U.S. aims for March peace deal in Ukraine, quick elections, sources say
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious March goal for Russia and Ukraine to agree on a peace deal, though that timeline is likely ...
The German Council of Economic Experts has lowered its forecast for Germany’s economy, now expecting stagnation in 2025 amid industrial challenges and ongoing impacts from U.S. tariffs, while modest growth is anticipated to resume in 2026 thanks to a major fiscal stimulus plan.
The German Council of Economic Experts, the academic body advising the government on economic policy, on Wednesday downgraded its growth forecast for Germany’s economy, now expecting stagnation in 2025. This revision follows earlier forecasts that had predicted moderate growth, reflecting persistent industrial weakness and external risks.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy and the only G7 member to have experienced no growth in recent years, continues to face fiscal constraints and an industrial downturn that have dampened its economic prospects. Tariffs imposed by the United States remain a significant challenge for Germany’s export-oriented economy.
Monika Schnitzer, chairwoman of the Council, emphasized that Germany’s near-term economic outlook is heavily influenced by U.S. tariff policies and the country’s fiscal package. The U.S. remains Germany’s largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade totaling 253 billion euros ($284 billion) in 2024.
On the positive side, Germany approved a major fiscal plan in March 2024, which includes a 500-billion euro special fund for infrastructure investments and relaxes borrowing limits on defense spending. Economists see this fiscal stimulus as a key factor that could help Germany return to growth.
The Council forecasts that starting in 2026, the fiscal stimulus will spur investments in construction, equipment, and government spending, leading to a projected 1.0% growth next year. Private consumption is also expected to strengthen in 2026 as real disposable incomes increase more significantly than in 2025, supporting broader economic recovery.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators have discussed an ambitious goal of reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by March, though the timeline is widely viewed as unrealistic due to deep disagreements over territory, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Türkiye’s national energy company, TPAO, has struck a new cooperation deal with U.S. energy giant Chevron, signing a memorandum of understanding to explore joint oil and gas exploration and production opportunities, the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry announced on Thursday.
Wall Street ended sharply lower on Tuesday as investors worried about artificial intelligence (AI) creating more competition for software makers, keeping them on edge ahead of quarterly reports from Alphabet and Amazon later this week.
U.S. stock markets finished mixed on Wednesday (28 January) as investors reacted calmly after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, a decision that had been widely expected and largely priced in.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Chevron is in talks with Iraq’s oil ministry over potential changes to the commercial framework governing the West Qurna 2 oilfield, one of the world’s largest producing assets, after Baghdad nationalised the field earlier this month following U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia’s Lukoil.
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