The designated German ambassador in Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, has a difficult job ahead of him. Although Russia has expelled embassy staff several times, he sees his appointment as a positive sign, he says in an interview with Viktor Funk.
By Viktor Funk
Since the end of the grain agreement, Ukrainian agriculture has been under massive pressure. The EU therefore wants to increase capacities on the solidarity corridors. However, this cannot be implemented quickly.
By Henrike Schirmacher
The first responses of Baidu and other Chinese tech companies to ChatGPT were hardly convincing. Thanks to massive investments, the gap seems to be closing. China's IT companies have fully entered the race. But the shortage of US chips remains a significant problem.
By Jörn Petring
Desmond Shum and his wife Whitney Duan were closely associated with China's top cadres as business people. But then Duan disappeared without a trace; she was one of China's wealthiest women at the time. Fabian Peltsch spoke with Shum about how China's leadership deliberately creates an atmosphere of fear through opacity and what the recent disappearance of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang means for the party apparatus.
By Fabian Peltsch
The election in Spain has brought a stalemate between right-wing and left-wing parties. Separatist parties such as those led by Carles Puigdemont will now help decide whether Prime Minister Sánchez can remain in office – but they are demanding a high price for their support.
By Isabel Cuesta Camacho
The Parliament is sorting itself in the debate on the European Media Freedom Act. The Culture Committee has recently taken a position, the Civil Liberties Committee has also adopted the report. The first directional decisions have been made, with more to follow in September.
By Falk Steiner
Vox's performance in Spain confirms the trend: as things stand, the conservative ECR group will benefit most from the European elections in June. EPP leader Manfred Weber, on the other hand, must expect losses – and is thus opening up to possible right-wing alliances. What these could look like.
By Markus Grabitz
China is slipping into deflation, the risk of a crippling downward spiral of prices. The main cause is the troubles on the real estate market. However, house construction will stall for a long time, because a giant bubble has burst there. And at the same time, the modernization of industry is not progressing fast enough.
By Felix Lee
The West has neglected space. A strategic mistake, says Niklas Schoernig. Because China is about to replace the United States as the leading power in orbit. Michael Radunski spoke with the conflict researcher about what goals the People's Republic is pursuing and what implications this will have for the international order. Schoernig warns: 'Space has long since become a critical infrastructure.'
By Michael Radunski
The candidate of the conservative Partido Popular is clearly ahead of Prime Minister Sánchez in the polls. Before Sunday's new elections, Alberto Núñez Feijóo is distancing himself from the far-right Vox party by referring to his "political biography" – but could still be dependent on it.
By Isabel Cuesta Camacho
