Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) have unseated the Social Democrats in a key state election, exit polls are indicating. Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU is projected to win 34.5% of votes in North Rhine-Westphalia, compared with 30.5% for the Social Democrats (SPD). It was seen as a test for Mrs. Merkel ahead of September's general election.
Emmanuel Macron is beginning his first day as French president with two main tasks, picking a prime minster, a crucial appointment since he needs to make a good showing in next month's parliamentary elections to push through his planned economic reforms. The second is to travel to Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel.
European Union countries are meeting in Brussels to discuss a joint strategy for negotiations with the UK over Brexit. Twenty-seven countries will be present, but the UK will not take part. The EU will insist that progress must be made in talks on separating the UK from the EU, before any discussions can begin about future trade relations. Official talks between London and the EU will not begin until after the UK general election on 8 June.
Germany's Angela Merkel comments about the UK's Brexit stance show the need for Britain to have the strongest possible hand in negotiations, said Prime Minister Theresa May. The PM told a rally in Leeds that 27 EU countries were lining up to oppose Britain while her opponents were trying to disrupt Brexit talks.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has won state elections in the small western state of Saarland on Sunday by significantly increasing its vote share. . Led by premier Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the most popular politician in the region, CDU has won 40.1% of the vote, increasing its share by 4.9 percentage votes compared with 2012, according to the projections based on exit polls and broadcasted by the public television ARD.
A video showing US president Donald Trump refusing to shake hands with German chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint appearance in the White House is making rounds on the internet, reminding everyone that the US president will never learn.
Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez, six cabinet ministers and a numerous business delegation begin on Monday a two weeks official tour of Germany, Finland and Russia to increase political and trade links, particularly in the “new international scenario” and hopefully advancing in locking the long delayed accord between the European Union and Mercosur.
German chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed Theresa May's remarks that Britain wants to see a strong Europe - even as it prepares to quit the EU. The prime minister told EU leaders she wanted to build a strong partnership with the EU and pledged the UK would be a good friend and ally post-Brexit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped up pressure on Theresa May over Brexit by saying that the European Union must consider limiting UK access to the single market if it fails to accept free movement of EU citizens. The chancellor repeated her mantra that there must be no negotiations based on “cherry picking” of the Union’s four freedoms of movement for capital, goods, services and people.
Russian President Vladimir Putin again leads Forbes' list of the world's most powerful people, followed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the No. 2 spot. The annual ranking of 74 individuals was released Wednesday. It considers personal influence, financial resources, whether the person can affect a country's GDP or a company's value, and their power in multiple spheres as factors in determining the list.