted Friedrich Merz’s ambition to succeed her. Now they have buried the hatchet
Man who finally became CDU leader in 2022 hosts event to belatedly mark Merkel’s 70th birthday
German Green resignations increase speculation of snap election
Green leadership steps down in Germany three days after party ejected from new Brandenburg state parliament in Potsdam after polling just 4%
Germany warns UniCredit on mooted Commerzbank takeover
German government has no plans to sell remaining stake in Commerzbank
Is euro zone heading towards stagflation?
Currency area’s latest pmi data points to downward slide in activity across the bloc
How facial recognition technology detected Kinahans’ fraudulent passports and tracked movements
Key members of cartel, including three Kinahans, sourced multiple passports in Ireland and Britain
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