World Bank’s IFC mobilized record $3.6B for Türkiye in FY 2024

The World Bank’s private investment arm implemented a record $3.6 billion investment package for Türkiye in its financial year to the end of June, according to a senior executive.

This confirms Türkiye’s position as the third largest country of activity of the International Fi…[Read more]

Erdoğan receives Iraqi Premier Al Sudani for talks in Istanbul

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani of Iraq in Istanbul, Erdoğan’s office said.

Erdoğan welcomed Al Sudani at the Vahdettin Mansion and gave him a tour of the historical landmark that overlooks the Bosporus from the city’…[Read more]

Witness to activist’s killing says getting justice crucial for all killed by Israel

ssuring justice for Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi and all those killed by Israel is crucial, according to one of the witnesses to the killing of the Turkish American activist in the occupied West Bank in early September.

Australian citizen Helen Maria O’Sullivan testified as…[Read more]

Hope still exists for Turkey-PKK detente, despite deadly attack

A push for a rapprochement, spearheaded by an unlikely source, could end a decades-long conflict.

The sight of Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) walking across the floor of the Turkish parliament on October 1 and shaking hands with politicians from a…[Read more]

How Japan’s youngest CEO transformed Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty, arguably Japan’s best loved creation, is celebrating her 50th anniversary.

But all has not always been well at Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the character. The business has been on a spectacular journey of financial peaks and valleys.

Hello Kitty has been ranked the…[Read more]

Japan, EU Officials Condemn N. Korea’s Latest ICBM Launch

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Josep Borrell, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, met in Tokyo on Friday and condemned North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day.

Nakatani criticized the ICBM…[Read more]

Japan, EU announce new defense pact

Japan and the European Union announced a sweeping new security and defense partnership in Tokyo on Friday. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hailed it as a historic and “very timely” step.

Borrell and his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, unveiled the pact to develop cooperation on joint military…[Read more]

Sekiguchi Eyed as Next Head of Japan’s Upper House

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is planning to push Masakazu Sekiguchi as the next president of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, several party sources said Friday.

Sekiguchi, 71, who currently leads LDP members in the Upper House, would succeed current Upper House…[Read more]

Anti-corruption watchdog commissioner’s future ‘untenable’ after ‘bias’ finding, David Pocock says

Senator doubles down on concerns about the new National Anti-Corruption Commission’s credibility and reputation

David Pocock has doubled down on concerns the position of the federal anti-corruption watchdog’s top investigator remains “untenable” a…[Read more]

Burning out: how Australia’s bid to cut smoking rates exploded into suburban tobacco wars

With the illicit market worth at least $2bn a year and the rise of illegal vapes, experts say the status quo is failing

There are three tobacconists in a strip of no more than a dozen shops on the same side of a street in Melbourne’s west. Earlier this yea…[Read more]

‘We feel this grief profoundly’: Family of driver in Melbourne primary school crash expresses ‘genuine sorrow’

The family of the driver who was behind the wheel of a car which smashed into a Melbourne primary school has offered their condolences to the loved ones of the 11-year-old boy killed in the crash.
Jack Davey died on the way to hospital…[Read more]

Australian PM accused of seeking upgrades from Qantas boss

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused of asking for free personal flight upgrades directly from the former CEO of national carrier Qantas.

A new book by Australian journalist Joe Aston claims Albanese made several calls to ex-CEO Alan Joyce, and received upgrades on…[Read more]

Defence summit in Sydney cancelled over concerns about planned protests

A major defence industry event due to be held in Sydney this week has been cancelled following safety concerns about planned protests.
The New South Wales Defence Summit was scheduled to be held on Thursday in the city’s central business district but organisers Informa Con…[Read more]

‘Doesn’t pass pub test’: Barnaby Joyce weighs in on PM’s Qantas freebies

Barnaby Joyce has weighed in on Anthony Albanese’s Qantas freebies after the Prime Minster was accused of ‘gold-plating’ his private holidays.

Anthony Albanese has been accused of ‘gold-plating’ private holidays with Qantas freebies involving flight upgrades worth te…[Read more]

‘Not my King’ protest row highlights Australian divisions

When an Aboriginal Australian senator heckled King Charles moments after he delivered a speech in the nation’s Parliament House, it caught the world’s attention.

Lidia Thorpe’s cries of “not my King” and “this is not your land” shone a light on a country that is still grappling with it…[Read more]

Helicopter pilot who crashed into a hotel had drunk a ‘significant amount of alcohol,’ report finds

A pilot who died when he crashed a helicopter into a hotel in Australia had “significant blood alcohol content” during the unauthorized flight, according to an official report into the incident.

Hundreds of guests and staff were evacuated from th…[Read more]

Japanese man convicted of creating malware using generative AI

A Japanese court has convicted a man for creating malware using generative conversational artificial intelligence.

The Tokyo District Court sentenced Ryuki Hayashi, 25, to three years imprisonment, suspended for four years, for producing code that could be used as ransomware in…[Read more]

Fujikyu Railway weighs legal action over foreign tourist dance video

Fujikyu Railway is considering taking legal action over a dance video posted on social media that features people who appear to be foreign tourists performing in the middle of a train.
“We will not tolerate any dangerous or disruptive behavior in our vehicles, or any behavior t…[Read more]

Japan’s parliamentary election: Why it matters

Japanese voters go to the polls after new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called a snap election. The outcome could strengthen him, or further weaken the governing LDP.

Voters in Japan head to the polls on Sunday to elect members of their House of Representatives in an election seen as a test for t…[Read more]

Japan’s ruling party loses its majority in blow to new PM

The coalition led by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has lost its majority in parliament, its worst result for over a decade.

Opposition parties secured more than half the seats in the lower house, provisional election results showed.

With 22 seats left to declare, the L…[Read more]