Russia’s Putin says he will run for president again in 2024

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has decided to run in next year’s presidential elections on March 17, Russian news agencies reported on Friday.

He made the announcement at a ceremony in the Kremlin to honor the “heroes of Russia.”

This will be Putin’s fifth run for the presidency, which…[Read more]

German inflation fall boosts hope of European Central Bank rate cut

Inflation in Germany eased more than expected in November, according to official data released on Friday.

Prices in Europe’s largest economy are increasing at the slowest rate seen since June 2021, mainly thanks to falling energy prices.

Compared to November of last year, p…[Read more]

Germany hit by last-minute train strike: Deutsche Bahn trains “massively affected”

German train drivers have launched a last-minute strike. The 24-hour public transport walkout began on Thursday evening.

It is the fourth strike this year and follows disruption earlier this week due to heavy snowfall in southern Germany.

Passenger services…[Read more]

German court rules federal government violated climate law

The German government failed at meeting emissions reduction targets in transportation and construction, the court ruled.

A German court sided with environmental groups on Thursday, ruling that the federal government had failed to meet its own climate goals in the transport and building…[Read more]

Germany: Munich Airport suspends flights amid heavy snowfall

Heavy snowfall hit southern Germany on Friday night and continued on Saturday, causing major disruptions at Munich Airport, the second-busiest hub in the country.

The airport said on Saturday it was suspending flights until 6 a.m. on Sunday.

Around 320 of the 760 flights scheduled…[Read more]

Cameroonian women awarded German-Africa Prize 2023

The Africa Prize is awarded by the nonpartisan German Africa Foundation to Africans selected by a jury for their commitment to democracy, peace, human rights, economic development, science, arts, culture or society.

The 1st National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon, an umbrella group…[Read more]

Japan space agency hit with cyberattack; rocket and satellite info not accessed

Japan’s space agency was hit with a cyberattack but the information the hackers accessed did not include anything important for rocket and satellite operations, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“There was a possibility of unauthorized access by exploiting the…[Read more]

Daisaku Ikeda: Influential leader of Japan’s Soka Gakkai Buddhist group dies

Daisaku Ikeda, a former leader of Japan’s influential Buddhist group Soka Gakkai, has died at the age of 95.

Over decades Ikeda expanded the organisation’s international following and forged links with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

He died from natural…[Read more]

Japan begins trial sales of prescription-free morning-after pills

Japan has begun trial sales of morning-after pills without a prescription.

Under the pilot, the pill is set to be available at 145 pharmacies. Until now these had only been available at a clinic or pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.

A public consultation by Japan’s health…[Read more]

US military aircraft with six aboard crashes off Japan island

apan’s NHK broadcaster said the CV-22 Osprey hybrid plane had been trying to land at Yakushima Airport with one engine on fire. There is no US comment.

Ospreys – which can function as a helicopter and a turboprop aircraft – have been involved in a string of fatal crashes over the…[Read more]

Germany’s shifting political landscape put to the test in key state votes

The German states of Bavaria and Hesse vote in regional elections on Sunday, in what is widely being seen as a test-case for Germany’s shifting political landscape.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to make gains in both states,
The German states of Bav…[Read more]

Germany records over 300% increase in antisemitic incidents

Since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, nearly 1,000 antisemitic incidents have been reported in Germany. Some of these acts include extreme violence and property destruction, a German association said.

Since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, nearly 1,000…[Read more]

German intelligence warns of heightened terror risk

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency says the danger of a terror attack in the country is “higher than it has been for a long time.” It cited the October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war as factors.

German intelligence warns of heightened terror risk

Germany’s domestic…[Read more]

Foreign ministers of S Korea, China, Japan to meet on Sunday

The foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan will meet for talks in South Korea on Sunday, South Korea’s foreign ministry said on Friday, as the three countries seek to hold their first leaders’ summit in four years.

The neighbors had agreed to hold a summit every year…[Read more]

Japan’s Sojitz buys Vietnam food wholesaler amid modernization push

HANOI — Japanese trading company Sojitz will purchase Dai Tan Viet, Vietnam’s largest wholesale distributor of food to businesses, Nikkei has learned, joining the rush of multinationals investing in a market primed for modernization and growth.

Sojitz intends to convert Dai Tan…[Read more]

Japan Gets New Island After Undersea Volcano Erupts

A new island has been discovered near the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Composed mostly of rock masses, it could continue to grow if volcanic activity persists.

A new island has formed after a volcanic eruption occurred approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) offshore near Iwo Jima in the Ogasawara…[Read more]

German economy shrinks as household spending falls

Household spending dropped by 0.3%, driving the Germany economy into contraction in the three months to September.

The German economy shrank slightly by 0.1% in the three months to September, reversing the same level of growth seen in the previous quarter, according to the country’s statistics…[Read more]

German rail union warns of fresh strikes after talks fail

Germany’s train drivers’ union GDL on Friday announced further strike action after the breakdown of talks with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn.

The two sides have been trying to agree on a deal on working hours, with GDL wanting hours cut from 38 to 35 per week without affecting…[Read more]

Erdogan in tense talks in Germany as divisions over Gaza war deepen

Turkey’s president stresses need for ceasefire, while Germany’s Scholz backs Israel’s right to defend itself.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on a brief and tense visit to Germany amid deep differences between the two NATO allies over the war in Gaza.

Erdogan has c…[Read more]

Palestine, world powers welcome Gaza cease-fire, swap deal

Major world powers, including U.S., U.K. and China, as well as the Palestinian president, have all welcomed the humanitarian truce and temporary cease-fire in Gaza.

“President Abbas and the leadership welcome the humanitarian truce agreement,” Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the…[Read more]