On a multi-day visit to Germany's most important trading partner, China, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared his intention to deepen both diplomatic and economic relations. After a meeting with President Xi Jinping, Merz and Prime Minister Li Qiang signed several agreements on issues such as climate change and the fight against animal diseases with a view to closer collaboration.

Against the backdrop of a massive US military build-up, indirect talks between the US and Iran resumed in Geneva on Thursday. While the main topic was Iran'suclear programme, the US is also seeking a deal on missile armament. There waso breakthrough but further talks are scheduled to take place in Viennaext week. The media examine the motives on both sides.

Danish voters will elect aew parliament on 24 March after the country's Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a snap election yesterday. The vote would have had to take placeo later than 31 October anyway, but the announcement comes aso surprise as Fredriksen's popularity has soared since the Greenland crisis. Whether she can and wants to continue with the current three-party coalition remains to be seen.

On Monday, the 45th anniversary of the attempted coup of 23 February 1981, the Spanish government announced that it was declassifying the corresponding documents, which since are available for viewing on the government website. The failure of the military coup was a key moment in Spain's transition to democracy, known as the "Transición", after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

In the wiretapping scandal that shook Greece in 2022, a court has sentenced four businessmen associated with spyware manufacturer Intellexa to prison on Thursday. The Predator spyware was used for illegal wiretapping operations against politicians, journalists, military personnel and entrepreneurs. Theational press isow pushing for further clarification of the case.