January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
BERLIN, Feb 24 — Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany’s next chancellor after his conservative CDU/CSU bloc won the national election. However, he faces tough coalition negotiations following the far-right AfD’s historic second-place finish.
Merz, 69, has pledged to strengthen Europe’s independence from the US, criticizing Washington’s influence during the campaign. He warned of mounting pressure from both the US and assertive powers like Russia and China, emphasizing the need for European unity.
Despite President Donald Trump welcoming the election result, Merz expressed skepticism about US commitment to Europe, questioning NATO’s future role.
The election saw CDU/CSU secure 28.5% of votes, followed by the AfD with 20.5%, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD suffered its worst post-war defeat at 16.5%. Younger voters contributed to the rise of the far-left Die Linke, while the Greens and FDP struggled.
With no clear majority, coalition talks could take months, leaving Scholz in a caretaker role as Germany faces economic struggles and shifting global alliances. — Reuters
