Rob Schmitz

Between the financial crisis and record refugees, the long-serving chancellor "kept a steady hand during a tumultuous time," says one biographer.

Across Europe and North America, throngs of Santa impersonators have been busy preparing children for Christmas. But in Germany, there's a lack of interest among people to play the jolly character.

President Trump is expected to sign into law sanctions against companies building a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The move goes against efforts by President Trump to persuade countries not to contract the Chinese electronics giant because it could open a backdoor to widespread surveillance of citizens.

Germany has expelled two Russian diplomats as federal prosecutors investigate the murder of a former Chechen commander in broad daylight in a Berlin park back in August.

Another twist in the saga of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel has been overruled by her own party over whether to allow Huawei to upgrade Germany's 5G infrastructure

As Germany celebrates the 30th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall, the city has incorporated a piece of the historic relic into the landscape of the united German capital.

Picturesque Goerlitz has appeared in films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Inglourious Basterds. But a lack of jobs led thousands of residents to go elsewhere. The city is trying to woo them back.

Gorlitz, Germany, lost most of its population after the Berlin Wall came down 30 years ago — but now the city is on the rebound, thanks to tourism and the film industry.

The Hoff recently sat down with NPR in Berlin and told the story of how he became a rock star there.

Thirty years after the Berlin Wall fell, Hoyerswerda is struggling to thrive, a far-right party has gained popularity and many residents worry about the future when Germany phases out coal.

Charles University in Prague is at the center of a fight over Chinese influence, after a major corporate sponsor tried to limit academic criticism of Beijing.

Beijing recently canceled a sister-city agreement with Prague, whose mayor opposed inclusion of a "One China" provision that Taiwan is part of China. Beijing also canceled a Prague Philharmonic tour.

Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party leads its opposition in opinion polls ahead of Sunday's election. "Christianity is part of our national identity," party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said recently.

It's election season in Poland, and the clear favorite is the right-wing Law and Justice party. It has overseen one of the fastest growing economies in the EU.

The German government has described Wednesday's shooting outside a synagogue in the town of Halle as an anti-Semitic attack. Two people were killed. Police have arrested a suspect.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won big in this month's Brandenburg and Saxony state elections. A recent poll shows the AfD more popular than ever throughout Germany.

While centrist politicians in Germany worry about Nazi-era emotions rising again, right-wing voters say they have valid concerns that aren't being met by center-left ruling parties.

Wednesday was full of violent protests in Hong Kong as protesters demanding the withdrawal of an extradition bill to China clashed with police.

Demonstrations block roads around Hong Kong's legislature as lawmakers prepared to debate a bill that would allow people accused of a crime in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for trial.