Gerhard Schröder refuses to be Germany’s scapegoat-Schröder lost his remaining supporters when he joined the board of Russian state oil group Rosneft in 2017 and continued to make regular visits… www.ft.com/content/5bd1... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Germany’s Friedrich Merz backs protectionist measures on Chinese steel—Once a strong defender of free trade, Germany has been severely hit… www.ft.com/content/a02d... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Friedrich Merz is testing Germany’s patience— Merz is not the only leader navigating a weak economy and a fraught political climate; both the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron are grappling with… www.ft.com/content/bc18... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Breaking News: There are no plans for President Trump to meet Vladimir Putin soon, a White House official said, a week after Trump floated the idea.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken office with a bang - touring capitals and projecting newfound German assertiveness. But it has not been easy at home. Nearly six months on, I examine why in this longer read: on.ft.com/3WQ5XlS

on.ft.com/46NXmWS Germany to allow retirees to earn €2,000 a month tax-free @chassnews.bsky.social

ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants

Germany’s Merz backs using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine—with Donald Trump reducing US support for Kyiv and refusing to sign off on fresh sanctions against Moscow, pressure is mounting to use the frozen assets. www.ft.com/content/3ac0... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

What will DOGE look like with screwdrivers not sledgehammers, in a country that uses fax machines and cash more than other advanced economies? @chassnews.bsky.social on Germany's deregulation tsar, Karsten Wildberger. www.ft.com/content/1440...

Germany’s new deregulation chief vows to be more subtle than Elon Musk—Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made cutting red tape a cornerstone of his plan to revive the Eurozone’s largest economy. Simplifying the thicket of regulations… www.ft.com/content/1440... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

FT Exclusive: German chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on the EU to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort, arguing the move could unlock a €140bn loan for Kyiv. on.ft.com/48jdaSL

Exclusive: German chancellor Friedrich Merz leading the charge on frozen Russian assets 👇very strong oped in the FT:

“It’s safe to say that Trump does not have a single policymaking person who knows Russia and Ukraine advising him,” said Eric Rubin, a former career diplomat who served as US ambassador to Bulgaria during Trump’s first term. @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/89f3...

EU leaders to hold call with Trump ahead of Putin meeting over Ukraine-Asked whether the UK could trust Putin in the talks, Starmer’s office said on Monday: “We never trust President Putin as far as we could throw him.” www.ft.com/content/b6a5... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

European leaders are pressing the US to ratchet up sanctions pressure on Moscow as they race to shape the outcome of a meeting between Trump and Putin that could determine the fate of Ukraine and long-term security of the continent. on.ft.com/4mc7qOE w/ @chassnews.bsky.social @paolatamma.bsky.social

Lessons from history, incl. Minsk talks with some advice for Trump from former French President François Hollande: www.ft.com/content/a701...

Donald Trump’s move on institutions ‘wrong’, says German finance minister—Speaking a few hours before meeting with his US counterpart Scott Bessent in Washington, Lars Klingbeil said… www.ft.com/content/2d91... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Germany faces €170bn budget gap despite massive borrowing—The looming cuts pose a political risk for the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pledged to move on… www.ft.com/content/6735... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Welcome to FT Edit! When the news is overwhelming, we bring you eight stories a day, chosen by editors, offering clarity, fresh perspectives, insight and inspiration — plus some extra treats! Explore more at www.ft.com/ftedit or, if you're reading on iOS, find us on the FT app: on.ft.com/44SHfGA

FT FILM : Germany’s spending gamble | FT Film via @FT www.ft.com/content/3967... By ⁦@DanGarrahan w the FT's Martin Wolf, @olafstorbeck.ft.com @philippasigl.bsky.social @franziskabrantner.de

FT FILM : Germany’s spending gamble | FT Film via @FT www.ft.com/content/3967... By ⁦@DanGarrahan w the FT's Martin Wolf, @olafstorbeck.ft.com @philippasigl.bsky.social @franziskabrantner.de

Exclusive interview: "There is no reason to complain any more" Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius tells Laura Pitel and me in his Bundestag office, as he urges European arms manufacturers to ramp up production. Fascinating conversation here: www.ft.com/content/a9c8...

German defence minister calls on arms makers to deliver— Even as he called for the industry to speed up, Boris Pistorius said he was seeking to improve procurement. “We need… www.ft.com/content/a9c8... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Exclusive interview: "There is no reason to complain any more" Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius tells Laura Pitel and me in his Bundestag office, as he urges European arms manufacturers to ramp up production. Fascinating conversation here: www.ft.com/content/a9c8...

Berlin explores €4bn subsidies for German heavy industry—The measure is part of efforts to reduce electricity costs for industrial groups to revitalise the Eurozone’s largest economy after its longest postwar period of stagnation. www.ft.com/content/3f26... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

"GERMANY URGES WEAPONS SUPPLIERS TO SPEED UP EUROPEAN REARMAMENT" Full Story: t.ly/IBs4j @laurapitel.bsky.social / @chassnews.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com #Germany's defence minister has told weapon makers to stop complaining. #FinancialTimes #TomorrowsPapersToday #IBPAPERS

Germany’s Social Democrats face mutiny over Russia— Dissenters could make it more difficult for the government, which relies on a razor-thin majority of 13 seats, to pass legislation… www.ft.com/content/fc49... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Absolutely striking numbers. 65% of Germans support Germany significantly increasing its defence expenditures to reach NATO’s 5%* goal. *it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.

#EUPolitics: #Germany’s Social Democrats face mutiny over #Russia, by @chassnews.bsky.social | Financial Times

SPD Party Conference today - and a lot of unhappiness over party chief Lars Klingbeil and Germany's rearmament, with the old guard urging for a detente with Vladimir Putin's Russia. I talked to Peter Brandt, Willy's eldest son, who is among the critics : www.ft.com/content/fc49...

Exclusive : Merz ‘delusional’ over US sparing German cars in EU trade deal www.ft.com/content/05f4... @henryjfoy.ft.com

"NATO ALLIES PLEDGE TO MEET TRUMP'S DEMAND FOR DEFENCE SPENDING BUMP" @henryjfoy.ft.com / #SteffChávez / @chassnews.bsky.social for @financialtimes.com. Full Story: t.ly/IBgIu #UnitedStates to stand with alliance. Focus on #Ukraine lessens. #FinancialTimes #TomorrowsPapersToday #IBPAPERS

Germany to boost defence spending at faster rate than France or UK-Chancellor Friedrich Merz drives a massive rearmament of Europe’s largest country in the face of an aggressive Russia and a volatile America. www.ft.com/content/9392... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Donald Trump says he is with Nato "all the way" after sparking alarm among European allies by questioning its Article 5 mutual defence pact The latest from The Hague with @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/40msSY6

EU weighs UK-style trade deal with US-The 27-member EU, which is far bigger than the UK, had been holding out for a better deal than the one negotiated by Sir Keir Starmer’s government in London. But… www.ft.com/content/4593... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Exclusively in the @financialtimes.com : Macron and Merz calling for Europe's rearmament www.ft.com/content/c1bf...

So glad to read this in the international press - lovely done: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/w...

#Transport: #Germany puts #Rail first in €500bn investment spree, by @chassnews.bsky.social | Financial Times

Launched today !! on.ft.com/4jFtHSZ @samgadjones.bsky.social on Jan Marsalek's life of spying and fraud

Big sigh of relief and renewed hope in Berlin after Merz did not get the Zelenskyy or Ramaphosa treatment in the Oval Office www.ft.com/content/f2d5...

'Investment booster' - Friedrich Merz plans €46bn corporate tax breaks to revive German economy: www.ft.com/content/ec3e...

"The worry is that we, as a society, will become innumerate, not just illiterate." A.I. Killed the Math Brain www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/o...

What should Merz conjure up to impress Trump? Jan Techau and Thorsten Benner have a few thoughts: www.ft.com/content/3eb3... w/ @rikefranke.bsky.social

Merz‘ adjustment of 🇩🇪 Netanyahu policy shows he’s willing to learn. It comes late, you could say very late. But it‘s not the result of overwhelming public or political pressure but seems to be based on serious reconsideration of the facts on the ground. My take for FT @chassnews.bsky.social.

What should Merz conjure up to impress Trump? Jan Techau and Thorsten Benner have a few thoughts: www.ft.com/content/3eb3... w/ @rikefranke.bsky.social

Happy to see my latest @wpr.bsky.social column in the FT here by @chassnews.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/3eb3...

Berlin urges Brussels to approve subsidies for German heavy industry—Germany’s new economy minister…Katherina Reiche said she was hopeful the European Commission understood the need for Berlin… www.ft.com/content/cb97... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

[Featured] #EUEconomy & #Eurozone: #Berlin urges #Brussels to approve subsidies for #German heavy industry, by @chassnews.bsky.social and Laura Pitel | Financial Times

#Energy: #Merz backs Nord Stream ban to prevent #US and #Russia restarting gas link, by @chassnews.bsky.social and @henryjfoy.ft.com | Financial Times