https://www.scmp.com/rss/325497/feed 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. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Peter Neville-Hadley Peter Neville-Hadley The duck-like beak of the sleek AVE high-speed train points the way south out of Madrid as it trundles sedately along a tangle of tracks before picking up speed and turning east towards Valencia, on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. First class consists of great armchairs – single seats on either side of the aisle with vast amounts of leg room. My tray table is down to hold a novel, and to receive a snack and a coffee in due course. But despite the carriage’s pleasantly woody interior, the adequate... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3351831/discover-europe-affordable-first-class-eurail-adventures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3351831/discover-europe-affordable-first-class-eurail-adventures?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A rescue team on Saturday released from a barge in the North Sea a humpback whale that had been stranded in shallow waters near Germany since March, witnesses said. Nicknamed “Timmy” by German media, the whale was spotted swimming near Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on March 3, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters near the coastal city of Wismar, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it towards deeper seas... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352242/humpback-whale-timmy-released-north-sea-after-weeks-stranded-germany?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352242/humpback-whale-timmy-released-north-sea-after-weeks-stranded-germany?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 16:23:05 +0000 Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen Holly Chik,Alyssa Chen US President Donald Trump said he is still planning to travel to China as scheduled this month despite the stalemate in the negotiations with Iran. When asked about the trip to Beijing, Trump told reporters on Friday: “It is going to be amazing. The visit with China and Chairman Xi [Jinping] – that’s going to be great. “We have the trip with China coming up. And I think it will be an amazing event.” Trump had initially planned to visit Beijing in late March, but put the trip back to May 14 and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352220/china-trip-will-go-ahead-planned-and-it-will-be-amazing-trump-insists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 10:02:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters A planned drawdown of US troops from Germany should spur Europeans to strengthen its own defences further, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday, following the latest salvo from Washington against transatlantic ties. The Pentagon announced on Friday that ‌the United States would withdraw 5,000 soldiers from Germany, its largest European base, as a rift over the Iran war and tariff tensions place further strain on relations between the US and Europe. Pistorius said the move was... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352217/trump-eu-rift-spurs-germany-boost-military-add-75000-soldiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352217/trump-eu-rift-spurs-germany-boost-military-add-75000-soldiers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 09:19:05 +0000 Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi At the close of his presentation at this year’s Auto China show, Li Fenggang, president of Beijing Hyundai Motor, surprised the audience by asking them to lift LED boxes placed on their seats. “We’ll use this beam of light to kick off Hyundai’s new journey in China,” he said, raising the device stamped with the logo of Ioniq, the new brand the Korean carmaker has just launched in mainland China. After years of lacklustre performance in the country, Hyundai was preparing to regain lost ground by... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3352094/comeback-trail-can-foreign-marques-regain-lost-ground-amid-chinas-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3352094/comeback-trail-can-foreign-marques-regain-lost-ground-amid-chinas-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The United States will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said on Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s threat as he clashes with the German leader over the US war with Iran. Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the Nato ally earlier this week after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticised Washington’s lack of strategy in the war. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352198/us-withdraw-5000-troops-germany-fulfilling-trump-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352198/us-withdraw-5000-troops-germany-fulfilling-trump-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:09:03 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The successful Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last month, thrilling a record number of fans, is still fresh in the memory. The city’s drive to host an increasing number of top sporting events continues, signalled by the announcement of another landmark event in the summer. This time, the sport is football and the teams that will compete at Kai Tak Stadium in August are among the best Europe has to offer. The second edition of Hong Kong’s football festival, which was first staged at Kai Tak... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After being forced to check his Academy Award on a transatlantic flight, recent winner Pavel Talankin’s Oscar went missing before an airline tracked it down two days later. Talankin, who co-directed the best documentary winner Mr Nobody Against Putin, did not expect to have to check his statuette for a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport bound for Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday. But a Transportation Security Administration agent said it could not go on board. “At the airport, a TSA... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352194/oscar-goes-missing-after-director-forced-check-it-flight-could-be-used-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 17:55:13 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen The US-Israeli war on Iran enters a third month and efforts for Washington and Tehran to resume talks remain stalled. These are major takeaways from the events overnight. What did Trump say? US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that Iran is “dying to make a deal”. When asked whether talks with Tehran have stalled, Trump said only a few people know the status of talks with Iran. He also pointed to uncertainty over the Iranian leadership: “We have a problem... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352092/iran-dying-make-deal-us-war-costs-soar-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352092/iran-dying-make-deal-us-war-costs-soar-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 00:40:30 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has continued to shatter global markets. These are the major takeaways of what happened overnight. What did Trump say? US President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, discussing the wars in Ukraine and Iran. Trump said that the conversation was “very good” and that the US was “going to come up with a solution relatively quickly” over its continuing conflict with Iran. He also said that the US was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351924/trump-putin-talk-iran-and-ukraine-us-energy-exports-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351924/trump-putin-talk-iran-and-ukraine-us-energy-exports-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:42:57 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States is considering reducing the number of its troops in Germany, amid a row with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. “The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump said on social media. The United States had more than 35,000 troops in Germany in 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351923/trump-may-cut-us-troops-germany-after-merzs-humiliating-iran-comment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351923/trump-may-cut-us-troops-germany-after-merzs-humiliating-iran-comment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:46:31 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China’s top diplomat Wang Yi called for “unity and the safeguarding of international justice” during a meeting with UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday, urging a global front against the “law of the jungle” amid deepening geopolitical tensions. During the talks in Beijing, Wang told Baerbock that multilateralism faced “severe challenges” from unnamed powers prioritising “might over right” – a veiled critique of Washington. “Certain countries pursue a policy of ‘strength... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351883/might-over-right-imperils-international-justice-wang-yi-tells-uns-baerbock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351883/might-over-right-imperils-international-justice-wang-yi-tells-uns-baerbock?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:51:23 +0000 Yan Shaohua Yan Shaohua The economic and trade relationship between China and the European Union has long served as a cornerstone of their bilateral partnership. As bilateral trade approaches a historic US$800 billion, this interdependence remains a pillar of global stability despite shifting geopolitical winds. However, the discourse surrounding trade imbalances between the two has become a flashpoint for tension, with reports indicating a goods trade deficit exceeding €300 billion (US$352.6 billion). While French... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351240/new-framework-may-be-only-way-save-china-eu-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3351240/new-framework-may-be-only-way-save-china-eu-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The ⁠Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia’s annual Victory Day ‌military parade on Red Square had been scaled back this year and ⁠would not include military ‌equipment due to the risk of ‌what it described ⁠as “Ukrainian ⁠terrorist activity”. The parade, ‌held on May 9, ‌marks the ‌Soviet defeat ‌of Nazi Germany during ⁠World War II, a ⁠conflict Russians call the Great Patriotic ‌War. One of the top holidays on the Russian calendar, it allows the dwindling number of veterans to gather in... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351805/russia-hold-equipment-free-victory-day-parade-ukraine-war-grinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3351805/russia-hold-equipment-free-victory-day-parade-ukraine-war-grinds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:04:16 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters a third month, there is no sign of a break in the deadlock between Washington and Tehran. These are the main takeaways from what happened overnight. What did Trump say? US President Donald Trump told his aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported in Asian early trading hours on Wednesday, citing US officials. And after welcoming Britain’s King Charles in Washington on Tuesday, he lashed out at German Chancellor... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351769/wartime-iran-trumps-fury-and-uae-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351769/wartime-iran-trumps-fury-and-uae-heres-what-happened-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:43:43 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin German biochemist and Nobel laureate Hartmut Michel has taken up a full-time position as a professor at Jilin University in Changchun, northeastern China, according to the university. The 77-year-old – who shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for revealing how photosynthesis works at the molecular level – will join the university’s First Hospital as “a flagship hire under its talent recruitment strategy”, the university said in a statement last week. It said Michel told the university’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351541/nobel-laureate-biochemist-hartmut-michel-joins-jilin-university-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351541/nobel-laureate-biochemist-hartmut-michel-joins-jilin-university-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:10 +0000 dpa dpa An attack by “unknown armed terrorists” has been carried out on military barracks and other targets in the capital Bamako, the military in Mali reported on Saturday. Attacks had also occurred in other locations in the country, the general staff reported. Fighting was ongoing, a brief statement said. Witnesses reported intense fighting in a town near the capital where junta leader General Assimi Goita lives, and in other key cities. Mali, a landlocked West African country, has been ruled by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351434/mali-junta-reports-terrorist-attacks-several-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3351434/mali-junta-reports-terrorist-attacks-several-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:19:42 +0000 Junaid Kathju Junaid Kathju India and Germany’s new defence road map could give New Delhi fresh momentum in its long-running push to modernise its undersea fleet, while helping Europe expand its security role in the Indo-Pacific, experts say. The two countries signed a Defence Industrial Cooperation Road Map in Berlin on Wednesday, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, agreeing to deepen collaboration in development, production and niche technologies. The agreement was... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351377/india-germany-defence-road-map-good-template-wider-eu-cooperation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:00:20 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday there was no prospect of Ukraine’s “immediate accession” to the EU, but suggested Kyiv could join meetings of the bloc’s members without voting rights. Ukraine is pushing to speed up its bid to join the 27-nation European Union as it fights Russia’s invasion on the battlefield. Kyiv’s progress has been blocked by Hungary’s nationalist premier Viktor Orban, but his defeat in elections earlier this month raised hopes it can move to the next step. EU... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351383/germanys-merz-says-no-immediate-ukraine-eu-membership-floats-kyiv-joining-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351383/germanys-merz-says-no-immediate-ukraine-eu-membership-floats-kyiv-joining-meetings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:48:35 +0000 dpa dpa German prosecutors have charged a 46-year-old man on suspicion of serious sexual abuse of children via live streaming. The man, from the district of Heidenheim in southwestern Germany, is alleged to have paid female accomplices in the Philippines to carry out sexual abuse against girls aged between four and 13 in six instances, the Cybercrime Centre of the Karlsruhe Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday. Videos of the sexual abuse were reportedly streamed live to the man, while he directed... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351352/german-man-accused-live-streaming-child-abuse-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351352/german-man-accused-live-streaming-child-abuse-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:24:26 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The wind industry smells opportunity in Europe. At an expo in Madrid this week, the convention floor was abuzz as hundreds of European, American, Japanese and Korean exhibitors vied to pitch their products, knowing the continent urgently needs to shore up its energy security amid the US-Israel war on Iran. But there was one glaring absence: not a single company operating a booth was Chinese, with China’s participants only networking from the sidelines. At a time when many in Europe seek a rapid... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and supply-chain vendors, from Tesla rivals Xpeng to Nio and lidar sensor producer Hesai Group, will display their technological advances on a new front – in-car chips – at the Auto China show in Beijing as the country’s automotive industry makes rapid progress. Carmakers and vendors are designing and developing chips to power autonomous driving and in-car entertainment systems. These chips boast computing power on par with blockbuster products made by chip... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The sad saga of a humpback whale stranded a month ago on the German coast has sparked a flood of compassion but also a media frenzy, angry disputes, conspiracy theories and death threats. As Germans have followed the travails of the sea mammal, dubbed “Timmy” by a newspaper, on their live news tickers, television screens and influencers’ social media channels, some worry about what its epic struggle says about a nation’s collective psyche. Sociologist Christian Stegbauer said the whale, a highly... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351215/beached-whale-grips-and-divides-germany-free-timmy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3351215/beached-whale-grips-and-divides-germany-free-timmy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:39 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi was splattered with red liquid on Thursday as he left a building in Berlin. Pahlavi had just departed a news briefing, during which he criticised the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, when the incident occurred outside Germany’s federal press conference building. He appeared unhurt by the liquid coating the back of his blazer and neck, and waved to his supporters before he got into a car that drove away. Police said the liquid appeared to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351193/irans-exiled-crown-prince-pahlavi-splashed-red-substance-berlin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351193/irans-exiled-crown-prince-pahlavi-splashed-red-substance-berlin?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:10:52 +0000 Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi This year’s Auto China, the world’s largest car show, is likely to mark a watershed for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers as they push dozens of new premium models into the spotlight, challenging European manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Leading EV makers in mainland China, from BYD and Geely to Leapmotor and Nio, will showcase their latest models at the 10-day show, which starts in Beijing on Friday, having moved up the value chain through the rapid adoption of technological... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351130/chinas-premium-evs-mount-tech-powered-challenge-bmw-mercedes-benz-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351130/chinas-premium-evs-mount-tech-powered-challenge-bmw-mercedes-benz-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Few people have heard of Huangyan, a booming industrial district of Taizhou, a city in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Yet without it, many cars would likely be heavier, more expensive and less energy efficient, while everyday household goods would probably cost more. The town specialises in plastic components and moulding equipment – unassuming products that rarely make the news, but sit at the heart of modern manufacturing. For years, Huangyan’s producers have dominated this supply chain,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The West’s narrative of Chinese “overcapacity” is a double standard, said a former chief economist of the World Bank as he urged advanced economies to draw on “Eastern wisdom” rather than protectionism to navigate the rise of hi-tech competition. Justin Lin Yifu, a prominent advocate of Beijing’s industrial policy, dismissed claims that China’s auto-export surge was a sign of industrial imbalance. Speaking at Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Lin drew a contrast with Germany to expose a logical... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350885/economist-justin-lin-urges-west-adopt-eastern-wisdom-china-moves-value-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350885/economist-justin-lin-urges-west-adopt-eastern-wisdom-china-moves-value-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Russia said on Monday it had arrested a German woman found with a home-made bomb in her backpack in what it alleged was a Ukrainian-hatched plot to blow up a security services facility in the south. Russia has arrested dozens of people throughout the four-year war, mostly its own citizens, on allegations of working for Ukraine to carry out sabotage attacks. There has been a string of high-profile arrests of Western citizens since Moscow ordered its troops into Ukraine – typically on espionage... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3350745/russia-arrests-german-woman-over-bomb-plot-it-says-linked-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3350745/russia-arrests-german-woman-over-bomb-plot-it-says-linked-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:29:57 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Asparagus is the favourite vegetable of chef Hector Laguna’s two boys. “My kids love asparagus with a little olive oil, salt, and then we grill them for three to four minutes,” he explains, adding that’s how they eat the vegetable at home. “But at work, asparagus is fantastic. We use them in salads, we cook them, pickle them and ferment them,” says the executive chef of Botanist in Vancouver. Asparagus signals the arrival of spring and is known for its fibrous stalks and slightly bitter taste.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3349498/how-asparagus-benefits-your-health-and-different-ways-prepare-vegetable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3349498/how-asparagus-benefits-your-health-and-different-ways-prepare-vegetable?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Global retail investors have pulled back into cash amid uncertainties from Middle East conflicts, while high-net-worth clients have continued to pursue investment opportunities in Asia and alternative assets, according to the CEO of Schroders. “What we saw in March was a reversal of the trend that we had seen at the end of 2025 and in January and February, when people increased their interest in investing in stocks,” said Richard Oldfield, global CEO of Schroders. “What really happened in March... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350531/global-retail-investors-shift-cash-asia-still-draws-wealthy-clients-schroders-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350531/global-retail-investors-shift-cash-asia-still-draws-wealthy-clients-schroders-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:30:10 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Chinese biomedical companies deploying cutting-edge technologies are emerging as serious competitors to Western dominance in the race to treat Parkinson’s disease, in a market that could reach US$16 billion over the next decade. The firms are developing a range of approaches – from autologous cell therapies made from a patient’s own cells and ready-made cell products to gene therapies and non-invasive ultrasounds – although many of these candidates are still in early-stage trials. Many patients... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350615/how-chinese-drug-makers-are-tackling-western-dominance-us16-billion-parkinsons-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350615/how-chinese-drug-makers-are-tackling-western-dominance-us16-billion-parkinsons-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the first of a three-part series, we examine Hong Kong’s bid to position itself as Asia’s bullion hub. War in the Middle East has intensified global demand to diversify gold storage, creating a strategic window for Hong Kong to tap its unique status and evolve from... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France and Britain said on Friday that they would lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasising the force would be entirely defensive and only deployed once lasting peace in the region was agreed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the force was being set up as they co-chaired international talks in Paris focused on ensuring free-flowing trade through the critical shipping corridor. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350543/iran-war-france-and-uk-lead-defensive-force-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3350543/iran-war-france-and-uk-lead-defensive-force-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:35:55 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Scores of Chinese women were brought to Germany without valid residency permits for sex work across the country, prosecutors in Frankfurt alleged on Friday. Five suspects are accused of organised smuggling of foreigners for their roles in operating the prostitution ring over the past three years, according to prosecutors. Prostitution is legal in Germany but is strictly regulated. A 43-year-old Chinese man and a 35-year-old Chinese woman allegedly ran the illegal business, using a network of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350540/scores-chinese-women-smuggled-germany-massive-prostitution-ring-prosecutors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350540/scores-chinese-women-smuggled-germany-massive-prostitution-ring-prosecutors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:46:01 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang To sharpen its competitive edge in the world’s next-generation vehicle market, China has pledged to fast track automotive technical standards to build its status as a global rule-setter. The carmaking powerhouse would drive high-quality development of the auto sector through the formulation and enhancement of core standards during the next five years, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) told state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350467/chinese-ministry-focuses-car-standards-put-industry-global-driving-seat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350467/chinese-ministry-focuses-car-standards-put-industry-global-driving-seat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu Finbarr Bermingham,Xiaofei Xu France and Britain are pulling together a coalition of more than 30 nations on Friday for a Parisian summit aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Neither the United States nor Israel or Iran have been invited to the first major European push to influence a war that was launched six weeks ago by a US-Israeli bombardment on Iran. Europe insists it is not a party to the war, but as energy prices soar and munitions get diverted from Ukraine it is already paying the price. China is among the Asian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350404/why-europe-testing-third-way-hormuz-without-us-israel-and-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350404/why-europe-testing-third-way-hormuz-without-us-israel-and-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:24:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. 3 satellites to track all? Chinese radar images confirm US military fears Last month, China released a series of undated radar images of the Towa Maru. It marked the first time ever that a geosynchronous orbit (GEO) synthetic aperture... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350385/chinas-3-satellite-surveillance-network-hong-kongs-inflation-surge-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3350385/chinas-3-satellite-surveillance-network-hong-kongs-inflation-surge-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:12:07 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier China has crafted markets, mechanisms and incentives as the world’s largest buyer of commodities in a bid to free itself from its dependence on the US dollar, but the biggest threat to Washington’s global dollar dominance may well be Washington itself, witnesses said in testimony on Thursday before a key advisory committee to the US Congress. Economic sanctions and access to US-led global banking systems are a powerful US tool that can be used to great effect, said experts before the US-China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3350382/why-biggest-threat-us-global-dollar-dominance-may-well-be-washington-itself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3350382/why-biggest-threat-us-global-dollar-dominance-may-well-be-washington-itself?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:42:50 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Famine. Massacres. And now badly needed food and other supplies are under strain. Sudan on Wednesday enters a fourth year of war that is being called an “abandoned crisis” as a new conflict in the Middle East throws into shadow the fighting that has forced 13 million people to flee their homes. Sudan has been described as the world’s largest humanitarian challenge, notably in terms of displacement and hunger. There is no end in sight to the fighting between the military and the paramilitary... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350197/sudan-enters-4th-year-war-abandoned-crisis-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350197/sudan-enters-4th-year-war-abandoned-crisis-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:45:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the US imposes its own blockade on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of talks with Iran at the weekend, we take a look at how major economies in Asia and Europe could be affected by further restrictions on passage through one of the world’s most critical choke points for energy supplies. Who is most vulnerable in this energy crisis? According to a recent report by Japanese investment bank Nomura, the regions most exposed to the tensions in the Persian Gulf are Asian... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350051/which-countries-are-most-vulnerable-us-imposes-its-own-blockade-persian-gulf?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350051/which-countries-are-most-vulnerable-us-imposes-its-own-blockade-persian-gulf?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:17 +0000 dpa dpa New research suggests that gifted men are less conservative in their political views than men of average cognitive ability. A study conducted in Germany found that men with higher IQs are less inclined to traditional values, but the lead author, psychologist and intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo of Saarland University said the researchers did not find these differences among women. The study was based on the Marburg Giftedness Project, for which more than 7,000 children in primary school... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350097/men-higher-iqs-are-less-conservative-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350097/men-higher-iqs-are-less-conservative-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:47:35 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A German court on Tuesday sentenced a 28-year-old Chinese student to 11 years and three months in jail for repeatedly drugging and raping his girlfriend and filming the abuse. In a case reminiscent of that of France’s Gisele Pelicot, the Munich court said the defendant, named only as Zhongyi J., had assaulted his girlfriend while she was unconscious at least seven times. Zhongyi J. filmed the abuse each time and stored the videos on a hard drive, the court said. In one case, the assault lasted... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350093/germany-jails-chinese-student-pelicot-rape-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3350093/germany-jails-chinese-student-pelicot-rape-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:46:59 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham At a top-level meeting of her 26 department chiefs in March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen quietly approved a plan to stop EU funds from going to clean technology projects containing Chinese inverters. Inverters are the essential power electronics at the heart of solar and wind systems. Industry groups estimate that Chinese companies led by Huawei Technologies control more than 220 gigawatts of Europe’s installed solar capacity via the devices. The commission wants to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350056/eu-cut-funding-chinese-inverters-quiet-offensive-replaces-grandstanding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350056/eu-cut-funding-chinese-inverters-quiet-offensive-replaces-grandstanding?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:01:18 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Chinese carmakers are rapidly gaining ground in Europe, squeezing out Asian rivals such as Japan and South Korea as exports to the region surge past 1 million units for the first time, according to an industry report. Imports of Chinese-made cars into the European Union in 2025 jumped 30.7 per cent from a year earlier to 1.006 million vehicles, according to the report published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, known as the ACEA, on April 2. The value of those imports,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349794/chinese-carmakers-squeeze-out-asian-rivals-europe-exports-top-1-million-units?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349794/chinese-carmakers-squeeze-out-asian-rivals-europe-exports-top-1-million-units?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:00:20 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Hyundai Motor has spearheaded a comeback among foreign marques vying for a slice of the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market, launching a new brand built around local technologies and partnerships. The South Korean carmaker, which reversed a six-year sales decline in 2025, said it would soon introduce production models under the Ioniq brand tailored for Chinese consumers, as it steps up its push into the world’s largest automotive market. “The newly launched Ioniq brand in China evolves beyond a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349776/hyundai-spearheads-foreign-ev-comeback-push-china-ioniq-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349776/hyundai-spearheads-foreign-ev-comeback-push-china-ioniq-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 05:20:54 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Indonesian fisherman nets surprise catch – a Chinese underwater drone A Chinese underwater drone was caught by an Indonesian fisherman near a key waterway leading to Australia, local media reported. 2. What is the war on Iran teaching... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349469/fisherman-catches-chinese-drone-iran-wars-lessons-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3349469/fisherman-catches-chinese-drone-iran-wars-lessons-china-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:30:08 +0000 dpa dpa Russia has formally designated Nazi crimes against the Soviet population during World War II as genocide and criminalised their denial, after President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the country’s criminal code, the Kremlin said on Thursday. The term “genocide of the Soviet people” has increasingly been used in Russia in recent years. Authorities have also proposed repurposing a closed museum dedicated to the Soviet-era Gulag system into one focused on victims of Nazi crimes. Moscow has... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349569/russia-criminalises-denial-soviet-genocide-nazis-during-world-war-ii?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349569/russia-criminalises-denial-soviet-genocide-nazis-during-world-war-ii?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:21:17 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham A long-awaited EU debate on China has been shelved in favour of the Middle East crisis, highlighting how Europe is struggling to treat Beijing as a strategic priority despite mounting economic pressure. The European Commission’s security college was set to meet this coming Monday to debate the challenges posed by Beijing, as part of what officials were referring to internally as “China week”. It would have been the first strategic discussion among the bloc’s 27 commissioners under President... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349548/china-sidelined-eu-shelves-rare-strategy-debate-middle-east-crisis-takes-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3349548/china-sidelined-eu-shelves-rare-strategy-debate-middle-east-crisis-takes-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:27 +0000 dpa dpa The colour in my drink is a rich golden yellow. I raise the glass and breathe in the scent of ripe apples. My first sip tastes surprisingly dry, with a pronounced, stimulating acidity, followed by subtle tannins. Although this sounds like a wine description, there is no wine in this glass. In fact, there is no alcohol at all. Such scenes play out frequently for wine journalist Christoph Raffelt and sommelier Anne Tenschert, who run a podcast on alcohol-free drinks, which remain part of the world... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As the French central bank repatriates gold reserves from the United States, analysts say China should seize this “strategic window” to develop itself into the next global gold hub. They added that Beijing can leverage policy stability, alongside Hong Kong’s strengths in fintech such as blockchain, to build a modern gold trading centre, particularly as policy volatility under US President Donald Trump’s second term heightens global concerns and deepens the de-dollarisation trend. “I think [the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349343/france-pulls-gold-us-how-can-china-develop-next-global-gold-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349343/france-pulls-gold-us-how-can-china-develop-next-global-gold-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:08 +0000