Sterling, yen dragged by fiscal and political worries
The pound and the yen came under strain on Wednesday, weighed down by renewed investor concerns over global fiscal health and political uncertainty in...
Official figures show that Germany received 7,803 asylum applications in August 2025, down from 18,427 in the same month last year – a drop of 10,624, or nearly 60%.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the Bild newspaper that “our asylum policy is working. The stricter border controls we introduced are proving effective.” He highlighted measures implemented by the new government after taking office in May.
“The next step is to strengthen the common European asylum system to further reduce migration pressure on Europe,” the minister added.
Germany has long been the main destination for asylum seekers in Europe, but data from the first half of 2025 shows a shift in migration patterns. Spain emerged as the leading destination with around 76,000 applications, followed by France with 75,000 and Italy with 63,000. During the same period, Germany recorded 61,000 applications.
While the government attributes the decline to tighter border measures, critics point to multiple factors influencing migration trends, including changing conditions in conflict zones and a natural reduction in migrants from countries such as Ukraine and Syria.
During their February election campaign, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats promised strict measures to curb irregular migration. After forming a coalition government in May, they implemented tighter border controls with neighbouring countries. Under the new rules, police turn back individuals without proper travel documents, as well as asylum seekers who have already entered another EU country.
Germany’s border measures have caused tensions with Poland. In response, the Polish government introduced reciprocal temporary border controls, and some Polish politicians have accused Germany of pushing migrants into Poland. Berlin insists the restrictions are temporary and will remain in place only until the EU’s new migration and asylum pact is fully implemented.
Under EU rules, member states may implement temporary border controls in the passport-free Schengen area only in exceptional circumstances, such as serious threats to public order. The European Commission has repeatedly stressed that such measures should be a “last resort” and strictly temporary.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Ukraine’s air defence systems were activated in Kyiv on Wednesday as the capital came under a new Russian air attack. Authorities urged residents to remain in shelters during the strikes.
China launched its largest military parade on Wednesday, showcasing growing firepower as President Xi Jinping sought to project Beijing’s role on the global stage. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were among the leaders attending at Tiananmen Square.
China held its largest-ever military parade on Wednesday, showcasing its growing military power and geopolitical influence as President Xi Jinping positions Beijing as a custodian of the post-U.S. international order.
U.S. forces carried out a precision strike on a suspected transnational drug vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing all 11 people aboard, President Donald Trump and the Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday.
Moscow maintains that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should continue, but stresses that progress is only possible if what it calls the “new territorial realities” are acknowledged.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment