The German government has begun several weeks of expert testimony on liberalizing recreational cannabis use. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach hopes to present a new law in the coming months.

The WHO released a report which said that mental illness had spiked across the world due to COVID and related restrictions. Young people, women, and those who were already mentally ill have been more affected.

Angola will become the first African country to supply Germany with green hydrogen as Berlin seeks to transition into clean energy. Experts say Africa has massive green energy potential, but it involves risks.

Europe continues to struggle with a heat wave, though some have seen a respite from record high temperatures for the time of year. One of several wildfires has raged out of control on Greece's second-largest island.

Hackers breached the system used Germany's ruling Green Party and gained access to accounts previously used by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck, party officials said.

The far-right AfD party will stick with Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel as party leaders, after Chrupalla fended off a challenge from a slightly more moderate candidate and then endorsed Weidel.

In the first case of its kind, German prosecutors have seized several apartments belonging to a Russian lawmaker. So far other sanctioned assets have simply been frozen.

In a speech ahead of key summits, the German chancellor has told parliament that "we will defend every square meter of NATO territory." He also described a partnership with Russia under Vladimir Putin as "unimaginable."

Without Russian natural gas, Germany will be facing an energy crisis. Coal, nuclear, fracking or renewable energy — what are the most realistic and climate-friendly options?

Has the pandemic changed what tourists are looking for? In this edition we dive into the new trends and the impact of rising inflation, as well as how staff shortages could hamper the liftoff of the aviation sector. Plus we head to a theme park near Paris where attendance figures are booming after a rollercoaster two years.

Germany has taken a step towards rationing natural gas by activating the second of three stages in an emergency plan. Officials say that since Russia reduced supplies, gas is now a "scarce commodity". Also in the show: the UK is hit by a second day of rail strikes over job security, pay and the rising cost of living, and high inflation in France prompts a boom in demand for camping holidays.

German energy official Klaus Müller has said the country's gas situation is stable but predicted higher prices for consumers. He also said that Germany can last another 2 1/2 months without Russian gas.