Rob Schmitz

Reports that the White House wants to pull 9,500 troops out of Germany have raised concerns among current and former officials. Russia welcomed the possible move.

People across Europe have been gathering to protest the killing of George Floyd and denounce police brutality in the U.S. Artist Eme Freethinker has painted Floyd's portrait on the Berlin Wall.

Eme Freethinker wanted to commemorate George Floyd alive, rather than show his killing. "Some guy told me, 'You have to do it with the police over his neck,' and I was like: 'No, man. Not like that.'"

The measure bars police and other public authorities from discriminating against anyone based on factors including skin color, religion, disabilities, worldview, age and sexual identity.

NPR received a letter from a government spokesman late Tuesday saying "Hungary has been subjected to a barrage of attacks" and requesting an apology from American news organizations and think tanks.

"This is Europe's moment," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. All 27 EU member states must approve the plan, a mix of grants and loans, before it can go forward.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel present different visions of leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government flew in thousands of seasonal workers from Romania and Poland, but that may not be enough. Some farmers are looking to hire Germans for the harvest.

NPR Correspondents Rob Schmitz and Scott Horsley talk about stimulus efforts in the U.S. and Europe and how governments are dealing with sharp and sudden economic downturns during the pandemic.

German farmers are facing challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, as the country is experiencing a shortage of seasonal farmworkers who typically come from Eastern European countries.

Protesters — including citizens against restrictions, extremists and anti-vaccination groups — have taken to the streets in cities across Germany.

Germany has seen its biggest quarterly contraction since 2009 when the global financial crisis ravaged the country's economy. Economists expect an even deeper slump in the second quarter.

Europe starts to loosen up the quarantine restrictions and reopen economies. But some countries are expecting — even planning for — the next wave of the coronavirus outbreaks.

"The league wants to continue because it still has a potential revenue stream. But to do so when we still know so little about this virus is wrong," says German sports journalist Tim Jürgens.

Lesson No. 1: Have "proper precautions in place," says historian Richard Evans. And don't "try to hush it up." Thousands died in Hamburg after the government failed to acknowledge a cholera outbreak.

The United States has the highest coronavirus death toll in the world. NPR's international correspondents discuss what the U.S. response to the pandemic means for America's standing in the world.

Professional soccer clubs in Germany are desperate to restart televised league matches. Some critics say the clubs are letting their financial troubles overrule good judgment.

Wearing face masks on public transportation and in shops became mandatory in most of Germany on Monday, with some regions threatening fines for those who don't comply.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global free-for-all for manufacturing protective equipment, especially face masks. Now factories that once produced curtains or other items are churning them out.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the Bundestag this morning, cautioning the country not to reopen too soon, lest the coronavirus spread uncontrollably.