Germany's conservative leader clinches an major financial agreement ahead of a crunch vote in parliament.

German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was set to make a last-ditch attempt on Friday to convince the Greens of his plans for a massive increase in state borrowing to bolster defence and infrastructure ahead of a parliamentary vote next week.

A new deal with the Greens could allow for as much as €1 trillion in new spending for defense and infrastructure over the next decade.