German election: Focus on immigration and the economy

Immigration and the poor state of the economy are the top issues for German voters, according to the latest survey. Six weeks before the general election, Germany looks set for a change of power in Berlin.

According to the latest “Deutschlandtrend” survey, the balance of power in Berlin is…[Read more]

German institutions depart X, a day after Musk’s Weidel talk

More than 60 German and Austrian academic organizations say they will leave the messaging platform X owned by Elon Musk. The German government has also voiced fears that the platform is warping political discourse.

Scores of universities and research institutions in Germany and Austria…[Read more]

Domestic air travel in Germany dropped by 50% compared to 2019: Study

Domestic flights in Germany are expected to stay significantly below pre-pandemic levels, as overall air traffic continues to decline, according to an analysis released Thursday by the aviation industry association BDL

Flight schedules through the first six months of 2025…[Read more]

Erdoğan vows to make up for local vote mishap

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday promised to compensate for his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) unprecedented losses in last year’s local elections.

“We will work wholeheartedly to make up for the road crash in the March 31 elections at the first possibility,” Erdoğan t…[Read more]

Türkiye’s AFAD provides crucial flour aid to Gaza amidst food crisis

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has reported that it has distributed flour to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which is experiencing a food crisis due to Israeli attacks.

AFAD, in collaboration with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees…[Read more]

‘Türkiye won’t hesitate to protect itself against terrorists’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye would not hesitate to take action against terrorists posing a threat to its national security.

Noting that Türkiye has shown its firm commitment to its survival and security time and again, Erdoğan told a news conference after a cabinet meet…[Read more]

Israel wipes out 2 Gazan families amid renewed push for cease-fire

At least 17 people from two families were among some 88 Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza over the weekend, the territory’s health authorities confirmed Sunday.

Israel’s latest killings come amid as mediators launched a new cease-fire push to end its 15-month genocidal…[Read more]

CDP chief Noda rejects grand coalition with LDP

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, on Saturday rejected the idea of forming a grand coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
“We want to focus on uniting the power of opposition parties to change the government,”…[Read more]

Biden blocks Japan’s Nippon Steel from buying US Steel

US President Joe Biden has blocked the takeover of US Steel by a bigger Japanese firm, delivering on a political promise despite fears the move could hurt Washington’s relations with Tokyo and scare off other foreign investors.

Biden cited threats to national security in rejecting the Nippon…[Read more]

World’s oldest person dies in Japan aged 116

Tomiko Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, in central Japan.

Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 116.

Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies, said Ito…[Read more]

Over 3,000 terrorists ‘neutralized’ in 2024: Spokesperson

“Our struggle will continue uninterruptedly until the last terrorist is no longer a threat to our country,” Aktürk told reporters during a press briefing in the capital Ankara.

In the past week alone, 49 terrorists were “neutralized,” Aktürk said, without specifying the organizations t…[Read more]

Tens of thousands of people in Istanbul protest Gaza war

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day on Wednesday to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Demonstrators waved Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine” in the protest, organized by the National Will Platform, a coaliti…[Read more]

The Erdoğan whisperer behind Turkey’s economic pivot

Vice-president Cevdet Yılmaz has played a crucial backstage role managing the turn to financial orthodoxy

When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed Cevdet Yılmaz as vice-president in 2023, the former bureaucrat’s eastern hometown of Bingöl burst into celebration: reveller…[Read more]

Five killed and emergency workers targeted as firework chaos mars Germany’s New Year celebrations

Five people have been killed and dozens of emergency workers were injured as a spate of incidents involving fireworks marred New Year’s Eve celebrations in Germany.

Despite calls for a nationwide ban on the private use of fireworks, they con…[Read more]

New Year’s fireworks accidents kill five in Germany

Five people died across Germany and a police officer was seriously injured from accidents linked to the powerful fireworks Germans traditionally set off to celebrate the new year, police said Wednesday.

Germans celebrate New Year’s Eve with a particularly intense usage of fireworks, which spurs…[Read more]

Iran to hold nuclear talks with France, UK, Germany on January 13: Report

The next round of talks with European powers will take place one week before Trump’s return to the White House.

The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and France, the United Kingdom and Germany will take place in Geneva in January, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news age…[Read more]

Japan Govt Eyes Jan. 24 Start of Ordinary Diet Session; Upper House Election Likely to Be Held on July 20

The government and ruling bloc on Thursday began making adjustments to the schedule in order for the ordinary Diet session to convene on Jan. 24, 2025.

Considering the Public Offices Election Law, the start of the campaign period for the…[Read more]

Foreign visitors to Japan top 33 mil in Jan-Nov, breaking annual record

The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 33 million from January to November, setting a new annual record, driven by a tourism boom and a weak yen, government estimates showed Wednesday.

The total stood at 33,379,900, surpassing the previous full-year high of 31.88…[Read more]

Mount Fuji access fees to be doubled as authorities address overcrowding

Climbers using the most popular trail on Mount Fuji are expected to be slugged with a doubled fee of 4,000 yen from next summer as the Yamanashi prefectural government seeks to tackle overcrowding, a source close to the matter said Thursday.

The prefectural government also…[Read more]

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Set for Weekly Decline Despite Weak Yen Tailwind

Japan’s Nikkei share average on Friday was headed for its worst week since early November despite the tailwind of a weaker yen, as weakness on Wall Street and caution ahead of major central bank policy decisions weighed.

The Nikkei rose 0.2% to 38,889.95 at the mid…[Read more]