Sunday, 13 September 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Sunday, 13 September 2026

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Ghanaian press · Person

Friedrich Merz

Also known as: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz · Chancellor Merz · Chancellor Friedrich Merz

German Chancellor whose standing was damaged by a cabinet reshuffle, with only 15% public satisfaction as his CDU/CSU trails the AfD in polls.

2026-05-012026-09-13

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
2 MayJoy Online
… Washington’s move comes after President Donald Trump criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for saying the US had been “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators in the ongoing war. …
Germany says US troop withdrawal ‘foreseeable’ as Nato seeks clarification
1 MayJoy Online
The US Department of Defence plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, amid a spat between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the war with Iran. …
US to cut troop levels in Germany by 5,000 amid Trump spat with Merz

World & Region

Germany's AfD achieves record 44% in eastern state election

The News

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a record 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of the conservative CDU on just over 17%, according to incomplete results with more than 97% of votes counted. The party is projected to fall short of a majority but says it has won a mandate to govern, which would give it powers over policing, local education and culture in the state.

6 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 6 September

Germany's AfD achieves record 44% in eastern state election
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a record 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of the conservative CDU on just over 17%, according to incomplete results with more than 97% of votes counted. The party is projected to fall short of a majority but says it has won a mandate to govern, which would give it powers over policing, local education and culture in the state.
6 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 2 September

Germany blames Russia for August drone attack at Leipzig airport
Germany has attributed a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August to Russia, citing equipment examination and intelligence findings. In response, German officials announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and termination of the Russian House contract in Berlin, along with tighter entry controls for Russian nationals.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 1 September

Germany accuses Russia of August drone attack on Leipzig airport
Germany's Interior Minister said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany on August 4, where a drone carrying an explosive device was found near Ukrainian cargo planes. The attack followed what the minister described as Russia's "well-established pattern of hybrid operations in Europe," prompting Germany to announce the closure of Russia's consulate in Bonn and termination of the Russian House in Berlin.
1 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 27 August

Norway's King Harald hospitalised in extremely serious condition
King Harald V of Norway, 89 and Europe's oldest head of state, is in hospital in "extremely serious" condition with haemolytic anaemia; his wife Queen Sonja and son Crown Prince Haakon have cancelled all engagements and gathered at his bedside at Oslo University Hospital.
27 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 24 August

Ukraine seeks peace without surrender, Zelenskiy says at Independence Day
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine wants peace but will not surrender to Russia at any price, during Independence Day celebrations marked by visits from foreign leaders including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa. The gathering also discussed Ukraine's requests for air defence systems and British support for long-range missile production.
24 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 1 August

Spain condemns EU countries' response to Ceuta migrant surge
Spain has condemned the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction of some EU countries to about 60,000 migrants crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Italy, Finland, and Denmark have suspended or called for suspension of the Schengen border-free arrangement with Spain, with EU interior ministers set to meet Tuesday to discuss the crisis.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Spain condemns EU countries' response to Ceuta migrant surge
Spain has condemned the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction of some EU countries to about 60,000 migrants from Morocco reaching the enclave of Ceuta on 30 July. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain had restored border control and prevented unauthorised onward movement within 48 hours, while Italian and other EU governments suspended or urged suspension of Spain's Schengen membership, citing the influx.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 29 July

German Chancellor Merz faces pressure after cabinet reshuffle
Friedrich Merz's standing has been damaged by a fractious cabinet reshuffle that sparked anger in his CDU/CSU bloc, as his conservative party trails the far-right AfD in polls and faces state elections in September. Only 15% of Germans are satisfied with Merz's performance, and the AfD has overtaken his party on perceived competence.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 27 July

Germany announces security overhaul after Berlin Pride attack
Germany's interior minister announced a security overhaul after a vehicle attack near Berlin's Pride celebration killed a Polish woman in her 60s on Saturday. The suspected driver, 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, had been convicted in May for preparing a serious act of violence but was released under juvenile law and supervision at the time of the attack; the interior minister said applying juvenile criminal law to adult security threats is "unacceptable" and promised new measures including ankle bracelets and preventative detention powers.
27 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 26 July

Berlin Pride attacker shot dead after ramming and stabbing
Police shot and killed Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese heritage, after he rushed at officers with a knife during a manhunt in Berlin. Ballout was suspected of driving a white van into a crowd near Tiergarten park on Saturday, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 others, followed by a stabbing attack; German authorities say the incident was likely an "Islamist terror attack."
26 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 3 July

Germany plans sick note requirement on first day illness
Germany's coalition government has announced changes requiring workers to provide a doctor's note to their employers on the first day of illness, scrapping the pandemic-era option to obtain notes by phone. Under current rules, a certificate is only required if a person is unfit for work for more than three days, but the change would tighten that requirement.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 15 June

Global leaders welcome US-Iran peace agreement and ceasefire
U.S. and Iranian officials announced a deal to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Global leaders including the UN Secretary-General, European nations, and Australia have welcomed the agreement, with emphasis on nuclear non-proliferation and freedom of navigation.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 8 June

Zelensky condemns Russian drone strike on Chornobyl nuclear facility
A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Ukraine's Chornobyl nuclear plant; Kyiv officials said a fire was extinguished with no injuries and stable radiation levels, though Zelensky called it a deliberate and vile attack. The strike occurred as UK Prime Minister Starmer prepared to host Zelensky, Macron, and German Chancellor Merz in London for talks on European support for Ukraine.
8 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Sunday 7 June

Zelensky meets UK, French and German leaders in London
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK for talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at Downing Street, focusing on defence, air defence cooperation, and diplomatic prospects for ending the war. The UK and France lead a "coalition of the willing" to provide security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any future peace process.
7 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Zelensky condemns Russian drone strike on Chornobyl nuclear site
A Russian drone struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Chornobyl, partially destroying a building; Kyiv said a fire was extinguished, there were no injuries, and radiation levels remained stable. Zelensky called it a deliberate and "vile" Russian strike on critical nuclear infrastructure.
7 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 6 June

Ukraine launches heavy drone strike on St Petersburg, Russia reports
Russia says Ukraine launched an "unprecedented attack" on St Petersburg and surrounding areas during an economic forum, with over 140 drones shot down; Ukraine's President Zelensky said his forces targeted Russian arsenals and a naval base in Kronstadt as a response to Russian attacks.
6 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 29 May

Russian drone hits Romanian residential block, injures two
A Russian drone struck a residential building in Galați, Romania on Friday, causing a fire and injuring two people — the first time Romanian citizens have been hurt in such an incident. Nato and EU allies condemned the attack; Romania scrambled fighter jets but had only four minutes from detection to impact.
29 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 22 May

Trump announces 5,000 US troops deployment to Poland
President Donald Trump announced the US will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, citing his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a week after the Pentagon had cancelled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the move, though the White House has signalled it intends to reduce overall troop levels in Europe as part of its "America First" agenda.
22 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

German minister blames US-Iran war for tax revenue drop
Germany's finance minister Lars Klingbeil has attributed a €70bn downgrade in projected tax revenues for 2026-2030 to Donald Trump's "irresponsible war in Iran," which he said caused a "global energy shock" harming the German economy.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 3 May

Trump announces US troop cuts in Germany beyond initial 5,000
The US is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, and President Trump said more cuts would follow, without providing details. Germany's defence minister called the withdrawal "foreseeable" while stressing that American military presence in Europe serves both German and US interests, and NATO is seeking clarification from Washington on the decision.
3 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 2 May

Germany says US troop withdrawal decision was foreseeable
Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany was "foreseeable," while Nato seeks clarification from Washington. President Trump indicated further cuts may follow, citing concerns about German criticism of US negotiations with Iran.
2 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 1 May

US to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany over Iran dispute
The US Department of Defence plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following a dispute between President Trump and German Chancellor Merz over the war with Iran. The withdrawal, to be completed within six to twelve months, comes after Trump criticized Merz and suggested pulling troops from other Nato allies including Italy and Spain.
1 May 2026 · Joy Online →