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New German chancellor Merz's personal popularity is hitting new lows in April 2025 even before a new government takes charge in Germany. Merz speaks understandably 60%, trustworthy 21%, strong leader 40%, results of Stern magazine survey April 2025. In a fragmented scene for political parties Merz takes office as the Ukraine war continues, and new tariff challenges are raised by the US for German exports.

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A historic win for the SPD in Saarland, Germany.

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European Union president Ursula van der Leyen says Africa could be facing a massive surge in coronavirus in a couple of weeks similar to what is happening in Europe. She said only a globally coordinated response would win the war against the coronavirus. "It is in our interests to ensure that the fight is successful worldwide." To help African economies and health systems the European Union will provide aid and grants of 15 billion euros or about 16.3 billion dollars. 

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Critics say Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe's declaring of a state of emergency in densely populated areas till May 6 comes a bit late in the fight against coronavirus. 

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DW.com looks at why India is facing a oxygen shortage. Most oxygen manufacturers are in the east of the country and most of the coronavirus infections are in the west and north of the country. India normally produces 7000 tons of oxygen a day, which is being ramped up to 9000 tons a day and airlifted or sent by rail truck express trains to the north and west. German military aircraft are on the way to India on Wednesday May 5 that have on board a oxygen generating plant that can produce 400,000 litres of oxygen a day. Germany's ambassador to India says German aid is making a difference.

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The Berlin conference in 2020 on Libya is an effort taken seriously by chancellor Merkel and French president Macron, supported by president Trump, for an "inner-Libyan reconciliation process" with "a sovereign Libya" that would prevent another larger large scale emigration to Europe from North Africa. On one side is a UN backed government of Mr. Fayez Sarraj, that controls Tripoli and the west and on the other a group of Militias under Mr. Haftar that controls the south and east.  Various foreign powers are fueling the conflict and the goal is have them disengage and drop support for their faction- Turkey for the Tripoli government and the Saudis and UAE, with Egypt, Russia supporting the rival government. All hope to gain influence, for what that means, at the risk of large scale refugees and further destruction, and dislocation of European unity through large scale emigration to Europe. It is almost like the Thirty Years War when Sweden, Austria, and the French fought proxy wars in Europe in other countries mainly in German states and central Europe. That period? - 1618-1648, losses of 8 million dead from wars, famine and plague, with loss of 20% of the German population. What started as Catholic- Protestant ended up with Austrian Hapsburg- French rivalry wars, today local religious factions conflict with secular factions ending with rival power conflict.  The foreign policy expert for Merkel Mr. Hardt says "it is key to the further stabilization of North and West Africa. If we succeed in leading Libya into a peaceful future, it would be a milestone for the entire region." ...

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A fascinating look in DW.com at pictures of an iceberg 158 kilometres long and 48 kilometres wide, on its way to hit the British territory of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. The island of South Georgia is known for large populations of penguins and seals, albatrosses, and humpback as well as blue whales. Prior to its splitting up the iceberg was even larger about the size of Luxembourg. The iceberg is a few hundred metres thick. The iceberg has already travelled for 1600 kilometres, and will reach South Georgia in 10-20 days.

Antarctica is the most southern region in the world, with 99% covered with ice some 5000 metres thick, 1.3 times size of Europe. Lowest temperature at -99 degrees centigrade, windspeeds can reach 155 mph. On it there are 4000 scientists in summer on research stations of 30 countries.

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Demand for lumber is at new highs with the increase in demand for housing. Demand for housing is up because of low interest rates in the U.S. Much of this demand is from people working from home who are less affected by loss of incomes that is affecting construction restaurant, tourism, and industries where work is outdoors or where people interaction is high.

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This Japanese tourist spent 7 months in lockdown in Peru after the coronavirus hit. The Peruvian government opened the site in Machu Picchu just for one tourist considering what he had gone through. Machu Picchu remains closed till November. Katayama made it to the site with the head of the park. The site is 7700 feet up in the Andes mountain range. 

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Belgians are being asked to restrict contacts to only one person outside their immediate family and wear masks in shops and public transport. Daily cases average 7900 for the week of October 9-15.  Shops, museums and schools remain open. Many restaurants are closed with restrictions on restaurants.

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This report in DW.com shows pictures and podcasts from Africa's National Parks and Wildlife Centers. Africa's tourism industry brings in billions of dollars from international visitors with each traveler bringing in about $7000 to the local economy. Most affected are hotels, tour companies and small business. There is a sense that government could do more to protect small business in Uganda, Kenya,Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana and other countries. Also being considered is finding ways to shift focus from high paying foreign tourists to a a larger local visitor population in African countries. Today Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Amboseli National Park in Kenya at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe, Sanganeb Marine National Park in Sudan, and Tassili n'Ajjer National Park in Algeria with Tuareg nomads in the desert deep in the Sahara, are some of the National Parks with few international visitors. Local are working in alternative occupations. There is a sense that a better focus would be to a less paying but dependable tourist influx from within African countries.  ...

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The World Trade Organization is about to choose a new director-general to succeed Mr. Azevedo, a career diplomat from Brazil. The two candidates are a former finance minister from Nigeria,  Ms. Okonjo-Iweala supported by the European Union and the trade minister of South Korea, Ms. Yoo Myung-hee, supported by the U.S. Japan supports the Nigerian candidate because of its trade disputes with South Korea. The role of head of WTO is important today because of trade issues between countries particularly the trade issues between China and the U.S., U.S. and other countries. And the sense that the WTO arrangement is not working for many countries in recent years without a level playing field in many industries from improper subsidies. Before the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization not much attention was given by the U.S. to how it had changed after new elections. As a result non profit foundations like the Gates Foundation from the U.S. played a leading part in representation of American interests and China played a leading role leading to the crisis facing WHO today. During the coronavirus pandemic the WHO lacking adequate influence of U.S. or European Union countries was not able to act in a way that met the needs and concerns of these countries with advanced health systems. In the past pandemics were better addressed worldwide when the U.S. and EU played a major role from the beginning because of long experience and technological resources,  a role that was missing in the current pandemic. Ebola and other virus were tackled in Africa only when the U.S. or European countries played a leading and critical role. This role was sorely missed in the current crisis. This is why changes at the World Trade Organization matter. World trade is important for the world economy and can best operate when the concerns of U.S. and European Union about a level playing field and fair competition are met. This level playing field and fair competition also meet the interests of developing countries such as India which are industrializing rapidly and need to protect their own markets from unfair dumping, as well as Indonesia and other parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa that are part of the supply chain for the world economy. ...