German government officials said on the 16th that German Chancellor Mertz had canceled plans to go to the US next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier, Mertz's political party had just suffered a fiasco in a local election. The Associated Press quoted an anonymous German official as reporting that since Mertz must “stay in Berlin,” he will not go to New York in the US as originally planned. As to why Mertz had to stay in the country, the official did not explain. Mertz plans to address the General Assembly on the 23rd.

German government officials said on the 16th that German Chancellor Mertz had canceled plans to go to the US next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier, Mertz's political party had just suffered a fiasco in a local election. The Associated Press quoted an anonymous German official as reporting that since Mertz must “stay in Berlin,” he will not go to New York in the US as originally planned. As to why Mertz had to stay in the country, the official did not explain. Mertz plans to address the General Assembly on the 23rd.