german economy

Germany's new Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Wednesday there was "no time to lose" to jump-start Europe's beleaguered top economy, even as hardline US trade policies complicate his task. Klingbeil also said that he would speak with European finance ministers Wednesday and that a key challenge would be finding ways of boosting investment using EU institutions.

Germany's climate goals face hurdles. Economic worries and political changes impact climate action. The new government aims for climate neutrality by 2045. Experts fear environment protection is not a priority. Domestic and international climate policy shifts to the environment ministry. Conflicts between economic and environmental goals may resurface. The focus is on balancing economic stability with climate measures.

The conservatives of Germany's designated chancellor Friedrich Merz and the centre-left Social Democrats formally signed their coalition contract on Monday, on the eve of launching their new government. The AfD was Friday designated a "right-wing extremist" party by Germany's domestic intelligence service -- a move that has stoked a fresh row with the Trump administration, and against which the AfD launched legal action on Monday.

Friedrich Merz failed to secure an outright majority in the Bundestag, prompting the AfD to demand new elections and criticize the government's leadership. The unprecedented outcome exposed divisions within the coalition, raising doubts about Merz's ability to govern effectively. Despite the setback, analysts believe Merz may still become chancellor, but the vote has weakened his position amid global instability.

Germany's economy faces stagnation in 2025. The government forecasts zero growth, down from earlier predictions. Donald Trump's trade policies are a major factor, and political uncertainty after the February election also contributes. Germany aims to boost the economy through increased defence spending. Parliament plans to elect Friedrich Merz as the next leader in May.

During the Nazi regime, physical education was prioritized over individual sport, aiming to build a strong, war-ready nation. Compulsory exercises in organizations like the Hitler Youth instilled military behavior. Despite initial rejection of the Olympic movement, the Nazis hosted the 1936 Games to showcase their strength. Boxing became compulsory for boys, while women's activities focused on their roles as mothers.

Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is poised to lead a coalition government from next week after his junior partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), said Wednesday they had approved a deal with his conservative CDU/CSU. The SPD membership vote passed with an 84.6 percent majority, paving the way for Merz to launch the coalition government next Tuesday in Europe's top economy.

Worrying about a vacation might feel flippant when the world is falling apart, but who wants to be detained because they have a tattoo or liked a social media post?

Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany's chancellor, tasked with revitalizing the economy and strengthening the nation's global influence amidst rising far-right sentiments and strained transatlantic relations. His coalition government aims to support Ukraine and address domestic concerns like migration, while navigating a complex geopolitical landscape shaped by US President Trump's policies.

Germany's incoming finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, is a self-styled political "bridge-builder" whose calm and personable demeanour belies his sharp political instincts. Klingbeil, who studied political science, sociology, and history, not finance, will wield a spending "bazooka" worth hundreds of billions of euros to rebuild Germany's military and infrastructure, agreed by the outgoing parliament.

Wall Street experienced a downturn, led by technology stocks, as the S&P 500 ended its nine-day rally. The Dow and Nasdaq also declined ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting, where interest rates are expected to remain unchanged. Concerns about potential inflation, driven by tariff uncertainties, and the recent economic contraction are weighing on the market, prompting companies to adjust forecasts.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports global press freedoms at a record low, particularly criticizing the US under Donald Trump for undermining independent media. The US fell to 57th place in the rankings. Europe enjoys the most press freedom, while China, North Korea, and Eritrea rank lowest. Germany also slipped due to hostility towards journalists.

From responding to weather disasters to rising competition in the fast-warming Arctic, militaries are exposed to climate change and cannot let it become a strategic "blind spot", security experts say. "What I worry about, as someone who worked in national security for a long time, is this blind spot puts the US at risk," she said.

Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has stepped down as Chairperson and Board of Trustees member after 55 years. The WEF board has appointed Vice Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe as interim Chairman and formed a committee to find a permanent successor. The board acknowledged Schwab's contributions in establishing the WEF as a platform for global cooperation.

German lawmakers will gather in early May to elect Friedrich Merz as chancellor after his conservative bloc sealed a coalition agreement with the main centre-left party, the Bundestag said Monday. Both steps were expected to be a formality after Merz's conservative bloc, the CDU/CSU, and his future governing partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), settled on a coalition agreement last week.

Germany's environment minister has issued a warning about the heightened risk of forest fires and potential harvest failures due to a significant lack of rainfall. The country experienced its driest period since 1931, with rainfall levels far below the average, particularly impacting northwest and southeast regions.

Leading economic institutes Thursday slashed their 2025 growth forecast for the german economy to near stagnation, warning Europe's struggling top economy will face extra pain from the US tariff blitz. US President Donald Trump's tariffs on aluminium, steel and vehicle imports that came into effect in March and April would likely reduce Germany's economic growth by 0.1 percentage points each for 2025 and 2026, the institutes calculated.