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]

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]

Germany tackles explosive wartime legacy at sea

Unexploded WWII bombs are still regularly found across Germany. But hundreds of thousands of tons of wartime munitions also lurk off its shores. Now Berlin is stepping up moves to clean up this perilous toxic waste.

An estimated 1.6 million metric tons of conventional munitions lie in Germany’s…[Read more]

Israel releases 2 Turkish activists detained on Gaza aid boat

Israel has released two Turkish activists who were detained aboard a boat attempting to breach Israel’s deadly blockade of the Gaza Strip, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said Thursday.

Yasemin Acar and Suayb Ordu have left Israel on a flight out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, t…[Read more]

60 Gazan Palestinians killed near aid sites amid Israeli assaults

At least 60 Palestinians were killed Wednesday amid fierce Israeli gunfire and airstrikes targeting areas near humanitarian aid sites in the Gaza Strip, local health officials confirmed.

The majority of the casualties occurred close to a food distribution center run by the U.S.-…[Read more]

First KAAN export prospect: Turkey to deliver 48 jets to Indonesia

Turkey and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale of 48 units of the future fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft during the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition held in Indonesia.

The signing of the agreement was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan…[Read more]

Turkey’s high real rates help inflation fight but hurt growth, business group says

Turkey’s high real rates contribute to the fight against inflation even as they harm economic growth, Omer Aras, executive at the business group TUSIAD which this year clashed with President Tayyip Erdogan, said on Thursday.
In February, Erdogan had a public feud…[Read more]

Ishiba on the counteroffensive in parliament’s final rush

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is gradually mounting a counteroffensive as the parliamentary session comes to a close, energized by a recent bump in popularity and weakening momentum for a no-confidence motion among opposition parties.
This week, Ishiba used two opportunities — a debate wit…[Read more]

Japan Moves to Grant Science Council Autonomy

The Diet has passed legislation to establish the Science Council of Japan as an independent corporation, separating it from direct government control.

Under the revised Science Council of Japan Act, which cleared the House of Councillors, the Science Council will operate as an independent corporate…[Read more]

Japan protests to China after ‘dangerous’ moves by warplanes over Pacific

Japan said J-15 warplanes operating from two Chinese aircraft carriers in the Pacific carried out risky manouvres around patrol planes.

Japan has protested to Beijing over what was described as Chinese fighter jets’ “near-miss” manoeuvres near Japanese maritime patrol pl…[Read more]

Eurostar vows to run direct trains from UK to Germany and Switzerland

Cross-Channel rail operator, which is trying to fend off rivals for its London depot space, regards early 2030s as feasible

Eurostar has vowed to run direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland, as it attempts to fend off potential competitors eyeing its London depot…[Read more]

Germany granted citizenship to a record number of people in 2024, led by Syrians

Germany granted citizenship to a record 291,955 people last year, a 46% increase from 2023, with Syrians making up the largest group, according to data released by the Federal Statistics Office on Tuesday.
Reforms in the citizenship law contributed to the jump, the…[Read more]

Germany: Court to rule on press freedom for banned magazine

The right-wing extremist magazine Compact was outlawed in 2024, but it’s available on newsstands again after winning an appeal. Now, Germany’s Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig will have the final word.

In 2024, then Interior Minister Nancy Faeser banned Compact magazine. She…[Read more]