"Tractor Protests Grip Germany: Farmers Rally Against Government Policies"

German farmers, protesting against plans to hike taxes on farming operations, converged on Berlin with 10,000 participants and 5,000 tractors and trucks. The protests culminated in a rally outside the Brandenburg Gate, with Finance Minister Christian Lindner addressing the crowd. The dispute centers on the government's plan to phase out tax relief on agricultural diesel, which has been in place for over 70 years. The government has made concessions, including scrapping a planned abolition of motor vehicle tax exemption for farmers, but tensions remain high as leaders of Germany's ruling coalition parties invite protest leaders for talks.