With many public health departments days or weeks behind in reporting infection numbers, Germany lacks an accurate overall view of pandemic developments. Other countries, like Canada, are better off because they test wastewater, allowing them to quickly detect outbreaks as they unfold.

In a dispute over the removal of the female director of an important scientific institution, Germany's prestigious Max Planck Society suffered a setback in court recently. The organization's president is facing allegations of gender discrimination and calls for his resignation.

New German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach speaks in an interview about the "two things" that can get us out of the coronavirus pandemic and why he believes a vaccine mandate is an essential tool in dealing with the crisis.

Not all that long ago, it looked like Germany's Social Democrats had reached the end of the line. Now, Olaf Scholz is in the Chancellery. It is perhaps the most unlikely political success story in Germany's postwar history.

Annalena Baerbock of the Green Party is slated to become Germany's first female foreign minister. She spoke to DER SPIEGEL about the policy challenges the country faces abroad and the more immediate crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christian Lindner is set to become Germany's next finance minister. In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, he talks about his plans for his portfolio, how he intends to pay for them and the new government's strategy for the ongoing pandemic.

The coalition talks were secretive and the three parties involved sought to exude unity and harmony. Now that Germany's next coalition agreement has been presented, though, fractures are becoming apparent. And surprisingly, the Greens may not be the Social Democrats' favorite child.

Doctors and nurses at the intensive care ward in Leipzig University Hospital are fighting desperately to save the lives of corona truthers. It can be a thankless task.

The number of coronavirus infections is rising sharply in parts of Germany where the far-right AfD party enjoys greater support. Is it a coincidence? Researchers took a close look at the corollaries and drew some conclusions that surprised even them.

Getting three political parties to agree on anything is tough. In Germany, with coalition negotiations dragging on, that is proving especially true. A look at the differences of opinion within the foreign policy working group highlights the challenges that lay ahead.

Germany is still in the process of putting together a government following the September election. Green Party co-leader Annalena Baerbock speaks to DER SPIEGEL about progress on climate policy, the challenges of a three-party coalition and why German autobahns are not getting a speed limit.

The sacking of Julian Reichelt, the editor-in-chief of Germany's top tabloid, only came after years of questionable conduct. New reporting shows that Axel Springer, the publishing house that owns the paper and just bought Politico, likely won't be able to simply sweep the scandal under the rug.

After 16 years in government and a disastrous election result, German conservatives have lost their way. It is time to stop pretending that they can be part of the next government and begin the process of renewal.

The right-wing radical party AfD emerged from last Sunday's election as the strongest political force in the eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia. What did the mainstream parties do wrong?

In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats, the front-runner to become Germany’s next chancellor, discusses his plan to create a stable government and reveals what he has in common with Angela Merkel.

The Green Party and the business-friendly Free Democrats plan to hold exploratory talks with each other before meeting with the main chancellor candidates in the coming days. They appear to be worlds apart but are already finding some common ground.

The right-wing populist party AfD sought to paper over its deep split between the moderate and extremist wings for the campaign. Now that the party won fewer votes than expected, that divide is once again front and center.

Armin Laschet, the chancellor candidate from Angela Merkel's CDU, refuses to accept his defeat. In his world, he can still become Germany's next leader.

As expected, German voters declined to choose a clear victor on Sunday, setting the stage for a difficult search for a governing coalition. Angela Merkel's CDU suffered an abysmal result while the Social Democrats have new life. Ultimately, though, two other parties will play kingmaker.

A man arrested for shooting and killing a 20-year-old gas station cashier last week appears to have been influenced by far-right ideologies and conspiracy theories. Security officials worry that a scene that denies the coronavirus is growing increasingly radical.