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Cologne's iconic cathedral will begin charging visitors an entrance fee starting from the second half of this year, its chapter announced on Thursday. In a press conference, the cathedral chapter said the fee is meant to cover the increasing cost of operating, maintaining and securing the facility. Entrance to the cathedral will remain free of charge for churchgoers, worshippers and members of the Central Cathedral Building Association. Why is the Cologne Cathedral so famous? The 157-meter (515-foot) cathedral has towered over Germany's western city of Cologne for centuries. Built starting 1248, the Gothic cathedral's construction was not finalized until 1880. It is among the few buildings in Cologne that survived World War II. Today, it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site ...

Skip next section Germany to boycott Paralympic athletes' parade03/03/2026March 3, 2026Germany to boycott Paralympic athletes' paradeIn protest against the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their own flag, the German Paralympic team will not participate in the parade of nations at the opening ceremony in Verona. The German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) announced this decision on Tuesday, three days before the Winter Games start. Subsequently, Germany's Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering, Christiane Schenderlein, decided that she would also not participate in the opening ceremony. However, she intends to attend competitions during the Games, as will the athletes, she said in a statement. Unlike last month's Winter Olympics, Paralympic officials decided to l...

People who work with their hands, from butchers to bakers to candlestick makers, appear to be in short supply. Meanwhile, a court upheld a ruling against a woman who falsely practised as a doctor. DW has the latest.

Neil Sedaka, the hit rock 'n' roll singer and songwriter who achieved fame in the 1960s and 1970s with hits like "Laughter in the Rain" and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," died on Friday. Sedaka was 86.  "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement, without giving a cause of death. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed." One of Sedaka's first hits as a songwriter was 'Stupid Cupid'Image: Charles Sykes/AP Photo/picture alliance Early life and career Short, dark-haired with a high-pitched voice, Sedaka was an Julliard-trained pianist born in New...