The move came after Iran threatened to bar U.N. nuclear inspectors if the U.S. fails to lift economic sanctions by next week.
Merkel and what will be her last government are moving toward a tougher line and any new legislature in Germany will likely follow that path.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris start their four-year term in the White House on Jan. 20.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel blasted Twitter's decision to ban U.S. President Donald Trump.
China wrapped negotiations with the EU on an important investment deal and talked up hopes for more, less than a month before Joe Biden is set to take office.
The dollar held gains against a basket of major currencies on Thursday as escalating coronavirus cases in Europe stoked investor fears that fresh lockdowns would further hit the already fragile economic recovery.
Gold prices fell to a one-month low, extending the previous session's sharp slide as the dollar remained the preferred refuge from risks due to mounting COVID-19 cases ahead of the U.S. Presidential election.
Germany's coronavirus infection rate has edged up, prompting the head of the country's infectious diseases institute to urge people to stay at home as much as possible amid a relaxation of lockdown measures.
Airlines in the Asia Pacific are expected to see a 50% fall in passenger demand for the year compared to 2019, IATA says.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the end of the coronavirus pandemic is not yet in sight and that we will have to live with the virus "for a long time."
Politicians in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government on Sunday signaled further support for struggling businesses and consumers in the coronavirus crisis, focusing on hotels, restaurants and pay for short-time workers.
Covid-19 has infected more than 2.3 million around the world as of Sunday, killing at least 164,000 people.
There are more than 930,000 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, with over 47,000 deaths, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University showed.
U.S. stock futures turned positive Monday morning after the Federal Reserve pledged asset purchases with no limit to support markets.
U.S. stock futures hit their 5% "limit down" overnight as a massive coronavirus funding package failed a key Senate procedural vote. But futures then moved higher Monday on a new Fed pledge.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested that her government's priority is about "slowing its spread."
China's foreign ministry spokesperson brought up old allegations that the U.S. spied on Germany leader Angela Merkel to accuse Washington of hypocrisy over its claims that Huawei is untrustworthy.
Germany's coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has said it could quit the governing alliance if Chancellor Angela Merkel is forced out of office.
Angela Merkel has warned business and political leaders that the ongoing conflict in Libya could have similar ramifications to the war in Syria.
A survey of CEOs released Monday revealed that climate change issues were not even ranked among the top 10 threats to business growth.
