If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony solar is taking off

Balcony solar panels can save 30% on a typical household’s electricity bill and, with vertical surface area in cities larger than roof space, the appeal is clear

By Stephen Burgen in Barcelona

They are easy to install, and knock chunks off electricity bil…[Read more]

Germany and France are in crisis – is the next global financial crash brewing?

The eurozone’s flaws and a lack of growth in the EU have combined to malign effect. ‘More Europe’ is not the solution

Things are not quite going according to plan for Rachel Reeves. The economy has contracted for the past two months and inflation is proving hard to…[Read more]

German health system grapples with potential returns of Syrian doctors

As thousands of Syrian doctors work in Germany, the fall of Bashar Assad is raising concern over the potential consequences for the health sector if many of them were to return home.

Germany became a leading destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade, and some…[Read more]

FM Fidan rejects Trump claim of ‘Turkish takeover’ of Syria

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan rejected U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s claim of a so-called Turkish “takeover” in Syria, as he said it would disrespect the will of the Syrian people.

“We wouldn’t call it a takeover, because it would be a grave mistake to present what’s been happening…[Read more]

Türkiye urges world to keep eyes on Gaza under Israeli attacks

Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday warned the recent developments in the Middle East should “not lead the international community to ignore the genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza.”

Israeli attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have intensified in recent days an…[Read more]

Int’l bodies fail to provide peace, security: Erdoğan

International organizations tasked to produce peace and security fail to fulfill their responsibilities in the face increasing conflict and war, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, calling on D-8 members to stand with the people of Syria as the country is building a new future after the…[Read more]

Erdoğan says Assad declined request for talks on Syria

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said his attempts to meet with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad were rebuffed, as fighting intensifies between opposition and government forces in the war-torn country.

“We made a call to Assad, saying, ‘Come and let’s determine the future of Syria t…[Read more]

Turkey, Russia and Iran meet in Doha seeking exit from Syria chaos

Moscow and Tehran have offered military support to help President Bashar al-Assad crush the opposition

Turkey’s Foreign Minister will meet with his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Doha on Saturday to try to find a solution to the renewed fighting in Syria and avoid chaos on…[Read more]

Turkish diplomat takes the helm of OSCE

A senior Turkish diplomat, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, has been appointed as the secretary-general of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with the votes of all 57 member states, becoming the first Turkish national taking the helm of the prestigious organization.

Sinirlioğlu’s app…[Read more]

Türkiye warns Greek Cyprus’ increasing armament risk ‘arms race’ on island

Türkiye has raised objections to increasing militarization by the Greek Cypriot administration, warning that such actions threaten the fragile stability and peace in the region.

“This misguided policy could further undermine the stability and peace of our region and w…[Read more]

Trump to attend Notre Dame reopening as Macron weathers political storm

US president-elect returns to world stage at high-profile celebration that belies growing crisis in French politics

The restored Gothic spire of Notre Dame is to provide a dramatic backdrop for Donald Trump’s return to the geopolitical stage this weekend, as the US p…[Read more]

Emmanuel Macron vows to name new French PM within days

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will name a new prime minister “in the coming days”, after Michel Barnier resigned following a no-confidence vote in parliament.

In a 10-minute address to the nation on Thursday, he rejected opposition pressure to stand down, vowing to stay in his…[Read more]

French government falls: What’s next for Macron, Le Pen, France?

French legislators from both sides of the political spectrum voted to remove Barnier from power.

After less than four months in power, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government has lost a no-confidence vote in parliament over a social security budget dispute.

On Wed…[Read more]

France’s Macron pledges to stay in office until end of term

The French president says he will appoint a new prime minister in ‘coming days’ after lawmakers toppled the government in a no-confidence vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will stay on “until the end” of his five-year term, until May 2027, after a no-confidence vote in p…[Read more]

Japan’s Q3 capex accelerates, firms case for more rate hikes

Japanese corporate spending on plant and equipment accelerated in the third quarter, signalling solid domestic demand was underpinning the country’s fragile economic recovery and strengthening the case for further interest rate hikes.
Capital spending surged 8.1% year-on-year in the…[Read more]

Japan’s factory activity falls at fastest pace in 8 months, PMI shows

Japan’s factory activity shrank at the fastest pace in eight months in November as soft demand prompted firms to trim production, a private-sector survey showed on Monday.
The final au Jibun Bank Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slipped to 49.0 in November,…[Read more]

Japan to offer ¥5 billion to four countries in latest OSA military aid tranche

Japan is more than doubling the budget for its military aid program, with the Foreign Ministry earmarking ¥5 billion ($33 million) for this fiscal year, compared with ¥2 billion a year earlier, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen the security and deterrence capabilities of li…[Read more]

Ishiba questioned on political reform, social issues and the economy

In parliamentary questioning Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was grilled over issues ranging from the Liberal Democratic Party’s approach to political reform and his stance on social issues to the content of a supplementary budget.
Ishiba reiterated his skepticism about a…[Read more]

Barack Obama to present Merkel’s book ‘Freedom’ in the US

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former US President Barack Obama were allies in office. But not from day one.

Both left office years ago, but they have left their mark on global politics. Angela Merkel was once the most powerful woman in the world, while Barack Obama was the…[Read more]

Germany’s Scholz announces Ukraine military aid in visit to Kyiv

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made an unexpected visit to Kyiv on Monday, vowing his country would remain Ukraine’s biggest supporter in Europe and promising delivery this month of military aid worth 650 million euros ($683 million).
The visit, his second since Russia’s full-scale…[Read more]