China has regained its position as Germany’s top trading partner, overtaking the United States in 2025.Total trade between Germany and China reached €251bn, according to official data. Germany imported €170.6bn in goods from China while exporting €81.3bn.Trade with the US fell to €240bn, partly influenced by tariffs and weaker demand. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping and Li Qiang.His visit will focus on trade, the war in Ukraine and human rights. Germany’s car industry remains deeply tied to the Chinese market.Companies such as Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz depend heavily on sales and production there.…
Author: Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers
Andrew Rogers is a freelance journalist based in the USA, with over 10 years of experience covering Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. He earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has contributed to outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Reuters. Known for his clear reporting and in-depth analysis, Andrew delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and international developments.
OpenAI considered notifying the Royal Canadian Mounted Police about a user later responsible for a deadly school attack.The company flagged the account in June for activity linked to the furtherance of violence. At the time, it decided the case did not meet the threshold for referral.Its policy requires evidence of a credible and imminent risk of serious harm.The firm said it found no sign of immediate planning. The suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, killed eight people in British Columbia before taking their own life.Police said the victims included a teaching assistant and five students aged 12 to 13.The attacker had previous…
Amazon’s cloud division suffered outages last year that were reportedly triggered by its own AI systems.One 13-hour disruption in December occurred after an AI agent deleted and recreated part of its environment, according to reports. AWS runs large parts of the internet’s infrastructure, so any failure raises wider concerns.Another incident in October knocked dozens of websites offline and renewed debate about reliance on a few major providers. Amazon said the events were caused by user error, not artificial intelligence.It added that only one incident affected customer-facing services and that extra safeguards are now in place.These include stricter access controls and…
Airbus has proposed building two separate fighter jets to rescue Europe’s stalled Future Combat Air System.The idea aims to end a long dispute with Dassault Aviation over leadership of the programme. Chief executive Guillaume Faury said the conflict should not endanger Europe’s next-generation defence capability.He argued a split approach could allow wider cooperation if governments approve it. The FCAS project, launched in 2017, includes a new fighter, autonomous drones and a combat data network.Tensions have grown over industrial control and different military requirements.Germany does not want a nuclear-capable jet, while France does, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. France, Germany and…
Top Alpine skiers say glacier loss is threatening the future of their sport and the wider environment.Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin said many training glaciers they once used have nearly disappeared.Host nation Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s. Glaciers near Cortina, once visible from town, have shrunk to small ice patches.Athletes now travel long distances to reach major ice fields such as the Marmolada.That glacier has halved in 25 years and could mostly vanish by the 2030s without strong climate action. Italian skier Federica Brignone said the retreat of ice worries…
Senior UK banking executives will meet this week to begin creating a national alternative to Visa and Mastercard.The project aims to protect the economy if access to US-owned payment systems is disrupted. The talks will be chaired by Vim Maru of Barclays.City investors will fund the new company, while the government supports the plan.The system, known as DeliveryCo, could be operational by 2030. About 95% of UK card payments currently run through Visa and Mastercard.Executives warn that losing those networks would force businesses back to a cash-based economy.Sanctions that cut Russia off from the two firms showed how severe the…
Volkswagen aims to cut costs by 20% by 2028 as it reshapes the business for a tougher market.Plant closures remain a possible part of the programme. Chief executive Oliver Blume and finance chief Arno Antlitz presented the plan to senior managers.The goal is to secure sustainable profits despite falling sales, high costs and the rapid growth of Chinese brands in Europe. An earlier restructuring already included 35,000 job cuts by 2030 and €10bn in planned savings.The company says previous measures have produced savings in the double-digit billions and helped absorb geopolitical pressures such as US tariffs. The overhaul comes as…
Daily GLP-1 tablets are accelerating the shift from injections to easier treatments.Drugmakers expect the change to expand a market that could reach $200bn this decade. Novo Nordisk launched the first oral version of Wegovy in the US in December.Early demand was strong, with tens of thousands of weekly prescriptions.Patients switching from jabs say pills offer steadier appetite control and greater convenience. Cost still shapes choices.Some users moved to tablets after insurance stopped covering injections such as Zepbound.Tablets are cheaper, easier to store and more acceptable for people who avoid needles. Eli Lilly will soon launch a rival pill, intensifying competition.Oral…
Max Verstappen criticised Formula One’s new regulations after pre-season testing in Bahrain.He said the heavy energy management makes the cars “not fun to drive”.He called the system “anti-racing” and compared it to “Formula E on steroids”.He again warned he could leave the sport if he stops enjoying it. Lewis Hamilton voiced similar concerns.He said the new technology is extremely complex.He argued fans will struggle to understand it.The 2026 rules introduce new engines, chassis, tyres and sustainable fuel.Power now comes almost equally from combustion and electric systems. Testing times gave few reliable performance clues.Mercedes topped the times with Kimi Antonelli and…
US inflation declined to 2.4% in January after last year’s tariff-driven price swings.The consumer price index rose 0.2% for the month, while core inflation increased 0.3%.Economists had expected a slightly higher annual rate of 2.5%. Prices fluctuated strongly in 2024. Inflation dropped to 2.3% in April, then climbed to 3% in September before easing again.The White House said the new figure proves its economic agenda is reducing inflation and denied lasting tariff effects. Investors now watch for signals on interest rates. The Federal Reserve paused cuts in January and will decide again in March.Jerome Powell expects tariffs to cause only…
