Wall Street ends mostly flat after records, logs third winning week
U.S. markets closed mostly flat Friday, capping a third winning week out of four....
Berlin, February 17, 2025 – Following Sunday's general election, conservative leader Friedrich Merz is working to establish a new coalition government within eight weeks, according to local media reports.
Bild newspaper reported that Merz initiated informal preliminary talks by contacting Social Democratic Party parliamentary group leader Lars Klingbeil on Sunday night, signaling an eagerness to explore coalition possibilities.
The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) emerged as the clear winner with 28.5% of the vote, yet they fell short of an absolute majority necessary to govern alone. In response, Merz has ruled out any coalition talks with the far-right AfD, which secured 20.8% of the vote—their best performance to date—citing fundamental differences on democratic principles and key policy issues.
Despite the Social Democrats receiving only 16.4% of the vote, their party is seen as a potential coalition partner. Media reports suggest that a CDU/CSU-SPD alliance would command 328 seats in the Bundestag, exceeding the 316 seats required for a majority. Informal discussions among top party officials have reportedly begun ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday, with plans for formal exploratory talks to start on or after March 6. This delay is partly attributed to regional elections taking place in Hamburg this weekend.
Merz has indicated that his goal is to have a new coalition government in place by mid-April, a timeline that would ensure continued political stability as the country transitions from the election period. As coalition negotiations progress, the focus remains on securing a stable majority while upholding democratic values and addressing key policy challenges.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
Nepal has banned access to the Telegram messaging app, citing its role in a growing number of online fraud and money laundering cases across the country.
North Korea has stopped foreign tourists from visiting its new Wonsan-Kalma resort just weeks after it welcomed the first Russian visitors.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in the U.S., though the company has not confirmed the claim.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-border strikes this week heightened tensions.
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 American detainees.
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