Immigration

The German NGO ship Lifeline - people smugglers or life savers?

A German NGO boat was stranded for days in the Mediterranean with 230 migrants on board while Berlin refused to help out. Some in Germany have accused the government of playing politics with innocent people’s lives; others describe the NGO as “people smugglers.”

Immigration

German NGO demands Italy release seized migrant rescue boat

A German NGO whose migrant rescue boat was impounded by Italian authorities on suspicion of collusion with people traffickers said on Tuesday it had been the victim of a "despicable smear campaign".

Syria

Berlin NGO smuggles pirate radio into Syria

A Berlin-based NGO has given an old technology a modern twist to ensure that independent journalism can fly under the government radar in the Syrian civil war.

afghanistan

BND reportedly spied on NGOs in Afghanistan

The German foreign intelligence agency, the BND, spied for years on at least two charitable groups operating in Afghanistan to obtain information on the security situation in the country, according to the weekly <i>Der Spiegel</i>.