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Kramp-Karrenbauer named new German defense minister

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the head of Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, has replaced Ursula von der Leyen as defense minister. The announcement came as a suprise to many in Berlin. Go to article

Merkel: The chancellor who defined an era 11h ago

Angela Merkel stands facing a soldier who salutes her (Reuters/H. Hanschke)

Angela Merkel was born on July 17, 1954. She became German chancellor in 2005, fundamentally changing the country. Often praised for her calm demeanor, her time in power has nonetheless been turbulent.

Von der Leyen voted new EU Commission president 16h ago

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen had faced an uphill battle as a compromise candidate.

Who is Ursula von der Leyen, the new European Commission president?

French Parliament approves Notre Dame restoration bill 9h ago

President Emmanuel Macron succeeded in obtaining a blueprint for Notre Dame's restoration, which could pave the way for his controversial plan to replace the spire with a "modern" design.

British-Iranian prisoner moved to Tehran mental ward 3h ago

Richard Ratcliff stands outside the Iranian Embassy in London

The family of a jailed British-Iranian woman says she has been taken to the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Tehran. The case has fueled tensions between Iran and the UK amid attempts to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal.

First part of power-sharing deal signed in Sudan 2h ago

Protesters and the ruling military inked a political declaration to end months of unrest. Both sides clashed over the east African country's future after President Omar al-Bashir was deposed three months ago.

US sanctions Myanmar army chief over Rohingya 5h ago

Ten Muslim Rohingya men in the village of Inn Din

The sanctions represent the strongest step that the US has taken in response to massacres in Myanmar. Recent reports have pointed to the military's role in enabling violence against the minority Muslim group.

World powers call for an end to deadly Libya fighting 12h ago

Libya has been in the midst of a violent power struggle over the past several years (AFP)

Major global and regional powers have urged the warring groups in Libya to stop their bloody fighting, warning that the bloodshed is worsening what is already a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

Reconstructed remnants of the MH17 plane shot down over Ukraine in 2014 (picture-alliance/AP Photo/P. Dejong)

Flight MH17, five years on: What happens next? 12h ago

In early 2020, following a long international investigation, a Dutch court will seek to prosecute four individuals over the 2014 air disaster that claimed 289 lives. None of the accused are expected at the trial.

MH17 wreck after reconstruction in the Netherlands (Reuters/M. Kooren)

MH17 downing and probe: What you need to know 12h ago

A Boeing 777 passenger jet was destroyed above a Ukraine conflict zone in 2014, with all 298 people on board losing their lives. International investigators blame pro-Russia rebels, and have started naming suspects.

US House condemns Trump's racist comments 9h ago

Combi-Bild Orcasio-Cortez Ilhan Omar Ayanna Pressley Rashida Tlaib

The US House has passed a resolution condemning President Trump for racist comments against four congresswomen. Trump's tweets over the past several days have consumed debate in Washington.

Trump denies wanting Iran regime change 12h ago

US-Präsident Trump und Pompeo in einer Kabinettsitzung (picture-alliance/Consolidated News Photos/O. Contreras)

President Donald Trump says he’s not intent on toppling Iran’s regime to stop it acquiring nuclear arms. His nominee for defense secretary Mark Esper says the US ‘needs to get back on the diplomatic channel.’

Former US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens dies 8h ago

John Paul Stevens receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama

Justice John Paul Stevens served on the Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010. He began his career as a non-partisan moderate, but from the 1990s and onwards, he led the court's liberal block.

No charges in 'I can't breathe' death of black man 11h ago

New York Gedenkplakat Eric Garner Michael Brown (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Justice Department will not file charges against a police officer who put Eric Garner in a deadly chokehold. Garner's 2014 death and other cases of police brutality gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Penguins break into sushi store, again 1h ago

A blue penguin near a sushi shop in Wellington, New Zealand (picture-alliance/AP Photo/TVNZ)

New Zealand police have returned two blue penguins to their natural habitat after they refused to leave a sushi store in Wellington. The "waddling vagrants" had been removed once before.

Ex-Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo arrested in US 6h ago

Ex-Peru President Alejandro Toledo (AFP/M. Ngan)

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo is wanted in his home country for corruption in connection with the sprawling Odebrecht scandal.

Lagarde steps down as IMF chief, ready for ECB 15h ago

Christine Lagarde announced on Tuesday she had submitted her resignation from the global lender (Getty Images/S. Loeb)

Christine Lagarde has stepped down as managing director of the International Monetary Fund, saying she now has more clarity on her nomination to be the next head of the European Central Bank.

Perspectives

Ursula von der Leyen addressing the EU Parliament ahead of her election as European Commission president (Reuters/V. Kessler)

A sound choice in turbulent times 14h ago

A surprise choice, her stellar speech and a lack of alternatives won MEPs over, says DW Editor-in-Chief Ines Pohl.

Child soldiers used in Yemen civil war, report says

German woman tries to buy car with cash she printed at home

MH17 downing and probe: What you need to know

French Parliament approves Notre Dame restoration bill

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Pictureteaser 50 Jahre Mondlandung EN (picture-alliance/dpa/NASA/N. Armstrong)

A solider with a weapon stands before a Turkish oil ship (picture-alliance/AP Photo/L. Pitarakis)

Turkey, Cyprus and gas deposits: What you need to know

A storm may be brewing off the coast of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea: Turkey has sent two drilling ships to waters claimed by Cyprus and the EU has announced sanctions. DW takes a look at how the situation escalated.

DW Meet the Germans | Rachel Stewart | Schrebergarten (DW)

Why the Germans love their allotment gardens

Rachel Stewart takes a peek inside a German "garden colony" to talk nature, gnomes — and the all-important rule book.

Senegals Stürmer Sadio Mane
Senegals Stürmer Sadio Mane
Senegals Stürmer Sadio Mane
Senegals Stürmer Sadio Mane
Senegals Stürmer Sadio Mane (Getty Images/J. Soriano)

Senegal look to Sadio Mane to deliver joy

From leaving the pitch in tears to being touted as a Ballon d'Or contender, the turn of the year did wonders for Sadio Mane. With Senegal chasing a first AFCON title, 2019 isn't over yet though.

USA Nutria in Louisiana (Annie Flanagan )

Nutria destroying Louisiana's coastline

The US state of Louisiana has funded a program for hunters and trappers to slaughter the population of swamp rats.

Seven things you must know about flying

As summer comes around, holidaymakers pack their suitcases and jet off abroad — often in search of warmer temperatures. But those flights heat the planet. What are the costs of flying?

Magdalena Adamowicz in the European Parliament in Brussels

Polish mayor's widow fights hate that killed her husband

Her husband was assassinated as mayor of Gdansk. Now Magdalena Adamowicz, a newly elected member of the European Parliament, has taken up the fight against hate speech that threatens both public discourse and lives.