The black-red-gold flag should not only fly on national holidays in the future: In more and more municipalities, it is being hoisted year-round in front of town halls and authorities – most recently in Treuenbrietzen, Brandenburg.

Statements by former Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Ukraine conflict have sparked sharp criticism in Eastern Europe. In an interview with the Hungarian portal "Partizán," Merkel stated that in 2021, she, together with Emmanuel Macron, wanted to seek a direct dialogue format for the EU with Vladimir Putin – but Poland and the Baltic states blocked it.

The British chemical company Ineos is withdrawing from parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and closing two sites in Rheinberg. 175 jobs are at stake – and the justification is a direct attack on European industrial policy.

The spectacular collapse of the US auto supplier First Brands is causing unrest in the financial markets and highlights the risks of private credit markets. The company, known for wipers and brakes, had financed itself for years with multi-billion dollar loans from funds outside the banking system until the debt burden became too large.

US President Donald Trump has adjusted his tariff plans for imported trucks. Instead of commencing on October 1 as initially announced, the new 25 percent tariffs are now set to take effect on November 1 and will be extended to include medium and heavy trucks, as Trump explained on his platform Truth Social.