In Japan’s ageing countryside, some villages face extinction

Japan has an estimated 9 million abandoned homes as rural areas grapple with rapid population decline.

Nanmoku, Japan – Like all bakers, their day starts before dawn.

Hours later, as the mid-afternoon light streams through the windows of their kitchen, Masayuki Kaneta, 85, and his son…[Read more]

Japan’s embattled PM had a cruel summer – it ended with his exit

It’s been a cruel summer for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
A series of scandals that implicated the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Mr Kishida’s closest allies within it and even his family had put his job on the line.
That this happened as living costs shot up and…[Read more]

Germany’s most beautiful bike paths

Discover Germany’s scenic landscapes and cities by bike. The road network is extensive and well laid-out. Here are a few tips.

Altmühltal Cycle Route
The perfect route for beginner bicycle travellers: the Altmühl is considered one of the slowest-flowing rivers in Germany, and the 250-kilometre cycle path a…[Read more]

Pistorius in Manila: closer cooperation agreed on armaments and training

Current information about Germany’s foreign policy and foreign relations.

Pistorius in Manila: closer cooperation agreed on armaments and training
Manila (dpa/BMVg/d.de) – Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for talks to dis…[Read more]

German court convicts activist for leading ‘from the river to the sea’ chant

Judge says phrase ‘denied right of Israel to exist’ but woman’s lawyer says ruling is a defeat for free speech

A Berlin court has convicted a pro-Palestinian activist of condoning a crime for leading a chant of the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine w…[Read more]

India vs Germany hockey, Paris 2024 Olympics semi-final – where to watch IND vs GER /strong>

The India vs Germany hockey Olympic semi-final will be live streamed and telecast in India. T…[Read more]

Nikkei closes up 10.23% after Monday’s record fall; dollar trading at ¥145.94

Tokyo’s key Nikkei index closed more than 10 percent higher Tuesday, bouncing back from a record selloff the previous day on worries over the U.S. economy and a stronger yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index jumped 10.23 percent, or 3,217.04 points, to end at 34,675.46,…[Read more]

Hiroshima marks 79th anniversary of atomic bombing

Hiroshima marked the 79th anniversary on Tuesday of its atomic bombing by the United States, with its mayor urging people to unite in prompting world leaders to shift away from nuclear deterrence amid global conflicts including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle…[Read more]

Japanese stocks rebound from worst crash since 1987 while global markets are mixed

Japanese shares soared Tuesday, clawing back some of their record losses from the previous day and underpinning a patchy recovery on global markets.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index finished 10% higher and the broader Topix closed around 9% up. Elsewhere in Asia,…[Read more]

Why is Japan cracking down on rideable motorised suitcases?

A growing number of airports are imposing restrictions on these electric suitcases over safety concerns.

Rideable motorised suitcases, which emerged almost 10 years ago as something futuristically novel as well as functional, have increasingly become popular among travellers.

But the…[Read more]

Putin warns US against deploying long-range missiles in Germany

Russian leader says Washington risks triggering cold war-style missile crisis and promises to respond in kind

Vladimir Putin has warned the US that if Washington deploys long-range missiles in Germany from 2026, Russia will station similar missiles within striking distance of the…[Read more]

Questions surround German man sentenced to death in Belarus

A German man who has been sentenced to death in Belarus for terrorism has been shown in a heavily choreographed interview on state-controlled television, apparently confessing to planting explosives near a railway line.
There is no direct evidence of that in the 16-minute video for which…[Read more]

‘Fake news’: FO denies report of Germany handing over suspects involved in consulate attack

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday denied authenticity in the report circulating on social media about Germany handing over of those involved in the attack on Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt.

When asked whether the suspects involved in the…[Read more]

Hackers Race to Win Millions in Contest to Thwart Cyberattacks with AI

The front line in the battle to protect U.S. critical infrastructure ran this month through a rental house in Orange County.

More than a dozen hackers from Arizona State University, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Purdue University tapped on laptops spread…[Read more]

Junior high school boy drowns in Tama River in Tokyo

A junior high school boy drowned after being swept away by a river current in the Tama River in Hamura City, Tokyo, on Sunday morning.

According to police, the boy was swimming with three friends at around 5:30 a.m. when he was swept away, Kyodo News reported. The boy’s friends alerted a p…[Read more]

Blinken arrives in Japan for 2+2 security talks, Quad

Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats will meet in Tokyo on Sunday for talks aimed at further bolstering their military cooperation, including by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production in Japan, amid a rising threat…[Read more]

The simple Japanese method for a tidier and less wasteful fridge

To help people clear cluttered fridges and reduce food waste, researchers in Tokyo are testing simple organisational techniques – and all you need to get started is some tape and a few stickers.

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and felt a surge of anxiety? Perhaps you s…[Read more]

Anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson arrested in Greenland. He faces possible extradition to Japan

Greenland police said they apprehended veteran environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan.

Watson, a 73-year-old Canadian-American citizen, is a former head of the Sea Shepherd…[Read more]

Israel’s invitation to this year’s atomic bomb commemorations in Japan has sparked a controversy over double standards

Hiroshima, the Japanese city devastated by a US atomic bomb in 1945, is at the center of a growing controversy after local officials dismissed calls to disinvite Israel from its annual ceremony promoting world peace as war rag…[Read more]

Japan asks young people why they are not marrying amid population crisis

Consultation launched as surveys show people have little chance to meet partners and worry about high cost of living

The Japanese government has begun to consult young people about their interest in marriage – or lack thereof – as Japan continues to struggle with a dem…[Read more]