Helen Whittle

Helen Whittle is a British journalist based in Berlin who writes about politics, society and culture.

Skip next section Featured stories by Helen Whittle

Featured stories by Helen Whittle

refugee families arriving in Germany in 2024

refugee families arriving in Germany in 2024

Germany suspends refugees' family reunification

Parliament has voted to stop family members of individuals with subsidiary protection status from moving to Germany.

A view of a street corner in Guben, in 2024, with older buildings and a yellow street sign announcing the city's name. A van drives down the street.

A view of a street corner in Guben, in 2024, with older buildings and a yellow street sign announcing the city's name. A van drives down the street.

East German cities offer free stays to fight depopulation

Towns and cities in eastern Germany are inviting people to come and stay, hoping they will move there long-term.

An illustration of the explosion of an atomic bomb with a mushroom cloud in the desert.

An illustration of the explosion of an atomic bomb with a mushroom cloud in the desert.

Risk of nuclear war grows amid new arms race

A dangerous new nuclear arms race is emerging as arms control is severely weakened, according to a new SIPRI assessment.

Skip next section Stories by Helen Whittle

Stories by Helen Whittle

building site for social housing in Germany

building site for social housing in Germany

German housing crisis: government plans construction boost

German housing crisis: government plans construction boost

The German government plans to change construction law to build homes at "turbo" speed.

An elderly man and woman seen from behind walking down a street

An elderly man and woman seen from behind walking down a street

Germany struggles to fix its pension system

Germany struggles to fix its pension system

New Labor Minister Bärbel Bas has ruffled feathers with a proposal for how to fix the ailing pension system.

Katherina Reiche, seen in a portrait shot against a blurred background

Katherina Reiche, seen in a portrait shot against a blurred background

Germany: New Merz cabinet raises concerns over lobbying

Germany: New Merz cabinet raises concerns over lobbying

How is lobbying regulated in Germany — and how big a problem is it?

A kite festival on Tempelhofer Feld in September 2024.

A kite festival on Tempelhofer Feld in September 2024.

Berlin building boom on the horizon?

Berlin building boom on the horizon?

Germany's new government has announced plans to boost housing construction which may impact the capital Berlin.

A survival training camp in forest in Uedem, Germany.

A survival training camp in forest in Uedem, Germany.

Fear of war: How Germany needs to step up preparedness

Fear of war: How Germany needs to step up preparedness

Germany is inceasing defense spending, but the need to better prepare goes well beyond the Bundeswehr.

Little girl with paper family in hands.

Little girl with paper family in hands.

Trauma: How child abuse victims deal with parenthood

Trauma: How child abuse victims deal with parenthood

A new study shows what it means for survivors of child sexual abuse to become parents and raise their own children.

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