Ex-German leader Angela Merkel wins UN refugee prize
The recipient of the Nansen Refugee Award was praised for her determination to protect asylum seekers while in office.

The recipient of the Nansen Refugee Award was praised for her determination to protect asylum seekers while in office.




![Merkel says the health situation in Germany is 'serious' [John Macdougall/pool/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/000_9TU2NC.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), far right, Olaf Scholz, SPD member and likely next German chancellor, third from left, Annalene Baerbock, left, and Robert Habeck, second from left, co-leaders of the Greens Party, arrive to present their mutually agreed upon coalition contract in Berlin [Michele Tantussi/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/GettyImages-1236769885.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Since attending her first meeting of EU leaders in December 2005, at a time when Jacques Chirac was still French president and Tony Blair British prime minister, Merkel has embodied the drive for a more closely united Europe [Olivier Matthys/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/AP21294741344029.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)

![Scholz, who was finance minister in outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's 'grand coalition' administration, has said he hopes to form a coalition government before Christmas [Michael Sohn/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AP21270365604644.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
Tens of millions of Germans to cast ballots in what is seen as the first real contest in many years.

Sunday’s election is turning out to be one of the tightest in recent history.
Germany’s vote on Sunday marks the end of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 16 years in office.
German government faces growing questions about how well-prepared authorities were for devastating natural disaster.
In Merkel’s final visit to White House as chancellor, the leaders pledge partnership, disagree on Nord Stream pipeline.
And as Haiti decends into chaos after the assassination of its president, Biden says he is not sending US troops there.

Why are G7 countries worried? And what’s China’s endgame?
Several countries have allowed switching COVID vaccines for second doses and several medical studies are under way.
Germany’s Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the country is using ‘all means to uncover tax offenses’.
Danish broadcaster says US used a partnership with Danish intelligence to spy on top European officials.