Germany’s Merkel defends government record during pandemic

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended her government’s record during the coronavirus pandemic. Merkel told Parliament during a budget debate Wednesday that the country has fared well compared to many of its peers. Opposition lawmakers have accused Merkel of using the crisis as an excuse to spend taxpayers’ money. Merkel said it was right to invest the recovery funds into forward-looking technologies and industries that will help tackle climate change and fu