A rough start for German Chancellor Merz

India said it had carried out “precision strikes” on “terrorist infrastructure” at nine sites in Pakistan, Friederich Merz suffered a stinging defeat in the German Bundestag before being voted in as chancellor, and Washington and Beijing will this week hold their first trade talks since US President Donald Trump launched a trade war against China. Plus, Argentina is on the cusp of a copper mining boom that might cause problems for the country’s wine industry. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

India launches military strikes on Pakistan

Argentina’s wine heartland eyes copper riches 

US and China to launch formal trade talks

Chancellor on pause: Bundestag stings Friedrich Merz on day one

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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