Germany News in English - Expat Guide to Germany

March 30, 2021

US leads concern over WHO-backed Covid origins report

The United States led a chorus of concern on Tuesday over a WHO-backed report into the origins of the coronavirus in China, with accusations swirling that Beijing failed to give proper access to investigators. The United States released a statement…

March 30, 2021

VW pulls a fast one: ‘Voltswagen’ rebrand a ruse

Volkswagen US’ subsidiary is keeping its name and will not rename itself “Voltswagen,” a company spokesman said Tuesday, confirming that an earlier announcement was an April Fool’s joke that may have gone further than intended. The German automaker’s US subsidiary,…

March 30, 2021

Germany against AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s over clot risks

Germany will deploy AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for general use only for over-60 year olds, the government said Tuesday, imposing restrictions for younger people taking the jab after several severe clotting cases. Under-60s can still decide to take the vaccine but…

March 30, 2021

Germany fights UK exclusion from EU research projects

Germany and other EU members are opposing a move by the European Commission to block Britain and Israel from quantum and space projects on security grounds, diplomats said Tuesday. The European Commission is currently setting up guidelines for EU research…

March 30, 2021

WHO chief urges lab leak probe as leaders eye pandemic treaty

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday urged a deeper investigation into whether the coronavirus outbreak originated with a leak from a lab, as world leaders pushed for a treaty to prepare for future pandemics. A report by…

March 30, 2021

Syrian refugee ends German election bid over ‘racism’

The first Syrian refugee to run for a seat in the German parliament has withdrawn his candidacy due to racism and threats, the environmentalist Green party said Tuesday. Tareq Alaows is ending his bid to enter the lower house of…

March 30, 2021

‘Voltswagen’: US rebrand as German car giant eyes electric future

German auto giant Volkswagen said Tuesday it is renaming its US subsidiary as “Voltswagen,” calling the moniker a public declaration of its “future-forward investment in e-mobility.” The announcement means Virginia-based Volkswagen of America will now be known as a Voltswagen…

March 30, 2021

Higher energy prices fuel German inflation

German consumer prices rose sharply in March, official data showed Tuesday, powered by higher energy costs and one-off factors linked to the coronavirus pandemic. Inflation reached 1.7 percent year-on-year, up from 1.3 percent in February, according to provisional figures released…

March 30, 2021

German cities halt AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s

The German cities of Berlin and Munich on Tuesday suspended vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab for under-60s, as further reports emerge of blood clots among people who have received it. “We are provisionally stopping vaccinations with AstraZeneca for under-60s,” said…