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
EU flags waving in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Shutterstock
European Union

EU agrees to ‘world’s largest’ free-trade zone with Mercosur pact after 25 years

The EU sealed the historic deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to form a 700 million strong bloc, defying fierce farmer opposition.

Artificial intelligence

Chinese robot vacuum maker Dreame sees AI-driven appliances run household chores

Donald Trump

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

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Ukraine war

Ukraine’s allies agree to ‘robust’ security guarantees in push to end war

UK and France could deploy troops on Ukrainian territory after a ceasefire, but a big question mark hangs over Russia’s response.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) signs a declaration of intent along with France’s President Emmanuel Macron (centre) and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: AFP
Greenland

Use of US military to acquire Greenland ‘always an option’, White House says

Trump’s preferred option might be to buy Greenland from Denmark, but the White House says military action is being considered.

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Obituaries

Anne Frank’s stepsister, Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, dies at 96

Schloss co-founded the Anne Frank Trust UK foundation in 1990 to pass on the memory of the Holocaust to young people and combat prejudice.

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Energy

Berlin mayor denounces attack on German capital’s power grid as ‘terrorism’

Mayor demands a federal manhunt for those who plunged 45,000 homes into darkness as the alleged perpetrators claim responsibility.

A man uses a torch in his flat during a blackout that left thousands of homes without electricity. Photo: Reuters
Switzerland

Swiss grieve as all 40 bar fire victims identified - many of them under 18

Hundreds march in silence to honour victims of the New Year’s Swiss bar fire who were as young as 14.

Crime

Loot in German bank vault heist could exceed US$117 million

Hundreds of safe deposit box holders report losses from last month’s heist far exceeding insurance limits.

China-EU relations

‘Straddle the middle ground’: Europe’s hard choice over US attacks on Venezuela

Although they do not agree with Trump’s way of doing things, they seem to agree with his ultimate objectives, analyst in China says.

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US President Donald Trump, flanked by his top officials, addresses a press conference following the capture of the Venezuelan first couple, in Florida on January 3. Photo: Reuters
Energy

Cable fire cuts power to tens of thousands of Berlin homes and businesses

A suspected arson attack damaged the power cables. Authorities said 35,000 households will be without electricity until Thursday afternoon.

Police emergency staff at the site of a cable bridge fire in front of the Lichterfelde power plant on the Teltow Canal in Berlin, Germany on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Bangladesh

Asian Angle | Bangladesh needs ‘structural’ change, but how will it get there?

As Bangladesh heads into elections next year, it must tread the challenge of political transition with more care and thoughtfulness.

Science

As I see it | We can now watch our own genes dance

Modern biology reveals a real miracle: how broken pieces of molecules evolved into a species that became conscious of its own genetic make-up.

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European Union

Opinion | Can Europe survive its crippling paralysis?

The brutal reality is that the European Union is failing to get its squabbling nations to work as a coherent group.

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas signs an agreement to transfer to Ukraine a tranche of proceeds from frozen Russian assets during a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Russia claims Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 in occupied Kherson

Moscow accuses Kyiv of New Year’s Eve attack on civilians as diplomats scramble to save fragile peace talks.

Flames and smoke rise after a reported Ukrainian drone strike on a hotel and cafe in Russian-controlled Khorly, Kherson Region on Thursday. Photo: Governor of Kherson Region Vladimir Saldo via Telegram/Reuters
South Korea

Will ‘Made in Europe’ threaten South Korea’s arms export boom?

Observers urge South Korea to integrate itself into European supply chains by increasing production localisation to maintain competitiveness.

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Crime

Video | Gang drills into German bank vault in US$35 million heist

Thieves use quiet Christmas period to drill their way into vault, smash open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes and make off with the loot.

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Crime

‘Ocean’s Eleven’ gang steals millions in cash, gold and jewellery from German bank

Thieves use quiet Christmas period to drill their way into vault, smash open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes and make off with the loot.

A giant hole in a wall of the vault of a Sparkasse bank branch after thieves broke in at the weekend. Photo: Police Gelsenkirchen handout via AFP
India

India overtakes Japan as world’s fourth largest economy, eyes top 3 in 2026

Government data shows India’s GDP at US$4.18 trillion, with projections it will surpass Germany by 2026 despite global trade challenges.

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Ukraine war

Russia says Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence, but Zelensky denies it

Ukraine denies accusation as a fabrication after Trump said he was ‘angry’ when Putin told him about the alleged attack.

Israel

Israel’s rising air defence sales become its ‘most potent’ foreign policy weapon

With more countries increasingly turning to Israel for their air defence systems, they cannot afford to isolate the Middle East power.

Flags flutter in front of the Arrow 3 air defence system in Annaburg, Germany. Photo: Reuters
Open Questions series

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on Europe’s ‘China shock’, US snub

China’s challenge to Europe’s industrial might and the end of coalition with US has plunged continent into crisis. Can it recover, asks Bulgarian expert Ivan Krastev.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
JD.com

Burglary of JD.com warehouse in France prompts investigation, speculation

The theft, with over 50,000 items stolen by some estimates, casts a shadow over the Chinese e-commerce giant’s first Christmas in France.

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Social media

US hits 5 Europeans with visa bans in ‘censorship’ row

Former EU commissioner is among those barred as the US targets individuals it says are involved in censoring US social media platforms.

China trade

As Germany’s trade deficit with China nears new high, analysts warn of backlash

The widening gap, fuelled by a localisation push in China and fierce EV competition, is fuelling fears of political upheaval and rising protectionist sentiment in Berlin.

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Factory workers assemble cars at a Volkswagen plant in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province, last week. Photo: AFP
Britain

Baidu teams up with Uber, Lyft for London robotaxi launch in first half of 2026

The Lyft robotaxi fleet will use Baidu’s fully electric Apollo Go RT6, which has been purpose-built for ride-sharing.

An arranged image shows the Uber logo on a mobile phone in central London. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome

The plan’s watering down of America’s antagonism towards China bodes well for both nations and the world.

United States

German engineer becomes first wheelchair user to blast into space

Michaela Benthaus had thought her dreams of being an astronaut were over after she was badly injured in a mountain bike accident.

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