Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks after signing bilateral documents with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Nov. 9, 2023. Turar Kazangapov | Reuters France’s suggestion that Ukraine’s allies could potentially send ground troops into Ukraine has caused indignation and outrage in Russia, with officials warning it could provoke a direct conflict between … Read more
Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economy and Climate Protection and Vice Chancellor, is pictured during the weekly meeting of the cabinet on February 21, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Florian Gaertner | Photothek | Getty Images Germany’s gross domestic product is now expected to grow by just 0.2% this year, as the country wades in “tricky … Read more
Former U.S. President and current GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the press at Mar-a-Lago on February 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images MUNICH, Germany — NATO members on Saturday weighed the U.S.’ possible withdrawal from the military alliance if Donald Trump returns to the … Read more
Germany’s defense minister said on Saturday that his country’s commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense was just the starting point and that more would likely be needed. Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that the 2% spending target would be met “in the 2020s, in the 2030s and beyond.” However, … Read more
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Vice Chair and President of Microsoft Corporation Brad Smith shake hands in Berlin, `Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, after a press conference held by Microsoft Deutschland GmbH on the company’s investments in the AI sector in Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed an announcement by Microsoft on Thursday that it would … Read more
TOKYO — Japan has slipped to the world’s fourth-largest economy as government data released Thursday showed it fell behind the size of Germany’s in 2023. The numbers highlight how the Japanese economy has gradually lost its competitiveness and productivity while the population shrinks as Japanese people age and have fewer children, analysts say. Japan fell … Read more
A shop employee stands in front of binoculars on display at a department store in Tokyo on October 22, 2021. Behrouz Mehri | AFP | Getty Images Japan has lost its spot as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany, as the Asian giant unexpectedly slipped into recession. Once the second largest economy in the world, … Read more
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, r-l), Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, and Christian Lindner (FDP), Federal Minister of Finance, follow the debate at the start of the budget week. Michael Kappeler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Good news has been sparse for the German economy. And … Read more
U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia on spying charges, is escorted out of the Lefortovsky Court building in Moscow on Jan. 26, 2024. Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin said “an agreement can be reached” over the release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, signaling … Read more
BERLIN — Germany’s state-owned development bank has sold shares in the company that owns the national postal service for about 2.17 billion euros ($2.3 billion), reducing the government’s stake and raising money to help finance improvements to the country’s rail network. The KfW bank, which holds the government’s remaining stakes in previously state-held companies, said … Read more