German centre-right politician Jens Spahn has resigned as parliamentary group leader of the country’s governing coalition after being accused of hypocrisy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US to have a child. Surrogacy is prohibited in Germany – a policy backed by his Christian Democrat party (CDU) and, several years ago, by […]
Continue ReadingA US M109A7 “Paladin” howitzer (symbolic image): The United States cannot keep up with the production of artillery ammunition.Image: www.imago-images.de The USA is having problems producing artillery ammunition. One factory in particular stands out. July 18, 2026, 4:15 p.mJuly 18, 2026, 4:16 p.m Tobias Schibilla / t-online An article by An ammunition factory in Mesquite, […]
Continue ReadingJens Spahn, the parliamentary head of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU faction, resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure over his use of a surrogate mother in the US despite a surrogacy ban in Germany. Spahn and his husband welcomed the child earlier this week, sparking criticisms of hypocrisy and double standards.
Continue ReadingOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has asked U.S. President Donald Trump for help getting into the United States to watch Spain face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, after […]
Continue ReadingThree men have been reported in Venice. The tourists are said to have daubed the historic Rialto Bridge with green and pink spray paint. July 18, 2026, 3:32 p.mJuly 18, 2026, 3:32 p.m According to the city, the three Pakistani nationals, aged 20, 21 and 22, live in Milan and had traveled to Venice with […]
Continue ReadingA US Air Force Boeing KC-135 at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, February 25, 2026: Additional tanker aircraft are to be accommodated by the Israeli Air Force in the future.Image: keystone The additional US tanker aircraft will now not be stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport, but at Israeli Air Force bases. July 18, 2026, […]
Continue ReadingJens Spahn, the head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, has announced his resignation, as pressure built over his decision to have a child through a surrogate mother in the United States. ADVERTISING ADVERTISING In a letter to members of the Union group, he said that he had already informed German Chancellor and […]
Continue ReadingOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch The largest residential fire in modern Norwegian history has destroyed more than 100 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, authorities said Saturday. The fire in southern Norway […]
Continue ReadingCows are looking for shelter from the heat in Ruswil, Lucerne, and the grass is very dry.Image: keystone analysis Switzerland and Europe are experiencing an extraordinarily hot and dry summer. This could give solar power and electric cars a new boost. Or not. July 18, 2026, 3:14 p.mJuly 18, 2026, 3:14 p.m follow me Summer […]
Continue Reading“The gap between my private decision to have a child through surrogacy and the understandable expectations placed on me as chair of our parliamentary group has become greater than I anticipated,” he added. Although surrogacy itself is illegal in Germany, there is no penalty for bringing up a child born through a surrogate mother abroad. […]
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