AfD Wins German State Election as Merz’s CDU Hits Historic Low 
Russian Drone Attacks Kill Four in Kyiv Region, Including Three Children 
Trump, Iran Trade Threats as Middle East Tensions Escalate 
Canada Eyes India Trade Deal by Year-End 
Venezuela Nears Deal to Move $4 Billion in Gold to New York Fed 
Mexico Pushes for US Trade Deal Before Midterms 
Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House 
Bessent Presses Japan on Fiscal Policy as Yen Struggles 
Trump Sets High-Stakes UN Meetings With Zelenskiy, Gulf Leaders 
Najib Razak Granted House Arrest Until 2028 
Bessent, He Lifeng to Discuss AI Security and Trade in New York 
Appeals Court Rejects Trump Third-Country Deportation Policy 
South Korea’s Lee Rules Out Military Role in Middle East War 
US-China Talks Target AI, Tariffs Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Houthis Claim Missile, Drone Attacks on Riyadh and Saudi Oil Hub 
Trump Plans Federal AI Force and AI Czar 
North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles From Wonsan 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Germany’s new defense minister Boris Pistorius pledged to strengthen the country’s armed forces, especially at a time when Russia is engaging in aggression against Ukraine. Pistorius also reiterated support for Ukraine at a time when Germany is under pressure to send or approve the transfer of its Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Pistorius was officially made Germany’s new defense minister on Thursday and is expected to host his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the same day. Pistorius will also meet with around 50 other defense leaders and NATO at Ramstein Air Base the next day. Pistorius succeeds Christine Lambrecht, who resigned days prior on Monday.
“These are not normal times, we have a war raging in Europe. Russia is waging a brutal war of annihilation on a sovereign country, on Ukraine,” said Pistorius in remarks at the ceremony in the German defense ministry. “Our task is to make the Bundeswehr strong now, it is about deterrence, effectiveness, and readiness. And it is about continuing to support Ukraine also with material of the Bundeswehr.”
Germany has been under pressure to send or to allow other countries to transfer their stock of Leopard tanks to Ukraine in recent weeks. A German government source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Berlin would allow German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine if the United States agrees to send its own tanks as well.
Pistorius said it was a big challenge to revamp Germany’s armed forces, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year. Scholz, at the time, said the armed forces had been neglected in the past few decades.
Speaking to ARD television, Pistorius was pressed on whether the US-made Abrams tanks and the Leopard tanks needed to be delivered to Ukraine at the same time, which may provide the possibility of an agreement on Friday. Pistorius said he was not aware of such a condition.
Scholz’s government has so far not authorized the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, which experts have said was the most suitable. Poland and Finland have already said that they will deliver their stock of Leopard tanks to Ukraine once approved by Berlin.
