News

Putin begins diplomatic meetings ahead of Victory Day, Xi meeting set for May 8

2025/05/08 17:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a series of summits ahead of his country's Victory Day which falls on Friday this week. Earlier on Wednesday he sat down with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro at the Kremlin. Also back on Wednesday Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow for a four-day state visit that includes attending the Victory Day celebration which commemorates 80 years since the end of World War Two. On the agenda of the summit between China and Russia were issues of mutual interest including trade and stability.

U.S. to scrap plan to control exports of AI semiconductors based on country ratings

2025/05/08 17:00

The Trump administration plans to put the brakes on chip curbs crafted by the former Biden administration. The so-called Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion seeks to maintain advanced computing power WITHIN the U.S. and AMONG its allies while blocking Chinese access by restricting exports of advanced AI chips. American companies were expected to comply with this AI diffusion framework starting May 15th. Officials under the current Trump administration say they are looking to replace this Biden-era plan with a quote "simpler rule" that may include separate bilateral accords between the U.S. and its partners.

Trump says 'no' to bringing down tariffs for China before negotiations

2025/05/08 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected reducing tariffs on Beijing AHEAD of talks between his trade officials and their Chinese counterparts this coming Saturday in Geneva. Lee Seung-jae has more. Amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, U.S. President Donald Trump said he won't lower his 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports before trade talks happen between the two countries. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked if he would be "open to pulling back" on his tariffs in order to bring China to the negotiation table, to which he simply replied "no." The comments come as Beijing said earlier that meaningful negotiations would only happen if Washington lowers the 145 percent tariffs first. His comments come as a meeting between U.S. and Chinese trade officials is set to take place in Geneva on Saturday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with China's economic chief He Lifeng, in what could be the first step towards de-escalating tensions between the two economic powers. Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, Bessent said the trade talks will center mostly on de-escalating tensions, and not on a "big trade deal." Last month, President Trump raised import duties on Chinese goods to 145 percent, despite scaling back on his reciprocal tariffs on almost all other U.S. trading partners. China retaliated with steep tariffs on U.S. goods, further escalating the trade tensions. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Fed holds rates steady amid 'uncertainty'; what that means for S. Korea's future rate decisions

2025/05/08 17:00

The U.S. Federal Reserve has decided to leave its lending rate unchanged amid uncertainty over the broader impact of the Trump administration's tariffs. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers the Fed's latest decision and its broader implications. In its third monetary policy meeting of the year, the U.S. Fed has decided to continue its "wait-and-see" stance by keeping rates steady. The decision to keep the current key borrowing rate range of 4-point-2-5 percent to 4-point-5 percent on Wednesday extends a pause in the Federal Open Market Committee's rate-cutting cycle that began in January. "The risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation appear to have risen, and we believe that the current stance of monetary policy leaves us well-positioned to respond in a timely way to potential economic developments." And these risks to employment and inflation the two pillars of the Fed's dual mandate stem from the uncertainty surrounding President Trump's tariffs. The decision to hold rates steady was thus unanimous, despite weeks of pressure from Trump to lower them. "The latest in consumer inflation report saw a 2-point-4 percent year-over-year rise in March. The one year outlook compiled by the University of Michigan stand at 6-point-5 percent. The main driver of the jump in inflation expectation is President Trump's tariff policies." The rate freeze leaves the key interest rate gap between South Korea and the United States at 1-point-7-5 percentage points based on the upper end of each country's rates. And the rate gap puts the BOK in a tough position ahead of its own meeting later this month, as an even larger gap could lead to capital outflows that push the won down further raising import costs and adding to inflation. But Korea's central bank is likely to lower interest rates due to the sluggish domestic economy. "While the exchange rate is now in the upper 1,300-won range, domestic factors are becoming more important for rate cuts. Ideally, the Fed would cut rates too, but given Korea's tough domestic situation, many expect the Bank of Korea to cut rates in May." Data released by the central bank last month showed that the country's real gross domestic product, a key indicator of the economy, shrank by 0-point-2 percent on-quarter in the first quarter. In response to the Fed leaving rates unchanged, Acting Finance Minister Kim Beom-seok said that the government will hold weekly macroeconomic and financial meetings to monitor markets and ensure economic stability. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Czech government pre-approves KHNP nuclear deal despite court injunction

2025/05/08 17:00

The Czech government has pre-approved the sealing of a nuclear power deal worth over 25 trillion won or some 18 billion U.S. dollars with South Korea. According to a press release on the Czech government's website on Wednesday the pre-approval was made during Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala's meeting with Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun in Prague. South Korea and the Czech Republic were initially scheduled to seal the deal this week but a Czech court issued an injunction in response to a legal complaint filed by French energy company EDF that earlier lost the bid for the project to a consortium led by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.

S. Korea condemns N. Korea's continued sanctions violations at UNSC

2025/05/08 17:00

South Korea has condemned North Korea for continuing to violate UN sanctions amid its missile and nuclear weapons ambitions. Remarks to this end were made during a session of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York earlier on Wednesday during which Seoul pointed to Pyongyang's illicit exports of coal and iron, shipments of weapons and deployments of soldiers to Russia. South Korea also warned military collaboration between North Korea and Russia undermine broader global security. North Korea for its part found fault with the U.S. for tensions on the Korean peninsula.

N. Korea fires multiple SRBMs toward East Sea from Wonsan area on Thursday morning

2025/05/08 17:00

Earlier on this Thursday morning North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea in its latest display of blatant defiance. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has details. North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday the first in around two months. "Our military detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles of various types launched into the East Sea from the Wonsan area in North Korea between approximately 8:10 AM and 9:20 AM today." The missiles are believed to include the KN-23, a North Korean version of the Iskander missile, and the KN-25 a 600-millimeter super-large multiple rocket launcher. Some flew around 250 kilometers, landing near Al Island, a rock island at the frontal waters of Kilju-gun County of Hamgyongbuk-do Province, while some of the others flew 350 kilometers and fell more than 100 kilometers beyond the island. While saying such missile launches are clear acts of provocation that seriously threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean military said it is looking into the specifics, sharing information with the U.S. and Japan. Thursday's launch is the first since early March, and the second ballistic missile launch since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. As for the reason behind such a provocation amid relatively peaceful times on the Peninsula with no Seoul-Washington joint drills going on nor any strategic assets in place, one expert says he agrees with the JCS's assessment that the missile launch is to test the weaponry for export to Russia. "North Korea is focusing efforts quite strategically on weapons that could be used immediately on the battlefields of the Ukraine war, including short and medium-range missiles. It appears the regime is continuously developing and testing those that are advantageous for exports." Responding to Pyongyang's missile launch, the presidential National Security Office held an emergency meeting to discuss the missile launch and response measures. Presided by the second deputy director, the Office said the government will closely monitor North Korea's movements, and maintain a full readiness posture to respond to any provocations. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Short-form] Korea, a recycling powerhouse

2025/05/08 14:00

Korea grabs the global spotlight with its high recycling rates. Discover how it’s done—and navigate the detailed system that can be a bit tricky!

[K-wave] "Jongmyo Daeje": Keeping Korea's centuries-old royal ritual alive

2025/05/08 14:00

On the first Sunday of every May, an ancient ritual takes place at the Jongmyo Shrine here in Seoul in memory of the deceased monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty. Our Lee Eun-hee was there this past weekend. The king, carried in a royal palanquin, travels from the palace to Jongmyo Shrine. He is escorted by rows of officials and royal guards. When they reach the shrine, this impressive scene marks the beginning of a special reenactment the "Jongmyo Daeje," a grand royal ancestral ritual from the Joseon Dynasty. "So, the Jongmyo Daeje—it's a ceremony that honors the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, and it's no ordinary event. Recognized by UNESCO, it's a rare chance to see centuries-old royal traditions come to life." The ceremony begins with placing the ancestral tablets or "shinju" of past kings and queens on the altar, followed by rites to greet and honor the spirits. With offerings of liquor, deep bows, and traditional music and dance, the ritual unfolds in solemn and precise tradition. This intangible cultural heritage was the Joseon Dynasty's grandest and most significant state ritual conducted by the king. It was first revived in 1969 and is still held on the first Sunday of May and again in November. Originally built in the late 14th century, Jongmyo Shrine is recognized by UNESCO as the oldest and most well-preserved Confucian royal ancestral shrine. This year, for the first time in six years, the ritual at the main hall, "Jeongjeon" was open to the public, following five years of restoration work. In April, a "Hwananje" ceremony was held to mark the return of the ancestral tablets of the Joseon kings and queens to their original place in the main hall. "Since Jongmyo Daeje is a meaningful event held at a cultural heritage site, I wanted to wear a hanbok and chose a traditional one." "I left at 4 AM to attend this event today I was happy to hear all the traditional music I was hoping for-it was a really special experience." "This was my first time seeing the Jongmyo Daeje, and even though I didn't know much about it, it made me want to learn more about traditional culture." "So we took the chance and came to this palace to see what was going on, what it looks like. It's very interesting I have to say." The timeless rituals of the two-hour ceremony not only honor Korea's royal heritage but also preserve a profound cultural legacy that still captivates and inspires today. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

[K-enter] j-hope surprises fans with encore concert on BTS anniversary

2025/05/08 14:00

So, let’s start off with some exciting news for BTS fans, especially fans of a specific member. BTS j-hope is preparing a special gift for ARMYs on a very meaningful day. BIGHIT MUSIC, j-hope’s agency, announced on Wednesday that j-hope will hold his encore concert, “j-hope Tour: HOPE ON THE STAGE – FINAL,” on June 13th and 14th at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. This encore concert will serve as the grand finale of j-hope’s solo world tour, which began in February at KSPO Dome in Seoul. The tour has since spanned over 15 cities and 31 performances across the globe, including Chicago, Mexico City, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Osaka. What makes this finale concert even more special is that the first of the two shows will be held on June 13th, which is the anniversary of BTS’s debut. Ticket sales will begin on May 12th for fan club pre-sales and 13th for general sales. And if you don’t get your hands on one of the tickets, not to worry. The concert will be streamed live through an online platform. It definitely will be a gift for ARMYs on such a special day. Our next story is a comeback story. Who are we talking about? DAY6 are back with a fresh burst of spring energy. On Wednesday, the band released their new digital single “Maybe Tomorrow.” This marks DAY6’s first new release since their 9th mini album “Band Aid,” released back in September last year. “Maybe Tomorrow” blends vibrant drum beats, refreshing instrumentals, and emotionally charged vocals. The members were very active in making the new single. Young K wrote the lyrics, delivering hopeful messages, while Young K and Wonpil took part in the composition. Meanwhile, DAY6 are set to hold the grand finale of their third world tour titled, “DAY6 3RD WORLD TOUR FINALE in SEOUL,” from May 9th to 11th and again from May 16th to 18th at KSPO DOME in Seoul. DAY6 songs always lift me up. And the next boy group does too. The name of the band already says it: RIIZE. There’s a chance for K-pop fans in the States to meet them? RIIZE will become the first K-pop act to perform at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in the United States. The festival will be held over six days from October 3rd to 5th and from the 10th to 12th at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. RIIZE will perform during the first weekend. The ACL Music Festival began in 2002 and attracts up to 450-thousand attendees every year. Along with RIIZE, this year’s lineup includes singer Sabrina Carpenter, rapper Doja Cat, and rock band The Strokes. It’s not the first time that RIIZE are dominating the global stage. Last year, they were the first K-pop artist to perform at Tecate Emblema, Mexico’s biggest pop festival. Meanwhile, RIIZE are currently gearing up for their first full-length album “Odyssey” set to be released on May 19th. Excited to see them shine on another global stage. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

DP presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung welcomes retrial postponement decision

2025/05/08 10:00

In the meantime, things are working out for the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, with a major legal hurdle cleared for him, as the high court on Wednesday decided to postpone his election law violation case retrial until after the election. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. The first hearing for the retrial of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election law violation case has been rescheduled from May 15th to June 18th after the 21st presidential election. The Seoul High Court announced on Wednesday that the postponement was to ensure the defendant has a fair opportunity to campaign and to avoid any controversy over the fairness of the trial. The court added that it has always conducted trials independently and fairly based on the Constitution and the law, and will continue to do so. This comes after Lee's legal team submitted a request to the court on Wednesday morning to reschedule. The Supreme Court last week struck down a lower court's acquittal of Lee, sending the case back to the appeals court. The party, which has been urging the high court to postpone the hearing, and Lee welcomed the court's announcement, calling it the right decision. "This is a critical time when the people are practically exercising their sovereignty, so it’s extremely important to ensure nothing hinders that process. I believe the court made a rightful and necessary decision in line with the spirit of the Constitution." The People Power Party, on the other hand, expressed regret over the decision, with Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong saying the court gave in to pressure from Lee's side. The same day, the Seoul Central District Court also postponed Lee's trial related to a land development scandal one of five cases he is currently facing. Hearings were originally scheduled for May, but the court rescheduled it for June 24th. At the parliament, a DP-proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act has passed the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee led by members of the DP despite a boycott by the PPP members. The amendment aims to halt legal proceedings once a defendant is elected president. Meanwhile, Lee on Wednesday continued meeting voters across the country, this time visiting Jeollabuk-do and Chungcheongnam-do provinces. During a visit to Jeollabuk-do, he asked for support, saying that local governments issuing more vouchers and providing basic income where people receive regular, unconditional payments would help increase the rural population. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Fed holds rates amid rising economic uncertainty over tariff policies, inflation risks

2025/05/08 10:00

As widely expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to leave its interest rates unchanged, citing economic uncertainty and rising inflation. It's the third consecutive freeze since Trump took office, despite ongoing pressure for cuts. Shin Se-byuck reports. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4-point-2-5 to 4-point-5-0 percent on Wednesday, amid growing economic uncertainty fueled by U.S. tariff policies. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cited slowing job growth and rising inflation as key reasons for the freeze. "The risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation appear to have risen." The Fed also pointed to the economic uncertainties surrounding the White House's tariff policies. "The tariff increases announced so far have been significantly larger than anticipated. their effects on the economy remain highly uncertain." Powell further emphasized that the inflationary impact of these tariffs could vary widely, depending on their duration and scope. This marks the central bank's third consecutive rate freeze since President Donald Trump took office in January, with each Federal Open Market Committee meeting so far opting against a rate hike. Trump has repeatedly pressured the Fed to cut rates, arguing that his tariff strategy should not lead to economic slowdown or higher consumer prices. Despite this, Powell says the central bank's decisions remain independent. He stressed that the Fed will continue to focus on maximum employment and price stability. As for the timing of potential rate cuts, Powell avoided a direct answer. He said the Fed will "wait and see how things evolve" before deciding on its next monetary policy steps. The Fed's latest decision leaves the U.S.-South Korea interest rate gap unchanged at 1-point-7-5 percentage points, based on the upper end of each country's benchmark rates, with Korea's current rate at 2-point-7-5 percent. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Trump says 'no' to bringing down tariffs for China before negotiations

2025/05/08 10:00

Trade officials from the U.S. and China are set to meet for their first round of negotiations in Geneva this weekend. Despite some momentum building up between the two major economies, Trump says he's not lowering any tariffs for Beijing before trade talks begin. Lee Seung-jae reports. Amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, U.S. President Donald Trump said he won't lower his 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports before trade talks happen between the two countries. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked if he would be "open to pulling back" on his tariffs in order to bring China to the negotiation table, to which he simply replied "no." The comments come as Beijing said earlier that meaningful negotiations would only happen if Washington lowers the 145 percent tariffs first. His comments come as a meeting between U.S. and Chinese trade officials is set to take place in Geneva on Saturday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with China's economic chief He Lifeng, in what could be the first step towards de-escalating tensions between the two economic powers. Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, Bessent said the trade talks will center mostly on de-escalating tensions, and not on a "big trade deal." Last month, President Trump raised import duties on Chinese goods to 145 percent, despite scaling back on his reciprocal tariffs on almost all other U.S. trading partners. China retaliated with steep tariffs on U.S. goods, further escalating the trade tensions. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Black smoke from Sistine Chapel signals no pope elected in first round of conclave

2025/05/08 10:00

Thousands of people gathered at the Vatican on Wednesday only to see black smoke billowing from the top of the Sistine Chapel. Voting to choose a new pope continues on Thursday with four rounds of voting. Lee Eun-hee has more. Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Wednesday, signaling that the conclave had failed to elect a new pope on the first day. As the dark smoke curled into the night sky, a wave of disappointment swept through the crowd gathered at St. Peter's Square, many of whom had been waiting for hours. "It's an emotion, it's an emotion to be here, especially, and we will be here again tomorrow. It was expected to be black smoke today, for the first vote." The black smoke from the burning ballots came more than three hours after the start of the conclave, taking longer than expected. This was an hour longer than it took for smoke to appear after the first vote in the 2013 conclave that elected the late Pope Francis. "I would like it to be a Pope who continues the legacy of Pope Francis, meaning that he is a more open, more liberal Pope, because that is the way to attract people to the Church." To be elected, a new pope must secure at least 89 votes, a two-thirds majority. The conclave will resume on Thursday, with 1-hundred-33 cardinals from 70 countries voting in strict secrecy. "Yes, we'll come back tomorrow because we live here, so tomorrow, from the morning, we'll be on the lookout to see if there's white smoke." When a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge from the chimney. Starting Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes a day, two votes in the morning session and two in the afternoon. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

PPP candidate rejects pressure to merge with former PM, with 2nd merger talks on Thursday

2025/05/08 10:00

Amid pressure to create a coalition between conservative party candidate Kim Moon-soo and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in the upcoming presidential election, their first attempt towards the move largely failed on Wednesday. With a tight election schedule ahead, it's no walk in the park. We have our political correspondent Oh Soo-young on the line. 1.Sooyoung, let's begin with this emergency press conference by People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo. In an emergency briefing Thursday, Kim refused to give into party pressure and the so-called roadmap to merge with independent candidate Han Duck-soo, accusing the PPP leadership of trying to drag down his campaign despite having legitimately won the party's primary. He called on the party to halt its unilateral merger plans, threatening litigation against what he called an undemocratic, and illegal takeover of his campaign. He rejected a televised debate planned by the party at 6 PM, between Kim and Han, saying they should hold one next Wednesday, followed by two days of polling to decide on a merger. The PPP has been pushing for its main candidate Kim and former PM Han, to join forces in the presidential race, against their main opponent the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung who currently leads the polls. Han and Kim came second and third respectively in recent public surveys. After he emerged as the leading PPP candidate,.. Kim has argued it should be him not the party that leads efforts towards a union. The candidate added he will continue sincerely working with Han to reach an agreement. Their 75-minute talks on Wednesday fell through, with Kim complaining that while he set out a proposal, Han said he entrusted the matter entirely to the PPP. Han, for his part, said that if no agreement is reached by the May 11 registration deadline, he will not enter the race. Kim says he has contacted Han directly to propose a second meeting on Thursday at 4 PM. Han’s side accepted, while also suggesting the two hold more extensive talks in the evening. 2. And there was some panic within the PPP which came up with emergency measures to prompt a merger. Yes. The PPP leadership held an emergency meeting Wednesday, and announced a roadmap towards uniting the campaigns, starting with a one-on-one televised debate between Kim and Han at 6 PM Thursday. Now that has fallen through. But they will still conduct a poll on the two candidates from 7PM until 4PM on Friday, evenly reflecting party and public preferences. PPP spokesperson Shin Dong-wook said leadership invoked a special clause in the party charter to prompt emergency measures in the candidate selection process. Shin said this was justified, citing a poll that showed 87 percent of PPP members support a Kim-Han union before May 11th. Meanwhile, senior party figures have taken dramatic action. Nine PPP advisers, led by former chairman Kim Moo-sung, launched a hunger strike on Wednesday, calling the merger a moral imperative. Lawmaker Kim Mi-ae and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong also joined in, with Kweon on Thursday blasting Kim Moon-soo's latest remarks. Some party members, including former presidential contenders have criticized the leadership, saying their push undermines the legitimacy of candidacy procedures. The merger really is easier said than done it seems, and we'll have to see how the talks today proceed. Thanks for keeping us updated.

[Weather] Beautiful, warm day on Parents' Day

2025/05/08 10:00

We're expecting a beautiful, warm day across the country on this Parents' Day. Just a reminder that we'll see a big difference in temperatures throughout the day. Sunny skies are in store, in fact, sunshine could be too strong, boosting UV rays to very high levels in most parts of Korea. Don't forget to apply sunscreen before going out in the sun! And this afternoon, Seoul, Daejeon and Gwangju will reach a warm 25 degrees, Daegu will get up to 24 degrees. Air will be clean nationwide. Meanwhile, the clouds will start to roll in from tonight. And get ready for rain tomorrow! It will begin in the southern regions early tomorrow morning before spreading nationwide. This rain could be quite heavy at times, especially on Jeju Island, where we might see up to 50 millimeters falling per hour. Rain will also bring much cooler temperatures to the country and it will stay breezier than norms through the weekend.

Disney announces plans for new theme park in Abu Dhabi

2025/05/08 10:00

Finally, Walt Disney announced on Wednesday that it plans to open its first theme park resort in the Middle East, selecting the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, as the location. Disney's seventh global resort and first new theme park in over a decade will be on Yas Island, a popular destination with many other family-friendly attractions. The project is a collaboration with Miral, a regional developer known for creating immersive destinations. The new resort aims to blend Disney's iconic storytelling with Abu Dhabi's rich culture and modern architecture. Disney CEO Bob Iger said the project will be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati."

France's Macron: will push for EU sanctions against Syria to not be renewed in June

2025/05/08 10:00

Following a meeting in Paris with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that France will support the gradual lifting of European Union sanctions on Syria, if Syria maintains a trajectory toward "civil peace and harmony." Macron emphasized that if Syria continues on its "current path," France will support the progressive easing of EU sanctions and lobby the United States to consider similar actions. Meanwhile, the Syrian leader also mentioned that Syria is engaging in indirect talks with Israel to prevent further hostilities in the region.

New German gov't announces tighter border controls to curb migration

2025/05/08 10:00

Germany's new government, led by Friedrich Merz, has announced plans to tighten border controls. The plans aim to reduce illegal migration and address concerns over security. Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Wednesday detailed the government's strategy to bolster border security, including the deployment of an additional 3,000 police officers at the border. This would increase the total border force to 14,000. Stricter checks will be conducted, and undocumented migrants will be turned away at the borders. While the new measures aim to deter illegal crossings, vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women and children, will still be permitted entry. The policy marks a shift from the previous administration's approach, which allowed many asylum seekers to enter Germany. Chancellor Merz emphasized that these actions are necessary to restore order and public confidence.

Israeli airstrikes hit crowded market and restaurant, killing at least 33 in Gaza City

2025/05/08 10:00

Israeli airstrikes have struck densely populated areas in Gaza City leading to more than 30 deaths. On Wednesday local time, Israeli airstrikes struck a crowded market and a nearby restaurant in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 33 people. The market was packed with people when the airstrike hit, causing immediate fatalities and injuries. Shortly after, a nearby restaurant, known to be operating as a community kitchen, was also hit, leading to additional casualties. The Israeli Defense Forces have stated that their operations are aimed at targeting Hamas militants; however, they have resulted in significant civilian deaths, drawing criticism from the international community.