German News Service | 11.01.2018, 18:00 UTC

German News Service 11.01.2018 | 18:00 UTC

Germany logs biggest growth in 6 years

	The German economy expanded by over 2 percent in 2017, beating results for the previous year despite fewer working days. The statistics office said growth was boosted by high employment and larger investments.

German military recruits record number of minors

	The German military has been recruiting more and more minors, the Defense Ministry has admitted. Critics have accused the government of hypocrisy over opposition to the use of child soldiers.

Deportations illegal if torture likely, rules Germany's top court

	Germany's top court has ruled that a person cannot be deported to their country of origin if at risk of torture. A German-born Turkish Salafist had appealed his return, saying he would be tortured in his home country.

Elderly women do more housework - and suffer for it

	Elderly women do nearly five hours of housework per day on average. Men do closer to three. That difference is bad for women's health, and it's important to think about as baby boomers retire.

Lufthansa largest European airline by passenger numbers

	German flagship carrier Lufthansa says it has replaced Irish rival Ryanair at the top of the list of airlines with the most passengers in Europe. The demise of Air Berlin played no small part in this, experts noted.

Germany's building boom 'coming to an end'

	German construction companies may no longer be building as many new buildings in the coming years - despite a deepening housing shortage. Experts say there needs to be a "culture change" in how we think about houses.

Playboy features first transgender model on its German cover

	In a first for the German version of the worldwide magazine, Playboy has selected Giuliana Farfalla as the cover model for this month's issue. Farfalla is known to fans of reality TV and casting shows.

Unused church torn down in Germany to make way for open-pit coal mine

	The church in the western German town of Immerath was one of the last major structures to remain standing. Residents have been resettled and the town will be devoured by a massive open-pit coal mine.

Happy birthday, 'Elphi'!

	The Elbphilharmonie concert house opened on January 11, 2017. Since then tourists and locals have been enjoying the sounds and views of Hamburg's latest landmark.

7 videos of German facial expressions that need explaining

	Sometimes facial expressions and hand gestures can communicate more than words can, but they also vary greatly from culture to culture. Here's your DW video guide to understanding and emulating typical German gestures.

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