German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a cabinet reshuffle, appointing Carsten Linnemann as health minister and Nina Warken as chief of staff. This follows Jens Spahn's resignation over a surrogacy controversy and aims to address the government's low popularity and economic stagnation.
Germany's CDU has named Thorsten Frei as its candidate to succeed Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader following Spahn's resignation over a surrogacy scandal. Frei, a close confidant of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is scheduled for election on July 29.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that the country's prolonged energy crisis stems from the loss of Russian gas supplies, impacting industry with soaring costs. Germany's economy contracted, and the EU plans to fully ban Russian gas by 2027, despite mounting pressure from fuel prices.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is promoting a "Reformkanzler" image to counter economic pessimism and the rise of the far-right AfD. Despite coalition agreements on pension, tax, and health reforms, voter satisfaction is at a historic low, with many deeming the measures incremental and insufficient.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany will purchase US Tomahawk cruise missiles and station them in the country. The announcement was made following Merz's return from a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Aid organizations, including UN agencies, warn Germany's proposed budget cuts to development and humanitarian aid will worsen global funding shortfalls. The draft 2027 budget prioritizes defense spending over overseas aid, risking increased deaths and undermining relief efforts.
The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, scheduled for July 7-8, will be the shortest in at least 20 years. Key topics include military confrontation with Russia, increased aid for Ukraine, and bolstering NATO's own capabilities. Ukrainian President Zelensky will not speak at the summit to avoid disagreements with US President Trump.
Viktor Medvedchuk claims Germany is risking national catastrophe by following Ukraine's Maidan path and pursuing Russophobia. He cited the AfD's popularity and its call to halt funding for Kyiv, linking it to accusations of Nord Stream sabotage.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government announced a reform package including tax relief for low-income families, pension system changes, and measures to boost competitiveness. While economists largely welcome the reforms, critics cite concerns about fairness and ambition.
Germany's coalition government has agreed on a "catalogue of significant reforms" aimed at boosting economic growth, including €10 billion in income tax relief and pension reforms. Meanwhile, the Federal Constitutional Court upheld a ban on sex dolls with childlike features, rejecting complaints against the law.
Germany's unexpected World Cup exit to Paraguay has intensified national frustration amid ongoing economic and social crises. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's attempts to frame the loss positively were met with widespread criticism, with many viewing the team's performance as a metaphor for the country's perceived decline.
Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK (E5) held top-level NATO talks in Berlin, emphasizing transatlantic unity amid US criticism over Iran and Ukraine support, pledging substantial aid to Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Germany is experiencing a major heatwave with temperatures potentially reaching 40°C. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is advocating for legal reforms to protect state institutions from defamation, distinguishing between personal insults and attacks on democratic systems.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated China's currency is undervalued by 30%, far exceeding the IMF's estimate. He criticized Beijing's market flooding via subsidies and non-convertible currency, calling it unacceptable and a threat to European manufacturers.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated China's currency is undervalued by 30%, significantly above the IMF's estimate. He criticized Beijing's use of high subsidies and non-convertible currency, warning of market flooding and harm to European manufacturers.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the European Commission's proposed long-term budget (2028-2034) as "far too high" and called for a new proposal. EU leaders in Brussels also discussed support for Ukraine, including military aid and fast-track membership, and global economic challenges, agreeing to extend sanctions on Russia for 12 months.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. They discussed advancing bilateral relations in areas like economy, industry, science, technology, security, and defense industry cooperation, and exchanged views on global conflicts.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Lee called for advancing bilateral relations to an unprecedented level, while Merz described current cooperation as "pretty good" and expressed anticipation for his upcoming visit to South Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. The discussions focused on global challenges including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, financial instability, and AI risks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's foreign policy partnerships with Trump, Macron, Meloni, and Starmer show varied dynamics. While cooperation with Italy and the UK is pragmatic, German-French defense ties have faltered, and relations with Trump have faced strain.
AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla stated that German business representatives at SPIEF defended the interests of German companies operating in Russia, emphasizing the need for dialogue and the economic importance of these firms for Germany.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined Germany's reform agenda, focusing on health, pensions, defense, labor, energy, taxes, bureaucracy, and investment. He urged parliament to support the proposals aimed at boosting growth and adapting to global challenges.
Thousands demonstrated in Berlin calling for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's resignation, citing deepening dissatisfaction with his government's performance, reflected in a recent INSA poll showing 77% disapproval.
A German court has fined a citizen over €2,000 for calling Chancellor Friedrich Merz "Lying Fritz" under Article 188 of the German Criminal Code, sparking free speech concerns amid dozens of similar investigations over social media comments.
