BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's government approved measures to restrict family reunification for migrants and delay citizenship access on Wednesday, forging ahead with a major shift in migration policy under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The cabinet agreed to a two-year suspension of the right for migrants who do not qualify for full refugee status, so called "subsidiary protection"...
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments about U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv, said the national interest was paramount for the Russian leader. He also said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday that a possible meeting of...
LAGOS (Reuters) -The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces growing threats of terrorism, climate change, military coups, and poverty, its most senior official said on Wednesday as leaders marked 50 years since the bloc's formation in Nigeria. Jihadist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and...
CANNES, France (AFP): Exploitative contracts that force young female Japanese pop stars to forego relationships and sex are at the heart of director Koji Fukada's latest film, which has premiered in Cannes. The 45-year-old director said he was inspired by a news report about a Japanese "idol", as the starlets are known, who was sued by...
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Four people were taken to the hospital after an accident involving a car and a bus at Woodlands Checkpoint on the morning of Saturday (May 24). It also resulted in a lane closure for three hours, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). In response to queries, the police said they were...
SHANGHAI/JAKARTA (Reuters): China's Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China and Indonesia will promote "true multilateralism" as he landed in Jakarta on a two-day visit to South-East Asia's largest economy. China has intensified engagement with countries in the region since US President Donald Trump announced hefty import tariffs on its global trading partners earlier this...
SINGAPORE: After more than two years since she was last seen leaving a Nara guesthouse for a hiking trail in Japan, Patricia Wu-Murad, wife of a former Singapore women’s basketball coach, has been confirmed dead by her family. Her family received confirmation of her death on May 9, said her husband Kirk Murad. Pattie, as the Taiwanese-American...
SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong led the swearing-in of the Cabinet for the new term of government at the Istana on Friday, following the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) resounding victory at the May 3 general election. The ceremony, broadcast live on television and streamed on social media platforms, began at about 8 pm with the national anthem, Majulah...
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Princess Elisabeth, the 23-year-old future queen of Belgium, has just completed her first year at Harvard University but the ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on foreign students studying there could jeopardise her continued studies. The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing...
Gold prices rose on Friday and were poised for their biggest weekly gain in more than a month, as a softer U.S. dollar and concerns over the country's fiscal outlook boosted bullion's safe-haven appeal. Spot gold was up 1.1% at $3,329.69 an ounce as of 0654 GMT. Bullion has risen 4% this week, its highest since...
