Japan, Philippines agree to work for early conclusion of defense pact

The Japanese and Philippine defense ministers have agreed to work toward the early conclusion of a reciprocal access agreement to boost security cooperation and facilitate joint drills, amid concern over China’s increasingly assertive actions in regional waters.

During their…[Read more]

‘Monster’ Inoue, Nery prepare for Tokyo Dome world title fight

Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue and Mexican challenger Luis Nery both made weight Sunday for their title showdown at the 45,000-plus seater Tokyo Dome.

Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since 42-1 underdog James…[Read more]

Kishida vows to tackle global challenges with South America

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Saturday to work together with South American countries to tackle global challenges including climate change, economic disparity and poverty.

Kishida made the remarks in a speech in Sao Paulo on Japan’s policies toward Latin America and the…[Read more]

France estimates that 150,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine war

Speaking to Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe, Séjourné said Paris estimated total Russian casualties, including wounded, at 500,000 in the war, now in its third year.

“Europe and its partners will remain united and determined, for as long as n…[Read more]

France opens probe of TotalEnergies over 2021 Mozambique attack

The probe follows a legal complaint brought by victims’ families and attack survivors, accusing the French energy company, which was developing a major liquefied gas project in the region, of failing to protect its subcontractors, the prosecutors’ office told AFP.

The survivors and…[Read more]

Türkiye not intimidated by threat of Western retaliation

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye has taken trade precautions to force Israel to implement the International Criminal Court’s (ICJ) cease-fire decision and to let an increased amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza, noting that Ankara is not intimidated by the threat of re…[Read more]

International aid flotilla searches for new flags to sail from Turkey to Gaza

Activists from an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid are applying for new maritime flags to sail to Gaza from Turkey after the flags of two of their ships were removed by Guinea-Bissau authorities last week.

“We will take flags of different countries. W…[Read more]

Turkey halts trade with Israel over ‘humanitarian tragedy’ in Gaza

Turkey has suspended all trade with Israel over its offensive in Gaza, citing the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in the strip.

The Turkish trade ministry said the measures would be in place until Israel allowed an “uninterrupted and sufficient flow” of aid into Gaza.

Trade…[Read more]

Kishida to stress rules-based global order, support for emerging nations at OECD meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that he will stress the need for a rules-based international order in the face of global challenges and tensions when he attends a meeting of the Organizations for Economic Cooperation and Development in…[Read more]

Yen falls to lower 155 zone against dollar after suspected intervention

The yen slipped to the lower 155 range against the U.S. dollar on Thursday in Tokyo after another suspected yen-buying intervention by Japanese authorities sent the currency to as high as 153 overnight.

The yen gave up some gains as Japanese importers bought the dollar,…[Read more]

Foreign traveler caught trying to sneak into Japan by climbing down rope from cruise ship

On Monday, the MSC Bellissima started its latest Japanese voyage, departing the port of Yokohama in the evening and sailing west through the night. The ship, operated by Switzerland’s MSC Cruises, docked in Kobe at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon the fol…[Read more]

Biden blames China, Japan and India’s economic woes on ‘xenophobia’

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that “xenophobia” from China to Japan and India is hobbling their growth, as he argued that migration has been good for the U.S. economy.

“One of the reasons why our economy’s growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we…[Read more]

The ‘massive phenomenon’ of work-related deaths in France

As May Day celebrations fill the streets with festive marches and labour union protests across French cities today, a darker truth boils below the surface. In a country often applauded for its strong labour protections, two workers die each day due to job-related accidents, according to…[Read more]

France charges ex-wife of top IS group official with crimes against humanity

A woman identified as Sonia M., the former wife of the jihadist group’s head of external operations Abdelnasser Benyoucef, was charged on March 14, Le Parisien said Saturday.

The Yazidi woman, who was 16 when she was forced into slavery by Benyoucef, accused Sonia M. o…[Read more]

French PM announces crackdown on teen violence after fatal assault on schoolboy

France has in recent weeks been shaken by a series of attacks on schoolchildren by their peers, in particularly the fatal beating earlier this month of Shemseddine, 15, outside Paris.

The issue has come to a head with the far-right National Rally (RN) accusing Attal…[Read more]

Australia signs deal worth almost $1b with PsiQuantum to build world’s first ‘useful’ quantum computer

Australia will invest almost a billion dollars in a bid to build the world’s first commercially useful quantum computer in Brisbane.

The Queensland and Australian governments have set aside $470 million each in grants, loans and share purchases…[Read more]

We’re investing millions in ‘Australia’s moon landing’. Will it launch?

Superlatives were everywhere on Tuesday at a press conference to unveil a joint $940 million investment by the federal and Queensland governments in quantum computing company PsiQuantum.

From Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “This will have a greater multiplier impact on job…[Read more]

Sydney teenager accused of planning a terrorist attack allegedly wanted to target Jewish community members, court hears

One of the four Sydney teenagers accused of planning a terrorist attack allegedly wanted to target Jewish community members, a court has heard.

The 15-year-old appeared over audio-video link at the Parramatta Children’s Court…[Read more]

Türkiye’s foreign trade gap falls again as narrowing trend gains pace

Türkiye’s foreign trade deficit fell by 12.4% on an annual basis in March, official data showed Tuesday, as a downward trend maintains a pace that officials attribute to the government policies sought to curb chronic shortfalls.

The trade gap narrowed to $7.3 billion (TL 2…[Read more]

Türkiye draws over 7M foreign tourists in Q1, sees revenues hit $8.8B

ürkiye drew more than 7 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of the year, according to official data on Tuesday that also showed robust arrivals fueled a 5.4% increase in tourism revenue.

The number of foreign tourists arriving from January through March climbed 1…[Read more]