Angela Merkel

In comments to Germany's Funke newspaper group published Wednesday, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said there is a "huge reform backlog" on social policy.

Last week marked the end of an era as the new German government, led by the Social Democrats' (SPD) Olaf Scholz, was sworn in to office.

She will end her run a week short of the record held by her mentor, former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, whose tenure lasted from 1982 to 1998.

German lawmakers will decide on new COVID measures on Thursday, considering restrictions on the unvaccinated and a possible vaccine mandate.

WHO officials began a three-day meeting with world leaders Monday to draft a resolution to prevent and fight future pandemics.

On Saturday, Germany recorded its highest daily number of infections in a single day.

"It is politically no longer justifiable that entire industries…are faced with great existential fears, while others...take the freedom not to vaccinate," said one official.

Thursday marked the first time Germany reported more than 60,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day.

Germany is also mulling stricter rules for workplaces and giving employees the opportunity to work remotely when possible to curb infection rates.

Since taking office, Biden's approval rating has dipped a total of 6 percent, from 50 percent to 44 percent, a survey by Morning Consult Political Intelligence shows.

Merkel asked Harris about the role of authoritarianism and democracy in the United States, the vice president said.

One expert said the Greens present the biggest hope for change in Germany-China relations.

Scholz congratulated the U.S. President when he won the election against Donald Trump last November.

"It is necessary to put an end to the irresponsible policy of intervening from outside and building democracy in other countries, ignoring the traditions of the peoples," the pope said in a Spanish translation of Putin's words.

What could possibly explain such bizarre and counterproductive behavior?

Armin Laschet was seen laughing during a Saturday visit to address devastating floods in Western Europe.

The German chancellor and the president have not settled their differences over the gas pipeline.

Parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands were hit with around two months' worth of rain on Thursday.

Biden spoke about Merkel's roles in cultivating the "enduring friendship" between the U.S. and Germany as her 16 years in office come to a close.

The former president allegedly referred to his late father Fred Trump as "the biggest kraut of them all."

Merkel left Wednesday for Washington on what is likely to be her last official visit, carrying a bag full of issues to discuss.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said the meeting with President Joe Biden on Thursday will be important for "developing a common position" on a disputed pipeline.

"I think not speaking isn't suited to solving the problems," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said about Russia.

"She can now perhaps take away the fears of people...who were or are worried about this so-called cross-vaccination," a spokesman for the German chancellor said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined other EU lawmakers in criticizing a Hungarian law that will ban sharing LGBT or sex reassignment content with children, saying the legislation "is wrong" and "incompatible" with her political ideals.

One expected order of business is a revision of the NATO charter to include cyberattacks among the actions that would prompt a collective response from the alliance's member nations.

United States President Joe Biden is on his first overseas trip since taking office in January, but where does he stand on the world stage?

As world leaders gather in Cornwall, England this week, one issue will be at the forefront of their plans: Defeat the coronavirus pandemic that has crippled the world the past year and prevent it from happening again.

The Group of Seven met Friday in Cornwall, England for the first in-person gathering in two years. The day also included a reception with Queen Elizabeth II, her son Prince Charles and her grandson Prince William.

World leaders from the U.S., Canada, the EU and elsewhere have all made statements condemning Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's actions.