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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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands in front of a Patriot missile system during his visit to a military training area in June 2024. Photo: dpa
Ukraine war

Trump and Zelensky discuss weapons for Ukraine amid escalating Russian strikes

The leaders agreed to work on increasing Kyiv’s capability to ‘defend the sky’, as Ukraine seeks more Patriot missiles.

Ukraine war

Moscow-appointed leader says Russia has full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region

China-EU relations

After Nato chaos, ‘irrelevant’ Europe shambles towards China summit

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Israel-Iran conflict

Another Iraq? Fears mount of US joining Israel-Iran war

As Israel’s attacks and incendiary rhetoric intensify, chilling parallels emerge to the discredited claims made before US invasion of Iraq.

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A fire blazes at an oil depot northwest of Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday following an Israeli strike. Photo: AFP
China-Germany relations

Cheerleaders to critics: German machinery makers call for EU action on China

Industry urges Brussels to impose trade barriers to protect it, saying ‘China is not playing fair, and politicians must respond to this’.

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Ukraine war

Russia launches 479 drones, highest overnight number since war began: Ukraine

Moscow’s aerial attacks usually start late in the evening and end in the morning, as drones are harder to spot in the dark.

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Russia

Thanks to Trump, Russians see Germany, not US, as most hostile country: poll

Belarus topped the list of friendliest countries, followed by China, Kazakhstan, India and North Korea.

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US President Donald Trump gestures on the South Lawn of the White House in May. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Trump and Musk feud in real time as bromance implodes in spectacular fashion

A ‘disappointed’ Trump threatened the tycoon’s US contracts, while Musk said the president would have lost the election without him.

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Donald Trump

Trump tells Merz it might be better to let Ukraine, Russia ‘fight for a while’

US president says he shared his comparison of the conflict to a fight between young children in his call with Putin.

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China-Germany relations

Opinion | Why Germany’s leader called China’s over Ukraine – and why it matters

By inviting China into the equation on Ukraine, Merz is acknowledging that those who can shape outcomes – however flawed – must be engaged.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Israel-Gaza war

‘Too little, too late’? Israel’s Western allies turn against it over Gaza

Britain, Canada, the EU – and even Trump – are finally changing their tune, but experts question if mere rhetoric can halt the suffering.

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Hungry Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Jabalia, the northern Gaza Strip, on May 19. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Germany to help Ukraine build long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia

The weapons will have no range restrictions, allowing Kyiv to defend itself against ‘military targets outside its own territory’, Merz says.

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Israel-Gaza war

My Take | European Union has finally shed crocodile tears for Palestinians

Rounds of Western criticism are little more than a slap on the wrist for Israel when the latter’s genocidal intent in Gaza can no longer be ignored.

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Ukraine war

US and Russia row as Moscow masses 50,000 troops near Ukrainian region

Ukraine-Russian war intensifying as Trump warns Putin he is ‘playing with fire’.

Ukrainians fire a howitzer towards Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Russia warns Germany over signal on long-range weapons for Ukraine

Germany’s chancellor said there were no more range restrictions on weapons supplied to Kyiv.

Ukrainian forces fire a German-supplied Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer in 2023. File photo: Reuters
Emmanuel Macron

Macron denies dispute with wife as Russia mocks face shoving video

France’s first lady seems to push her husband as they land in Vietnam. He says they were joking.

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Ukraine war

EU weighs new Russia sanctions, may cut 20 banks from SWIFT

As part of the sanctions under discussion, the bloc’s executive is planning to propose lowering the G-7 oil price cap to about US$45.

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Germany

18 injured in Hamburg station knife attack, German woman detained

Investigators believe the suspect acted alone and the attack was not politically motivated.

Forensic investigators at the scene in Hamburg’s central railway station on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Germany relations

Xi urges ‘new chapter’ in German ties in call with chancellor amid US trade war

In first call with Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Xi Jinping calls for ‘fair, transparent and non-discriminatory’ environment for Chinese firms.

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China-EU relations

Editorial | Air begins to clear on better EU-China ties

It would be naive to expect improvement in China-EU relations overnight. But the lifting of some sanctions by Beijing lowers one obstacle.

China-EU relations

Europe warned to change fast or become a ‘shock absorber’ of US-China trade war

Continent’s outlook is bleak despite reduced Sino-American tensions as it needs to adapt quickly amid Washington’s efforts, analysts say.

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European governments view the US-China tariff deal as possibly buying them time on what is anticipated to be a wave of diverted Chinese exports to EU ports. Photo: AP
Israel-Gaza war

Gaza rescuers say 80 killed in Israeli strikes

Bombardment intensifies after Israel’s Netanyahu vowed ‘full force’ Gaza offensive.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Putin not on Kremlin list for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had challenged the Russian leader to meet him in person in Istanbul.

China-EU relations

Germany’s new chancellor to pursue ‘strategic de-risking’ from China

With ‘international order changing profoundly’, Friedrich Merz says China’s relations with Russia are an area of ‘great concern’.

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Germany

Germany arrests 3 Ukrainians over Russian sabotage plot

The accused allegedly aimed to send packages from Germany containing explosive devices to recipients in Ukraine.

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The Russia embassy in Berlin. Germany, Kyiv’s second-biggest military back after the United States, has been shaken by a string of alleged sabotage and espionage cases linked to Russia. Photo: dpa
France

France hits back at false claim Macron, Starmer and Merz had drugs on train

Elysee blames ‘France’s enemies’ after European leaders were the target of fake news that a white tissue on table was a cocaine bag.

Some social media users suggested that this object was a ‘cocaine’ bag. Macron’s Elysee office said the white object was a tissue. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Trump ‘starting to doubt’ that Ukraine will reach deal with Russia

Ukrainian President Zelensky said Ukraine welcomed peace talks but insisted there must be a full, temporary ceasefire first.

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Ukraine war

Europe’s leaders call for Ukraine ceasefire in Kyiv visit

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a 30-day ceasefire in the war.

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