Latest Olaf Scholz News
Europe wants 2 things from China. It may not get far on either of them.
BEIJING (AP) — Europe wants two things from China: First, a shift in its relatively pro-Russia position on the war in Ukraine. Second, a reduction in the trade imbalance — Chinese goods exports to the EU exceeded its imports from the 27-nation bloc by 291 billion euros ($310 billion) last year....
The German chancellor presses China on Russia's invasion of Ukraine
BEIJING (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday to pressure Russia to end its “insane campaign” in Ukraine, the latest in a parade of European leaders and senior officials to make such an appeal. The Chinese side gave no sign of...
Abortion in Germany should be decriminalized during pregnancy's first 12 weeks, experts recommend
BERLIN (AP) — An independent commission reviewing abortion law in Germany recommended Monday that the procedure be made legal during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, abortion is considered illegal in Germany but not punishable if a woman undergoes mandatory counseling...
Germany's Scholz calls for fair competition and warns against dumping during China visit
BEIJING (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for fair competition in trade relations with China while warning about dumping and overproduction as he spoke to students in Shanghai on Monday. Scholz is visiting China against the background of looming EU tariffs on Chinese-made...
Germany's Scholz arrives in China on a visit marked by trade tensions and Ukraine conflict
BEIJING (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in China on Sunday on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Scholz's first destination was the industrial hub of Chongqing, where...
German parliament votes to make it easier for people to legally change their name and gender
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers on Friday approved legislation that will make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to change their name and gender in official records. The “self-determination law,” one of several social reforms that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s...
German parliament approves payment cards for asylum-seekers to limit cash payments
BERLIN (AP) — The German parliament on Friday approved legislation introducing payment cards for asylum-seekers, a system that is meant to limit benefits paid in cash and make the country less attractive for migrants. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany's 16 state governors agreed...
Germany's Scholz warns of the rise of right-wing populists ahead of upcoming EU elections
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned of threats posed by right-wing populists Saturday as he addressed a gathering of center-left European parties ahead of elections for the European Parliament in June. Scholz arrived in Romania's capital Bucharest for a...
Germany's defense minister overhauls the military command as he seeks 'war-capable' armed forces
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's defense minister on Thursday announced a plan to streamline and reorganize the country's military command as part of efforts to make the armed forces of NATO's most populous European member “war-capable.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz set in motion a big...
Germany's plan to liberalize cannabis rules clears its final parliamentary hurdle
BERLIN (AP) — The German government's plan to liberalize rules on cannabis cleared its final parliamentary hurdle Friday, paving the way for the possession of limited amounts of marijuana to be decriminalized on April 1. In a second step, “cannabis clubs” that will be allowed...
