U.S. destroys ‘drug-carrying’ submarine, Trump says
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have destroyed a “drug-carrying” submarine travelling toward the United States on what he descri...
Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Monday announced his first major cabinet nominations. He selected energy executive Katherina Reiche as the likely economy minister and close ally Johann Wadephul, a foreign policy expert, as foreign minister.
Merz’s CDU/CSU conservatives, who won the February elections, recently finalized a coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) as they prepare to tackle international challenges and revive Europe's biggest economy. Their focus includes boosting growth amid a looming recession risk triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's global trade policies and strengthening Germany’s defense posture within NATO.
Merz aims for his government to be more unified and decisive than the previous SPD-led coalition, which collapsed last November due to internal conflict. Even before officially taking office, Merz and the SPD secured a major fiscal stimulus package to boost spending on infrastructure and defense.
Under the coalition deal, Merz’s CDU will control the economy and foreign ministries, the CSU will lead the interior ministry, and the SPD will oversee defense and finance.
Boris Pistorius is likely to stay on as defense minister, while SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is the favorite for the finance ministry role.
Economic Priorities
The coalition plans to cut taxes for middle- and lower-income groups, reduce corporate taxes, lower energy costs, support the electric vehicle sector, and eliminate a controversial supply chain law. It also promises tougher immigration policies and stronger support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Katherina Reiche, the CEO of Westenergie and former head of Germany’s VKU local utilities association, is praised for her deep industry knowledge. She replaces Robert Habeck of the Greens, who faced criticism for lacking economic expertise during his tenure.
Johann Wadephul, a Bundestag member since 2009 and deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction on foreign affairs and defense, will succeed Annalena Baerbock as foreign minister. Analysts believe Wadephul’s close ties to Merz will bring a more consistent and stronger German foreign policy, especially regarding the U.S., China, and Russia.
New Digitalization Ministry
Recognizing the urgent need to modernize Germany’s digital infrastructure, Merz’s coalition has created a new Ministry for Digitalization, to be led by Karsten Wildberger, CEO of Ceconomy AG and former executive at E.ON, Telstra, and Vodafone. This move was hailed by digital industry leaders as a major step forward.
Additionally, Alexander Dobrindt from the CSU will take over the interior ministry, signaling a tougher stance on migration, as the coalition seeks to counter the growing popularity of the far-right AfD.
The SPD will announce its ministers after its members vote to approve the coalition deal, with results expected on Wednesday. Merz is set to be sworn in as chancellor on May 6.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
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.
Türkiye is ready to assume a de facto guarantor role if a two-state solution in Palestine is implemented, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have destroyed a “drug-carrying” submarine travelling toward the United States on what he described as a “well-known narcotrafficking route.”
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels raided a United Nations facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, but all 15 international staff present were reported safe, a UN official said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to run in the upcoming general elections, expressing confidence that he will be re-elected as prime minister.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that repair crews have commenced restoring external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in southeastern Ukraine.
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