Germany
Germany legalises cannabis for medicinal purposes
BERLIN Germany's lower house of parliament on Thursday passed a law that legalises the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes for people who are chronically ill.
Germany won't tolerate Turkish spying, says spy chief
BERLIN Germany will not tolerate Turkish intelligence operations within its borders, the head of the country's domestic spy agency said on Thursday after its chief prosecutor launched an investigation into possible spying by Turkish clerics.
Telling critics to be patient, ECB sticks to ultra-easy policy
FRANKFURT The European Central Bank stuck to its super-easy monetary policy on Thursday, telling those calling for a tightening - like economic powerhouse Germany - to be patient as the bloc slowly regains its economic health. | Video
Islamic State using online 'headhunters' to recruit young Germans
BERLIN Islamic State is using "headhunters" on social media and instant messaging sites to recruit disaffected young people in Germany, some as young as 13 or 14, the head of the country's domestic intelligence agency said on Thursday.
ECB keeps rates, asset-buying plan unchanged as expected
FRANKFURT The European Central Bank left interest rates and the main parameters of its asset purchase scheme unchanged as expected on Thursday, keeping unprecedented stimulus in place to aid the bloc's slow but steady recovery.
Germany reviewing nearly 550 migrants deemed a security risk
BERLIN Germany said on Wednesday it would review the cases of nearly 550 asylum seekers who have been deemed a security risk, spurred by new questions about the handling of a Tunisian migrant who killed 12 people last month at a Berlin Christmas market.
Germany says boosting defence spending, demands clear U.S. agenda
BERLIN Germany, under fire from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for not meeting NATO's defence spending goal, is boosting military budgets, but also wants Trump to map out a consistent foreign policy agenda, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.
EU leaders welcome Brexit clarity, Merkel says EU united ahead of talks
BERLIN EU leaders on Wednesday welcomed clarity from Britain over what it wants from Brexit talks, with Germany's Angela Merkel promising a united front in what will be "very intensive" negotiations.
German AfD rightist triggers fury with Holocaust memorial comments
BERLIN A senior member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) said on Wednesday that media had misrepresented comments he made about Berlin's Holocaust memorial and the need to rewrite history books to focus more on German victims.
Germany set for federal election on Sept 24, Merkel seeks fourth term
BERLIN Germany looks set to hold its federal election on Sunday 24 September, with Chancellor Angela Merkel seeking a fourth term in office and the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party expected to enter the national parliament for the first time. | Video
Washington braces for massive protests as Trump becomes U.S. president
WASHINGTON Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers and miles of barriers were in place in Washington on Friday, as officials braced for hundreds of thousands of people planning to celebrate or protest Donald Trump's inauguration as president of the United States. | Video