Advertisement
Advertisement
European Union
TOPIC
 / location

European Union

European Union
European Union
The latest breaking news and stories on the European Union (EU), an economic and political union of 27 member states mainly located in Europe, which accounts for around a sixth of global economic output. Also covering the EU’s relationship with the UK (post Brexit), China and the US, plus commentary and updates on EU legislation, the euro and trade.
Migrants try to make their way past Spanish police officers on August 1, following recent mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory, in Ceuta. Photo: Reuters
Spain

Spain PM blames Russia, Israel for Ceuta migrant crisis’ disinformation

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also dismisses speculation on the involvement of Moroccan authorities in the crisis.

US-China trade war

Beijing pushes back on Washington’s attempt to rally G20 over trade imbalance

4
China exports

As China-EU trade talk deadline nears, ex-Brussels official adopts bullish tone

China food security

China passes first law on farmland protection and improvement

Law orders provincial-level governments to ensure that total amount of arable land does not decrease.

videocam
Wheat grows under starry sky in Heilongjiang province. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

China’s factory activity improves in August, but stays in contraction

The PMI index was up last month to 49.8 from 49.2 in July, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Iceland

Iceland votes to reject proposal to restart EU accession talks

Referendum fails as voters prioritise control over fishing grounds over pro-EU government’s push for geopolitical stability.

7
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Britain

New UK PM Burnham’s honeymoon ends as Trump, first budget loom large

Since succeeding Keir Starmer, Burnham has pleased voters with several low-cost sweeteners, including cutting electricity bills and bus fares.

videocam
Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham holds a pint of beer during a visit to the Hare Inn in Harlow, east of London with the Chancellor John Healy (centre) on July 23. Photo: AFP
China exports

From air conditioners to taps, Europe’s climate extremes boost China sales

Chinese makers of low-flow taps, garden gear and insulated drinkware are seeing European orders surge as heatwaves and drought reshape demand.

videocam
8
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese battery giant CATL spreads investments in search of new growth drivers

World’s largest producer of lithium-ion batteries for EVs and energy storage systems has committed over 17 billion yuan to non-battery deals.

videocam
Ukraine war

Zelensky urges China to use diplomatic weight to end Russia’s war with Ukraine

Kyiv releases Chinese president’s Independence Day greeting as top envoy urges broader Black Sea security cooperation.

videocam
7
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged China to help end the Ukraine war, drawing attention to a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP
China manufacturing

BeiDou satellite navigation system covers 90% of ‘key industry’ uses: ministry

39 pilot cities added 2.96 million BeiDou positioning terminals in first half of this year, up 30 per cent year on year.

Farmers operate BeiDou-equipped agricultural machinery in a soybean field in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province in June. Photo: Xinhua
China-Latin America relations

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

ByteDance penalised for allegedly collecting data from 1 in 5 Brazilian children and failing to block minors from using TikTok.

videocam
5
Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

6
Diplomacy

Opinion | For states, being part of everything doesn’t mean being part of nothing

The opposite of commitment is breach, not multiplicity. A nation’s reliability isn’t measured by how many treaties it signs.

The United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York on March 25. Governments increasingly face the same demand: prove the depth of your commitment by closing the door on everyone else. Photo: Zuma press wire / dpa
Hong Kong politics

Beijing slams West for criticising Hong Kong court verdict in Tiananmen vigil case

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian hits out at ‘certain countries and organisations’ for using judicial cases to smear Hong Kong.

A court found the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and its former leaders guilty of attempting to undermine the country’s fundamental system under the national security law. Photo: Jelly Tse
China trade

China and Switzerland have a new trade agreement. What does it mean for the EU?

The move, seen by analysts as a signal to the EU, will eventually double duty-free coverage included in 12-year-old free-trade agreement.

videocam
6
Ukraine war

Zelensky details rift with Ukraine’s dismissed defence minister Fedorov

The president said inaccurate defence ministry information contributed to an awkward encounter with Trump over the use of Starlink in Russia.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Yuan

Opinion | Deutsche Bank’s yuan mandate boosts Chinese currency’s global reach

The clearing mandate from China elevates Frankfurt as a primary hub for offshore renminbi settlement, challenging London’s dominance.

videocam
A woman sits in front of the Deutsche Bank central headquarters in Frankfurt on July 22. The People’s Bank of China has authorised Deutsche Bank to serve as a renminbi clearing bank, making it the first European lender to receive such approval. Photo: EPA
China trade

European wine producers seek new markets as China sales dream sours

Imports of bottled wine from the EU fell 16.6 per cent by volume in the first half of this year, according to Chinese customs data.

videocam
5
Crime

Sword attack that killed 1 at Sweden high school prompts social media probe

Police are investigating whether the teenager who carried out the attack was involved in online communities promoting school violence.

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong hits back at Western ‘slander’ over verdict on Tiananmen vigil leaders

Authorities say court verdict ‘well-reasoned and sound’ after alliance and its leaders found guilty of inciting subversion.

71
A Correctional Services Department vehicle arrives at West Kowloon Court on Friday. Photo: Handout
China energy security

In Focus | China, the US and EU are taking separate climate paths – but are any dead ends?

As Beijing enacts a state-led approach to climate adaptation, Washington leans on the private sector and Brussels tries to chart a middle way.

videocam
14
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China-EU relations

China’s trade grip tightens in Europe as clock ticks towards October deadline

As Brussels continues its push to rebalance ties, the latest data show China’s trade surplus expanded over all but three EU members in July.

videocam
7
China-EU relations

The Mistral paradox: Europe’s push for tech sovereignty relies on China’s Z.ai

AI race contender’s decision to offer GLM-5.2 a sign of how European political and commercial incentives can pull in different directions.

videocam
5
China-Latin America relations

Beijing rejects US tariff report as Mexico plans new China trade curbs

He Yadong says US levies threaten supply chains, while Mexico considers new duties on Chinese steel and textiles.

videocam
An aerial view of the Contecon Manzanillo container terminal at the Port of Manzanillo in Mexico, a key gateway for trade with Asia. Photo: Handout
US-China trade war

China urges US to drop sweeping drone tariffs, warns of supply chain fallout

Beijing also hit back at US allegations that Chinese exporters are evading duties, while drone shipments are already under serious pressure.

videocam
24
Chinese companies control an estimated 80 to 90 per cent of the global drone market and dominate the supply of critical components, according to the Washington-based Centre for European Policy Analysis. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong stock market

Shein pushes back Hong Kong debut to September amid delayed orders: sources

The fast-fashion firm originally aimed to wrap up its IPO in August, but a delay in investor orders has forced a change of plan, sources say.

China’s C919 passenger plane

China’s C919 supply chain: inside the push to replace Western aerospace parts

The localisation strategy remains a long-term challenge and is not expected to derail the aircraft’s bid for EU safety approval, industry insider says.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement