Russian cyberespionage comes to Germany

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.

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.

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.

German NGOs have joined dozens of other humanitarian organizations in suspending their work in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women from working for them.

People in Germany will be allowed to legally purchase fireworks to celebrate New Year's Eve. They had been banned for the past two years to avoid injuries that could overburden hospitals during the COVID pandemic.

Germany had been winding down its brown coal production. Then an energy crisis hit. Now thousands of people have promised to resist January plans to demolish a village and dig up the coal beneath it.

It has been a turbulent year for Germany's government — and 2023 promises to be just as nerve-wracking. DW examines the biggest challenges facing German politicians in the new year.