Today in Germany: A summary of today's current news on Tuesday
In a significant development, a German court has begun the trial of Jian G., a former assistant to AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, accused of spying for Chinese intelligence from 2002. The trial, which started in early August 2025 in Dresden, is expected to last until late September.
Jian G., who worked for Krah between 2019 and 2024, is alleged to have passed sensitive European Parliament documents and intelligence about AfD politicians and Chinese dissidents in Germany to China. He is also suspected of handling another alleged Chinese operative, Yaqi X., who spied on the German arms industry and provided logistical information related to Leipzig airport.
The espionage charges against Jian G. include obtaining more than 500 documents classified as sensitive from the European Parliament and spying on prominent AfD leaders such as Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. He is also accused of disguising himself as a government opponent on social media to infiltrate Chinese dissident circles in Germany.
Meanwhile, Maximilian Krah is under a separate investigation for suspected money laundering and corruption. Reports indicate he received over 50,000 euros from firms linked to Jian G., which Krah denies, claiming political motivation behind the accusations.
The trial exposes potential ties between the far-right AfD party and Beijing, raising questions about the extent of Chinese intelligence activities targeting German politics and opposition groups within Germany. Krah has been called to appear as a witness in the trial, though he denies all wrongdoing.
Elsewhere in Germany, a man was electrocuted while taking a selfie on top of a train in Cologne. The incident occurred on Sunday at Cologne's central station. The electrical current the man was exposed to was approximately 65 times stronger than a conventional power socket. German police have asked for witnesses to come forward regarding the incident.
Several states in Germany have begun a speed camera marathon to reduce speed-related accidents. Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt are among the states participating in the marathon, which is set to last until Sunday, August 10th.
In other news, a senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition has suggested Berlin should consider sanctions on Israel, including a partial suspension of weapons exports. The call reflects a sharpening of rhetoric from Berlin against Israel, but has yet to result in any major policy changes.
Conservative Christian Social Union leader, Markus Söder, has suggested abolishing citizen's allowance for all refugees from Ukraine, sparking debate. The recent EU-US trade deal is being discussed in the context of Social Democrat Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil's visit to Washington.
References: [1] German court begins trial of suspected Chinese spy [2] AfD politician under investigation for money laundering [3] China's influence on German politics under scrutiny
- The trial of Jian G, a former assistant to AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, has highlighted the need for thorough policy-and-legislation regarding intelligence-gathering and potential espionage in politics.
- The incident involving the man electrocuted while taking a selfie in Cologne has emphasized the importance of general-news coverage to inform the public about accident-related dangers and potentially prevent similar incidents.
- The suggestion of sanctions on Israel, including a partial suspension of weapons exports, by a senior lawmaker in the German Chancellor's coalition signals an intensification in the politics of foreign relations in crime-and-justice matters, as well as raising questions about policy-and-legislation and diplomatic responses.
