Michaela Kuefner
@MKuefner
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Chief Political Editor @dwnews . Speaking to German policy makers non-stop, so you know what Germany will do next. RT ≠ endorsement
Berlin, Germany
Joined November 2013
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NATO Summit in DC also means Canadian PM Justin Trudeau hops out of a car right in front of as you walk to your first live.
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Merkel’s modest pre-dinner criticism of Indian PM Narendra Modi’s Kashmir clampdown: “the Situation for the people there is unsustainable and not good.”
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#firstdaughter
Ivanka
#Trump
gets hissed at by all-female audience for describing her father as "advocate" for women&families
#Berlin
#W20
89
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Berlin is setting up barriers around the Holocaust Memorial.
The latest tangible sign of the rising fear of antisemitism.
195
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Angela Merkel helps Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer to her seat at 75 Year Celebration of Germany‘s Constitution.
Celebrations are underway for Germany‘s "Basic Law".
Art. 1 "Human Dignity shall be inviolable."
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Germany announces deployment of troops and Patriot weapons system to Slovakia to secure NATO Eastern Flank.
Move comes as Germany still strategically shaken by Putin’s full scale attack on Ukraine.
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Breaking: German Chancellor Scholz announces defence boost.
Will in future spend minimum of 2% on defence.
To meet 2% by 2024.
Will propose special fund of € 100 BN for strategic security.
Details and timeline unclear but this is twice the current defence budget. Major shift.
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Fun fact:
Merkel’s leaving present from her staff is a set of high tech walking sticks, a water bottle and a bread tin to take for hikes.
Merkel likes hiking.
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Breaking:
Germany plans to send criminal asylum seekers back to Afghanistan.
"Who abuses the protection we provide, loses the right to this protection."
The German chancellor announces plans to change German law and create new charges.
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Just in: Germany to deliver 2700 ”Strela“ air defence rockets to Ukraine.
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Außenministerin
@ABaerbock
darf sich auf eine „sehr robuste Diskussion“ mit US Außenminister
@SecBlinken
zu Deutschlands Hafen- und Chipfabrikverkäufen an China gefasst machen, antwortete mir gerade ein US Sprecher im G7 Vorabbriefing.
Hier übrigens ”on the record“.
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German Parliament, the Reichstag, lit up to commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime.
#WeRemember
#Holocaust
Inside there are still visible traces of gunshots and graffiti by allied Russian soldiers who liberated Berlin.
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BREAKING
Germany extends second
#Corona
lockdown till 31. January.
Restrictions extended:
- only 1 household + 1 extra person can meet
- canteens closed
New hotspot strategy:
When 200 + infections
per100000people
within7days:
- 15km maximum radius from home
- no leisure trips
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Germany stops short of state of emergency. Merkel presents measures “never seen before”:
- non- essential shops closed
- food, drugstores allowed to open Sundays
- bars, sports venues, playgrounds (!) closed
- all gatherings, including religious, banned
= freeze of public life
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German Chancellor Angela
#Merkel
opened a museum during
#Trump
#Inauguration
. Spokesman: "will study speech with interest"
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German FM Annalena Baerbock’s plane did not even touch the ground in Cyprus to avoid illegally traveling directly from Israel to Lebanon.
Here’s the moment the plane did a "low pass" at Larnaca airport.
I asked the pilots when they would otherwise do it: "Only at air shows."
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Breaking: German Defence Minister
@AKK
calls for international protection zone in Northern
#Syria
in coordination with Turkey and Russia. Nothing less than paradigm shift in German security policy, Merkel “informed’. Full exclusive interview shortly
@dw_politics
@dwnews
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“We are in a new age”.
“Putin has created a new reality that requires a clear answer”. Germany to deliver weapons.
“This war will prove to be a catastrophe for Russia” through sanctions.
“We accept the challenge” posed by Putin.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses Parliament
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Ukraine’s flag flying outside German Parliament where chancellor Olaf Scholz about to hold a government declaration on Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Due to explain fundamental strategy change that will now see Germany delivering weapons to Ukraine after all.
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In Berlin
@PeteButtigieg
warns delivery of public service and strong institutions mark “cathedrals of democracy” that must be understood as such.
US Transport Secretary and Democrat political superstar emphasizes link of economic development and democracy.
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Germany implements minimum nationwide movement/contact restrictions
- ban of contacts outside own household
- no more than 2 people to gather in public
- 1,5 m minimum distance
- go out only for work, errands, individual sport
- Restaurants except delivery/takeaway closed
#corona
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Franco-German response to Putin’s speech today that stopped short of further escalation on Ukraine:
Scholz: “Must be clear that Ukraine won’t accept peace on foreign terms.”
Macron: “We want to achieve a ceasefire as fast as possible.”
Both avoid direct comment on Putin.
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BREAKING Chancellor Olaf Scholz pulls the plug on Nord Stream 2 pipeline with Russia over Putin’s “blatant breach of international law”.
Scholz had avoided mentioning the pipeline to keep diplomatic channels with Moscow open but stresses now a “fundamentally different situation”
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”The security of Israel is reason of state for Germany and we will act accordingly.“
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeats Angela Merkel‘s 2008 pledge before the Knesset, Israel‘s parliament as Israel faces its 9/11 moment.
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Angela Merkel begins last day of her official term in church.
Today she will be released from her duties only to remain in office as caretaker chancellor until the new government coalition is formed.
Likely December.
Likely next chancellor: Social Democrat
@OlafScholz
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German Chancellor Scholz just arrived in Niger, the second stop of his first official Africa trip and probably one of the longest red carpets ever….
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Fireworks for 30 years of fall of Berlin Wall celebrations at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Quite a party.
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German Defence Minister Lambrecht places German Army, the Bundeswehr, on national alert.
Preparatory measures underway for possible deployment of NATO Response Force.
Lambrecht expects NATO to bolster its Eastern flank.
Public warned of ”more military movement” over next days.
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Standing ovations for Merkel in Parliament just now.
She is only a guest for the election of
@OlafScholz
as next chancellor by the Bundestag.
Now each MP will be called up by name to get ballot.
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US
@SecBlinken
to hold ”a very robust discussion with our German counterparts“ over German sale of Hamburg Harbour stake to China, a spokesman just told us in a pre-G7 Briefing.
Germany also considering controversial sale of microchip plant to Chinese owned company.
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German Government coalition just signed into action.
Tomorrow
@OlafScholz
now certain to be elected new Chancellor in parliament.
This is the Moment the post-Merkel Era begins for real.
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Standing ovations for Ukraine’s President
@ZelenskyyUa
following his live address to German Parliament.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized German Chancellor Scholz directly for lack of leadership over Ukraine.
No reply since he and his coalition MPs decided against reply and debate.
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BREAKING:
Germany reopens public life - under restrictions.
‘Emergency brake’ if infections in any region go above 50/100 000 inhabitants within 7 days.
Affects:
- All shops
- Sports facilities - clubs
- Schools
- Senior citizens residences
16 state governments decide.
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commemorates the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust at the beginning of his first Israel visit.
Babi-Yar in Ukraine is one of the mass killing sites enshrined in the floor of Yad Vashem. Impossible not to note that in the face of war there.
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Germany is expected to announce delivery of heavy weapons today sources tell me.
Details to be delivered by German Defence minister at US Ramstein military base meeting with allies over Ukraine later.
For Germany this is a paradigm shift.
For Ukraine and allies long overdue.
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“United States support is indispensable for the question of whether Ukraine will be able to defend itself.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves White House with mission to round up EU Ukraine support, and the conviction that without the US, it won‘t be enough.
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German Chancellor
@OlafScholz
just arrived in Warsaw.
Due to meet Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki and expected to talk:
- EU Rule of Law
- Belarus border migrants
- reaction to
#Russia
over
#Ukraine
border troop build-up
- renewal of Poland WWII reparations claims
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Israel‘s Prime Minister Bennett Meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin this evening after Bennett’s surprise visit to Putin in Moscow today, a source close to the government has just confirmed to me.
This after Scholz meet Bennet in Israel last Wednesday.
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Someone put roses on Berlin’s Holocaust memorial - a beautiful gesture in cruel times.
Berlin, das Holocaust-Mahnmal am Morgen. Nie so gesehen. Wie anrührend…
#Neverforget
#Berlin
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BREAKING
Germany temporarily effectively disowns Gazprom Germania, the Russian-owned gas infrastructure provider.
Aim is to prevent it being ”exposed to arbitrary decisions by the Kremlin“ Germany‘s Vice Chancellor and Energy Minister Robert Habeck just said.
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Merkel expected to announce more
#Corona
restrictions today:
Core aim to reduce contacts to „absolute minimum“.
- Meeting in public with max. 2 people from another household
- no parties
- 😷 in schools
Vaccine centres told to be ready by 15 December.
(From draft document)
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“There is a new wall in Europe”
President
@ZelenskyyUa
directly addressing German Parliament.
“We see that words are worth nothing … why is a country across the ocean closer to us?”
Criticizes Germany and Europe for doing too little to defend Ukraine in comparison to US.
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„Full Package of sanctions“ coming.
German FM
@ABaerbock
tells Putin:
”You will never destroy this dream“ of democracy and peace: ”It is growing in Ukraine and it is growing in your country as well”.
Calls Russian invasion ”unscrupulous murder” of Russia‘s brothers and sisters.
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Russia conducting ”a war of aggression on a sovereign state“ say Germany‘s Vice Chancellor and Trade Minister Robert Habeck.
Says West - including his government - was ”too naive“ in dealing with Russia.
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German Chancellor Scholz welcomes Prime Ministers of Finland and Sweden to cabinet retreat.
Sanna Marin 🇫🇮 and
Magdalena Andersson 🇸🇪
are both on path to request NATO membership in response to Russian attack on Ukraine.
Guests highlight how Ukraine conflict overshadows all.
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Rare insight into how Merkel ticks at EU-
#China
video-conference presser:
“Political action is always in the moment when it takes place.... important to seek good relations with China.”
Response to question on what she would do different in 15 yrs of China policy. = no Vision.
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Polls show most Germans agree with Scholz style hesitancy on Ukraine:
68 % say Scholz is not too hesitant in sending weapons
83 % for still talking to Putin
In contrast to criticism from Ukraine and Poland, forsa poll shows German Chancellor in tune with 🇩🇪 public sentiment.
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Germany‘s former Defence Minister admits ”historical failure“ over Russian aggression.
This coming from the CDU party side, more critical of Russia than the currently governing Social Democrat SPD, imagine the German learning curve today.
Political Berlin pale with shock.
I'm so angry at ourselves for our historical failure. After Georgia, Crimea, and Donbas, we have not prepared anything that would have really deterred Putin.
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German Chancellor Scholz has just arrived in Kiev for talks with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy.
Brings solidarity and financial support.
Expected to try to get Ukraine to offer something to take to Moscow tomorrow where Scholz will meet Russian President Putin.
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In his remarkable first national address Chancellor Scholz explains why 🇩🇪backs Ukraine.
”Never again war…genocide…tyranny… can only mean … we support Ukraine in the battle against the aggressor“.
”Not to do so would embolden the aggressor.“
Mentions 🇷🇺 as little as possible
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German parliament just voted to change the constitution to allow € 100 BN in one-off extra defence spending. Germany’s Bundeswehr Army can now launch major investments, politically unthinkable before the war in Ukraine, including new F-35 jets, Ch-47F helicopters and tanks.
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On board German Chancellor Scholz’ plane to Moscow for delicate diplomatic talks over Ukraine.
Just to get here I had to do 3 PCR tests.
At Moscow airport will have to do a fourth.
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Only 19% of Germans are in favor of military support for Israel. 68 % say it would be wrong.
Remarkable polling in a country where the protection of Israel is "Staatsräson" = "Raison d’Etat" = a fundamental principle of national policy
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Just in: Germany will fully give up
#vaccine
prioritization from 7 June.
Health minister
@jensspahn
just announced liberalization of vaccination sequence as Germany speeds up vaccine drive.
From June 7 anyone 16+ years can make an appointment.
Doses remain limiting factor.
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Just in: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants Ukraine to join the European Union.
“Germany is in favour of a positive decision for Ukraine” on EU accession candidate status.
Scholz just told a joint press conference with Macron and Zelenskyy during Kyiv trip.
EU to decide Friday
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Scholz: Germany to build two new LNG terminals to reduce energy dependence on Russia
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German Parliament, the Bundestag, is tightening its Corona rules over
#Omicron
:
MPs can only enter if:
- boostered (3x vaccinated)
- 2x vaccinated + negative test
- recovered+vaccinated+negative test
- unvaccinated + negative PCR Test
Toughest entry regulation so far.
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#Berlin
Central Station on
#EUElections2019
Night.
Anyone got any more questions over how pro-EU Germans are?
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Germany‘s most prominent virologist says
#Corona
death rate in Germany so low „because we are doing a huge number of tests“ - 500 000/week.
@c_drosten
developed the Corona test at Berlin Charité clinic.
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Alexei Navalny‘s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, commemorates his birthday in Berlin.
He would have turned 48 today.
"They want us to forget who and what is responsible for his death but we remember" - today at Berlin’s St. Mary‘s Church.
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All signs point towards
@OlafScholz
as next German chancellor now because:
- smaller parties, the Greens and liberal FDP have agreed to 3-way 🚦talks with Scholz’ SPD party
- 🚦 ruled out parallel talks with Merkel’s conservative CDU/CSU, reducing CDU/CSU to clear plan B.
1/3
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Static moment of disbelief at Merkel‘s CDU part HQ as first 18:00 CET Exit polls show them on a par with the Social Democrat SPD. Both 25%
Still too early to call … long night ahead.
#GermanElections
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TV trucks ready.
Sunday 60 M Germans will vote on who leads them into the post Merkel era.
As former election observer on my cycle ride home I am happy to know that the people alone decide.
Losing parties accept defeat.
Peaceful transfer of power is guaranteed.
#Democracy
#btw21
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German election: no clear successor to Merkel yet:
- historic losses for Merkel‘s CDU/CSU + its candidate
@ArminLaschet
- Social Democrat
@OlafScholz
made large gains through personal popularity
- likely 3way coalition including Greens
- commitments to forge government by Xmas
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38
66
German politicians moving towards mandatory vaccinations.
Thursday will see another
#COVID19
emergency meeting by Merkel, her (almost certain) successor
@OlafScholz
and all state premiers.
Expect extension of toolbox to tacke 4th wave including various shades of lockdown.
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Iran just got voted out of the UN Commission on the Status of Women for its remaining term.
29 In Favour 8 Against 16 Abstentions
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Failed to read the signs:This picture was taken on EU election night of me interviewing the (now sidelined) EPP top candidate
@ManfredWeber
as (now Commission Chief hopeful) Ursula
@vonderleyen
was already looking over his shoulder.
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Far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) starts its party conference tomorrow in the town of Essen.
Thousands of demonstrators determined to stop them are already here.
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BREAKING
Merkel stops ruling out impact on
#Nordstream2
gas pipeline with
#Russia
over
#Navalny
:
"Yes the chancelllor agrees it is wrong to exclude anything."
Speaker
@RegSprecher
answers my question whether Merkel agrees with FM
@heikomaas
not to rule out North Stream2 impact.
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56
64
#Iran
's most powerful woman, Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, says "men try to get to power by any means" That "takes its toll on humanity" she tells women political leaders at
#WPLsummit
#Reykjavik
8
30
63
German foreign policy, green chancellor candidate
@ABaerbock
style:
- More Europe
- “active foreign policy“ aka strategic aims definition and action
- NATO ”central player“ but 2% goal no longer a given
- kill
#NorthStream
- transatlantic climate alliance with
#Biden
@BAKS_Bund
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18
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Merkel‘s last act:
The now former German Chancellor Merkel just handed over her office to
@olafscholz
, Germany’s new chancellor who was elected by parliament earlier today.
“You were a great chancellor and you moved great things” Scholz thanked her.
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16
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War over Ukraine appears called off for now.
Scholz and Putin in Moscow just agreed to continue multi-level talks.
Though Putin appears weary of West ducking Russian concerns. Says ”will not allow“ talking process ”to be dragged out.”
Some breathing space for more diplomacy.
10
24
62
“There are bigger allies who could do more”
Estonia‘s PM
@kajakallas
tells journalists ahead of her meeting with Chancellor Scholz in Berlin.
“Our neighbors’ problems today are our problems tomorrow”
Gas and oil may be “expensive, but freedom is really priceless.”
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Here the moment Holocaust Survivor Inge Auerbacher just concluded her speech in German parliament to commemorate the Holocaust.
Dream of peace “must never be lost again”.
Speaker of Israeli Parliament Mickey Levy embraces her, followed by German speaker of parliament Bärbel Bas.
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Getting on board Chancellor Scholz’ plane for his first official visit to Turkey.
Whatever the label, it’s all about emergency talks to avert further escalation of Putin’s war on Ukraine.
🇹🇷 President Erdoğan has potential as mediator - has good ties with both, Moscow and Kyiv.
0
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Germany to allow vaccination of children from the age of 12 from 7 June.
2
20
57
Hundreds cue outside Romanian embassy in Berlin to cast their ballot in
#EUelections2019
as
#Romania
among several countries reporting higher than usual turnout.
3
27
57
BREAKING
Germany extends Lockdown till 14 Feb.
Merkel agrees with 16 State Premiers:
- legal requirement for more work from home till 15 March
- medical 😷 in shops/ transport
- schools remain largely closed
Dropping infections „encouraging“ but fear of
#Corona
mutations.
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41
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JUST IN — Germany's OIaf Scholz calls for punishing war crimes perpetrators in phone call with Ukraine's Zelenskyy
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