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Germany
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Germany

Germany
Germany
The latest breaking news and stories on Germany, a country in northern Europe known as a federal republic, and the world’s fourth largest economy. Also covering Germany’s relationship with China and Europe, plus commentary and updates on Germany’s economy, politics, society and social issues.
Capital
Berlin
Head of State
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Head of Government
Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Olaf Scholz
French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) chairs an international videoconference on global growth. Photo: EPA
China trade

China-EU tensions, Xi in North Korea, flatlining retail sales

This week: China seeks to avert EU trade war, Xi hails ‘unwavering’ ties with North Korea, and US blacklists Chinese tech giants for alleged military ties. Next week: May retail sales data may show little growth, China tightens minerals controls, Nvidia gaming chip challenger comes to market, and more.

China trade

China’s BYD challenges iconic auto giants as hybrid demand surges in Germany

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China-EU relations

Have trade tensions scuppered EU-China talks ahead of tough Brussels decisions?

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Fifa World Cup 2026

Gold-laden World Cup trophy’s value surges 157% – how much is the bullion worth?

While priceless to players, all that shimmers in the iconic Fifa statue has seen its intrinsic value skyrocket amid a historic rally since the last tournament.

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The Fifa World Cup trophy is seen on display in the US state of New Jersey earlier this month. Photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
China-EU relations

Opinion | EU threat of trade war against China is a strategic farce

The EU is mistaken in believing it still has economic leverage. A trade war will not save an economy in decline.

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Japan

As I see it | Forget Weimar, it’s Japan’s Taisho period we need to talk about

As analysts warn about the far-right’s gains in Germany, we must also reckon with the historical events that prompted Japanese militarism.

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US-China relations

Trump has an understanding with Xi. His own administration doesn’t like it

US president’s warmer tone towards Beijing has raised hopes in China, but US tariffs, export curbs and lawmakers tell a different story.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

China debate reaches fever pitch in Brussels as EU’s crunch fortnight kicks off

Ahead of next week’s leaders’ summit, some are pushing for the bloc to end its ‘naivety’ and forcefully counter cheap imports.

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Ukraine war

European powers back Zelensky’s call for summit with Putin

UK, France and Germany endorse face-to-face ceasefire talks, but the Kremlin has so far ruled out a meeting.

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | Economist James Heckman on the value of risk-taking, and China’s ‘common goal’

He also discusses the economic outlook, youth unemployment and whether the country can overtake the US in science and tech.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China-EU relations

Outside In | Europe blaming China for trade imbalance ignores its own policy failures

How are Beijing’s successful industrial policies any different from those used by Europe, the US or the ‘Asian tigers’ in the past?

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Employees assemble Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.7 electric vehicles on a production line at the company’s manufacturing plant in Emden, northern Germany, on February 24. Photo: dpa
Aviation accidents

Nose down: Lufthansa investigating Boeing 787 landing gear collapse

Several injured in ‘very unusual’ landing gear failure of parked Dreamliner jet at a terminal gate.

Canada

Canada PM unveils AI strategy, warns of foreign dominance

Carney says the country has been slow to adopt the technology, and AI could be ‘weaponised’ against Canadians.

Aviation accidents

Small plane crash in Croatia leaves 4 dead, 2 missing

The search for two more people is ongoing.

A person inspects a small plane which crashed near Medulin, Croatia on Thursday. Photo: AP
China trade

New global financial architecture needed to end trade surplus fixation: Piketty

Economist proposes central bank and currency under the UN to remove fears that ‘world financial markets are going to eat your currency’.

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French economist Thomas Piketty in Hong Kong in 2018. Photo: Edward Wong
United Nations

Portugal and Austria defeat Germany for seats on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines by a vote of 143-49 to join the council for the first time.

Cinema

Wim Wenders pulls 1975 film over nude scene with Nastassja Kinski, who was 13

The acclaimed director apologised to the actress for not protecting her during the making of ‘The Wrong Move’.

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US-China relations

Can China fill funding and leadership gaps after America quit the WHO?

Beijing is now the global health body’s biggest assessed contributor, but its voluntary donations remained low in 2025.

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Illustrator: Victor Sanjinez
Africa

Protests over US Ebola centre in Kenya kill 2

A Kenyan court blocked the proposed US Ebola quarantine centre for another three weeks.

Science

China team drafts sanctions list on 63 key sectors to preserve technology

Scientists have listed sensitive or globally competitive tech that may benefit from export restrictions to keep them out of foreign hands.

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Technology

Opinion | For SpaceX, global dominance may not be written in the stars

Space is not an ordinary, commercial, open market but a strategic domain tied directly to sovereignty, security and industrial policy.

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The SpaceX Starship and super heavy booster creates sound waves as it lifts off on its 12th test flight from the SpaceX launch complex in Starbase, Texas, US, on May 22. Photo: Reuters
Conservation

Dead humpback whale Timmy brought ashore on Danish island

The carcass is due to be examined on the beach in the coming week.

The dead whale lies bloated off the coast of the Danish island of Anholt. The whale is the humpback known as Timmy, which first stranded off Timmendorfer Strand in late March and was transported to the North Sea about a month later. Photo: dpa
European Union

EU’s 6 biggest economies agree on capital markets supervision

It is part ‌of a bid to boost EU’s competitiveness as it struggles with weak growth and fierce competition from the US and China.

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China-EU relations

The era when Europe viewed China as a partner is over, Brussels insider warns

A new era of fractious EU-China trade relations is here to stay, as Brussels’ view of Beijing has fundamentally changed, lobbyist says.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Art of the deal: how Beijing pushed Trump to ‘arrest’ the trend on Taiwan arms

US president’s recent visit was seen as a prime opportunity to rein in the size of the weapons deliveries and avoid setting a precedent.

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The US approved 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems missiles for Taiwan as part of an US$11 billion arms package announced in December. Photo: Handout
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, May 2026

World leaders are flocking to Beijing in search of trade deals, investments and greater market access in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Premium plan: China’s EV makers pin hopes on higher-margin models

New models from carmakers including Nio and Seres also challenge Tesla’s bestselling Model Y and cars from luxury German marques.

China-EU relations

JD.com’s US$2.6 billion bid for Germany’s Ceconomy faces deeper EU scrutiny

European Commission launches in-depth investigation under Foreign Subsidies Regulation in latest instance of Brussels-Beijing tensions.

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