On the surface, Oktoberfest is all about booze and sex. But the world's most famous folk festival can also be seen as a microcosm of Bavarian culture, where tradition and conviviality have combined to create a special brand of prosperity. By Ullrich Fichtner more... [ Comment ]
The German Foreign Ministry is considering placing a former employee, Ilse Stöbe, on an honorary list of staff who resisted Hitler. It would be a controversial move because she was a Soviet agent at a time when Stalin and Hitler were allies. By Klaus Wiegrefe more... [ Comment ]
Pumped-storage power plants are an important part of Germany's shift away from nuclear energy. But the facilities are being planned in some of the country's most idyllic areas, leading locals and supporters of renewable energies alike to protest. By Dinah Deckstein in Jachenau, Germany more... [ Comment ]
Female members of Germany's Social Democrats want a coalition government with Merkel's conservatives to be contingent on a gender quota for company boards. Battered in the election, the SPD's men may now take these calls seriously. more... [ Comment ]
Thousands of economic refugees flood into Berlin every year, including many Roma. Some end up homeless, many are insulted or spat upon. Now a new program aims to help them find jobs and apartments -- and begin a new life. By Lena Reich more... [ Comment ]
Prosecutors claim 93-year-old former Auschwitz worker Hans Lipschis is complicit in the murder of thousands of people. The charges raise questions about how to interpret guilt in the Holocaust, as well as why the German justice system waited so long to pursue such cases. By Felix Bohr more...
It's quickly becoming clear how hard it's going to be for Angela Merkel to form a new government. The SPD wants the Finance Ministry and will ballot its members on any deal. In the end, though, they're likely to reach an agreement, say media commentators. more... [ Comment ]
In the latest twist in a controversy that has divided Germans, a regional court has ruled that doctors need to discuss circumcision procedures with the child before they can be carried out. more... [ Comment ]
For some 200 years, Oktoberfest has been all about copious amounts of beer and meat. But, this year, organizers are breaking with tradition and reaching out to visitors with dietary restrictions by offering vegan dishes and even vegan wine. By Friederike Heine more... [ Comment ]
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