Israel complained about the presence of German Ambassador Steffen Seibert at a meeting in Israel's Supreme Court. Reform of that institution, sought by the government, is a contetious domestic issue in Israel.

China has sharply rejected statements made by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the United States about Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Germany has wanted reform of the UN Security Council for years. But its bids to join the exclusive circle of permanent members have always failed.

During a visit to the island of Lampedusa, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President announced plans to address the surge in migrant arrivals.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's premier Giorgia Meloni have visited a migrant center on Italy's southernmost island after a surge in the number of migrants arriving there.

Small and medium-sized companies in Germany's more rural areas face huge challenges as labor shortages are increasingly being felt in the countryside.