Japan refuses to say if other nations may join fighter jet program

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has refused to comment on the prospect of other countries joining Japan, Britain and Italy in their joint next-generation fighter jet development program in the future.

“We are not at the stage to talk about participation by third countries such as…[Read more]

Some ETC lanes on expressways in 7 prefectures closed after system failure

A system failure on Sunday morning caused the closure of ETC-only lanes at some toll gates on expressways in seven prefectures —Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Mie.

According to Nagoya-based Central Nippon Expressway, the ETC system failure o…[Read more]

Coalition abandons ‘end’ to work from home, walks back 41,000 job cuts

A Coalition demand for “all” public servants to return to the office has been abandoned, and the party has beat a major retreat on its promise to slash 41,000 Commonwealth jobs.

The Coalition has committed the about-face one week into the federal election campaign, after its…[Read more]

Four rescued from rubble after mine collapse in Sydney’s south

Four men have been buried under rubble hundreds of metres underground, at a mine near Picton on the outskirts of Sydney’s south-west.
Investigations are under way into what caused part of the roof to collapse.
The group became trapped about 3am deep below the surface of GM3’s Appin…[Read more]

Australia is in an extinction crisis – why isn’t it an issue at this election?

Most parliamentarians might be surprised to learn it, but Australians care about nature. Late last year, the not-for-profit Biodiversity Council commissioned a survey of 3,500 Australians – three times the size of the oft-cited Newspoll and representative of the entir…[Read more]

‘More will come to us now’: what does Le Pen verdict mean for far-right’s future?

Near a roast chicken stand at a rural market, Jocelyn Dessigny was giving out leaflets bearing a photograph of the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and the words “Save democracy!”

“It is a political attack,” he said of Le Pen’s criminal conviction this…[Read more]

Nationwide “Hands Off” anti-Trump protests gather thousands of people

Around 1,200 “Hands Off!” protests are planned across the U.S. on Saturday, reflecting growing opposition to President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, over their controversial policy changes. Protests are also organized globally. Bob Vallier, a spokesperson…[Read more]

Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk challenges detention in Boston court

A Tufts University student from Türkiye, who was arrested last week in Massachusetts by U.S. immigration officials after advocating for Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza, challenged her arrest and the rapid transfer out of Massachusetts as being unlawful, according to a rep…[Read more]

Over 100 killed in Gaza as Israeli strikes hit school, homes

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 100 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, including 27 or more sheltering at a school, the Palestinian medical authorities reported.

The bodies of 14 children and five women were recovered from the school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza…[Read more]

Trump’s baseline tariff plays to Turkey’s advantage, vice president says

The relatively low 10% baseline tariff that the United States has applied to Turkey could favour Turkish exporters, Turkey’s vice president told broadcaster CNN Turk on Saturday.
Along with the baseline tariff that took effect on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump has…[Read more]

First German woman in space returns to Earth

Scientist Rabea Rogge landed back on the coast of California after four days of orbiting above the Earth. The mission included three other astronauts, all associates of billionaire Chun Wang.

Rabea Rogge, a 29-year-old robotics researcher from Berlin who became the first German woman in space,…[Read more]

Bosnian Serbs declare German official persona non grata

German Secretary of State for European Affairs Anna Lührmann was expelled from the Serb entity of Bosnia in retaliation for German sanctions against the Bosnian Serb leadership.

Bosnian Serb police on Friday expelled a top German foreign ministry official from Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia…[Read more]

German parties press on with government formation despite differences on migration

Germany’s conservatives and Social Democrats (SPD) agreed on Wednesday to go into the next round of negotiations on forming a coalition government despite deep differences remaining on areas from immigration to consumer protection and criminal justice.
Sector…[Read more]

Faeser travels to Amman

The acting Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, has travelled to Jordan to talk to government representatives about refugees, migration and security issues. She is accompanied by her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner (photo). Meetings with Interior Minister Masen al-Faraja and Foreign Minister Aiman Safadi are…[Read more]

Germany: Police raids target Eritrean terror group

The nationwide police operation targeted suspected members of the so-called “Brigade N’hamedu” in Germany. The group is believed to have been responsible for violent riots at Eritrean cultural events.

Police in Germany are carrying out a major nationwide raid against opponents of the government…[Read more]

German top court upholds reunification solidarity tax

A judge ruled that Germany’s solidarity tax is still necessary to cope with the costs of reunification. Just 10% of the highest income earners are still subject to the tax, in addition to businesses and investors.

Germany’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld the solidarity tax that was…[Read more]

Israeli forces stir pot in West Bank with sweeping raids amid chaos

Israeli forces conducted raids across several areas of the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, detaining and interrogating dozens of Palestinians, according to witnesses.

The Israeli army stormed the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, the town of…[Read more]

Erdogan warns against any attempt to undermine Türkiye’s economy

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning that any efforts to undermine Türkiye’s economy or national peace will face strict legal consequences.

“All kinds of attempts to sabotage the Turkish economy, the welfare and peace of the nation will be he…[Read more]