The US stock markets finished higher on Monday. At New York’s market close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 47,740 points, up 0.5 percent from the previous day. The broader S&P 500 had risen 0.8 percent to about 6,795 points, while the technology‑heavy Nasdaq 100 was up 1.3 percent at roughly 24,965 points. Wall Street had suffered noticeable losses early…
March 9, 2026
Banaszak Dismisses Spahn’s Proposal to Split Baden-Württemberg Prime Minister’s Term as Nonsense
Felix Banaszak, co‑chair of Germany’s Green Party, dismissed Jens Spahn’s proposal to split the term of the Minister‑President of Baden‑Württemberg on the basis of the narrow election result, calling it “nonsense”. On Monday, in the ntv program “Pinar Atalay”, Banaszak explained that elections are a matter of either winning or losing;…
March 9, 2026
DAX Falls Amid Energy Price Hopes for Relief
The DAX slipped into the week, closing on Xetra at 23,409 points – a decline of 0.8 % from the previous session. Andreas Lipkow, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, remarked that the index had shown resilience, even climbing back above 23,400 points shortly before the close. He added that after an event‑heavy weekend and oil prices breaking the $100 threshold,…
March 9, 2026
German Farmers Leader Demands Diesel CO2 Tax Exemption Amid Rising Energy Costs
President Joachim Rukwied of the German Farmers’ Association (Deutscher Bauernverband) urged the government to suspend the CO₂ levy on diesel, citing rising energy and input costs. In a Monday interview with RTL and ntv, he said that Germany should put a hold on the diesel CO₂ tax, which currently sits at about 17-18 cents per litre. He argued that a suspension would…
March 9, 2026
Dröge Skeptical Palmer Won’t Join Özdemir Cabinet After Baden-Württemberg Victory
Katharina Dröge, the Greens’ parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, does not expect her colleague Cem Özdemir to bring former Tübingen mayor Boris Palmer into his cabinet after the recent election win in Baden‑Württemberg. On being asked by T‑Online how she would react if Özdemir appointed the controversial ex‑Greens member as a minister, Dröge said, “I…
March 9, 2026
German Coal Industry Promises Reserve Power Plants to Slash Energy Costs During Iran Conflict
The German hard‑coal sector claims it can help lower energy prices amid the current Iran conflict.Axel Bethe, Chairman of the Association of Coal Importers, told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” that Germany can make almost seven gigawatts of reserve power available for electricity generation. This amount corresponds to roughly ten percent of the…
March 9, 2026
Green Youth Forces Stuttgart Mayor Boris Palmer to Leave Green Party Rally
During a Green Party rally in Stuttgart, members of the Green Youth allegedly told Tübingen mayor Boris Palmer to leave the venue. According to Palmer, two young men-clear “Green Youth” members-approached him as he entered the foyer and urged him to leave, saying, “You’re a nuisance, so go”. He claimed no one had invited him there. The Green…
March 9, 2026
German Autobahn Toll Truck Traffic Rises 0.7% From January 2026 1.5% Above Same Month Last Year
The freight‑toll index for trucks with at least four axles on Germany’s federal highways rose by 0.7 % in February 2026 compared with the previous month. When adjusted for the calendar, the index was 1.5 % higher than in February 2025, the Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität (BALM) and the Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis) announced on Monday. Both agencies say…
March 9, 2026
German Greens Reject Power‑Sharing Plan with CDU in Baden-Württemberg
The Greens have rejected the Union’s proposal that their leading candidate, Cem Özdemir, and the CDU’s top candidate, Manuel Hagel, share the position of minister‑premier in Baden‑Württemberg because of the stalemate in the state parliament. “Until yesterday I thought the CDU was against a part‑time minister‑premier for lifestyle reasons” said Greens…
March 9, 2026
German Drug Commissioner Streeck Criticizes Discount Stores Selling Cannabis Seeds
The federal drug commissioner, Hendrik Streeck (CDU), has criticized the sale of cannabis seeds in more than 250 discount supermarkets.Streeck told RTL, ntv and “Der Stern”: “With the new Cannabis Act it is legally possible to sell cannabis seeds in discount stores alongside everyday household items. It is not, however, a good idea”. He added that the…
March 9, 2026
Stuttgart Mayor Calls for Ödemir and Hagel to Share Baden-Württemberg PM Role After Narrow Election
In light of the close election results in Baden‑Württemberg, Stuttgart’s mayor Frank Nopper (CDU) has called for the top candidates of the Greens, Cem Özdemir, and the CDU, Manuel Hagel, to share the office of Minister‑President.He told the “Bild” (Tuesday edition) that there is literally no clear winner. Because of the stalemate, he believes the Greens…
March 9, 2026
Merz Blasts Greens Over “Stormy” Campaign After Narrow CDU Loss in Baden-Württemberg
After the CDU’s narrow defeat in Baden‑Württemberg’s state election, Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly targeted the Green Party. He said he was alarmed by reports he had received from the region that the campaign had led to “personal injuries” against the incumbent Minister‑President Manuel Hagel, claiming that a group of Green Bundestag members had…
