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Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz
Friedrich Merz was elected German chancellor in May 2025, becoming the country’s 10th chancellor since World War II.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement after the first exit polls of Sunday's state elections. Photo: Reuters
Germany

‘Disaster’: Germany’s embattled chancellor suffers bruising election defeats

Friedrich Merz is under pressure as the far-right AfD party wins another vote and his conservatives crash out of a state parliament.

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China-Germany relations

Are the doors to German universities closing for China’s STEM researchers?

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China-EU relations

Brussels announces dates for next round of China-EU trade talks in Beijing

Germany

After far-right win, Germany’s embattled leader faces more election tests

Chancellor Friedrich Merz braces for a potential double election blow this weekend as pressure mounts on his leadership.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a meeting of the German government’s cabinet in Berlin. Photo: EPA
Donald Trump

Trump threatens EU over ‘hostile’ proposal to make Canada associate member

US president warns of severe trade action as Ursula von der Leyen pitches historic partnership to Mark Carney.

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Germany

Germany’s chancellor cancels UN trip amid mounting pressure at home

Friedrich Merz opts to remain in Berlin following far-right AfD gains and ahead of crucial regional votes.

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China trade

German firms want tougher action on Beijing. So why are investments in China up?

Companies are caught between China’s growing competitive threat and its importance as a market, manufacturer and source of growth.

A worker on a car assembly line at the FAW-Volkswagen factory in Qingdao, Shandong province. Photo: AFP
China-Germany relations

AfD party won big in Saxony-Anhalt. Will it affect Germany’s approach to China?

In the wake of a key state election, observers say Germany’s economic pressures will persist, no matter who is in power.

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China trade

China’s global expansion offers German firms opportunity – for now

German chamber notes how some members see ‘golden window to partner up’ with Chinese companies as competition, trade tensions and possible EU measures raise risks.

China-EU relations

Far-right win in German election further shakes up China-EU relations

Outcome could harden Berlin’s stance towards Beijing ahead of an October deadline for trade rebalancing, analysts say.

Members and supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party react to election results in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, on September 6, 2026. Photo: AFP
Germany

Germany’s Merz shaken as far-right AfD plots path to power

The German chancellor rules out working with the AfD even though he concedes its win in Saxony-Anhalt has upset his party’s foundations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (left) and Sven Schulze (R), Saxony-Anhalt’s state premier, at their party’s leadership meeting in Berlin on Monday. Photo: AFP
Space

German rocket reaches space as Europe enters satellite launch race

Isar Aerospace, which launched its rocket from a spaceport in Norway, plans to offer a commercial ⁠satellite launch service.

China trade

German companies want tougher EU-China policy despite supply chain reliance

The DIHK finds German firms facing Chinese competition back stronger EU action, but its trade chief warns against ‘blanket measures’.

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China-EU relations

EU trade enforcers descend on Beijing demanding China fix ‘untenable’ imbalances

Brussels officials hold talks in the Chinese capital as they seek a commitment to reduce surging exports to the bloc.

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Chinese exports to the EU have expanded at breakneck speed in recent months. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Zelensky says Ukraine wants peace but won’t ‘simply surrender’

The country marks 35 years of independence from the Soviet Union as Zelensky vows to find a solution to Putin’s ‘ballistic terror’.

President Volodymyr Zelensky hands over the flag of a military unit during the ceremony to mark Ukraine Independence Day in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: AP
India

How a German submarine deal could test ‘Make in India’ ambitions

The deal is expected to give India critical design and engineering know-how to help build a long-term domestic submarine industrial base.

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Germany

German arms giant boss says no ‘chickening out’ amid alleged Russian threats

‘These jobs must be done and anyone that can’t take the pressure doesn’t belong in this job,’ Rheinmetall’s Armin Papperger says.

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Germany

Bus driver kicked explosive drone out of the air at German airport

His act potentially prevented an attack at an airport that served as a major Nato hub.

Police officers walk across a field on the grounds of Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany on Friday. Photo: dpa
China-EU relations

Germans emerge as Europe’s biggest China hawks as economic pain begins to bite

Some 49 per cent of those polled see China as a rival or adversary while just 38 per cent see the nation in positive terms, new survey finds.

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China-EU relations

What would a German audit for Chinese supply chain dependencies find?

Although many analysts deem the search long overdue, they warn that German leverage would be both hard to implement and short-lived.

Spain

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

Migrants wade through the water near the border with Morocco as they attempt to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on Friday. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

Germany’s restful Sundays under scrutiny as Chinese imports pile on pressure

As rise of Chinese e-commerce platforms adds to pressure, having Sundays off remains protected under Germany’s Basic Law.

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A “closed again” sign is seen in a German shop window. Photo: Shutterstock
Britain

China’s Li congratulates Andy Burnham on becoming Britain’s new prime minister

Li said strengthening dialogue and cooperation between ⁠China and the UK will benefit ‌the nations and ‘inject stability into global ‌peace’.

China-EU relations

France, Germany put up united front against China’s economic ‘challenges’

Both nations call on Brussels to strengthen its defences as EU adds US$1.14 billion a day to its China trade shortfall, while losing jobs.

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European Union

France and Germany reach nuclear deal as Europe builds up defences

France is the only nuclear power in the 27-member EU, while Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military by 2039.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron after the 26th Franco-German Ministerial Council at Augustusburg Palace in Bruehl, Germany, on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-EU relations

EU signals emergency import curbs after dramatic growth in Chinese trade gap

Brussels looking at ‘case-by-case’ tariffs and quotas after the trade surplus expands by almost a quarter in the first half of the year.

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The EU recently imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese tyres. Photo: Xinhua
Nato

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

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US-EU relations

US at 250: has Europe learned to survive Trump’s America?

The transatlantic alliance has become unpredictable and even hostile, and many are wondering how much road it has left to run.

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