News compact: Merz extends invitation to Trump

New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited Donald Trump to Germany during his first telephone conversation with the US president. Trump indicated that he could imagine such a visit, it was announced after the approximately 30-minute conversation. Apart from stops at the US air base in Ramstein, Trump's only previous visit to Germany as president was for the 2017 G20 summit. Trump, in turn, invited Merz to Washington.

Both sides agreed to work closely together toward ending the war in Ukraine , reported German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius. Trump and Merz also agreed to quickly resolve trade disputes.

Russia celebrates "Victory Day" in Moscow

Eighty years after the end of World War II, Russia is commemorating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany with a large military parade. On May 9, thousands of soldiers traditionally march across Moscow's Red Square, accompanied by tanks and other equipment. The weapons display is also considered a demonstration of power by the Russian Federation. Observers expect President Vladimir Putin to deliver a speech once again justifying his order for the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin's most important guest this year is Chinese President and Party leader Xi Jinping . The only representative of an EU country attending was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

May 9 is the most important holiday in Russia. It marks the day in 1945 when the German surrender officially took effect.

Steinmeier congratulates new Pope Leo XIV.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his wish that the new pope would listen to the concerns and hopes of people all over the world. With this office , Leo XIV assumes a significant responsibility "in a time marked by unrest and profound global challenges," Steinmeier explained in his congratulatory letter. The people of Germany look forward to the pontificate "with great anticipation," the Federal President added.

On Thursday, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost became the first American to be elected head of the Catholic Church. He was a close confidant of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. Leo XIV is considered moderate, but his firm commitment to canon law also wins over conservative clergy.

UN Security Council appeals to South Sudan

Against the backdrop of weeks of ongoing violence, the United Nations has called for an immediate end to the fighting in South Sudan . The Security Council calls for an immediate cessation of fighting and the initiation of political dialogue, according to a resolution passed by the highest UN body. It also extended the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan by one year, until the end of April 2026.

Fighting between supporters of President Salva Kiir and supporters of Vice President Riek Machar is jeopardizing a peace agreement signed in 2018. It ended a five-year civil war in which approximately 400,000 people were killed. South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 and, despite its vast oil reserves, is considered one of the poorest countries in the world.

Gates promises $200 billion "for the poorest"

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced that he will donate almost his entire fortune over the next 20 years. The self-made multi-billionaire announced that he intends to dissolve the Gates Foundation by the end of 2045. By then, his foundation expects to be able to spend $200 billion on humanitarian causes. The money should be used to reduce maternal mortality and "lift millions of people out of poverty," the 69-year-old explained.

The Gates Foundation is considered the world's largest private foundation. It funds health, education, and development programs in more than 130 countries.

Federal Agriculture Minister wants to make wolf shooting easier

The new German Agriculture Minister, Alois Rainer, welcomed the EU Parliament's decision to pave the way for simplified wolf hunting. The politician from the conservative CSU announced "clear and practical rules" in this regard in Germany. The parliament in Strasbourg decided on Thursday that the wolf will no longer be considered "strictly protected" in the European Union. However, the species' conservation will continue to be ensured.

Farmers in several EU countries have been increasingly complaining about wolf attacks for years. In Germany, more than 5,000 livestock were demonstrably injured in the observation year 2023.

wa/ch (dpa, afp, rtr, kna, epd)

This article was created at 9:30 a.m. (CEST) and will not be updated further.