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Israel kills four Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in West Bank
Four militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group have been killed in an Israeli military operation in the West Bank, as a knife attack by an Israeli Arab in northern Israel left two people severely injured on Wednesday. The PIJ, which is active in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, said the four men were members of its organization. According to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah, the four men were between 20 and 24 years old. The Israeli military confirmed that it conducted an operation on Tuesday in Tulkarm, in the north-east of the West Bank. It said...
Japan issues new banknotes for the first time in 20 years
Japan's central bank is issuing a new banknote series for the first time in 20 years. The new notes in denominations of 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000 yen (approximately $60, $30 and $6) come "with the latest security features, including 3D holograms", the Governor of the Bank of Japan, Kazuo Ueda said in a statement on Wednesday. Efforts have also been made to improve the "universal design" of the notes, he said. The banknotes have been available in Japan since Wednesday morning. The 10,000-yen note features a portrait of Shibusawa Eiichi, an entrepreneur from the Meiji period (1868 to 1912) known as the "father of Japanese capitalism." The 5,000-yen note shows the teacher Tsuda Umeko, who died in 1929, and the 1,000-yen note shows the doctor and bacteriologist Kitasato Shibasaburo, who died in 1931. The backs of the new notes feature images of Tokyo Station, the Japanese wisteria climbing plant and images from the colour woodcut series "36 Views of Mount Fuji" by the artist Katsushika Hokusai. Ueda noted the trend towards cashless payment, but said that "cash is a secure means of payment that can be used by anyone, anywhere and at any time, and will continue to play an important role."
Romania thank Germany for Euro 2024 hospitality
Romania have thanked Euro 2024 hosts Germany for their hospitality in a letter left in their dressing room after a 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands in the round of 16. The ruling body UEFA on Wednesday posted a photo of the letter in the dressing on social media platform X. "Euro 2024 was one of our most important experiences in football and we are very happy that Germany was the stage where it took place," the letter said. "Every game, every emotion, every result brought us together to feel the magic of football ... Thank you for giving us the feeling to be at home." The team said they were leaving with the feeling "to have given our all for Romania and we are grateful for everything we have experienced here."
UEFA probe: Turkey's Demiral in hot water over celebration gesture
Turkey defender Merih Demiral is under investigation by the ruling body UEFA over a controversial gesture after scoring in the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Austria. Demiral made the wolf-salute with his fingers, a gesture associated with Turkish far-right movement Grey Wolves which is politically represented there via the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The gesture was condemned by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, politicians and rights groups, who called for a UEFA probe, while Turkey meanwhile hit out at the criticism and probe. UEFA said on Wednesday it was looking into potential "inappropriate behaviour" from Demiral and that "further information regarding this...
Berlin literature festival to host 150 international authors
Berlin's biggest literature festival, taking place in September, will feature around 150 authors from 50 countries, organizers announced on Wednesday. Notable authors such as Rachel Cusk, Olivia Laing, and Elif Shafak will present their new works to literature enthusiasts at the event, which welcomes around 20,000 visitors every year. Festival curator Helon Habila had highlighted themes like collective trauma, environmental issues, and human rights as key topics, reflecting the current global climate of pandemics, wars, and climate change. Young visitors are also catered for at the 24th edition of festival, with free workshops and a complementary book for all participants. Besides the main programme at the festival from September 5-14, there will be a discussion about the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), featuring politicians such as former Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière. The festival starts less than a week after the state elections in the right-leaning states of Thuringia and Saxony.
UN human rights chief sounds alarm on populists after French election
The rise of populist politicians in Europe and other regions of the world is a major concern for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. Türk said in Geneva that hate speech is increasingly being employed during election campaigns in Europe, the United States and India, arguing that there should be no tolerance for such conduct in politics. Asked about France, where Marine Le Pen's far-right nationalist National Rally won the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday, Türk asserted: "I am always worried when I hear narratives that denigrate and dehumanize the other, that make scapegoats of migrants,...
Report: Bayern Munich close to signing Portugal's Palhinha
Bayern Munich are close to signing Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham after failing to get him last year, Sky TV reported on Wednesday. The report said that Bayern will pay a transfer fee of €46 million ($50 million), plus add-ons. Palhinha, 28, is to receive a contract until 2028, with the deal to be completed after a medical which will not take place until after Euro 2024 where Portugal face France in the quarter-finals on Friday. There has been no official confirmation from either of the two clubs. Bayern already wanted the holding midfielder last summer but a deal collapsed on transfer deadline day because Fulham couldn't get a replacement. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had recently encouraged Bayern to sign Palhinha. "He is not only good enough for Bayern, he would even make Bayern stronger. He makes players around him better. He deserves everything that is coming. And he is even better as a human being," Martinez said.
Scholz gives 'guarantee' Germany won't be party to war in Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has tried to reassure citizens that Germany will not become a party to the war in Ukraine by continuing to support Kiev in the fight against Russian forces. "Yes, I give this guarantee," he said in response to a question in the Bundestag parliament on Wednesday, echoing comments he had made before. "That's what I stand for as chancellor." Russian President Vladimir Putin has however long regarded Germany and the Western military alliance NATO as a party to the war. Scholz rejected the idea that there should be a ceasefire in Ukraine on Russian terms. "In my view, a ceasefire that involves Ukraine surrendering is something that we as Germany should never support." The chancellor said that this was not an abstract question, "as you can see from this strange peace offer from Mr Putin." "He has said that he is prepared to agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine also gives him more annexations for free, so to speak." This shows that Putin has no intention of ending the war, Scholz said.
Germany's Kroos confident Spain won't send him into retirement
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos is confident that the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain will not mark the end of his glittering career which he wants to end with the continental title that is eluding him. Kroos, 34, ended his club career with victory in the Champions League final with Real Madrid's victory over Borussia Dortmund. He said he will quit for good after the Euros where he wants to lift the trophy with Germany on July 14. Kroos upbeat despite poor German record Saturday's date with Spain, widely considered the best team so far in the tournament, will be a huge challenge for...
Stopping antidepressants? Withdrawal symptoms uncommon, reseach shows
If you have been taking antidepressants for a spell and are considering stopping taking them but are worried about any withdrawal symptoms, then have no fear, say scientists. Those who experience discontinuation symptoms are often influenced by negative expectations, rather than by the medication itself, according to a new study. That means if you expect symptoms, you are more likely to experience them, say scientists from Berlin and Cologne. It is an area that is ripe for research as some have been concerned about stopping taking their antidepressants. The good news is that only 16% to 17% of people actually suffer medication-related discontinuation symptoms,...
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