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Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen is a prominent German politician currently serving as President of the European Commission, a role she has held since 2019. She was re-elected for a second term in July 2024. Prior to this influential European position, she had a distinguished career in German federal politics, notably as Minister for Family Affairs and Youth (2005-2009), Minister for Labour and Social Affairs (2009-2013) and the first female Minister for Defence (2013-2019). A medical doctor by training, her leadership at the Commission has focused on initiatives like the European Green Deal and coordinating the EU’s response to global challenges.

EU flags waving in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Shutterstock

European Union

EU agrees to ‘world’s largest’ free-trade zone with Mercosur pact after 25 years

The EU sealed the historic deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to form a 700 million strong bloc, defying fierce farmer opposition.

6 hours ago

European Union

Bulgaria becomes 21st country to adopt euro in historic milestone

1 Jan 2026 - 2:06PM

Year in Review

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

22 Dec 2025 - 5:00PM

Ukraine war

Russia says Putin open to Ukraine war talks with France’s Macron

Moscow’s response came after the French president urged Europe to ‘re-engage’ with the Russian leader.

21 Dec 2025 - 1:20PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin tastes pastries in Moscow on Saturday. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin via AP

China-EU relations

EU facing crunch talks over Ukraine, China and its economic future

EU leaders are set to meet amid growing concern in Brussels that the bloc’s divisions will impede meaningful action across a range of issues.

18 Dec 2025 - 2:07PMvideocam

European Union

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:16AMvideocam

Australia

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

15 Dec 2025 - 6:28AM

People hold a vigil outside the Australian High Commission in central London, Britain on Sunday following a terrorist attack on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo: PA Wire / dpa

My Take

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

14 Dec 2025 - 10:15PM

European Union

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

14 Dec 2025 - 2:24AM

Ukraine war

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

9 Dec 2025 - 9:16AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: AP

China-France relations

Macron bypasses EU in bid to boost France-China ties

French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.

4 Dec 2025 - 5:07PM

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, visit the Forbidden City. Photo: AP/Pool

China-France relations

China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

The pair meet in Beijing for ‘candid and fruitful’ talks followed by the signing of 12 deals covering everything from nuclear power to pandas.

4 Dec 2025 - 8:15PM

China-EU relations

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

Twin proposals aim to boost economic arsenal while cutting China dependence as 27-nation bloc fights for survival in era of trade warfare.

3 Dec 2025 - 11:34PMvideocam

China-EU relations

EU abandons WTO case against China over alleged coercion of Lithuania

Brussels ends its challenge after saying flows have resumed, though critics note Lithuanian exports to China remain far below 2021 levels.

2 Dec 2025 - 4:36AMvideocam

The Lithuanian embassy in Beijing was closed in 2021 at the height of the row between Vilnius and Beijing over relations with Taiwan. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron

The absence of an EU leader from talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping would represent a break with recent tradition.

28 Nov 2025 - 6:55PM

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) will be heading to China without European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

US and Ukraine refine draft of peace plan under Trump deadline pressure

Talks on a 28-point proposal to end Russia’s war held in Geneva after Trump set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to approve the plan.

24 Nov 2025 - 3:09PM

China-EU relations

Europe seeks common ground with Indo-Pacific nations bruised by US-China rivalry

Senior officials and diplomats from Asia, Africa and the Pacific will attend a forum in Brussels. Beijing and Washington aren’t invited.

20 Nov 2025 - 12:00PM

China-EU relations

EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough

Official sources say Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals.

17 Nov 2025 - 5:48PMvideocam

Brussels and Beijing are said to be close to agreeing on a licensing procedure for rare earths exports. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’

A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.

7 Nov 2025 - 5:34PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Will EU ‘play hardball’ in US-China rivalry? Brussels faces division on autonomy

China’s efforts to persuade EU to treat ties ‘as a strategic partnership are reaching their limits’, says former diplomat Cui Hongjian.

7 Nov 2025 - 9:06AMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | Hopes of EU-China reset back amid US-China truce – but will it last?

Easing of pressure from Trump and signs of an end to Chinese subsidies for EVs could see the EU return to a softer diplomatic engagement.

7 Nov 2025 - 6:05AMvideocam

China technology

Opinion | The quiet US-China tech contest for the future

The competition will be decided by who builds the most productive, trusted and durable infrastructure. Those choices will shape billions of lives.

31 Oct 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Engineers run with a robot taking part in a half marathon race in Beijing, on April 19. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

Caught between China and the US, Europe stumbles towards its independence day

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is leading a growing chorus for action but progress remains slow.

29 Oct 2025 - 8:14PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Chinese premier urges EU to steer ties in ‘right direction’ amid trade discord

Also on Asean sidelines, Beijing’s No 2 official calls for deeper economic cooperation with Australia despite recent air encounter.

27 Oct 2025 - 8:13PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

25 Oct 2025 - 5:51PMvideocam

137

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a new plan to counter China’s choke on rare earths. Photo: EPA

Ukraine war

EU takes tentative step toward using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Leaders left the door open for a US$162 billion financing plan as Zelensky pushes, arguing: ‘Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay’.

24 Oct 2025 - 10:09AMvideocam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to press in Brussels. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

EU sanctions state-linked Chinese oil companies over Russia war support

Beijing slams latest punishment ensnaring 15 entities, reiterating it ‘has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict’.

23 Oct 2025 - 9:30PMvideocam

China-EU relations

China agrees to crisis talks in Brussels to discuss rare earths compromise

EU trade chief to meet Chinese counterpart to find ‘urgent solutions’ to China’s tightening of its restrictions on rare earth exports.

22 Oct 2025 - 2:03AMvideocam

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Ursula von der Leyen

EU agrees to ‘world’s largest’ free-trade zone with Mercosur pact after 25 years

The EU sealed the historic deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to form a 700 million strong bloc, defying fierce farmer opposition.

Bulgaria becomes 21st country to adopt euro in historic milestone

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

Russia says Putin open to Ukraine war talks with France’s Macron

Moscow’s response came after the French president urged Europe to ‘re-engage’ with the Russian leader.

EU facing crunch talks over Ukraine, China and its economic future

EU leaders are set to meet amid growing concern in Brussels that the bloc’s divisions will impede meaningful action across a range of issues.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around

The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

My Take | The emerging axis of lawlessness – the European Union, United States and Israel

From Ukraine to the Caribbean and Middle East, we are witnessing the application of the law of the jungle by the West and its ally.

Belarus agrees to stop balloon flights into Lithuania amid hybrid attack fears

The incidents have caused over a dozen closures of Vilnius airport in recent months, prompting Lithuania to declare a state of emergency.

European allies back Ukraine’s Zelensky after Trump criticism

Ukrainian president met leaders in London and Brussels, declaring that ceding territory to Russia - a central point of the US proposal - was impossible.

Macron bypasses EU in bid to boost France-China ties

French President Emmanuel Macron left Ursula von der Leyen in Europe, as European leaders sidestep the EU and seek to boost bilateral ties with China.

China and France should ‘understand and support each other’, Xi tells Macron

The pair meet in Beijing for ‘candid and fruitful’ talks followed by the signing of 12 deals covering everything from nuclear power to pandas.

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

Twin proposals aim to boost economic arsenal while cutting China dependence as 27-nation bloc fights for survival in era of trade warfare.

EU abandons WTO case against China over alleged coercion of Lithuania

Brussels ends its challenge after saying flows have resumed, though critics note Lithuanian exports to China remain far below 2021 levels.

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron

The absence of an EU leader from talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping would represent a break with recent tradition.

US and Ukraine refine draft of peace plan under Trump deadline pressure

Talks on a 28-point proposal to end Russia’s war held in Geneva after Trump set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to approve the plan.

Europe seeks common ground with Indo-Pacific nations bruised by US-China rivalry

Senior officials and diplomats from Asia, Africa and the Pacific will attend a forum in Brussels. Beijing and Washington aren’t invited.

EU recalibrates on China as it seeks rare earths breakthrough

Official sources say Brussels is in ‘de-escalation mode’ as it tries to convince Beijing to issue more export licences for critical minerals.

7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’

A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.

Will EU ‘play hardball’ in US-China rivalry? Brussels faces division on autonomy

China’s efforts to persuade EU to treat ties ‘as a strategic partnership are reaching their limits’, says former diplomat Cui Hongjian.

Opinion | Hopes of EU-China reset back amid US-China truce – but will it last?

Easing of pressure from Trump and signs of an end to Chinese subsidies for EVs could see the EU return to a softer diplomatic engagement.

Opinion | The quiet US-China tech contest for the future

The competition will be decided by who builds the most productive, trusted and durable infrastructure. Those choices will shape billions of lives.

Caught between China and the US, Europe stumbles towards its independence day

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is leading a growing chorus for action but progress remains slow.

Chinese premier urges EU to steer ties in ‘right direction’ amid trade discord

Also on Asean sidelines, Beijing’s No 2 official calls for deeper economic cooperation with Australia despite recent air encounter.

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

EU takes tentative step toward using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Leaders left the door open for a US$162 billion financing plan as Zelensky pushes, arguing: ‘Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay’.

EU sanctions state-linked Chinese oil companies over Russia war support

Beijing slams latest punishment ensnaring 15 entities, reiterating it ‘has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict’.

China agrees to crisis talks in Brussels to discuss rare earths compromise

EU trade chief to meet Chinese counterpart to find ‘urgent solutions’ to China’s tightening of its restrictions on rare earth exports.

As I see it | Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around