Friedrich Merz
Trump is learning he can’t always get what he wants. But neither can Ireland
Big American multinationals are ramping up their US investments - and this could have worrying implications for Ireland
An Auschwitz survivor’s plea: Remain watchful because Holocaust denial is gaining ground
On the 81st anniversary of the death camp’s liberation, Leon Weintraub has a blunt warning
‘My country pulled world into a black abyss’: Chancellor urges leaders to learn from Germany
Friedrich Merz addressed Davos while EU leaders met in Brussels to discuss ‘new normal’ of US relations
European leaders hope to avoid Greenland dispute escalating into trade war
Macron likely to propose first use of bloc’s ‘bazooka’ emergency power to increase its negotiating leverage
Greenland crisis: Advocates for caution may come under pressure at key EU summit
Emergency meeting likely to be guided by Danish prime minister on Greenland retaliation
A decade on from crisis, Europe claims control of migration — at a human cost
Policymakers say strict new measures have driven down irregular arrivals, but experts say the underlying factors are little changed
Merz faces mounting criticism in Germany amid concern over his Ukraine deal performance
‘He didn’t take the Belgian resistance seriously,’ says one observer of chancellor’s approach to EU summit
EU funding deal for Ukraine: dissenter Hungary joined by Slovakia and Czech Republic
A tear that Hungary’s premier, Viktor Orban, has spent years pulling at in the EU tent has just got bigger
Merz, in the line of stiff questions, unclear on sending German troops to Ukraine
The chancellor had previously said it was possible to foresee German soldiers helping maintain a peace agreement
Peace process for Ukraine closer than at any time since start of Russian invasion, says Merz
European leaders say proposed security guarantees agreed with US include a Ukrainian peacetime army of 800,000 troops and European-led military support force
Zelenskiy ready to give up Nato membership demands in exchange for security guarantees
Move aimed at advancing peace talks in Berlin
Trump says Europe is ‘destroying itself’ through immigration
New US national security strategy claimed Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’ because of mass migration
Trump increases pressure on Ukraine to accept US peace plan and calls for election
Kyiv readies ‘refined’ peace plan proposals amid intense diplomacy around Europe
Starmer wants ‘hard-edged’ guarantees for Ukraine yet the UK’s armed forces are too blunt
UK prime minister meets Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the leaders of France and Germany in Downing Street to discuss US-led peace initiative
Germany’s Merz walks diplomatic tightrope with Netanyahu on first visit to Israel
Chancellor did not renew his invitation for Israeli PM to visit Germany
‘Catch remaining targets’: Leaked Teneo files pull back curtain on corporate lobbying
Internal Teneo documents reveal exactly how oil firms and other big multinationals pushed to dilute EU supply chain rules
Netanyahu expects to meet Trump to discuss new phase of Gaza plan
Israeli PM says second stage of US president’s proposal for Palestinian enclave is close
Russia says it has taken control of two villages in Ukraine
Defence ministry says air defences destroyed 77 Ukrainian drones launched overnight
German parliament passes contested pensions vote as Merz sees off rebellion
Chancellor Friedrich Merz held his coalition together to see a controversial pensions vote pass in parliament
Ukraine urges West not to repeat ‘betrayal’ of Munich by appeasing Russia
Moscow vows to seize entire Donbas region and says EU use of its frozen assets to fund Kyiv could be ‘casus belli’
German vote exposes Merz weakness and some CDU members’ far-right ambitions
A vote on state pensions could decide how soon the chancellor is nudged into political retirement
Berlin and Warsaw try yet another reboot as German-Polish relations hit new low
Attitudes sour over history of occupation and contemporary security pressures overshadow latest rapprochement
A ‘cog’ in the Nazi engine: Why the story of chancellor Friedrich Merz’s grandfather matters
Might Merz, by sharing his family history and encouraging others to engage with their family past, help prevent Germany from sliding again into political extremism?
France and Germany to bring back military service as Russia threat looms
Paris and Berlin latest to reintroduce measure to strengthen forces as US steps back from Continent
Hometown holds goodwill for Friedrich Merz, but coalition leaves him in a bind
Merz retains plenty of goodwill, but even friends and allies admit coalition leaves him in a bind
Ukraine’s decision to let young men leave sparks alarm in Europe
Several EU member states, including Ireland, have reported a surge in young men arriving
Berlin at risk of ‘squandering opportunities’ to revive Germany’s ailing economy, new report says
Federal economic advisers warn ‘special’ €500m fund being used for election promises rather than promised new infrastructure investment
EU red lines can be elastic when necessary
Short of options, Europe is forced to consider creative and politically hazardous ways to keep funding Ukraine
German chancellor accused of reaching for the dog whistle in bid to win back voters
Friedrich Merz’s remarks about mass immigration have divided public opinion and sparked protests at CDU HQ
Barry’s Tea, brack and quiet deals: the breakfasts where Europe’s leaders set the agenda
Ireland’s early morning pre-summit meeting with Nordic and Baltic States is now a fixture of Brussels diplomacy
Merz changes Germany’s stance towards Israel security
Chancellor says it is for each German government 'to reassess' living up to responsibility of Israeli security
German police given new powers to shoot down drones
Move follows recent disruption from suspected Russian incursions across Europe
Merz calls on EU to use frozen Russian assets help Ukraine
Move represents stark reversal of Berlin’s previous scepticism about tapping seized assets
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
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Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
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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