Merz calls on EU to use frozen Russian assets help Ukraine
Move represents stark reversal of Berlin’s previous scepticism about tapping seized assets
Friedrich Merz
Merz’s absence from UN General Assembly is noted as criticism grows over Gaza stance
Berlin insists recognising Palestinian statehood can come only after wider peace process between Israelis and Palestinians
Germany conflicted as public sympathy for Israel begins to shift
Journey since Hamas-led attacks of October 7th, 2023 has been unprecedented and uncomfortable as civilian deaths in Gaza rise
Far-right AfD’s vote triples in elections in German bellwether state
Party takes 16.5% of vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, behind governing CDU and Social Democrats
Europe refuses to accept reality as Putin escalates war on Ukraine
The West huffs and puffs but does nothing to stop him, even as he prods at the edge of Nato territory
German car industry seeks fightback amid slumping market share
German automakers face shrinking market share and job cuts. Can they recover?
Merz and Macron anxious to speak the same political language
German chancellor and French president work to revive a struggling relationship
Germany’s ‘grey army’ at centre of political battle over retirement age
Boomers have shattered social contract, requiring new deal between generations, says economist
EU states working on plans for postwar military deployments to Ukraine
‘Clear road map’ for possible deployments, European Commission president says
European leaders condemn Russia and call for peace talks after massive air strike on Ukraine
EU and British Council buildings in Kyiv damaged as at least 18 people die in drone and missile strikes
European leaders back Moldova in face of ‘massive’ pre-election interference by Russia
Germany says Kremlin wants to ‘turn back time’ and regain hold over EU candidate country
‘What will become of us?’: Germany struggles with military recruitment as voluntary service falls short
A new national service bill offers better pay, discounted driving lessons, language lessons and other sweeteners
For the Bundestag speaker, high office is no bar to her lust for life or love
Julia Klöckner has been pursued across Germany by gossip columnists this summer, but is there another agenda afoot?
Friedrich Merz’s first 100 days in office: Furious allies and disastrous polls
The German chancellor faces a mutinous coalition partner, furious political allies and disastrous poll numbers
Germany’s Israel pivot is raising fears among Jewish residents
From bus attacks to Holocaust comparisons, some in the Jewish community report a surge in hostility following arms sales restriction
Zelenskiy to visit Downing Street ahead of Trump meeting with Putin
European leaders and Ukrainian president speak with Trump ahead of Friday’s US-Russia summit
European leaders eye Trump-Putin talks on Ukraine with anxiety
Despite positive spin from Wednesday’s meeting, Zelenskiy and Europe will be shut out of Alaska summit
Germany divided over plan to limit weapons for Israel
Just 36 per cent of Germans say they hold a positive view of Israel
Germans told to work more, as citizens make most of holidays
New chancellor Friedrich Merz suggests his fellow German citizens need to work more
Israel’s Gaza City plan greeted with widespread international criticism
Move to expand Israeli operations in the Palestinian territory would expel close to a million residents from their homes
Tariff deal will result in ‘considerable negative repercussions’, German industry warns
Companies in Germany’s critical automotive sector are reportedly beginning their own direct trade talks with Washington
Deportation flights signal Germany’s pivot to hardline stance on migration
Radical policy shift a response to series of fatal attacks and to rise of far-right AfD
How the EU’s ‘lopsided’ US trade deal was done
Deal brings certainty to European firms, but at a cost
Every Irish person contributes €53.20 a month to the EU. We should be prepared to pay more
Worldview: Courtesy of our growing relative wealth, we displaced Luxembourg in 2024 in paying the most to the EU budget on a gross per capita basis
Germany says Israel ‘violating law of war’ in Gaza but refuses to sign ceasefire letter
Foreign ministers of 28 countries have signed joint statement calling for end to war
Tariffs an unwelcome shock to a German economy already battling an exports slowdown
New Merz government promises to slash red tape to incentivise companies but Trump tariffs could render those plans moot
Berlin rejects EU sanctions against Israel over Gaza
Germany chancellor says Israel ‘is defending itself against attack’
German and UK leaders sign mutual defence pact as US steps back
Treaty includes a pledge by both countries to regard a threat against one as a threat against the other
German chancellor insists coalition ‘not in crisis’ after second Bundestag calamity in two months
Row over judicial appointment hands far-right opposition another political stick to beat the government
Alternative for Germany tries to tone down to cut further into mainstream
Party is keen to win over more supporters of Friedrich Merz’s CDU
Ireland’s €156bn tax windfall: Where has it gone?
Most of the excess receipts from corporate tax have disappeared into the budgetary ether, in some cases to overruns in Health
Germany loosens the purse strings in spite of recession
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embraced jam-for-all politics after years of dry bread
US threatens EU with 17% tariff on food exports
Move could hit products such as Kerrygold butter, Belgian chocolate and olive oil
Focus turns to money as German political honeymoon ends
Coalition members meet to fill in awkward detail of their vague shotgun agreement
Germany to help Ukraine make weapons more quickly
Move will help Kyiv negotiate more strongly in peace talks, German foreign minister says
Nato leaders back increase in defence spending at Hague summit
Nato endorses spending goal of 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 as allies hope pledge will prompt Trump to dispel doubts over commitment to alliance
Germany floats return to conscription if volunteer plan fails
Berlin aims to more than double army reserves in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
G7 leaders in Canada will discuss Israel-Iran conflict and hope to avoid Trump clash
Official says leaders plan to issue joint statement on Iran calling for de-escalation
The Irish Times view on Israel’s international reputation: sliding ever downward
A poll this week showed support for the country in western Europe at its lowest ever level
Merz gives Trump a reminder of his family history as he passes Oval Office test
German chancellor Friedrich Merz was aiming to trigger a thaw, even if that meant smiling away Trump’s second World War jokes
Trump-Musk bromance descends into a jaw-dropping feud that is funny, dismal and nauseating
Musk sends barrage of posts criticising the Trump budget Bill during a day his personal wealth fell by an estimated $34 billion
Trade tensions simmer under surface of cordial White House meeting between Trump and Merz
US and German leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine
Israeli foreign minister finds shifting moods as he visits Berlin
Gideon Sa’ar given promises of German support but hears criticism of aid distribution programme
Friedrich Merz gets ready for Trump’s Oval Office endurance test
Ahead of their meeting in Washington, the German chancellor has sought advice from recent survivors of Trump’s new reality television format
German immigration clampdown ruled illegal by federal court
Ruling undermines pledge by Friedrich Merz and his government to tackle immigration
Germany’s Merz vows long-range weapons for Ukraine following talks with Zelenskiy
Long-awaited German shift in policy, after 1,189 days of conflict, follows Berlin meeting
War in Gaza strains historical German-Israeli relationship
Nearly three months into Israel’s humanitarian blockade on Gaza, a shifting mood is palpable
Merz vows to defend Nato territory as German troops deploy in Lithuania
Chancellor tells Baltic states of Germany’s soft stance on Putin: ‘I assure you, that time is over’
Why has the German economy gone from Europe’s engine to its anchor?
Miscalculations on security, exports and energy have created a storm in Europe’s largest economy
Merz vows to build the strongest army in Europe and revitalise Germany’s fortunes
Armed forces will get ‘all the financial resources required’, new chancellor tells German parliament
Self-styled ‘King of Germany’ arrested and his far-right group banned
Kingdom of Germany ‘underpins supposed claim to power with anti-Semitic conspiracy narratives’, warns interior minister
Germany’s new leadership may be having second thoughts about supporting Netanyahu’s war
Amid the deteriorating situation in Gaza, pro-Israel chancellor Friedrich Merz is learning a hard lesson in Middle East realpolitik
Are the Government spooked by the consequences of the Occupied Territories Bill?
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
Merz’s first day: Berlin back in business and interested in new ‘push for Europe’
New German chancellor steps up efforts to bring peace to Europe
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Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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