Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a video call with German Friedrich Merz (CDU), British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron that the allies see Ukraine strengthened in the war. Zelenskyy announced this via social networks, as reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Troels Lund Poulsen, the right-wing liberal leader, has also failed to form a government in Denmark. According to Die Zeit, he plans to inform King Frederik X of the failure this evening.
The Bundestag passed a justice reform package on Thursday that digitizes the police certificate of good conduct and expands online procedures for notaries. In the future, the document will be delivered as a PDF directly to citizens' BundID accounts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Defense Ministry to prepare retaliatory measures for an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory in Starobilsk. The Ukrainian General Staff rejected the account, stating the target was a Russian military base.
The SPD is opposing cuts to development aid. According to Spiegel, the party is issuing a clear warning against savings in this area.
The planned American Women's History Museum in Washington will not be built for the time being. As the FAZ reports, Democrats withdrew their support for the project after Republicans sought to exclude the history of transgender women.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and his Hungarian counterpart Anita Orbán have met in person for the first time. According to the BBC, Sybiha described the conversation as open and constructive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has discussed efforts to end Russia's war of aggression with French Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Friedrich Merz. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the leaders agreed to a meeting of their national security advisors soon.
The Slovenian parliament has elected right-wing conservative politician Janez Janša as prime minister. He replaces the liberal-left government of Robert Golob and plans to lead a minority government backed by right-wing parties.
The Bundestag approved the construction of a high-speed rail link between Dresden and Prague on Thursday evening. The project is expected to cut travel time from Berlin to Vienna to five hours, reports FAZ.
The Bundestag has held its first reading on plans to pay child benefit automatically without requiring an application. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) said the reform sounds small but would improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.
From June 4 to 7, 2026, the 22nd Comic-Salon will take place in Erlangen. According to the Tagesspiegel, more than 25,000 visitors are expected.
A 25-year-old man without a valid ticket attacked two train attendants on Wednesday morning in Mannheim. According to Spiegel, citing the Federal Police, he punched the women in the face.
Two-thirds of Americans believe Donald Trump is prioritizing his controversial immigration policy at the expense of their economic well-being, a new Guardian poll shows.
Giorgia Meloni sees the new European asylum system as confirmation of her migration policy, as reported by FAZ. However, Italy continues to go its own way in dealing with private sea rescuers.
Ukrainian farmers who fled Russian occupation in 2022 are trying to revive their farms near the front line. Besides the war's aftermath, they are battling banks that are collecting old debts, as agricultural expert Denys Marchuk told 24 Kanal.
Ukraine attacked a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied city of Starobilsk in Luhansk with drones, killing four people and injuring at least 35, according to Euronews.
According to Iranian sources, 35 ships have passed the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Handelsblatt. The strait is one of the most important routes for global oil transport. The Iran dispute will now be a topic at the NATO summit.
Mid-level Kremlin officials see no future for President Vladimir Putin's political system, according to a report by the independent Russian outlet Verstka.
According to the ZDF Politbarometer, 89 percent of Germans consider fundamental reforms necessary, but 75 percent see no willingness in the population to bear the costs. Only a third would be prepared to accept personal sacrifices.
The Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) has proposed linking long-term care insurance benefits to general life expectancy, according to Deutschlandfunk.
Economist Ulrike Malmendier criticizes tax giveaways like the fuel discount and explains how the government could provide more effective relief. At the same time, she warns of a further deterioration in the economic situation.
The debate over the influence of right-wing nationalist billionaire Vincent Bolloré on French media has reached the Cannes Festival. According to Tagesschau, 600 filmmakers had warned in an open letter about Bolloré's growing influence on French cinema – with immediate consequences.
Werner Gatzer, chairman of the supervisory board of Deutsche Bahn, plans to step down in 2027. Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz is set to succeed him, according to Handelsblatt.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara as one of the most significant in the alliance's history. According to Guardian, leaders must address Donald Trump's disappointment with NATO's response to US operations in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has put a figure on Russian army losses in the war of aggression against Ukraine since the beginning of the year. According to Ukrinform, 145,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since January 1.
Ukrainians with a Group II disability have received higher payments in 2026, following the pension indexation that took effect on March 1, reports 24tv.
The Frankfurt public prosecutor's office has searched further premises of supporters of the voter initiative 'Frankfurt – Sozial!'. There is suspicion that signatures from users of a home emergency call system were forged to get Peter Feldmann's electoral list onto the ballot for the local election.
Carsten Schneider (SPD) has pushed back against criticism of renewable energy in a dispute with Katherina Reiche. He warned that blocking the energy transition harms the national interest.
The city council in Raunheim has approved the recall motion against Mayor David Rendel (SPD) by a large majority. Rendel can now either resign voluntarily within a week or face a citizen referendum.
Oleksandr Usyk met Ukrainian war veterans who now repair the destroyed power grid ahead of his title fight on May 23 in Cairo. Usyk called them 'champions of light'.
Thomas Tuchel has announced England's World Cup squad, surprisingly leaving out several prominent players. One of the omitted stars immediately responded with sharp criticism of the national coach.
The Bundestag approved the pharmacy reform proposed by the black-red coalition on Thursday. Pharmacies will now be allowed to offer vaccinations, preventive check-ups, and rapid tests, according to the newspaper.
The Munich Higher Regional Court has sentenced three supporters of the so-called Kaiserreich group, who planned the kidnapping of former health minister Karl Lauterbach during the coronavirus pandemic. The sentences range from one year and four months to two years and three months.
The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZBV) is calling for a legal right to flat-rate compensation when smart meters fail to work after installation. Users could thus avoid financial disadvantages with dynamic electricity tariffs.
The 2026 Civil Rights Report, compiled by ten human rights organizations, warns of a growing militarization in Germany. According to Deutsche Welle, the authors criticize that security interests are increasingly prioritized over fundamental rights.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has officially recorded more than 13,300 cases of chemical munitions use by Russian forces. The intensity of attacks has surged sharply since 2024, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
Democratic Party has published a 192-page analysis of its 2024 election defeat. Progressive lawmakers criticize the report for omitting the Gaza war and Joe Biden's age.
On May 24, Cyprus will elect a new parliament. According to Deutsche Welle, a political shift is emerging: traditional parties are losing ground, while new anti-establishment movements are gaining support.
The Bundestag has passed a draft law to further develop pharmaceutical care, the federal government announced. The aim is to secure a nationwide network of pharmacies and expand their competencies.