Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

German Ambassador to China Suddenly Dies

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Sep 2021 18:10
2 Min Read

He was a foreign policy advisor to German chancellor Angela Merkel and was seen as an important figure in the post-Merkel era.

  • x
  • Hecker died less than two weeks after officially
    Hecker died less than two weeks after officially becoming an ambassador.

Germany’s ambassador to China and Angela Merkel’s former foreign policy advisor, Jan Hecker, has died suddenly less than two weeks after being posted to Beijing.

He was 54.

On the 24th of August, Hecker officially began his posting in Beijing after arriving earlier with his wife and three children.

The cause of death is yet to be revealed. 

Related News

Brazil, Nicaragua expel each other's ambassadors amid rising tensions

Lavrov kicks off diplomatic tour across African continent

The German embassy’s website mourned its ambassador in a statement, stating “We are deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China. Our hearts are with his family and his friends and colleagues at this time.”

Hecker rose to prominence after becoming a judge at Germany’s federal administrative court between 2011 and 2015, eventually finding his way into diplomacy, working with Merkel’s chancellery later that year. He was in charge of coordinating refugee policy during the European migrant crisis before being appointed in 2017 as head of the foreign, security, and development policy department.

German chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock at her former adviser’s death, articulating she was "profoundly shaken by Jan Hecker’s death.”

The two were close in political circles, with Hecker being one of the chancellor’s top advisers on foreign policy, becoming a key player in Merkel’s promise of Wir schaffen das (We will manage) due to his high organizational skills.

His Beijing posting was seen as a move by Merkel to retain key influence in Germany’s foreign policy as she prepares to step down later this year.

  • Germany
  • Angela Merkel
  • German Chancellor
  • China
  • Beijing
  • Diplomatic relations

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS