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The UK government Tuesday gave the green light for German media group Axel Springer to buy British newspaper The Telegraph, ending a drawn-out pursuit of the 170-year-old title.The Labour government's Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in a statement that she is "not minded to intervene in this merger" over competition and foreign-ownership concerns.Axel, which owns German newspapers Bild and Welt as well as the Politico news outlet, last month announced it would pay £575mn ($661mn) in cash for The Telegraph's print and online versions.That came after the UK government in February launched an investigation into an agreed sale of The Telegraph to the owner of the Daily Mail, a rival British right-wing publication, citing competition concerns.That probe has been made redundant by the government's approval of the German takeover."After a long period of uncertainty, we can confirm that we will invest significantly in The Telegraph's editorial excellence and international growth," Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Dopfner said in a statement Tuesday."The Telegraph will join a global network committed to independent reporting while retaining its distinct editorial voice and British identity."An international pursuit of The Telegraph stretches back almost three years.RedBird IMI, a joint venture between US investment firm RedBird Capital and Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments, had struck a deal for the title in late 2023.However, the previous UK government triggered a swift resale over freedom-of-speech concerns owing to Abu Dhabi's press censorship record.RedBird then pursued the takeover under a revised structure, but abruptly dropped its bid in late 2025.The Daily Mail then agreed a £500-million deal with US-Emirati consortium RedBird IMI in November for the purchase.Amid the takeover saga, the previous UK Conservative government also amended merger laws to bar foreign states from controlling British newspapers. 

Italian bank UniCredit on Monday made a 35bn euro ($40bn) takeover offer for Commerzbank, sparking fury from Berlin and a defiant vow from the German lender to defend its independence.While stressing that it did not expect to take full control, UniCredit said it would raise its stake in Germany's second-biggest bank to more than 30%, triggering a mandatory takeover offer under German law.It marks a sharp escalation in a saga which has sparked uproar in Germany, and the finance ministry in Berlin swifty responded that any "hostile takeover" of the systemically important bank would be "unacceptable."UniCredit boss Andrea Orcel said earlier on Monday that the drama, which began in 2024 when the Italian lender acquired a substantial stake in Commerzbank, had become a distraction for both banks and it was time to act.Italy's second-biggest bank decided to make the move "because we felt that to continue to stall was a suboptimal situation for both," he told analysts on a call."This offer was a neat way to open dialogue and to try to put the ball back in centre court," he added."You can imagine the outcome I eventually hope for -- but it doesn't need to be that."Commerzbank CEO Bettina Orlopp, however, noted the approach was "not coordinated with us", and reiterated that she was determined Commerzbank should remain independent."We are convinced of the strength and potential of our strategy, which focuses on independence and profitable growth," she said.She also suggested the offer as it stands was too low, saying that it "contains no premium for our shareholders".UniCredit offered a premium of four percent on Friday's closing share price for Commerzbank, but the German lender's shares soared 6.8% on Monday morning following the takeover offer.Announcing its offer to acquire all Commerzbank's shares, UniCredit said it expected to gain a stake of more than 30% "without reaching control"."This would both remove the need for UniCredit to continuously adjust its stake to remain under the 30% threshold and an ability to increase its stake freely," it added.UniCredit currently has a direct stake of around 26% in Commerzbank and controls an additional some four percent through financial derivatives.Berlin still has a 12.1% stake in Commerzbank, the legacy of a 2008 bailout during the global financial crisis.Known for financing Germany's prized network of small- and medium-sized industrial champions, Commerzbank is dear to many Germans, and the prospect of an Italian takeover has been far from welcome.Commerzbank staff have also opposed the move, and union Verdi warned that the German lender could be "dismantled" in the event of takeover."An independent Commerzbank is the best guarantee of secure jobs and a solid future for both institutions," union official Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen said.Some employees dressed up as Gallic warriors fighting Roman invaders outside Commerzbank's shareholder meeting last May.The Frankfurt-based firm has also raised dividends and cut thousands of jobs in an effort to boost its share price and make any takeover more expensive.But some European policymakers have made more supportive noises about a potential takeover as they seek to unify the region's fragmented financial services sector.Asked in 2024 about the saga, ECB chief Christine Lagarde said that cross-border banking mergers were "desirable" to allow Europe's lenders to compete with their bigger rivals, particularly in the United States. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received Monday a phone call from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.The Chancellor inquired about the situation in Qatar and discussed the latest developments in the region in light of the continued blatant Iranian attacks on Qatar and the countries of the region.The call also discussed the regional and international efforts made to contain the escalation and enhance security and stability, especially the economic repercussions that the region is witnessing, which cast their shadow at the regional and international levels, and what is reflected from this on global energy security.Both sides stressed that the current stage necessitates intensifying international efforts aimed at de-escalation and prioritising diplomatic solutions to halt the escalation and maintain peace and stability. They noted that these efforts are consistent with the principles of the UN Charter, which stipulate the settlement of disputes by peaceful means and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Thousands of German teenagers skipped school Thursday to join protests against a stepped-up military recruitment drive that many fear may in future involve a form of conscription.About 3,000 students gathered on Berlin's Potsdamer Platz square, with smaller demonstrations held across Germany as part of a nationwide "school strike"."I don't see why anyone should have to go to the front lines for politicians," Alex Krzeszka, a 15-year-old student, told AFP at the Berlin rally."I don't see it as morally right, and I think war should never be the solution. Problems should be solved diplomatically."Germany, like other European countries, has sought to build up its armed forces in response to Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the threat of further aggression against Nato members.Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to turn the Bundeswehr into Europe's largest conventional army, banking initially on a voluntary recruitment drive.The government this year started requiring all 18-year-old men to fill out questionnaires about their interest and fitness for short-term military service.Women are also being asked to fill out the forms, but cannot be compelled to do so under current German law.Among the signs being waved by protesters in Berlin was a poster that read "We are not cannon fodder" while another demanded: "Send Friedrich Merz to the front line!"For now at least, German lawmakers have decided against bringing back mandatory conscription, which Germany suspended in 2011.But some politicians have expressed doubts about whether ambitious recruiting targets can be achieved without some from of conscription.Plans call for strengthening the Bundeswehr from about 185,000 active-duty troops now to 260,000 by 2030, while roughly quadrupling the size of the reserves to 200,000.The Bundeswehr shrank dramatically after the end of the Cold War as countries across Europe slashed defence budgets.In the 1980s, West Germany alone had fielded a military of nearly 500,000 troops."I think they should definitely advertise for the Bundeswehr, but it absolutely shouldn't be compulsory," Leander Martinez, a 16-year-old student from Berlin, told AFP."Reintroducing conscription is nothing other than rearmament," Leon Reinemann, a student who helped organise the school strike in the western city of Koblenz, told broadcaster NTV.He defended the fact students were skipping classes, saying that "a single day of absence from school is significantly less serious than six months in the barracks".Others took a more staunchly pacifist stance at the Berlin demonstration."I'm against conscription and against war propaganda," Tillmann, a 19-year-old student who declined to give his last name, told AFP."And I think murdering someone is always wrong, even if the state says that someone should be murdered. There's nothing more important than human life." 

 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held Thursday an official session of talks at the Amiri Diwan. At the outset of the session, His Highness the Amir welcomed the chancellor and his accompanying delegation, hoping that the visit would contribute to developing relations between the two countries, pushing them to broader levels. **media[413111]**The chancellor voiced his thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir for the warm welcome, stressing Germany's keenness to strengthen co-operation between the two countries in various fields, especially in the economic and investment fields.  The session discussed ways to support and strengthen the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to develop them across various areas of partnership, particularly in the economy, investment, trade, energy, and military co-operation. **media[413110]**In addition, it discussed key regional and international issues and developments. His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, His Excellency Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Khulaifi, and a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.  On the German side, the session was attended by a number of Their Excellencies ranking officials, members of the official accompanying delegation. HH the Amir and the chancellor held a bilateral meeting, where they exchanged views on regional and international developments of common concern. HH the Amir also held a luncheon banquet in honour of the chancellor and his accompanying delegation. Earlier, the chancellor arrived at the Amir Diwan, where he was accorded an official reception ceremony.

His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz co-chaired the meeting of the Qatari-German Business Roundtable, held in Doha Thursday.At the outset of the meeting, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Chancellor and the accompanying delegation, affirming that the foundations of co-operation between Qatar and Germany are solid.The prime minister pointed out that over the past decades, Qatar has sought to develop its relations with Germany. He noted that through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar has succeeded in becoming one of the largest foreign investors in Germany. He pointed out that German companies operating in Qatar have added significant value to its economy.The PM mentioned that co-operation between the two countries encompasses the fields of energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial institutions, emphasising that Qatar aspires to expand this co-operation to include technology, healthcare, and artificial intelligence, which, in Qatar's view, are the industries of the future.He reaffirmed Qatar's strong interest in expanding co-operation and increasing business ties between companies in both countries. He noted that Qatar is currently undergoing a transitional phase and has already begun reviewing several laws and regulations to ensure they keep pace with contemporary developments.He further emphasised Qatar's commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all, while underscoring the importance of being viewed by Germany and other European countries as a reliable partner capable of connecting East and West. He highlighted that this approach has guided Qatar's efforts in geopolitics and should likewise be applied in the economic sphere to achieve prosperity for its people.The meeting also reviewed ways to strengthen co-operation and partnership across various sectors, as well as investment opportunities available in both countries.A number of CEOs representing groups, companies, organisations, and agencies from both countries attended the roundtable. 

The German stand for startups was inaugurated Monday at Web Summit Qatar 2026, with the participation of 200-plus German founders, investors, and decision-makers.The inauguration event was attended by a number of Their Excellencies, ministers, and high-ranking officials from Qatar and Germany, as well as innovation entrepreneurs and investors, with the objective of reinforcing economic and tech co-operation and deepening partnerships with entrepreneurs in the region.The German delegation participating in this stand includes a host of CEOs and representatives of firms operating in the sectors of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, deep technology, digital platforms, industrial innovation, as well as advanced applied technologies.The stand is set to showcase an integrated programme that includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, roundtables, and specialised sessions, offering a strategic platform for communication and collaboration between German innovators and the tech ecosystem in Qatar.The German State of North Rhine-Westphalia is participating as guest of honour in the summit, represented by senior leadership from the ministry of economic affairs, industry, climate action and energy, alongside other German ministers and officials, high-ranking diplomatic corps representatives, and key figures from the fields of research, innovation, and industry.The stand is backed by a wide swathe of government agencies in Germany, most notably the ministry of economic affairs, industry, climate action and energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, a delegation from the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in addition to the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, the DAI-Labor at the Technical University of Berlin, and RWE AG, a leading company in renewable energy and industrial innovation.The German Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMW) has so far opened a regional representative office in Doha to serve as a headquarters covering the GCC states and providing support for German firms as they expand in the region, projecting Qatar as a key strategic partner for German innovation on the global stage. 

German companies operating in Qatar are reporting a notably optimistic outlook, according to the AHK World Business Outlook, Qatar, Fall 2025. While global sentiment remains cautious, the report noted, Qatar’s business landscape remains “largely optimistic.” The survey shows that “62%” of participating firms assess their current business situation as positive, up from “58%” in spring. Looking ahead, the survey reported that “60%” expect conditions to improve further over the next 12 months, “38%” anticipate that conditions will remain about the same, and only “3%” anticipate otherwise. Economic forecasts also reflect stability and growth. “Thirty-five percent” of respondents anticipate expansion, while “55%” expect conditions to remain steady. “ The local economic development within Qatar is mostly expected to improve or stay similar. 35% of the companies see an improvement and 55% expect the situation to remain about equal,” the survey reported. The survey stated that investment plans remain consistent, with nearly one in four companies preparing for higher spending. “In terms of future investments, the percentage of companies projecting higher investments has been stable at 38% and about every third of the participants expect the investment to remain the same. The number of companies that plan lower or no investments slightly increased to 31%” the survey stated. According to the survey, employment prospects also mirror this cautious optimism. “In the coming year, the prospects for local employment still appear positive, with about 60% of companies anticipating stability in their workforce number. While only 14% of businesses expect a decline in the team strength (down by 2%), the intention to increase the headcount declined from 42% to 27%,” the survey stated. In terms of risks, half of the surveyed firms identify demand as their “greatest” challenge. The survey reported, “Trade barriers/preference to local companies remain a significant issue, cited by 36% of respondents. Financing and economic policy conditions, as well as supply chain disruptions, are each considered a risk by about every third company.” The survey also reported on the expected impact of the new US trade policy on the company’s local business. It further stated, “While uncertainty surrounding US trade policy remains a factor influencing the outlook of local businesses, its expected impact has eased over the past six months. Only 38% of the companies anticipate negative impacts on their business, whether major or minor, coming from 58% in spring. Now, 62% foresee no consequences.” The survey, conducted between September 29 and October 17, 2025, reflects responses from more than 3,500 German companies worldwide, including those with operations in Qatar. 

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned Sunday that the rise of the far right and increasing antisemitism posed a growing threat to Germany's democracy."One hundred and seven years after 1918, the year the first German Republic was proclaimed, our liberal democracy is under pressure," he said at his official Berlin residence Bellevue Palace."Populists and extremists are mocking our institutions, poisoning public debate, and exploiting fear," he added.November 9 is a highly symbolic date for Germany — in 1918 the proclamation of the Republic was made on this day, in 1938 pogroms erupted against Jews, and in 1989 the Berlin Wall fell.Steinmeier referenced the recent rise of the far right in the shape of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), which scored a 20.5 percent vote share in last February's general election to place second, forcing first-placed Christian Democrats (CDU) to enter a coalition with the beaten Social Democrats.New Chancellor Friedrich Merz has hardened his own rhetoric on immigration since taking office but current opinion polls see the AfD as level-pegging with his party.For Steinmeier, "there must be no political cooperation with extremists. Neither in government nor in parliament.""Antisemitism is not back, because it has always existed," he said, alluding to a record 6,236 recorded antisemitic crimes in Germany last year."Is it possible that we have not learned the lessons of history?" he said

His Excellency Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani convened a meeting with Liaison Director of German BVMW GCC Office Nizar Maarouf, and Managing Director Christian Schwippert, to discuss coordination and the roadmap for the second edition of the German Startup Pavilion at Web Summit Qatar 2026, taking place from 1st to 4th of February 2026.During the meeting, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani reaffirmed his and his team's full support for the upcoming edition, ensuring strong collaboration and facilitation to make it an even greater success."Our work with the German startup community exemplifies our broader strategy to foster meaningful international collaboration in the technology and innovation spaces.""I personally look forward to seeing how the next wave of German startups tap into the opportunities that we continue to expand year over year," His Excellency added.Nizar Maarouf added: "We look forward to the active participation of the German Startup Pavilion at Web Summit Qatar 2026, following the great success of our first presence at the last edition of the event, which saw the participation of more than 100 German companies. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Sheikh Jassim and his team for their continuous support of our work and the hospitality shown to the German startup participants at Web Summit 2025."The meeting highlighted the shared commitment to further strengthen Qatari-German cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for partnership and investment in a way that positions Qatar as a global hub for technology and innovation.

A high-ranking business delegation from the German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV e.V.) will travel to Qatar in the coming days for a multi-day visit, according to the German embassy in Doha. The delegation aims to further strengthen economic relations between Germany and Qatar and to explore new opportunities for co-operation in forward-looking sectors. The delegation will be led by Silvio Konrad, COO Energy and Resources, TÜV Nord Group, and will include high-ranking business representatives of leading German companies and company representations in the fields of energy, engineering, industry, digitalisation, technology, circular economy, culture and healthcare, such as TÜV Nord, SAP, Linde and Steinway & Sons. Owners of SMEs, who are also active as private investors, are also part of the delegation. During the visit, the delegation will hold talks with Qatari government officials, business associations, and private sector representatives. Particular focus will be placed on engaging with Qatari key players from all sectors and stakeholders about further enhancing our ties, exploring new opportunities for business collaboration and looking for joint projects in different areas. “Germany and Qatar have enjoyed a close and trusting partnership for many years. With this delegation visit, we aim to set new impulses for joint projects and unlock the great potential of our economic co-operation,” said Konrad in a press statement. Founded in 1934, NUMOV e.V. is Germany’s oldest organisation dedicated to promoting business relations with the Near and Middle East. The association supports German companies in entering regional markets and fosters direct dialogue between business and politics. German ambassador to Qatar Hans-Udo Muzel said: “Germany and Qatar already have excellent ties. NUMOV’s visit to Doha underlines even more the shared interest in further expanding economic co-operation – particularly in light of global challenges such as energy security and transition, diversification, and sustainable development”.