Germany’s Bundestag votes for cannabis legalization

New legislation put forward by Germany’s ruling coalition will allow limited possession and cultivation of the drug. The conservative Christian Democratic Union opposed the government’s proposal

Bundestag votes in favor of legalizing cannabis consumption
German lawmakers have approved the…[Read more]

Namibia, Gaza and German hypocrisy on genocide

On January 12, Germany said it will intervene on Israel’s behalf in the genocide case brought against it by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its war on Gaza.

“The German government firmly and explicitly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made aga…[Read more]

German lawyers sue Scholz, alleging complicity in Gaza ‘genocide’

Berlin, Germany – A group of lawyers is filing a criminal complaint with the German federal prosecutor against senior German politicians, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, accusing them of “aiding and abetting” the genocide they say is being committed by Israel in Gaza.

Th…[Read more]

Türkiye rallies Muslim world against Israel’s cruelty: Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday that Türkiye was working to mobilize the Muslim world for steps to be taken to stop Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

Erdoğan was speaking in the western city of Balıkesir on Friday, for an election rally for his Justice and Developme…[Read more]

At least 40 people killed in central Gaza as Israel touts post-war plan

Israel’s military has killed at least 40 Palestinians in attacks on central Gaza ahead of a new round of international talks to broker a truce and as Tel Aviv has outlined a plan for the enclave after the war ends.

The “heinous massacre” committed by Israeli forces in Deir…[Read more]

Israel’s war on Gaza: Are boycotts hurting US brands?

McDonald’s has missed sales targets partly due to boycotts against its products in some parts of the world over its perceived support for Israel, the company says.

The war on Gaza “meaningfully impacted” performance in the last quarter of 2023 in some regions, company officials said on Mond…[Read more]

Turkey rescuers battle to save workers trapped in landslide-hit gold mine

Turkey is under pressure to shut down a gold mine buried by a massive landslide, as hundreds of rescuers battle to save at least nine trapped workers.

The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects said on Wednesday that the government should close the Copler…[Read more]

Germany hopes to boost military and deterrence

German politicians and some sections of the media have reacted to Donald Trump’s latest remarks about NATO by demanding that Germany radically boost its defense spending and even consider breaking its taboo on nuclear weapons.

Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Saturday, the former US…[Read more]

Singer Isaak to represent Germany at Eurovision 2024

German singer Isaak Guderian will represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

The annual cultural extravaganza, watched by millions of people, will be held inMalmö, Sweden, this year, after Swedish singer Loreen won the contest last year.

Isaak beat eight others
Isaak beat out…[Read more]

Germany: Hamburg begins issuing Visa cash cards for refugees

Hamburg has become the first German state to introduce payment cards for asylum seekers. The cards will initially be issued to new arrivals in initial reception facilities, the city’s social welfare authority announced Thursday.

This is a pilot project for the nationwide introduction…[Read more]

Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza stage roadblock in Tel Aviv

Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza closed a major street in Tel Aviv on Thursday to urge the government to negotiate with Hamas for their release, local media reported.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, “dozens of families of the hostages and Israeli protesters blocked the m…[Read more]

Türkiye, S. Arabia look to deepen ties with new cooperation avenues

Türkiye and Saudi Arabia stressed what they say is the complementary nature of their economies at a major gathering on Friday, expressing commitment to further enhance ties and explore concrete avenues for collaboration.

Senior officials from both nations demonstrated e…[Read more]

Earthquake fever grips Turkey’s Istanbul amid fears of ‘the big one’

Earthquake fever has gripped Istanbul since last year’s disaster in southern Turkey, as residents in Europe’s most populous city fear they could face similar devastation.

The city lies near the North Anatolia faultline, a geological danger that has seen Istanbul hit by at lea…[Read more]

Unusually warm weather in northern Japan puts damper on winter events

Unseasonably warm weather in northern parts of Japan have caused iconic winter sights to melt away this week, causing ice deposits on trees to no longer appear so monster-like, and snow huts to be capped with blue sheets.

While Hokkaido and the northeastern Japan regions will…[Read more]

Japan to boost child allowances to tackle falling birthrate

The Cabinet on Friday approved a bill to expand the coverage of monthly child allowances to high school-age children as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to stem the sharp drop in Japan’s birthrate.

Under the plan, the existing income limit for households receiving the benefits will be…[Read more]

Japan announces successful launch of next-generation H3 rocket

Japan’s space agency announced the successful launch of its new flagship rocket on Saturday, making it third time lucky for the H3 after years of delays and two previous failed attempts.

The H3 rocket, billed as flexible and cost-effective by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency…[Read more]

Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ wakes up and shares new images of the lunar surface

Japan’s “Moon Sniper” robotic explorer is back in action after a power issue forced the spacecraft to shut down hours after landing on the moon 10 days ago, the country’s space agency said Monday.

The explorer executed a precise landing just after 10:20 a.m. ET on January…[Read more]

Japanese castle town invites travelers to live a day in the life of a feudal lord

The careful placement of the traditional “kabuto” helmet and the adjustment of the cord chin strap complete the transformation.

Simon Celestine arrived at Odawara castle as a tourist from France but he is now lord of one of the most impressive feudal-era for…[Read more]

Istanbul University’s historic Beyazıt campus opens for visitors

University (IU), a cornerstone of Türkiye’s educational legacy, opened the doors of its iconic Beyazit campus to visitors on Thursday, offering a glimpse into its rich history and academic prowess.

Established in 1453 as Medaris-i Semaniye (Sahn-ı Seman) by Fatih Sultan Mehmet fo…[Read more]

Ferry services in Istanbul, Izmir disrupted due to adverse weather

Due to adverse weather conditions, some ferry services in Türkiye’s major metropolises Istanbul and Izmir were canceled on Sunday, according to Anadolu Agency (AA) reports, while warnings for possible thunderstorms were issued for the wider Marmara and Aegean…[Read more]