TOPIC

/ location

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

A woman holds a candle as people leave floral tributes to the victims on Saturday near the site where a car rammed into a crowd at a Magdeburg Christmas market. Photo: Reuters

Crime

Saudi suspect in Christmas market car attack railed against Islam and Germany

Authorities say Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was angry about the country’s permissive attitude towards refugees from other mainly Muslim countries.

22 Dec 2024 - 2:32AM

France

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

21 Dec 2024 - 8:40PMvideocam

Thailand

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

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

Rodgil Flores (right) shows his students a pose. Photo: dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

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

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

A DJ plays at Re:mise in Berlin, Germany. Home to legendary clubs such as Tresor and Berghain, the German capital has long been a destination for nightlife lovers. Photo: DPA/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

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

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

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz bites his finger, on the day of a confidence vote called by him to pave way for snap election. Photo: Reuters

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

Allianz is a German multinational financial services company and the largest insurance company in the world. Photo: Shutterstock

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

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

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

Olivia Weaver (right) is set to return to action after recovering from the back injury she suffered in her Hong Kong Squash Open semi-final match against Nour El Sherbini. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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

An image of US president-elect Donald Trump is displayed as traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on November 26. Photo: AFP

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

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

Members of Germany’s Syria community in Bonn celebrate the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Photo: Reuters

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

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

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

Leni and Lotti are the offspring of mother Meng Meng and father Jiao Qing, who arrived in Berlin in 2017. Photo: AFP

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

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

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

Electric car batteries are among products targeted by EU grants in an attempt to reduce European dependence on China. The European Commission is offering grants worth 4.6 billion euros. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

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

A search on Cathay’s website showed a return direct flight on June 16 from Hong Kong to Munich costs HK$7,905 in economy class. Photo: May Tse

Belgium

New Belgium law gives sex workers contracts, benefits and safety protection

Law gives access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions.

2 Dec 2024 - 3:55PM

Science

Why are top scientists leaving the West for China?

A growing number of leading academics are being tempted away from Western countries as they make the move to Chinese institutions.

3 Dec 2024 - 3:53PMvideocam

130

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW