Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joe Biden spoke by phone, discussing the security situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as the COVID pandemic.

The US has announced sanctions against Russian entities and expelled 10 Russian diplomats in response to a hacking attack and election interference.

Both Russia and the Taliban have criticized the US for not sticking to its promise to withdraw US troops by May 2021. At the same time, an Afghan official slammed the US pullout as "selfish."

NATO has vowed to back Ukraine amid tensions in the in eastern Donbass region. The Kremlin accused the US and NATO of turning Ukraine into a "powder keg."

Russians celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first manned flight to space carried out by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin -- a lasting symbol of the Soviet victory in the space race.

Russia is reportedly amassing thousands of troops at its border with Ukraine, but the Kremlin denies that the buildup poses a threat. Is Ukraine facing the possibility of a Russian invasion?

TikTok has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines after failing to delete videos that promoted unsanctioned rallies in Russia.

Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has announced on social media he will go on hunger strike until he receives proper medical treatment.

Supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called for half a million Russians to take to the streets. Observers say that's a tall order.

EU technology is being harnessed to help a Russian pipe-laying ship to complete the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. A DW investigation reveals just how Moscow is bypassing US sanctions.

A report that German submarines are navigating the globe with Russian hardware has sparked security concerns. The newspaper Bild claims that the equipment is "open" to cyber sabotage and even "full loss of operability."

A "Ghostwriter" cyberattack affected seven Bundestag members and 31 state parliamentarians, according to a Spiegel report. The hackers reportedly launch campaigns that "align" with Russian interests.