This Month
Musk praises ‘German values’ at far-right rally
The tech billionaire made a surprise appearance during an AfD rally, speaking in support of the far-right party for the second time in as many weeks.
- Emma-Victoria Farr
Elon Musk ‘living in cottage’ on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate
The Tesla billionaire has planted himself on the president-elect’s doorstep by staying at a property several hundred feet away from the main house at the resort.
- Updated
- Cameron Henderson
December 2024
Musk sparks uproar in Germany over far-right support
The billionaire has been accused of interfering in the country’s elections by continuing to back the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party.
- Lorne Cook
- Opinion
- Terror charges
Why did Germany’s bizarre terrorist send me angry messages?
Little did I know that the sender would end up being the main suspect in Friday’s Christmas market attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg.
- Updated
- James Jackson
Saudi Arabia warned German police over market suspect’s extreme views
Saudi Arabia sent four warnings to German authorities over the extreme views of Taleb al Abdulmohsen, who posted of his plans to do “something big”.
- Updated
- Roland Oliphant, James Rothwell and Jorg Luyken
Softbank woos Trump; Mother of all bubbles; 3 infuriating charts
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Germany in crisis as government collapses
Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote, triggering an election in a new era of unstable politics in Germany amid a series of crises across Europe.
- Christopher F. Schuetze and Jim Tankersley
November 2024
Ukraine’s Zelensky slams Scholz’s call with Putin
The German chancellor spoke with the Kremlin leader despite objections from the Ukrainian president that it would play into the Russian’s hands.
- Michael Nienaber, Daryna Krasnolutska and Alberto Nardelli
Germany to hold early elections after government collapses
The federal ballot will be brought forwards to February 2025 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his finance minister, triggering a collapse of the ruling coalition.
- Michael Nienaber
Germany’s government at risk of collapse over economic policy
The main political parties are already laying out their campaign positions, and coalition leaders are barely talking.
- Steven Erlanger and Christopher F. Schuetze
September 2024
- Opinion
- World politics
Why even good politicians are unpopular these days
It’s not just Keir Starmer – political leaders are on the nose around the world, and it’s not all their fault. Decades of peace and affluence have raised expectations.
- Janan Ganesh
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
VW crisis shakes German carmaker’s home town
The city of Wolfsburg fears a loss of identity as Germany’s largest private employer moves to break its job security pledge.
- Patricia Nilsson
Scholz alliance humbled as populists surge in regional votes
With a year to go until Germany’s national election, the results are punishing for Olaf Scholz’s federal coalition.
- Updated
- Michael Nienaber and Arne Delfs
REA mulls $8.5b bid; Vegan chain collapses; Shemara’s next big move
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
June 2024
Le Pen’s far-right party set to come first in French vote
The National Rally was projected to get between 33 per cent and 34.2 per cent of the vote, putting them in pole position for a second-round run-off.
- Updated
- Ania Nussbaum, Samy Adghirni and William Horobin
June 2024
EU capitals to back new term for Ursula von der Leyen
The former German defence minister who was an unheralded choice for the post in 2019, received a boost last week from the bloc’s three most powerful members.
- Henry Foy
- Updated
- Russia-Ukraine war
Ukraine peace summit seeks consensus on Russia rebuke
China’s absence from the meeting and the attendance of lower-level diplomats from the BRICS states cast a shadow over efforts to win over the Global South.
- Updated
- Thomas Escritt and Sabine Siebold
- Opinion
- World elections
Starmer will be centrism’s last chance
Voters need to see normal politics working for them again. Keir Starmer not only carries the dreams of a country demanding change but the hope of all who fear what follows if he fails.
- Robert Shrimsley
EU to impose multibillion-euro tariffs on Chinese electric cars
The European Commission is set to tell carmakers that it will provisionally apply additional duties of up to 25 per cent on imported Chinese EVs from July.
- Andy Bounds
Markets hit after Macron calls snap French election
The euro fell and European markets tumbled after far-right parties made big gains in EU elections, prompting French PM Emmanuel Macron to call a snap poll.
- Updated
- Raf Casert and Lorne Cook