Researchers warn: Mega-drought can no longer be ruled out:

"Germany will let into its territory whoever it wants. Poland will only let into its territory whoever it accepts."— Donald Tusk criticizes the planned migration policy of the new federal government during the inaugural visit of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"The state is all of us."— Friedrich Merz emphasizes the responsibility and unity of society in his first government statement.

"The goal of this association is to establish a so-called counter-state and to separate itself from the Federal Republic of Germany."— Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt about the goals of the group 'Königreich Deutschland'.

"The CDU must confront the dangers posed by the AfD and take a clear position now."— Britta Haßelmann, leader of the Green parliamentary group, speaks on the need for a prohibition procedure against the AfD.

"In my view, it cannot depend on whether a party has two percent of voters or thirty percent."— Designated Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD) comments on the necessity of an AfD ban procedure.

"I would like to thank you for this almost superhuman achievement."— Katherina Reiche during the handover ceremony to Robert Habeck.

"The killing in Ukraine must come to a swift end."— Friedrich Merz on the necessity of ending the violence in Ukraine.

"Antisemitic, right-wing populist, and historical revisionist attitudes have noticeably increased compared to previous surveys and have now finally returned to the center of society."— Jonas Rees, study director at the University of Bielefeld, about the findings of the 'Gedenkanstoß Memo' study.

"The overall party has an extremist character that disregards human dignity."— The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution regarding the AfD.

"Hatred is foreign to me"— Margot Friedländer, Holocaust survivor who tirelessly fought against forgetting.

We're going on tour again next year— Campino, lead singer of the band Die Toten Hosen, talks about the upcoming tour.

"Democracy and democratic transitions are not a given."— Saskia Esken, co-chair of the SPD, warns of the dangers to democracy on the occasion of the signing of the coalition agreement with the Union.

"Anyone who, in light of the past one and a half years, consciously and intentionally contributes to the silence around Israel-related anti-Semitism does not stand by the side of Jews in Germany."— Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, comments on the stance of the Left Party and its impact on Jewish life in Germany.

"The liberators of Auschwitz have become new aggressors."— Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warns in the Bundestag about a return of nationalism and dictatorship.

"In difficult times, which will certainly come, I wish you encounters from which you can draw strength and confidence."— Olaf Scholz wished his designated successor Friedrich Merz success during the Großer Zapfenstreich.

"It is only due to a fortunate coincidence that the package had caught fire on the ground at the DHL logistics center in Leipzig and not during the flight."— Thomas Haldenwang, former president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, regarding a suspected fire caused by Russia in an air freight package.

The clock is ticking — we still have 12 hours until the end of this day.— Stefan Kornelius, government spokesperson, during a briefing about the ceasefire proposal.

"Movements come and go, especially they go."— Sociologist Ulrich Beck describes the transience of political movements.

Trump needs to believe that Putin actually lies. And we should do our part. Sensibly approach this issue, to show that it’s not us that is slowing down the process.— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking to a small group of journalists in his office at the presidential administration in Kyiv.

"This is only about damaging my reputation."— Maximilian Krah rejected the allegations and spoke about the investigations against him.

"A good chess player thinks several moves ahead. What he does not do is predict those moves to his opponent."— Oleksii Makeiev, Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, regarding the secrecy of arms deliveries.

We need flexible gas power plants that can supply electricity when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining. And we need that quickly.— Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister of Economics, at the Ludwig Erhard Summit at Tegernsee.

"The AfD is a party that poses a serious danger to our democracy and our rule of law. From German history, we know how terribly circumstances can develop when right-wing extremists, nationalists, and enemies of democracy attack parliamentary democracy and come into political responsibility."— Konstantin von Notz, Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee, and Irene Mihalic, First Parliamentary Managing Director, regarding the elevation of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

"The sword of Damocles of this blockade continues to hang over us."— Adrian Leyser, meteorologist at the German Weather Service (DWD), discusses the concerning weather situation and its potential implications for the summer.

"I have asked Tulsi Gabbard to ensure that American intelligence agencies do not cooperate with German authorities that monitor political opponents. These police state tactics are more suited for Russia or communist China, not for the largest country in Western Europe."— Tom Cotton, Chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, comments on intelligence cooperation between the US and Germany.

"The five percent is not an arbitrary number, but a necessity for our security."— Matthew Whitaker, U.S. NATO Ambassador, at a ministerial meeting in Turkey.