Germany, France urge African solidarity with Ukraine

One small hospital closes every month in Germany. Politicians say there are too many, and the health care system can't afford to keep them all open. But their critics say patients may die due to closures.

Germany is urgently seeking workers from abroad — at least 400,000 each year. But is it an attractive destination for highly qualified foreigners? For some, it seems, having to learn the German language puts them off.

Germany's child protection agency has criticized a shortage of hospital beds for youngsters hit by a severe respiratory virus. Lockdowns kept the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at bay but it's now circulating widely.

With fewer than 24 hours left until the beginning of the end of the action in Qatar, there are fears for France as Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté become the latest players to fall ill. Meanwhile, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino hails the tournament as "the best World Cup ever", and we discuss whether the mental health of players is being properly considered by football authorities.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other ministers praised the project as showing the new "speed" of Europe's biggest economy. But the floating terminal's high-profile opening was sharply criticized by environmental groups.

German investigators have closed three Internet forums on the "darknet" with depictions of the sexual abuse of children. Four suspects were arrested.

The busy Kiel Canal in northern Germany, linking the North Sea with the Baltic Sea, has come to a halt as crews try to clear the oil from waters after a pipeline leak.

Videos shot during World Cup celebrations expressing racism against French forward Kylian Mbappe have been making the rounds on social media. Not surprisingly, this has sparked outrage in France in particular.

Germany's Constitutional Court is weighing up whether CIA-funded Palantir surveillance software can be used by the country's police. Experts are divided over whether "Hessendata" constitutes "predictive policing."

Gambian Seedy Saidykhan never planned to come to Germany. After surviving a boat crash in the Mediterranean Sea, he now produces a podcast about migrants in Germany — and regularly reaches over 40,000 listeners.

Ukrainians who have fled their country in the 10 months since the Russian invasion are facing their first festive season in Germany. Many have only one Christmas wish.

Consumers can expect more price rises in 2023 and 2024 as energy costs remain elevated, the head of a group of experts advising the German government said.