With a national election approaching next year, the head of the CSU (Christlich-Soziale Union) has said that Germany needs to curb the number of refugees entering the country.

The rare phenomena happens when rye grass pollen breaks into small pieces after getting wet, sending pollen counts to dangerous levels.

With the social make-up of communities across Europe changing, schools have become breeding grounds for extremism.

IN PICTURES: 10 reasons to visit the Christkindlesmarkt in Germany's Nuremberg http://dw.com/p/2T6Kc

Bulgarian authorities closed Harmanli, Bulgaria reception center this week after they found out infectious diseases were spreading.

"After his victory, Donald J. Trump shows that he will govern as he campaigned: unpredictably and with many contradictions. That's why media and civil society have to hold him accountable."

Donald J. Trump has said he will see to it that Apple makes its iPhones at home in the US, and not in China. What would this mean in terms of production costs?

"We need to start shifting the focus from who it happens to, to who did it. End of story." It's NOT your fault.

IN PICTURES: Europe's most beautiful Christmas markets http://dw.com/p/1H8xf

Is it time to rethink the ban on the PKK?

A South African pastor dubbed the "prophet of doom" claims he can cure disease by spraying insecticide on churchgoers.

From laughing zebras to goofy grizzlies, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards celebrate 2016's funniest snaps of animals - and ask us to think about their future. http://dw.com/p/2T6ze

From next year these blind footballers will be playing for Borussia Dortmund as they hope to promote the game in Germany (via DW - Bundesliga Kick off).

Germans will no longer have the right to know what data about them is being collected.