New Trump security strategy highlights Türkiye’s rising regional role, sources say

The United States’ newly released 2025 National Security Strategy has prompted assessments in Ankara that underscore Türkiye’s growing influence in regional and global dynamics, according to diplomatic sources.

The document, unveiled by the White House under P…[Read more]

Turkey’s Fidan: Gaza governance must precede Hamas disarmament in ceasefire deal

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Reuters on Saturday that not advancing the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire plan to its next stage would be a “huge failure” for the world and Washington, noting that President Donald Trump had personally led the push.
In an…[Read more]

Japan sends letter to UN after China’s 2nd letter on Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks

Japan has sent a second letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rebutting China’s assertions regarding remarks that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made about Taiwan. This comes after China sent Guterres a second letter about the issue.

Takaichi told…[Read more]

Soaring Costs Creating Choppy Waters for Urban Development Projects as Old Ways Reaching Limits

Soaring construction costs are forcing developers to review their plans for urban development projects, with some slashing building sizes or even starting from scratch before seeking approval to begin breaking ground.

Urban development projects often…[Read more]

Japan’s economy minister says up to BOJ to decide ‘specific monetary policy means’

Japan’s economic revitalisation minister, Minoru Kiuchi, called on the central bank to closely communicate with the government in setting monetary policy on Friday, but did not voice opposition to a near-term interest rate hike.
Asked about growing prospects of an…[Read more]

Germany rejects US security strategy’s ‘outside advice’

The US strategy outlines US President Trump’s “America First” view, signaling a shift from Washington’s global role, and sharply criticizes European allies. Berlin said it doesn’t need a lecture on freedom of expression.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has pushed back against…[Read more]

German leaders plan to cut red tape in just 200 steps

When it comes to tackling bureaucracy, why stop at just a measure or two? Premiers of Germany’s 16 states want to go further — so they drafted a 200-point plan to ease the country’s bureaucratic burdens.

The leaders of Germanys’s 16 states on Thursday agreed on a 200-point plan to modernize g…[Read more]

Direct UK-Germany rail link plans advance
Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar and Germany’s state-owned rail operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB), have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at introducing direct rail connections between the UK and Germany.

The companies announced the step on Thursday, amid German President Frank-Walter…[Read more]

Iran and Türkiye announce $1.6 billion railway to link Asia and Europe

Iran and Türkiye have reached an agreement to construct a new railway line aimed at creating a strategic transport corridor between Asia and Europe, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Sunday.

The planned route, known as the Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya railway t…[Read more]

Türkiye charts road map for PKK’s disarmament

Details of an updated road map for the terrorist group PKK’s disarmament as part of the terror-free Türkiye initiative are gradually emerging.

The PKK has announced that it has fully withdrawn from Türkiye, completing the first stage of the dissolution plan.

Security sources say there are four c…[Read more]

9,300 Gaza kids under 5 suffer severe acute malnutrition: UNICEF

Nearly 9,300 children under 5 in Gaza were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition in October, UNICEF warned Saturday, saying winter conditions and the rapid spread of disease are further endangering the lives of the territory’s most vulnerable children.

“High levels of…[Read more]

Japan manufacturers’ union to target $77 monthly base pay hike next year

A Japanese labour union group representing major manufacturers said on Wednesday that it would seek an increase of at least 12,000 yen ($77) in monthly base pay for next year, the same target as this year.
The Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Unions (JCM) is considered a…[Read more]

Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Closing Ceremony Held in Shibuya

The closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, sponsored by The Yomiuri Shimbun and others, was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Wednesday.

This was the first time in its 100-year history that the Deaflympics were held in Japan. About 280,000…[Read more]

Honda Resumes Output as China-Linked Chip Bottleneck Ends

Honda announced on November 25th that production has resumed at its automobile plant in Mexico after operations were halted from late October due to a semiconductor shortage.

The factory restarted on November 19th local time as supplies began to stabilize following export restrictions…[Read more]

Berlin, Paris push companies for fighter jet agreement by mid-December

Germany and France are piling pressure on industrial leaders to find a solution for the troubled joint fighter jet project FCAS – or SCAF – by mid-December, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the sources said…[Read more]

Germany’s Merz, Brazil’s Lula reconcile after Belem comments

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently came under fire in Brazil for comments he made after his trip to the COP30 Summit in Belem.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva appear to have eased tensions sparked by Merz’s comments on the…[Read more]

Schneider calls for a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap

As the World Climate Conference is coming to an end, Carsten Schneider is calling for a binding fossil fuel phase-out roadmap. Germany is one of around 30 states who signed a letter to the Presidency in which they threaten to refuse their approval of an outcome that does not include a clear…[Read more]

Yen and Japanese bonds continue to retreat as verbal intervention lacking

The yen and Japanese government bonds continued to retreat Thursday as confidence failed to return, and negative sentiment snowballed, even as stocks rebounded following a decisive overnight rally in the United States.
A massive stimulus package set to be announced Friday…[Read more]

Massive Fire Ravages Oita for Third Day

A major fire that erupted in the Saganoseki district of Oita City on November 18th and resulted in one fatality continued to burn into its third day on November 20th, with firefighters maintaining round-the-clock operations in an effort to bring the blaze under control.

Police are working to identify the…[Read more]

Offhand remark, symbolic suit signal long winter for Japan-China ties

An off-the-cuff remark by new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that triggered Japan’s biggest bust-up in years with powerful neighbour China was not meant to signal a new hardline stance.
But after openly stating how Japan might react to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan,…[Read more]