Japan PM Ishiba vows to stay on after bruising election defeat
21/07/2025
Ecuador's biggest drug lord 'Fito' extradited to US
21/07/2025
D-Day veteran and TikTok star 'Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
21/07/2025
Storms hit southern China mainland in wake of Typhoon Wipha
21/07/2025
Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers
21/07/2025
A million people sign French petition against bringing back bee-killing pesticide
20/07/2025
Astronomer CEO announces resignation after viral kiss cam video at Coldplay concert
Americas
20/07/2025
Zelensky offers to hold new talks for ceasefire
Europe
20/07/2025
Japan's government loses upper house majority
JAPAN
20/07/2025
Ceasefire calms Syria's Sweida after sectarian clashes kill 1,000, displace 128,000
Middle East
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France 24
19 minutes ago
- France 24
National Ballet of Japan to make UK debut
In 2022, the Opera House called off the internationally renowned Moscow-based company's tour and proposed instead to open up their prestigious stage to the Japanese dancers. Founded in 1997, Japan's resident ballet company will perform in London for the first time from Thursday to Sunday. It will perform a production of Giselle, a classic romantic ballet which first premiered in 1841. The production is led by artistic director of the National Ballet of Japan Miyako Yoshida, 59, who was the first Japanese principal dancer at the British ballet institution between 1995 and 2010. Eleven Japanese dancers, including three principal dancers, now perform at the Royal Opera House and make up around 10 percent of the company. Returning to the prestigious stage was not only "a dream coming true," but also a lot of "pressure", Yoshida told AFP. When the Bolshoi's tour was cancelled, director of the Royal Ballet Kevin O'Hare approached his ex-classmate Yoshida to discuss bringing her company to London as a replacement. Aiming for accessibility The ex-ballerina "never imagined" it would happen "this quickly", and recalled that scheduling and funding issues had slowed the plans. The chance to perform came "too soon," she said. She admitted that the Japanese company, which even though it boasts its capacity to dance a wide repertoire, was perhaps not quite ready to replace one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet companies in the world. The young company put on productions in the US in 2008, and at the Bolshoi Theatre the following year, but this is the first time it will perform a classic Western ballet in Europe. "I tried to make it more easy to understand," said Yoshida, explaining that "young people" would not be interested in the ballet "if it was very old-fashioned". She wanted to capture the essence of the romantic ballet, which tells a story of forbidden love. Supported by choreographer Alistair Marriott, Yoshida hoped the production would distinguish itself with its pared-back simplicity. For Yoshida, the five London performances aim to "make the National Ballet of Japan known around the world" and enable its 75 dancers to evolve with other companies from Europe and beyond. "I want to make the company known worldwide," she said. © 2025 AFP
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Zelensky defends contested anti-corruption law changes
"We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers," Zelensky said after meeting with top law enforcement and anti-corruption officials. "And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement system -- one that ensures a real sense of justice," he added. "We all hear what society is saying," he said, promising to "resolve existing issues". The bill would place the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. After meeting with Zelensky, NABU and SAPO repeated their criticism of the changes and said "unambiguous legislative steps are required to reinstate the guarantees revoked by parliament". Zelensky signed off on the widely criticised law on Tuesday, the same day it was passed by parliament. The law sparked the first major protest in Kyiv since Russian troops invaded in 2022, with over 1,000 people taking part. Large gatherings are banned under Ukraine's martial law. 'Serious step back' While the government says the law will make the anti-corruption agencies function better, its critics say it consolidates power in Zelensky's hands. They also argue it will allow government meddling in high-profile graft cases. The Anti-Corruption Action Center, an NGO, said the law would render the agencies meaningless as Zelensky's prosecutor general would "stop investigations into all of the president's friends". The European Union called the decision a "serious step back". NABU began work in 2015, as Kyiv sought to bring the country closer to Europe after a 2014 pro-European revolution. Since its inception, the agency has uncovered widespread graft, including among figures in Zelensky's administration. On Monday, law enforcement conducted large-scale raids at NABU, detaining one employee on suspicion of spying for Russia. Transparency International's Ukraine office called the raids an "attempt by the authorities to undermine the independence of Ukraine's post-Revolution of Dignity anti-corruption institutions." Transparency International ranked Ukraine 105th out of 180 countries in its "corruption perceptions index" in 2024, up from 144 in 2013. Supporters of the law warn that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity in the country. Commenting on the protests at a briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said there was "a lot of corruption" in the country and the issue was "a sensitive topic" for Ukraine.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
UK and Turkey sign preliminary deal for Eurofighter Typhoon jets
The UK and Turkey signed a preliminary agreement on Wednesday for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, marking a significant step in Ankara's efforts to modernise its air fleet. Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and his British counterpart, John Healey, inked a memorandum of understanding during a defence industry fair in Istanbul, Turkey's Ministry of National Defence said. NATO member Turkey has long aimed to buy 40 Eurofighter jets, which are built by a consortium of British, German and Italian companies. Germany reportedly initially opposed the sale but later reversed its position. Britain led negotiations on behalf of the consortium. A Turkish defence ministry statement said the memorandum takes the two countries "one step closer to a full agreement on the Typhoon." "Both Ministers welcome signature as a positive step towards bringing Turkey into the Typhoon club and share a mutual ambition to conclude the necessary arrangements as soon as possible," it added. Turkish officials have said that they are still negotiating over pricing and technical terms, saying that they have received an initial offer and expect to submit a counter-proposal. Turkey is also seeking to return to the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme, from which the country was ousted in 2019 following its purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defence systems. The US said the systems were incompatible with NATO tech and posed a risk to the F-35s. Turkey is also developing a domestic fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN, which is slated to be operational in 2028.
