The former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, the BND, has been accused of spying for a foreign country. Never before has a German official of August Hanning's stature been accused of treason.

For the first time since the end of World War II, a German state parliament has chosen parliamentary speaker from the far right: Tobias Rausch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

On the 36th anniversary of reunification, Germans are dissatisfied with the country's political leaders. They don't believe they'll be able to handle the challenges posed by AI, Russia and Donald Trump.

A Hamburg court has handed down stiff prison sentences to members of the far-right terrorist group "Last Wave of Defense." Politicians are warning that those drawn into extremist violence are getting younger.

Ahead of four elections in Germany this fall, dozens of fake posts are circulating online aimed at discrediting candidates and portraying Germany as divided. Analysts warn that Russia is now targeting local candidates.

Following the attack on a Berlin Pride festival, the focus in Germany is turning to Islamist terrorism. An expert warns: Looking only at Islamists overlooks the parallels with right-wing extremism.

Heat waves are becoming longer, hotter and more frequent. Record temperatures have left many tenants struggling. Now Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the building law needs to be amended.

The German government has expanded the powers of its federal police, especially in the use of surveillance, AI, and drone defenses. But experts warn of constitutional challenges.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner withdrew from the reelection race this fall. His decision to play tennis during the power outage in January was among missteps that has dented his reputation.

Technology companies are shaping how news is presented and digested, leaving media outlets little option but to comply. At DW's Global Media Forum in Bonn, participants discussed how to resist and adapt.

Never before has a June been as hot in Germany as in 2026. This has consequences not only for people and nature, but also for businesses. Heat reduces productivity and causes illness, while cooling is expensive.

The AfD looks set to take power in a German state for the first time. In a DW exclusive, the frontrunner in Saxony-Anhalt, has outlined his plans to detain immigrants, revamp the school system, and relations with Russia.

Germany no longer believes it can play a mediating role in the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Instead, the German government is working to strengthen its ties with the Gulf states.

Ukrainian-German government talks in Berlin on Tuesday, were overshadowed by worries about continuing support for Ukraine. Political resistance is growing.

Calls are growing for Germany to update its rape law after a celebrity case involving "deepfakes" caused an uproar. Campaigners are also pushing for a move to the "only yes means yes" principle of active consent.

A Chinese student has been found guilty of drugging and raping a woman in Munich over a period of months. The perpetrator was a member of a Telegram chat group where men organized rapes and shared images of their crimes.

A new rule requiring men to get permission to travel abroad recently put Defense Minister Boris Pistorius under pressure. He says he has fixed the situation, but the criticism continues.

Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland has raised questions about the US's commitment to NATO. The US maintains a major military presence in Germany — a vital part of its post-World War II national defense strategy.

In the monthly ARD Deutschlandtrend poll, Germans polled expressed little confidence that 2026 will be a peaceful and prosperous year. The reputation of the US is at an all-time low.