German Greens Demand Youth Forum on Social Media Regulation Amid Chancellor’s Child Ban Proposal
After German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) voiced a call to ban social‑media platforms for children, the deputy chair of the Green parliamentary group, Andreas Audretsch, urged a more nuanced debate.He told RTL and ntv that the question whether we should impose a ban on users aged 14 or 16, or set even stricter conditions-such as prohibiting addictive algorithms-must be…
February 19, 2026
Former Prince Andrew Arrested by British Police
Police in the United Kingdom arrested former Prince Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor on Thursday, according to several British media outlets. The Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest without naming the individual. It was reported that a man in his sixties from Norfolk has been taken into custody on suspicion of abuse of office. The force also said it carried out searches at…
February 19, 2026
SPD slams Dobrindt over sudden integration course cut
The Interior Minister of the CSU, Alexander Dobrindt, has abruptly halted the admission of voluntary participants to the federal integration and language courses offered in Germany. According to a letter from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group to its SPD colleagues-reported by “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, NDR and WDR-Dobrindt made the decision without consulting the…
February 19, 2026
Steffen Bilger Urges Unity Ahead of CDU Party Conference in Stuttgart
Before the beginning of the CDU’s federal party conference in Stuttgart on Friday, the parliamentary manager of the Union faction, Steffen Bilger, urged the need for a clear sign of unity. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Friday edition, Bilger said that the party intends to set the congress on a decisive path toward growth, competitiveness, and reform. He…
February 19, 2026
DAX Slumps Into Lossy Opening While 25,000 Level Holds Steady
The DAX opened on Thursday morning in the red. By 9:30 a.m. the index was trading around 25,200 points, roughly 0.3 % below yesterday’s closing level. The best‑performing stocks were Symrise, Fresenius and FMC, while the laggards were Airbus, RWE and BASF. Thomas Altmann of QC Partners noted that optimism has come back to Wall Street: the S&P 500 finished up for…
February 19, 2026
EU Arms Keep Flowing to Russia via Third Countries Despite Sanctions
A new study by the Ifo Institute and Econpol Europe, released this Thursday, shows that EU‑originated military goods continue to reach Russia through third countries despite the extensive sanctions regime. The research finds that 36 % of the sanctioned items shipped into Russia transit via Turkey, 23 % go through China, 16 % through Hong Kong, and 10 % through the United…
February 19, 2026
Bundeswehr Withdraws More Soldiers From Iraq Amid Rising US‑Iran Tension
Due to the risk of a military escalation between the United States and Iran, the German armed forces have reduced its presence in Iraq to an absolute minimum. According to Spiegel, German soldiers have again been transferred from Iraq to neighboring Jordan. Military circles say that, because the situation remains highly tense, additional non‑mission‑critical personnel were…
February 19, 2026
CDU Economic Council Urges Stricter Debt Brake
The economic council of the CDU is urging a stricter debt‑breake system. Economist Lars Feld, chair of the scientific advisory board of a party‑aligned business association, accuses the federal budget of operating like a “shifting station”. He points out that many expenditures are financed through a €500 billion special fund designated for infrastructure, while…
February 19, 2026
Rhein Urges CDU to Prioritize Election Workers in Reform Debates
Hessian Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU) urged his party to give more consideration to its own candidates during the current reform debates. “It’s always a good recipe for winning elections” he told Focus, adding, “our candidates should at least have the chance to break through with their topics and ideas”. Looking ahead to the CDU party…
February 19, 2026
South Korea former President Yoon Suk‑yeol sentenced to life imprisonment in war‑law case
In the trial over the brief declaration of martial law, South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk‑yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment. A court found him guilty on Thursday of inciting a rebellion, a verdict that falls short of the prosecution’s request for the death penalty presented in its final plea. Yoon had imposed martial law in early December 2024…
February 19, 2026
CDU Urges Discipline Ahead of Merz Re‑Election as Party Leader
Dennis Radtke, the head of the CDU’s workers wing, cautioned the party delegates at the Christian Democratic congress against launching a leadership debate ahead of the upcoming re‑election of Chancellor Friedrich Merz as party chairman. “We can’t afford a leadership debate” he told the Editorial Network Germany, noting the growing discontent within…
February 19, 2026
Streeck Urges Tougher Social Media Measures to Shield Kids from Harmful Content
At the CDU federal convention, Hendrik Streeck, the federal commissioner for drugs and addiction, voiced his latest position on a possible ban of social‑media platforms for minors. He pushed the call for stricter measures, sharpening the details of his proposals. Streeck said a firm prohibition for children under 14 is justified. “They have not yet developed the…
