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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
The Parthenon’s restored west pediment atop the Acropolis in Athens. Photo: AP
Greece

Greece unveils Parthenon’s facade whole for first time in 220 years

Restoration of the western gable of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens has been completed.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | No call with Taiwan, no new arms sales: how Trump is preparing to welcome Xi

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China-EU relations

EU hits ‘make-or-break moment’ as divided leaders confront ‘China shock 2.0’

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China-EU relations

EU nations ready to battle ‘China Shock 2.0’ with tough new strategy

Broad coalition of EU members support new trade strategy to prevent China causing European deindustrialisation as key Brussels summit looms.

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French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for a European “Section 301 tool” to prevent Chinese-driven deindustrialisation in the EU. Photo: WPA
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba Cloud expands in France amid Europe’s data sovereignty push

Opening of Paris hub is a response to increased demand, says the China tech giant as it looks to roll out agentic AI services across Europe.

US-China relations

Opinion | The West must reckon with the reality of China’s rise

Beijing’s emergence as a major power must be navigated with wisdom and respect, rather than framed as a threat that needs to be contained.

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Russia

Over 1,100 foreigners granted ‘anti-woke’ Russian visas last year

Germans, French and Americans top the list of recipients, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

People take in the sights outside the Kremlin in downtown Moscow on June 5. Photo: EPA
G7

Cigarettes, football and Greenland: G7 hot mics reveal world leaders’ banter

Unfiltered audio captures off-the-cuff conversations at the G7 summit in France.

China-Latin America relations

Latin America and Europe are bystanders in the US-China AI race: Lula adviser

Brazil’s Celso Amorim tells a Rio conference the Global South must answer via Brics, casting rare earths and data as matters of sovereignty.

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China-EU relations

Why Europe’s fight against a ‘China shock 2.0’ could end before it even begins

Brussels currently lacks the firepower to win a trade clash with China – and Beijing is not in a mood to make concessions, analysts warn.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Taiwan

Taiwan KMT leader visits US, but ‘concerns over her positions persist’: expert

KMT chairwoman said her US visit went ‘beyond expectations’, but concerns about her position on some issues may persist, an expert says.

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Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang, visited Washington as part of a US tour aimed at explaining her party’s approach to cross-Strait relations and defence policy. Photo: AP
European Union

EU bows to Trump pressure on tariffs but warns of future chaos

Trump has threatened ‘much higher’ levies if the EU does not remove import duties on US industrial goods by July 4.

US-China tech war

China’s AI outpaces global rivals but trails in trust, survey shows

Poll by London-based consultancy shows that more than 90% of respondents believe AI will transform the world – but fears persist.

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European Union

As I see it | Is Europe declining faster than Qing China? A Chinese-French debate

While a startling historical comparison made by a former French diplomat has caused a stir, it might be too soon to write off Europe.

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The ruins of the Old Summer Palace in Beijing. The palace was destroyed in 1860 by British and French troops during the second opium war. Photo: Xinlu Liang
United States

What foreign brands still win over Chinese shoppers?

Localised strategies and high-quality reputations help products from Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and the US build consumer affinity.

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Japanese brand Meiji grew its market share in China last year thanks to a reputation for quality, according to market research. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Why Japan is trying to get in on Europe’s flagship drone programme

Analysts say Japan can bring precision manufacturing to the European project aimed at building a home-grown alternative to US-made drones.

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Ukraine war

Zelensky proposes meeting Putin in US after Russian leader ‘ignores’ G7 invite

Ukrainian leader said he made the proposal in a call with Trump, suggesting Putin would find the offer of a US meeting ‘harder to refuse’.

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South Korea

South Korean music festival out against discord in reunification hopes

In a National Unification Advisory Council survey in May, nearly half of the 1,200 respondents aged 19 to 39 view the North as ‘hostile’.

South Korean indie-pop musician Haepa performs in front of the former North Korean Workers Party Headquarters on the sidelines of the DMZ Peace Train Festival near the North Korean border on Sunday. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

The US and Iran have signed a ‘great deal’. So what happens now?

Memorandum of understanding expected to open pathway for talks on most contentious issues, including nuclear programme and sanctions.

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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

A three-fold jump in BYD’s German registrations highlights shift towards lower-tariff models, as company chairman says ‘the worst is over’.

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A hybrid vehicle is seen at a BYD showroom in Beijing earlier this year. The Chinese company’s hybrid models are selling increasingly well in Germany. Photo: AP
China-EU relations

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

June 23 meeting in Beijing postponed without warning as bilateral ties deteriorate on a near-daily basis.

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European Union efforts to reduce the concentration of Chinese suppliers have led to tensions between Brussels and Beijing. Photo: AFP
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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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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Protesters hold lights and a placard shaped like the number nine, referring to Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, which renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces, during a rally against militarism, in Tokyo, Japan, on May 29. Photo: Reuters
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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