According to preliminary results, Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have narrowly won the country's federal elections, beating the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The SPD secured 25.7% of the vote, while the ruling conservative bloc gained 24.1%.
The Greens achieved the best result in their party's history, coming in third with 14.8% of the ballot.
SDP leader Olaf Scholz earlier said his party had a clear mandate to rule, as his party started to edge into the lead.
Exit polls predicted a dead heat, but this election has been unpredictable from the start, and the result was never going to be the end of the story. For one thing, the outgoing chancellor is going nowhere until the coalition is formed - and that may have to wait until Christmas.
The successor's task is to lead Europe's foremost economy over the next four years, with climate change at the top of voters' agenda.
Sep 26, 2021
N. Korea Rejects South Korea's Calls for End-of-war Declaration
North Korea rebuffed South Korea's push for a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War as a way to restore peace, saying that such a step could be used as a "smokescreen covering up the U.S. hostile policy" against the North.
In a speech at the U.N. General Assembly earlier this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in reiterated his calls for the end-of-the-war declaration that he said could help achieve denuclearisation and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ri Thae Song dismissed Mr. Moon's call as premature so long as U.S. policies were unchanged.
Biden Administration Implores Iran to Return to Nuke Talks without Delay
The Biden administration is imploring Iran to quickly return to talks on its nuclear programme after a three-month hiatus caused by its government transition, warning that the window for negotiations may soon close.
A senior administration official said that U.S. patience is wearing thin and that further delays while Iran continues to expand its atomic capabilities could lead Washington and its partners to conclude a return to the landmark 2015 nuclear deal is no longer worthwhile.
In discussions with representatives from the remaining parties to the deal Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union the official said that all of them had agreed on the importance of resuming the talks as soon as possible.
US Special Envoy to Haiti Resigns
The Biden administration's special envoy to Haiti has resigned, protesting inhumane large-scale expulsions of Haitian migrants to their homeland wracked by civil strife and natural disaster.
Daniel Foote was appointed to the position in July, following the assassination of Haiti's President. Even before the migrant expulsions from the small Texas border town of Del Rio, the career diplomat was known to be deeply frustrated with what he considered a lack of urgency in Washington and a glacial pace on efforts to improve conditions in Haiti.
Sep 25, 2021
Russia, China, Pakistan Agree to Maintain Contacts with Taliban
Special representatives of Pakistan, Russia and China agreed with the Taliban to maintain contacts at the recent consultations in Kabul.
An agreement was reached to maintain constructive contacts in the interests of Afghanistan's peace and prosperity, and regional stability and development.
The Taliban emphasized their special focus on promoting relations with Russia, China and Pakistan.
This comes as the 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA) began the high-level week started on September 21.
The United States and all other major countries around the world are taking a wait and watch approach with regard to recognising the Taliban.
Taiwan Seeks Entry into Key Trade Pact
Taiwan has applied to join a major trans-Pacific trade deal, days after China said that it also wanted to become a member of the agreement.
Signed by 11 Asia-Pacific countries in 2018, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is the region's biggest free-trade pact and accounts for around 13.5 percent of the global economy.
Most of (the CPTPP's) member countries are Taiwan's key trade partners, accounting for over 24 per cent of Taiwan's international trade.
Taiwan can't be left out in the world and has to integrate into the regional economy.
Sep 24, 2021
US Special Envoy to Haiti Resigns
The Biden administration's special envoy to Haiti has resigned, protesting inhumane large-scale expulsions of Haitian migrants to their homeland wracked by civil strife and natural disaster.
Daniel Foote was appointed to the position in July, following the assassination of Haiti's President. Even before the migrant expulsions from the small Texas border town of Del Rio, the career diplomat was known to be deeply frustrated with what he considered a lack of urgency in Washington and a glacial pace on efforts to improve conditions in Haiti.
German election: Who could succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor?
The race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor is wide open, but the rivals all face the same tough challenge.
Mrs. Merkel has dominated German politics for 16 years as chancellor. Her would-be successors have to make their mark before the September federal election.
Some of the contenders are:.
Mr. Laschet the front runner but then his campaign faltered, mostly as a result of his own unforced errors. However, he is not out of the race.
Ms. Baerbock is the only woman in the race to succeed Angela Merkel, she is the Greens' first-ever candidate for chancellor. She has been an MP in the Bundestag since 2013.
Olaf Scholz has had a succession of senior posts in German politics. He is currently German Finance Minister and Chancellor Merkel's deputy.
UN chief Appoints Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi as Sustainable Development Goals Advocate
Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate ahead of the start of the 76th UN General Assembly.
Guterres appointed Satyarthi, STEM activist Valentina Munoz Rabanal, Microsoft President Brad Smith and K-pop superstars BLACKPINK as new SDG Advocates.
The SDG Advocates use their considerable spheres of influence to reach new constituencies to act now and keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals for people and for the planet.
Satyarthi, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner from India, will focus on protecting and promoting the rights of children around the world.
Narayan Khadka Nepal's New Foreign Minister
Senior Nepali Congress leader Narayan Khadka has been appointed Nepal's new Foreign Minister.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Khadka on the recommendation of the government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Khadka was administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Bhandari during an official ceremony at the Sheetal Niwas.
Prime Minister Deuba has been holding the portfolio till now.
The post of the Foreign Minister had been vacant for more than two months after the formation of the new government led by Deuba.
Sep 23, 2021
Bulgaria Re-appoints Caretaker PM Ahead of Third Election of 2021
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev re-appointed caretaker premier Stefan Yanev to lead an interim government until the country holds its third set of parliamentary elections this year in November, following inconclusive votes in April and July.
The European Union's poorest member state has been struggling to form a regular government after voting out former centre-right prime minister Boyko Borissov following almost a decade of political dominance.
WHO Appoints Gordon Brown as Ambassador
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the appointment of Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as its ambassador for Global Health Financing.
According to the WHO, Brown has played an instrumental role in trying to get rich countries as well as the private sector to ensure equitable distribution of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
The former UK PM said that the failure of Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and European Union leaders to agree on a plan to distribute the spare doses meant the world was facing a vaccine waste disaster.
In this role, he will elevate and support WHO's work to raise awareness internationally on the great need for sustained global health financing, particularly from G20 and G7 countries.
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