Rob Schmitz

As Europe's largest economy gets hit with COVID-19, a German government financial aid program will make up some of the lost income for millions of employees.

Produced by the public broadcaster NDR, the program features scientist Christian Drosten giving clear information about COVID-19, but so far it's in German only.

After two daily episodes, Das Coronavirus Update, a podcast by one of the world's leading virologists, shot to No.1 in Germany. When does a top coronavirus researcher find time to do a podcast?

Europe is now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. The number of deaths in Italy and Spain is horrifying, but another statistic also stands out: Germany's relatively low death rate.

Italy's fatality rate hovers around 10%. France's is at around 5%. Yet Germany's fatality rate from COVID-19 is just 0.5%. As of March 25, there were 175 deaths and 34,055 cases.

Merkel put herself under self-quarantine after learning that her doctor had tested positive for COVID-19.

The European Union is closing its external borders for 30 days to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Movement within EU member nations will still be allowed.

Italy remains the hardest-hit country in Europe — though other nations are seeing rising numbers of coronavirus cases and are moving to shut down place where groups of people gather.

One of the first schools to close in Germany because of a student's possible link to the coronavirus, is also the one attended by the children of NPR's Berlin correspondent.

German police say the gunman who murdered 10 people late on Wednesday at two hookah bars near Frankfurt might have been motivated by far-right and anti-immigrant views.

"Racism is a poison. Hate is a poison," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday, as evidence pointed to the gunman being motivated by extreme views.

Discussions at the Munich Security Conference have been somewhat overshadowed by the deepening divide between the U.S. and Europe over Huawei.

The annual Munich Security Conference has been the scene of intensive talks about Afghanistan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to address the subject in a speech today.

The country's ruling Law and Justice party has sought to dramatically reshape the courts, triggering popular protests and threatening Poland's status within the EU parliamentary process.

Poland is under the threat of sanctions from the EU and might lose its voting rights in the bloc because of moves by the country's ruling party to restrict the independence of Polish judges.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been hoping for a smooth transfer of power when she steps down next year. But now her chosen successor says she doesn't want the country's top job.

"People should look at this place and think about our moral responsibility," says Pawel Sawicki, a longtime guide at the Auschwitz museum in Poland.

The Peace Corps has decided to ax its China program. Critics of the decision call the program one of the diplomatic success stories in the history of China-U.S. relations.

The United States' European allies are trying to deal with new security problems after the U.S. killing of Iran's top general.

A devastating outbreak of swine fever in China has increased Chinese demand for European pork, and that's leaving less meat available for sausages in Germany.