Rules-based trading system at risk of derailment, says UN chief
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that the global trading system is under severe strain from escalating tariffs, ...
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.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
A bill extending Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move widely seen as tantamount to annexation of territory sought by Palestinians for a future state received preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament on Wednesday.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that the global trading system is under severe strain from escalating tariffs, with developing nations bearing the brunt of the impact.
Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK and Spain’s Athletic Club are facing each other in a UEFA Champions League group-stage match at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump may hold talks in Malaysia in the coming days, Brazilian diplomatic sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as both nations seek to manage steep tariffs imposed by Washington.
Argentina’s Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein resigned on Tuesday night, the presidential office confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday, following earlier reports in the local media.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment