Latest Headline News From Germany

German Finance Minister and veteran of several governments Wolfgang Schäuble is seen as a man for tough jobs. On Thursday, he received the prestigious Charlemagne Prize in Aachen.

Shahin Najafi fears for his life. He is currently in a secret location under police protection. Islamic clerics have accused the musician of blasphemy - a crime that, according to Islamic law, is punishable by death.

The brand new French President Francois Hollande had a mission on his first stormy trip to Berlin: renegotiate the EU fiscal compact. But the German chancellor was in no mood to slow her European austerity drive.

Many people had hoped for revelations, but after 35 years, the testimony of ex-RAF terrorist Verena Becker did not shed more light on the murder of former federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback. .

For political scientist, Thorsten Faas, the conservative CDU's clear defeat in the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) election was the biggest surprise. But, the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) also staged an impressive comeback.

The party of Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a devastating blow in the North Rhine-Westphalia state elections. But that wasn't the only surprise of the evening.

The Social Democrats and Greens have handily won the election in Germany's biggest state. Hannelore Kraft is now an obvious rival to Angela Merkel in next year's national election.

Early regional election results in Germany's most populous state, North-Rhine Westphalia, show the Social Democrats to be the top party. The party may be set to govern in coalition with the Greens.

Nearly 500,000 people have trekked to Trier to see the robe purportedly worn by Christ before his crucifixion. The month of pilgrimage was marked by special church services, concerts and local celebrations.

State elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have always been a good indicator of what's to come at general elections. It's Germany's largest state and holds significant political sway in Berlin - at federal level.

On Sunday, voters in Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, will elect a new state parliament. If recent opinion polls ring true, the Pirate Party will have its best election results to date.

The sovereign debt crisis appears to have had little effect on the German economy. Family-operated companies have been particularly successful, with many saying they intend to invest more and hire new employees.

At what age should someone be allowed to vote? This question is currently being debated in Germany, as some political parties campaign to have the voting age lowered to 16 for state elections.

The EU's anti-piracy mission Atalanta off the Horn of Africa has recorded modest success. Now, the German parliament is set to vote on a controversial enlarged mandate that would see troops also going ashore.

Ahead of balloting in Germany's most populous state, candidates are trying to reach out to the many residents of migrant background. With 2 million such people eligible to vote, they could tip the scales.

The latest violence has sparked concerns about the German Salafist scene. Islam expert Herbert Müller of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution explains why the extremists pose a threat.

At a recent demonstration in Bonn, violent Islamists injured nearly 30 police officers, with two suffering severe injuries. What is behind Salafism in Germany, and where is it heading?

Wherever there is war, there are veterans. German soldiers returning from Afghanistan regard themselves as such, but official policies on veteran support are still in the early stages in Germany.

Voters in the North German state of Schleswig-Holstein have chosen a new parliament. The Pirate Party has won seats for the first time, while the embattled Free Democrats have fared better than expected.

Until 1989, many Western companies manufactured their goods in East Germany, where labor was cheap, and West Germany was eager to improve ties. But a lot of the production workers were forced laborers.