Merkel
WASHINGTON (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be carrying a bag full of issues to discuss with President Joe Biden when she arrives at the White House. What is expected to be Merkel’s last official visit comes Thursday with an overarching message for Berlin’s close ally: You’ve got a friend. T
he veteran leaders are expected to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, the rise of China and a Russian gas pipeline that Washington opposes. The new pipeline taking natural gas from Russia to Germany is a thorny issue that preceded the Trump administration.
The White House is not anticipating any sort of formal announcement to come out of the leaders’ talk.
Merkel’s visit comes amid devastating flooding in Germany and neighboring Belgium. At least 20 people have died and dozens of people are missing in Germany after heavy flooding turned streams and streets into raging torrents, sweeping away cars and causing some buildings to collapse.
Authorities in the western county of Euskirchen said Thursday that eight deaths had been reported in connection with the floods in the region, which is southwest of Cologne. Police in the western city of Koblenz said four people had died in Ahrweiler county, and about 50 were trapped on the roofs of their houses awaiting rescue.
Germany and neighboring countries have seen heavy rainfall in recent days, causing widespread damage. At least two people were also reported killed in Belgium.
