Human Rights Watch urged Friedrich Merz to denounce Turkey’s crackdown on opposition figures, including Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.Merz urged Europe to build a stronger strategic alliance with Turkey to confront global challenges.During his first official visit to Ankara, he praised Turkey’s key role in mediating conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Defence Cooperation and Strategic Goals Standing beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Merz spoke shortly after Turkey and the UK sealed a multi-billion-euro deal for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets.Germany, part of the manufacturing consortium, had recently lifted its long-standing veto on their export to Turkey.Reports indicated that Berlin supported Ankara’s…
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The U.S. economy continues to show strength, with real gross domestic product (GDP) rising at an annualized rate of roughly 3.8% in the second quarter of 2025. This growth indicates that economic expansion is still underway. Experts say the increase reflects steady consumer spending, rising business investment, and strong performance in both manufacturing and services sectors. These factors suggest a balanced and resilient economy. Manufacturing output improved, while service industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, contributed significantly to overall growth. Analysts note that simultaneous expansion across sectors signals healthy economic momentum. Consumer spending remains robust, supported by higher household income…
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A major Microsoft failure on Wednesday caused widespread disruption to online services around the world. Heathrow Airport, NatWest, and Minecraft were among the platforms affected, going offline for several hours before engineers restored access later in the evening. Millions of users faced interruptions to banking, work, and entertainment. Thousands of users report website failures Outage tracker Downdetector recorded thousands of complaints from users who could not access websites, send emails, or log into accounts. Many experienced frozen pages, stalled transactions, and unresponsive apps. Microsoft confirmed that users of Microsoft 365 experienced delays, particularly with Outlook. By 21:00 GMT, most websites…
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A distinguished American musician and artist has received a prestigious honour in recognition of both creative achievement and philanthropic service in the entertainment sector. The award acknowledges not just the recipient’s influential work in music and performance, but also their notable contributions in giving back to communities and charitable causes. The honouree’s career spans decades of significant output. With a catalogue of acclaimed albums, performances before large audiences, and a reputation for innovation, they have secured a lasting place in the music world. Their creative work has influenced peers, inspired new artists, and reached audiences globally. What sets this recognition…
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