Berlin to simplify rules in bid to speed up defence surge, draft law says

The German government seeks to speed up defence procurement by simplifying legal procedures, fostering European cooperation and facilitating orders to start-ups to make its military combat-ready, according to a draft law seen by Reuters late on Friday.
The speedy surge of…[Read more]

Germany updates: Lawmakers curb refugee family reunification

Lawmakers have voted to suspend family reunification rights for refugees who do not hold full asylum status. Meanwhile, as Germany faces labor shortages, figures show much of its workforce is untapped.

SPD’s Klingbeil re-elected but not without internal dissent

Lars Klingbeil was r…[Read more]

Teen in Germany charged over Taylor Swift stadium plot

German federal prosecutors have charged a teenager with aiding in the preparation of a suspected terrorist attack targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last summer.

Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe on Friday said judges had indicted a teenager accused of having helped…[Read more]

Japan scraps US meeting after Washington demands more defense spending -FT

Japan has canceled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the United States after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defense, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected…[Read more]

Macron challenges Europe to rival US, China in space

President Emmanuel Macron threw France’s backing behind plans for a European satellite manufacturing champion and called for accelerated deployment of Starlink-type satellites as he declared space the new theatre for world power competition.
Speaking at the Paris Airshow on Friday, after France…[Read more]

Dassault Aviation gets French government support for its VORTEX spaceplane demonstrator

Dassault Aviation (AM.PA), opens new tab and the French government signed on Friday an agreement whereby France’s armed forces ministry would support the development of Dassault Aviation’s VORTEX spaceplane demonstrator.
The agreement was signed at the Paris…[Read more]

German military deems Russia ‘existential risk’ to nation and Europe, Spiegel reports

The German military deems Russia an “existential risk” to the country and Europe, according to a Spiegel news magazine report that cites a new Bundeswehr strategy paper.
The confidential document warns that the Kremlin is aligning both its industrial and…[Read more]

Germany, England and France in talks with Iran

Foreign ministers meet in Geneva to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme

As the war between Israel and Iran enters its second week, three European foreign ministers are meeting today with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva, Switzerland, in an effort to de-escalate the situation. One of the aims of J…[Read more]

Germany updates: Population growth on the decline

As of the end of 2024, Germany’s population stood at just under 83.6 million, an increase of 121,000 compared to the previous year. This marks a slowdown from 2023, when the numbers grew by 338,000.

Germany says US tariffs costing millions daily amid trade talks

German Economy Minister Katherina…[Read more]

UN probe chief calls US-backed Gaza aid initiative ‘outrageous’

The head of a U.N. inquiry into human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories on Wednesday denounced the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), calling its role in distributing aid in the besieged enclave “outrageous” and warning it is contributing to civi…[Read more]

Türkiye’s maritime planning listed by UNESCO body

Ankara University has submitted Türkiye’s Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) map to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, making it internationally accessible following relevant approval.

According to a statement from the university, the U.N. agency’s commission officially registere…[Read more]

Under Israeli attack, Iran has ‘legitimate’ right to self-defense: Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Iran has the “legitimate” right to defend itself in the face of Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign.

“It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s banditry and state terrorism,” E…[Read more]

Foreign visitors to Japan hit 3.7 mil. in May, new record for month

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in May rose 21.5 percent from a year earlier to 3.7 million, a record for the month, government estimates showed Wednesday, as travel demand remained strong even after cherry blossom season.

By country and region, South Korea topped the…[Read more]

Japan ‘s ANA Now Unveils its New Luxurious Business-Class Seat: Elevating Experience in the Premium Travel

In a groundbreaking development set to redefine luxury air travel, All Nippon Airways (ANA) in Japan has officially announced its latest innovation—the spectacularly redesigned business-class seat named “The Room FX.” Scheduled to debut i…[Read more]

Supreme Court Upholds 18-Year Sentence for Doctor in Kyoto

The Supreme Court has finalized the sentence of 18 years in prison for Yoshikazu Okubo, who conspired with a former doctor to carry out an assisted death in Kyoto in 2019 at the request of a female patient suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

During previous trials, Okubo…[Read more]

Iran threatens to target American, British and French military bases

Tehran says it will take action if western countries help block Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel

Iran has warned the US, UK and France that their military bases and ships will be targeted if they help block the Iranian missile and drone retaliation for Israel’s a…[Read more]

Airbus nears landmark jet deal with Poland’s LOT, sources say

European planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab is nearing a deal to sell A220 passenger jets to Polish carrier LOT after a hard-fought and politically charged contest with Brazilian planemaker Embraer (EMBR3.SA), opens new tab, industry sources said.
Barring a last-minute upset, a…[Read more]

Air France-KLM CEO voices confidence in Boeing 787

The head of Air France-KLM (AIR.PA), opens new tab voiced confidence in the Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 787 Dreamliner as he expressed condolences to Air India and those affected by the deadly crash of a London-bound passenger jet in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
“We still have confidence in the…[Read more]

Germany sees limited financial leeway on next EU budget, policy paper shows

Germany wants the European Union’s next seven-year budget to keep a lid on spending, according to a policy paper seen by Reuters on Saturday, with Berlin arguing members do not have room to boost the scope of their contributions.
The German economy, Europe’s largest, has…[Read more]

New German–Ukrainian defence partnership

Germany and Ukraine plan to jointly produce long-range weapons systems. Following talks in Kyiv, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy listed cruise missiles, drones and rockets as key elements of the new cooperation.

Germany will provide funding, while Ukraine w…[Read more]