‘Even US won’t be powerful to go alone’: German chancellor calls for revival of trans-Atlantic ties

[ad_1] German chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday urged the United States and Europe to “repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together,” warning that in an era of intensifying great-power rivalry, “even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone.” Opening the annual Munich Security Conference, Merz acknowledged that “a divide, a deep […]

Why undoing the EU combustion engine ban spooks car rentals

[ad_1] Representative photo (AP) Europe’s auto industry is braced for a major announcement from the EU on December 10, which could see significant changes made to the European Commission’s proposed 2035 combustion engine phase-out.However, amid pressure from carmakers and other affected sectors such as car rental and car leasing companies, the announcement may now be […]

Making forest protection more lucrative than destruction

[ad_1] Representative image (AP) Though tropical rainforests contain some of the world’s richest biodiversity, regulate climate and hold vast stores of carbon dioxide, humans often see greater value in destroying them. The vast Amazon rainforest has typically suffered extreme exploitation, losing 3,000 football fields of forest daily during its 2022 deforestation peak to make way […]

Why tiny Moldova is so important to Russia and the EU | World News

[ad_1] Moldovan President Maia Sandu (Pic credit: AP) Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova has been popping up in the news with increasing frequency.The Republic of Moldova is a small country on Ukraine’s southwestern border, and in the spring of 2022, it seemed possible that Russia might also invade and occupy it.This […]

Middle East crisis: Friedrich Merz halts German military exports to Israel over Gaza issue; urges aid access

[ad_1] German chancellor Friedrich Merz (AP image) Germany chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday announced that German will suspend the export of military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. This announcement came in response to Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City.Merz said it was becoming “increasingly difficult to understand” […]

Poland’s border checks: Beginning of the end of Schengen?

[ad_1] When Poland introduced border checks with Germany and Lithuania this week, it wasn’t the first time that a Schengen country took such a step. These measures are typically justified as necessary to curb irregular migration, combat human smuggling, or address national security concerns. But for many analysts, it may be one of the clearest […]

Germany eyes strongest EU army by 2031

[ad_1] Johann Wadephul (Deutscher Bundestag) US President Donald Trump can feel vindicated: Germany‘s new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said this week that the government had accepted the president’s demand to invest 5% of GDP in defense. Speaking at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday, Wadephul also said Germany would support […]

Who is Friedrich Merz? Germany’s New Chancellor elected after rare second ballot

[ad_1] Friedrich Merz, 69, a conservative stalwart and longtime rival of Angela Merkel, was elected Germany’s 10th postwar chancellor on Tuesday after a dramatic two-round parliamentary vote. His appointment marks a return to the national spotlight for a politician who once left public life altogether.Merz secured the chancellorship in a second ballot with 325 votes […]

Germany in turmoil as Merz fails in chancellor bid: What happens next?

[ad_1] ‘Merz should step aside’: AfD demands fresh elections after failed chancellor vote Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Tuesday demanded new general elections after conservative leader Friedrich Merz failed to win an outright majority in parliament to become chancellor.Merz secured 310 of the 630 ballots cast in the Bundestag (Germany’s federal parliament), falling […]

Germany’s Friedrich Merz falls short of majority in first vote to become chancellor

[ad_1] Friedrich Merz has failed to secure enough support to become Germany’s next chancellor, falling short by six votes in the Bundestag’s first round of voting. In a secret ballot held on Tuesday, Merz received 310 votes in favour, just under the required 316 needed to secure a majority in the 630-member parliament.The outcome was […]