The Merz government announced plans to meet Trump's NATO demand for 5% of GDP on defense spending, with Foreign Minister Wadephol publicly supporting this significant increase to over €200 billion. This represents a major policy shift following Merz's government declaration yesterday.
The Finance Ministry revealed a €81 billion tax revenue shortfall through 2029, creating immediate budgetary challenges for the new administration.
The Istanbul peace talks continued unraveling after yesterday's announcements that Putin and Trump would not attend. Media portrayed this as a diplomatic failure, with Russians sending only ideologues while maintaining "maximum demands."
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer's funeral was attended by three chancellors, following her death on May 9th.
By evening, pro-Palestinian Nakba demonstrations in Berlin turned violent, with protesters reportedly pulling police officers into crowds and trampling them, leading authorities to dissolve the gathering due to "significant criminal acts."