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02/19/2026February 19, 2026Poll puts far-right AfD far ahead in Mecklenburg-Western PomeraniaA new poll shows the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading clearly in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, seven months before an election there. The Forsa survey for the Ostsee-Zeitung put the AfD at 37%, ahead of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) of state premier Manuela Schwesig on 23% and the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) on 13%. The socialist Left Party, which currently governs in coalition with the SPD, was measured at 11%. The state election is scheduled for September 20. The business-focused Free Democrats (FDP) on 2% and the Greens on 4% would miss the 5% threshold and drop out of the state parliament, while the  populist left BSW was at 5%, r...

Gisele Pelicot, the French woman whose courage in publicly testifying about the decade-long sexual abuse she endured made her a symbol of women's rights in France, has received the country's highest civilian honor. Pelicot was named a knight of the Legion of Honor in a list published Sunday, ahead of France's Bastille Day celebrations. She joins 588 others on this year's list. Case that shocked France Pelicot gained international recognition after she testified against her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who had drugged and raped her and invited strangers to assault her for more than a decade. Dominique Pelicot was convicted last year of aggravated rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In a landmark ruling, a court in Avignon sentenced his 50 co-defendants to prison terms ranging ...

Germany is joining the list of nations considering a ban on social media for children, with both coalition partners drawing up plans. Meanwhile, figures show German industry cut around 124,000 jobs in 2025. DW has more.

Skip next section Winter Olympics: Slovakia oust Germany in ice hockey quarterfinal02/18/2026February 18, 2026Winter Olympics: Slovakia oust Germany in ice hockey quarterfinalDefenseman Erik Cernak assisted the goal that opened the scoring for SlovakiaImage: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture allianceThe German men's ice hockey team's hopes for a Winter Olympic medal melted in the face of Slovakia on Wednesday. Slovakia comfortably won the quarterfinal match 6-2 against the German team led by NHL star Leon Draisatl of the Edmonton Oilers.  "This hurts," Draisatl said after the game. "There were simply too many mistakes today: I don't even know how many counterattacks we allowed."  "We deserved to be eliminated," he concluded.  Captain Leon Draisatl said after the game that Germany made too many...

Skip next section Winter Olympics: Slovakia oust Germany in ice hockey quarterfinal02/18/2026February 18, 2026Winter Olympics: Slovakia oust Germany in ice hockey quarterfinalDefenseman Erik Cernak assisted the goal that opened the scoring for SlovakiaImage: Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture allianceThe German men's ice hockey team's hopes for a Winter Olympic medal melted in the face of Slovakia on Wednesday. Slovakia comfortably won the quarterfinal match 6-2 against the German team led by NHL star Leon Draisatl of the Edmonton Oilers.  "This hurts," Draisatl said after the game. "There were simply too many mistakes today: I don't even know how many counterattacks we allowed."  "We deserved to be eliminated," he concluded.  Captain Leon Draisatl said after the game that Germany made too many...