Major stock indexes fell on Tuesday as the United States hit Canada, Mexico and China with steep tariffs, while the euro climbed to a three-month peak against the U.S. dollar as German political parties agreed to a 500 billion euro infrastructure fund.

Germany’s election is underway, and the country’s differing political parties and leaders continue their fight to gain the Chancellor position. In this episode of The Spectacle Podcast, Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay explain the issues happening in German elections and question the greater interest of the United States in maintaining relationships with its allies.

Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the United States, Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said after his opposition conservatives won elections on Sunday, in a vote that also saw surging support for the far-right.

United States Vice-President JD Vance, right, and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy shake hands during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany,

United States' Gisele Thompson, left, and Germany's Jella Veit vie for the ball during a U-20 Women's World Cup quarterfinal soccer match at Pascual Guerrero Olympic stadium in

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's mainstream conservatives, has said that Europe must become independent from the United States in security matters, after his grouping won the biggest share of the vote in federal elections.

The prospective partners in Germany’s next government said Tuesday they will seek to loosen the nation’s rules on running up debt to allow for higher defense spending, an issue of growing urgency as doubts increase about the United States’ commitment to European allies.

A post shared on Facebook claims Germany threatened to cut ties with the United States. Verdict: Misleading Baerbock did not threaten to cut relations with the United States. Fact Check: Social media users are claiming that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock threatened to cut diplomatic ties with the United States.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz has pledged to achieve “independence” from the United States after his centre-right alliance won parliamentary elections held amid doubts about US President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe’s security.

Conservatives win with second worst post-war result Merz doubles down on fears over U.S. policy Far-right AfD surges to win 20.8% of vote Focus on debt brake to tackle economic slump BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Germany's election winner Friedrich Merz warned the United States on Monday against turning its back on allies but also urged Europeans to build up their own defence capabilities,

German voters are choosing their new government in an election dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States.