World
German chancellor candidates react to exit polls in Sunday's election
German chancellor candidates have spoken publicly to their supporters after exit polls came out indicating the results of the country’s snap federal election results.
Germans took to the polls on Sunday to elect their next parliament in an election that’s been dubbed as the most pivotal election in recent decades.
Four candidates were competing for the top chancellor job after the ruling coalition collapsed, triggering a snap election. Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was fighting for re-election where he faced strong opposition in Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) and Robert Habeck of the Greens.
In the weeks leading to the election, the CDU – in alliance with its sister Bavarian party the Christian Social Union (CSU) – were the frontrunners, projected to win around 30% of the vote.
Trailing behind in second place were the AfD, who’ve experienced a dramatic surge in popularity recently and were projected to win around 20% of the total vote.
Scholz’s SPD came in third with polls predicting a 16% result for them, and former Vice Chancellor Habeck’s Greens polling at 13%.
Tens of millions of Germans cast their ballots on Sunday in a turnout that exceeded 80% of the nearly 60 million eligible voters.
Early exit polls have indicated that the CDU/CSU union are in the lead to govern with around 28.5% of the votes. The AfD were standing at around 20%, the SPD were at just over 16% – their lowest-ever election result – and the Greens at around 11.5%.
Vote counting is still underway and official results are expected to be announced on Monday, but they aren’t expected to change significantly. This means that Germany is once again headed to a coalition government, as winning an absolute majority has never happened in the country’s modern history.
Here’s how the candidates reacted to early exit results.
Olaf Scholz – SPD
Scholz who led the last coalition government before it collapsed triggering this vote convened with supporters in the German capital, Berlin.
The outgoing German chancellor said he takes full responsibility for his party’s loss.
“This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party. It is also an electoral defeat. I think that needs to be made clear at the outset in view of the result. And it is also very important for me to say that it is a result from which we must move forward together,” said Scholz.
The SPD chancellor candidate also commented on the significant gains of the far-right in the country, expressing concern over what this could mean for the future of the country.
“The fact that an extreme right-wing party like the AfD gets such election results in this country must never be something we will accept. I will not and will never accept this.”
Friedrich Merz – CDU/CSU
The union also held an event in Berlin, but unlike that of the SPD’s, this event was full of cheers and celebrations.
“We, the CDU and the CSU, the Union, we won this 2025 federal election!,” said Merz as he walked on stage to address supporters.
The CDU leader who’s tasked with forming a coalition to lead a new government thanked supporters for the trust they placed in him and the party and pledged to uphold this trust and advance the country.
“I am aware of the responsibility. I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us. I approach it with the utmost respect, and I know that it will not be easy.”
Merz added that his party will now prioritise speed in forming the next government, highlighting that it’s essential to get things started right away and work on reforming the country.
“The world out there isn’t waiting for us, and it isn’t waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations.”
“We must now become capable of acting quickly again so that we can do the right thing domestically, so that we are present in Europe again, so that the world sees: Germany is reliably governed again!,” continued Merz.
Alice Weidel – AfD
Far-right AfD leader Alice Weidel was also celebrating in the German capital following her hugely successful election result.
The AfD increased their share of the vote by 10%, doubling their result from the last federal election in 2021.
“We have doubled our votes, they wanted to cut them in half. The opposite has happened,” said Weidel.
The AfD candidate for chancellor also reiterated her willingness to participate in government despite the “firewall” against extremist parties.
“Our hand will always remain outstretched for participation in government, to implement the will of the people, the will of Germany. We are ready to participate in government,” continued Weidel.
Merz has already stated that he will not include the AfD in coalition considerations arguing that their policies do not represent or align with those of the union.
Robert Habeck – Greens
The Greens performed below expectation in Sunday’s federal election and both politicians and supporters knew it.
Speaking to supporters, the Greens candidate Robert Habeck acknowledged the poor performance and congratulated Merz on his victory.
He outlined some problems that he views as a major cause for concern for Germany.
“The election result itself is food for thought. Because the rise of right-wing populism, the lack of solidarity among many parties with Ukraine, which is fighting for its freedom, the unresolved relationship of many parties to a real European unity, that worries me, that worries us a lot.”
Habeck also reiterated his party’s willingness to join a coalition and take responsibility and contribute to the country, a decision that lies with Friedrich Merz, who will be given the mandate to govern once the election results are official.
The CDU/CSU will engage in talks with other parties over the coming days and weeks to form a new coalition and government.
One possible combinations could be the “Kenya” coalition. The Kenya coalition will bring together the red (SPD), black (CDU/CSU) and green (Greens), though experts say this would be a last resort as it is an unpopular alliance.
World
Mexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
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A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, according to officials.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the State of Mexico government confirming he was the sole assailant on Monday night.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.
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The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are seen along with smaller structures lining the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on March 19, 2020. A gunman killed a Canadian tourist and injured several others before taking his own life at the popular site, authorities said Monday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, among them the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Footage circulating in local media appears to show the suspect positioned atop the structure as visitors rushed for safety below, with gunfire echoing across the site.
Police and forensic workers stand on a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
The Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
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The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine entry screenings no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
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“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a “result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán” and that her “thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”
People visit the Pyramid of the Sun in the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan near Mexico City, Mexico, on March 21, 2024, following the spring equinox. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
Later in the evening, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, and said in a post on X that the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
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The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
World
Appetite among NATO members to join Iran war ‘very limited’, says Eide
Norway has pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump over what he described as “zero” European support in the conflict with Iran.
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“NATO is a defensive alliance. It is not an attack alliance,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Euronews’ Europe Today flagship morning show.
Eide said NATO members are focused on safeguarding key global trade routes, including keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. “NATO countries are doing something, but it’s not as a party to a conflict,” he added.
Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO allies for not backing Washington in the Iran conflict. He raised the issue again during a White House meeting earlier this month with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Eide argued that there had been no prior preparation or consensus within the alliance. As a result, there is “very limited appetite” among member states to join the war.
He said that while both the US and Iran may have reasons to end the conflict, “the sides are far apart”, with negotiations hindered by opposing demands.
On Monday, Trump said the United States would maintain its blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran agrees to a peace deal.
Still, Eide pointed to signs of “some progress”, noting the broader global impact of the conflict. “This is not only an issue for the two sides, but it affects the whole world economy,” he said.
Addressing a European diplomatic push to establish a Palestinian state, Eide reiterated support for a two-state solution based on long-standing United Nations principles. However, he acknowledged that such an outcome is “not around the corner”.
He added that a two-state solution is also in Israel’s interest, describing it as “the only viable solution for real peace in a very troubled region”.
Norway, alongside Spain and Ireland, recognised the State of Palestine in 2024.
World
Iran War Live Updates: Trump Officials and Iran Plan New Talks Despite Mixed Messages
The United States military last week extended its blockade on vessels coming in and out of Iranian ports to the waters of the wider world, declaring that it would pursue any ship aiding Iran, regardless of location on the high seas or flag.
The U.S. “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday, noting that the American troops beyond the Middle East will engage in operations to thwart Iranian shipping.
The extension of the blockade comes as the economically vital Strait of Hormuz remains all but closed to commercial traffic and the two-week cease-fire between the United States and Iran nears an end. The move aligns longstanding American economic policies targeting Iran with the current military campaign against it, maritime and military law experts say.
But it raises a host of legal and practical questions.
“War is a messy thing not just on the combat side but under national and international law,” said James R. Holmes, chair of maritime strategy at the Naval War College.
“From a legal standpoint, a blockade is an act of war, so the blockade probably is legal to the extent Operation Epic Fury is,” he said using the name of the U.S. military campaign against Iran.
Since Congress has not declared war against Iran, no formal state of war exists between the United States and the Islamic Republic. But Mr. Holmes noted that “undeclared wars are more the rule than the exception in U.S. history,” with joint resolutions of Congress, United Nations Security Council resolutions and NATO decisions invoked to justify fighting.
“This campaign may be more unilateral than most, but it is not without precedent,” he said.
Under international law, the legality of the blockade is “more ambiguous,” said Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow and director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank in Washington.
For a blockade to be legal, Ms. Kavanagh said, it must be “effective,” meaning that it is both enforceable and enforced. Some would argue that a “‘global blockade’ is not permissible in conception” because it is overly broad, she said.
Still, expansive blockades have taken place throughout history, including during World War II, when states enforced naval blockades worldwide other than in neutral territorial seas. Over the centuries before that, the British blockaded France throughout the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and during the War of American Independence, the colonies and their allies raided British shipping as far away as the Indian Ocean.
Enforcing expansive blockades is difficult, however.
“The seven seas are a big place, and the largest navy or coast guard is tiny by comparison,” Mr. Holmes said. Whether the U.S. blockade ultimately is deemed “effective,” legally speaking, will depend on whether the U.S. has enough assets like ships, aircraft, boarding crews and intelligence gathering to enforce it.
The blockade does not have to be “airtight” to meet the legal test, Mr. Holmes said, and assessing its effectiveness will be tough for outside observers in any case.
Enforcement may also have to be somewhat selective, he suggested.
“Now, it is possible our leadership might quietly let a ship proceed when it suits the national interest,” Mr. Holmes said. “For instance, with a summit coming up between President Trump and General Secretary Xi” — Mr. Trump is to meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, in May — “Washington might not want to ruffle feathers by obstructing China’s oil imports.”
The expanded blockade is part of a longstanding economic campaign against Iran, but it represents something of a tactical change for the Trump administration.
Earlier in the war, the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to ease the pressure on global energy prices. And before imposing a blockade on Iranian ports last week, the U.S. allowed Iranian tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz for the same reason.
Now Washington seems to be returning its focus to keeping pressure on Iran.
“The blockade is a wartime extension of existing U.S. economic sanctions against the Iranian regime,” said James Kraska, professor of international maritime law and a visiting professor at Harvard Law School. In peacetime, he said, the sanctions were a “powerful tool to weaken the Iranian economy.” Now, he said, the blockade serves as a “kinetic expansion.”
General Caine’s announcement about the expanded naval blockade came one day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Operation Economic Fury,” an effort he called the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign. It includes secondary sanctions on institutions internationally, like banks, that have dealings with Iran.
The expanded blockade “marks a notable escalation by the United States,” said Ms. Kavanagh.
Still, she said, it is unlikely to significantly change Iranian calculations.
“For Iran, this war is existential and it is not going to cave easily or quickly,” she said. “Economic pressure may work over the very long term, but Trump seems too impatient for a deal to wait it out.”
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