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
Friedrich Merz
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
Friedrich Merz confirmed as chancellor after humiliation exposes Germany’s shrunken centre
Some in new coalition government did not support Merz in first round of Bundestag voting
The Irish Times view on Friedrich Merz: a change in Berlin
Merz’s bold first steps are all the more remarkable from this strong Atlanticist and fiscal conservative
Profile: Friedrich Merz known for impulsive shifts and rhetorical sharpshooting
Ex-chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will attend Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony in Berlin
Centre-left SDP approves German coalition deal with centre-right CDU
SDP co-leader Lars Klingbeil set to become vice-chancellor and federal finance minister
Tensions rising in Germany amid criticism of Israeli government
Growing conflict in Berlin, with state politicians and police facing off against pro-Gaza protestors, is seeping slowly into German federal politics
German coalition deal gives SPD members Easter bellyache
SPD party members have received post from the party seeking permission to return as junior partners to the centre-right CDU
AfD’s historic poll surge surprises even party’s MPs ahead of new Bundestag term
Economic analysts suggest economic uncertainty and internal party disagreements could yet dampen voter enthusiasm for the party
Germany vows to ‘terminate’ residency of anyone engaging in ‘incitement and anti-Semitism’
Federal coalition government agreement promises full border controls, a tighter asylum approach and expedited deportation of criminal foreign nationals
Tariff crisis has a silver lining for Merz
US action strengthens CDU leader’s hand in government formation discussions with centre-left SPD
Christian Democratic Union nerves on edge amid Alternative for Germany poll surge
Friedrich Merz has yet to secure the chancellery but polls show his party on just 25 per cent support
Efforts to rearm Europe stumble as Trump ‘kicks over the chessboard’ of the Ukraine war
EU must take replace rhetoric with deeds and increase military power to ensure Putin takes heed, European commissioner for defence warns
Coalition of ‘willing’ leaders sidesteps need for EU consensus
Europe letter: Power shifting back to Paris and Berlin as defence policy and Ukraine war takes centre stage
Insults, protests and seat-squabbles: Bundestag’s first day with far-right AfD as second-biggest party
Rule changes prevent hardline group’s former leader from opening German parliament
Bundestag backs record borrowing package
Three-party alliance backs borrowing package of €500 billion for infrastructure projects and an effective blank cheque for defence and security spending
David McWilliams: We witnessed in the White House the ‘Doonbegisation’ of Irish foreign policy
We know it’s a fantasy but let’s take it and move on, because the battles ahead will change our world in ways we have not yet contemplated
Germany’s Merz woos Greens with €50 billion climate package for defence vote
Greens also likely to push controversial bill to reform German abortion law
German Bundestag buries Swabian housewife under €1 trillion debt pile
With an eye on Donald Trump’s Nato threats, Friedrich Merz has a plan that will permit effectively unlimited spending on defence
More big EU decisions may come on defence as US shift on Ukraine causes Brussels to rethink bloc’s security
Period of European leaders carefully tiptoeing around Trump seems to be over
From Maga to Mega: Make Europe Great Again
Nine of 2025’s 10 best-performing stocks are European, with defence stocks dominating the list
Incoming German coalition promises crack down on immigration
CDU leader indicates he is open to common European nuclear umbrella
Germany’s debt brake more worked around than respected
Berlin recognises the rule to avoid burdening future generations is too onerous to kickstart today’s economic growth
Germany’s Merz faces dramatic showdown on two fronts amid defence and infrastructure challenges
Chancellor-designate faces opposition in his own party and a delicate balance in reconvened Bundestag, which must approve measures
German bond yields spike most since 2022 on investment plans
Incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic-led bloc and the rival Social Democrats are speeding ahead with plans to boost investment
Germany’s Merz unveils €900bn borrowing plan for security and infrastructure
Incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to shore up defence, infrastructure
Berlin boosts military spending to combat Putin’s ‘war of aggression’
Chancellor Olaf Scholz presents radical rethink of German foreign and energy policy
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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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