Bloomberg Germany’s Free Democrats overwhelmingly supported a coalition deal with the Social Democrats and Greens, bringing the party one step closer to governing Europe’s biggest economy. The pro-business FDP backed the 177-page pact outlining the government’s plan for the next four years with 92% of votes at a special party conference in Berlin. The SPD already approved the deal at ...

Bloomberg France’s Republicans nominated their first woman presidential candidate in a primary that sharpened the focus of the challenge facing Emmanuel Macron in next year’s election. Valerie Pecresse won the final round of the conservative’s ballot after 61% of members backed her. Eric Ciotti, a lawmaker from southern France often compared to far-right rival Eric Zemmour, took 39%. By selecting ...

Bloomberg Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US will stand up to an “increasingly assertive and autocratic” China in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, calling its activity “disturbing.” One way to counter China’s military modernisation, growing nuclear capabilities and technological advances is to strengthen US alliances in the region, Austin told a security conference in California. “The activity that we ...