Berlin, GERMANY | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bruised by half a year of post-election coalition haggling, was Wednesday elected by parliament to her fourth and likely final term at the helm of Europe’s biggest economy. Lawmakers in Berlin’s glass-domed Reichstag voted 364-315 with nine abstentions for Merkel who …
Read More »Merkel says she will visit Macron to discuss EU reform
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday, two days before she is to launch her new government, that she will pay a quick visit to French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss EU reform proposals. Without naming a date, Merkel said she would visit Paris ahead of an …
Read More »Merkel vows swift return to government work to boost Europe
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Monday that her new government would start work swiftly and lend a strong voice to Europe, a day after she secured a coalition for her fourth term. Germany’s second biggest party, the Social Democrats (SPD), on Sunday finally gave the …
Read More »Merkel to appoint key party critic to cabinet
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has decided to give a cabinet role to an outspoken critic within her conservative party, as she looks to quell surging discontent in the right wing of the group, a senior party official said Sunday. Merkel is to name 37-year-old Jens Spahn …
Read More »KFC falls fowl in Britain with chicken run
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Hundreds of KFC outlets remained shut in Britain on Wednesday due to a supply crisis, leaving fans craving a fix of deep-fried chicken. The shortages, which are expected to last all week in some parts of Britain, have prompted online mockery and disbelief aimed …
Read More »Some KFC stores to close all week in UK chicken crisis
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Some KFC outlets in Britain are to remain shut for the rest of the week, the fast-food operator said Tuesday as a supply crisis rumbled on, leaving fans craving a fix of deep-fried chicken. About 450 of the chain’s 900 outlets remained closed late …
Read More »New take on real-life hijack drama in ‘7 Days in Entebbe’
Berlin, Germany | AFP | The counter-terrorism plot seems more far fetched than many action thrillers, yet “7 Days in Entebbe”, which premiered at the Berlin film festival Monday, depicts a real-life airline hijack drama. The movie recounts what is often called the most audacious hostage rescue mission ever staged, …
Read More »Merkel’s fate in SPD hands as members vote on power pact
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | Germany’s Social Democrats started campaigning Saturday ahead of a party referendum that spells the last threat to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hopes of forming a new government, five months after an inconclusive election. In a vote expected to be tight, the more than 460,000 members of …
Read More »Record 2017 sales set up Puma to score at World Cup
Frankfurt am Main, Germany | AFP | German sportswear firm Puma on Monday reported record revenues in 2017, with celebrity sparkle from Rihanna and the football World Cup set to maintain the leaping-cat brand’s appeal into 2018. Net profit at the Bavaria-based company more than doubled last year, reaching 135.8 …
Read More »Confidence grows for deal on new Merkel government
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Talks between the top German parties on forming a new government for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fourth term spilled into overtime Monday but confidence appeared to be growing they would strike a deal. More than four months after Germany’s general election, marathon weekend negotiations failed to yield …
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