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Germany

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Germany. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Berlin

Head of State

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Head of Government

Chancellor Olaf Scholz

last updated:

29 November, 2024

China-EU relations

How friendly will Europe’s right wing be to Trump on China? It’s complicated

Leaders like Viktor Orban of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy embrace US president-elect but may not hold with his entire agenda.

24 Dec 2024 - 11:45PMvideocam

Robotics

China’s industrial robot sales shrink on ‘tightening demand’

23 Dec 2024 - 6:30PM

Crime

Saudi suspect in German Christmas market attack held on multiple murder charges

23 Dec 2024 - 3:16AM

France

France’s most powerful nuclear reactor comes on stream after 12-year delay

The delay arose from technical setbacks that saw the cost of the project balloon four times from the original estimate.

21 Dec 2024 - 8:40PMvideocam

A worker walks past a reactor building at the third-generation European Pressurised Reactor project nuclear reactor of Flamanville, Normandy. Photo: AFP

Thailand

Thai court delivers death penalty, life sentences for German man’s murder

A Thai of Pakistani descent received the death sentence while two Germans were sentenced to life imprisonment.

21 Dec 2024 - 5:24PMvideocam

Beauty

Manila pageant school that’s like boot camp for world’s beauty queens

One of the world’s leading pageant schools, in the Philippines, puts willing contestants from around the world through a total body workout.

21 Dec 2024 - 1:15PMvideocam

Christmas

Germany’s Scholz mourns 5 killed, hundreds hurt in Christmas market attack

Police said the vehicle drove at least 400 metres across the venue, leaving a trail of bloody carnage.

21 Dec 2024 - 8:39PM

A police officer guards a blocked road near a Christmas market after an incident in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday. Photo: AP

United States

Elon Musk gives nod to German far-right party as election looms

The billionaire says the AfD party ‘can save Germany’. He has already expressed support for other anti-immigration parties across Europe.

20 Dec 2024 - 7:54PMvideocam

Music

How Gen Z, Tinder and Spotify are disrupting clubbing capital’s rhythm

Berlin’s nightlife scene is under threat, with the number of clubs dropping by almost half in 10 years and many more considering closing.

19 Dec 2024 - 7:15PM

United States

Opinion | Why a Trump economic boom is much less likely this time around

Trump is once again inheriting a strong US economy but the world is more volatile, and US debt and interest rates are much higher.

17 Dec 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

Responsible travel

Half as fast as Beijing-Shanghai, Paris-Berlin high-speed trains launch

Direct daytime high-speed trains link French and German capitals, but journey time nearly twice that of Beijing to Shanghai, a longer trip.

17 Dec 2024 - 3:32PM

German ICE trains now run between Berlin and Paris. Photo: Deutsche Bahn

Olaf Scholz

Germany heads for early elections after Scholz loses confidence vote

Olaf Scholz remains interim chancellor as Europe’s biggest economy on the path to elections on February 23.

17 Dec 2024 - 8:55AM

Singapore

Allianz withdraws offer to acquire Singapore’s Income Insurance

The decision comes after public outcry and government scrutiny over the importance of balancing commercial interests with social responsibility.

16 Dec 2024 - 6:39PM

United States

Ex-US House speaker Pelosi has hip replacement surgery in Germany after fall

The senior lawmaker is ‘well on the mend’ after tripping at an event in Luxembourg and fracturing her hip.

15 Dec 2024 - 3:48AM

Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi waves to the crowd on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Photo: AFP

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Nio takes aim at BMW, Audi with new luxury sedan

The ET9, which Nio expects to start delivering in March, is priced at 800,000 yuan (US$110,080) in presale.

13 Dec 2024 - 6:00AM

A view of Nio’s luxury model the ET9. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong Squash Open

‘Greatest stage’: US star Olivia Weaver backs squash to thrive at LA Olympics

World No 4, one of several academically inclined players at the world team championships, set to return from injury for Malaysia semi-final.

12 Dec 2024 - 11:34PM

Trade

Macroscope | Could Trump be a catalyst for the reforms China and Germany need?

As Beijing and Berlin face pressure to stimulate their economies, challenges posed by Trump’s approach could prompt much-needed policy changes.

12 Dec 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

Women-only cafe in Germany a ‘place of retreat’, says teenage owner

18-year-old Sumeja Zumberi’s cafe Baresha offers women in Bremen, many from countries where sexes meet separately, a rare space of their own.

12 Dec 2024 - 12:45PM

Sumeja Zumberi, the 18-year-old owner of Baresha, has received praise for her women-only cafe from customers who enjoy feeling “undisturbed” there. Photo: dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

United States

US hotels welcome Indian tourist boom as East Asian demand falters

This comes amid fewer visitors from China, Japan and South Korea as demand from East Asian nations remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.

12 Dec 2024 - 12:31AMvideocam

Syria

European countries put Syrian asylum bids on hold after Assad’s fall

Britain, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries to freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians.

10 Dec 2024 - 11:59AM

Asian cinema

Not yet at home in exile, Iranian filmmaker lives in the world of cinema

For The Seed of the Sacred Fig director Mohammad Rasoulof, a winner in Cannes weeks after fleeing Iran for Germany, exile hasn’t sunk in.

8 Dec 2024 - 6:15PMvideocam

Exiled Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

Germany aims to align with Trump to end ‘merciless’ Ukraine war

Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles but stressed the country’s sovereignty should be guaranteed.

7 Dec 2024 - 11:55AMvideocam

A police officer inspects destroyed cars at the site of a Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Pandas

‘Panda diplomacy’: Berlin names new panda twins Leni and Lotti

The cubs are the offspring of mother Meng Meng and father Jiao Qing, who arrived in Berlin in 2017.

6 Dec 2024 - 9:07PM

China trade

German firms seek fair competition in China as profits become ‘razor thin’

Automotive industry remains a cornerstone of German investment, but its carmakers are being challenged by local electric vehicle innovators.

5 Dec 2024 - 4:09PMvideocam

France

French government toppled in no-confidence vote, deepening political crisis

Far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined forces against PM Michel Barnier, in the first such ousting in over 60 years.

5 Dec 2024 - 3:32PM

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier removes his glasses after giving a speech during a debate on two motions of no-confidence against the French government in Paris on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong racing

Frenchman Barzalona overcomes odds to win first IJC crown at Valley

Given little chance as a $30 outsider, 33-year-old jockey dominates prestigious contest with two wins and a second.

5 Dec 2024 - 12:49AM

Mickael Barzalona won the International Jockeys’ Championship for 2024. Photos: Kenneth Chan

China-EU relations

EU pushes to cut China reliance with US$4.8 billion in cleantech grants

Move to name China in the proposal could leave the bloc vulnerable to a challenge in Geneva trade courts, analyst says.

4 Dec 2024 - 11:56PMvideocam

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay to fly to Munich, relaunch Brussels service next year

Flag carrier ‘excited’ to be adding new Munich service, as it takes number of European destinations to 11.

4 Dec 2024 - 11:49AMvideocam

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