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Attempted murder trial of Rushdie assailant to begin

The man accused of trying to kill the author Salman Rushdie, leaving him blind in one eye, goes on trial Tuesday for attempted murder, according to state court filings.

USAID freeze calls into question billions in support for poorest countries

The Trump administration's attempt to fold the USAID humanitarian agency into the State Department calls into question the future of tens of billions of dollars in financial support to some of the world's poorest countries.

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Biden says 'on the brink' of truce deal as dozens killed in Gaza

US President Joe Biden said Monday that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel was "on the brink" of being finalised, even as heavy fighting rocked the Palestinian territory.

Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon to begin

The impeachment trial of South Korea's suspended President Yook Suk Yeol begins Tuesday, with the country's Constitutional Court set to weigh whether to strip him of his presidential duties over a failed martial law bid.

Biden says America 'stronger' on world stage in farewell speech

Joe Biden said Monday that America was stronger on the global stage than it had been for decades, in a swansong foreign policy speech one week before Donald Trump's White House comeback.

Heavy fighting rocks Gaza amid rising hope for truce deal

Heavy fighting rocked the Gaza Strip on Monday, leaving dozens of Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers dead, even as the White House said that a Gaza truce and hostage release deal could be finalised this week.

US says Gaza deal 'can get done this week'

A Gaza truce and hostage release deal is close and could be finalized in the final week of US President Joe Biden's term, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday.

Operation to pull out illegal miners from abandoned S. African pit

Rescuers on Monday hoisted seven illegal miners and at least four bodies from an abandoned South African gold mine amid claims that hundreds were still underground and many had died.

Lebanon's president names ICJ judge Nawaf Salam prime minister

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday picked international jurist Nawaf Salam to form a government for the war-scarred country and pull it out of economic crisis.

Stock markets mostly fall as traders trim US rate cut bets

Global markets mostly slid on Monday after traders trimmed bets on US Federal Reserve rate cuts and oil extended a rally sparked by new sanctions on Russia's energy sector.

Russia accuses Ukraine of 'energy terrorism' over alleged pipeline strike

The Kremlin accused Ukraine on Monday of conducting "energy terrorism" and posing a danger to Europe's energy security, after an attempted drone attack on part of a major gas pipeline that carries Russian supplies to Turkey.

Lebanon lawmakers throw weight behind ICJ judge Salam for PM

Dozens of Lebanese lawmakers endorsed international jurist Nawaf Salam on Monday to become the crisis-hit country's prime minister, local media said, as the newly elected president prepares to name his pick.

Jihadists kill at least 40 farmers in northeast Nigeria

Jihadists have killed at least 40 farmers in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state in the latest violence to hit the conflict-wrought region, a government official said Monday.

Russia says Ukraine targeted gas pipeline to Turkey

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday of launching a drone attack on the infrastructure of a major gas pipeline that carries Russian supplies to Europe via Turkey.

British PM vows AI will usher in 'golden age'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday laid out his vision to harness the power of artificial intelligence to boost Britain's flagging economy, promising flexible regulations amid concerns about the technology's unchecked use.

Stock markets fall as traders trim US rate cut bets

Asian and European markets slid Monday after traders trimmed bets on US Federal Reserve rate cuts and oil extended a rally sparked by new sanctions on Russia's energy sector.

Russia says Ukraine targeted infrastructure of gas pipeline to Turkey

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday of launching a weekend drone attack on infrastructure of a major gas pipeline that carries Russian supplies to Europe via Turkey.

Japan FM in South Korea for talks before Trump takes office

Japan's foreign minister held talks in South Korea with top officials Monday as the Asian neighbours seek to strengthen ties before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Philippine sect gathers to oppose VP Duterte impeachment

More than a million members of an influential religious sect gathered in the Philippine capital on Monday, police said, opposing steps to unseat Vice President Sara Duterte.

Seoul says 300 North Korean soldiers killed fighting Ukraine

Around 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 wounded while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker said Monday, citing information from Seoul's spy agency.

South Korea's Gen-Z divided over political crisis

In the shadow of Seoul's centuries-old Gwanghwamun Gate, young businesswoman Shin Ji-young wears a rainbow headband and waves a flag criticising South Korea's impeached president alongside thousands of protesters.

New Lebanon president starts consultations on naming PM

New Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will begin parliamentary consultations Monday over designating a prime minister to form a government that will have to face major challenges in the crisis-hit country.

Croatia populist president re-elected in landslide

Croatia's populist President Zoran Milanovic was re-elected in a landslide, defeating his conservative rival in Sunday's run-off, officials results showed.

Zelensky 'ready' to hand North Korean POWs to Pyongyang

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he was ready to hand captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for the return of Ukrainian POWs held in Russia.

Croatia populist president re-elected in landslide, exit poll shows

Croatia's populist President Zoran Milanovic was re-elected in a landslide, defeating his conservative rival in Sunday's run-off, according to an exit poll.

Birgit Bessin – direct candidate for the German Bundestag on 23 February 2025

Birgit Bessin, member of the Brandenburg Landtag for the AfD (Alternative for Germany), is standing as a direct candidate in the 2025 federal election in constituency 65, ‘Elbe-Elster - Oberspreewald-Lausitz’. Her nomination by the party underlines the great trust she has earned in recent years.

German far right emboldened by Austria

Buoyed by the endorsement of Elon Musk and enjoying new highs in the polls ahead of elections in February, Germany's far-right AfD is hoping for a further boost from the success of the far right in neighbouring Austria.

Saudi Arabia urges Syria sanctions relief at talks with regional, EU diplomats

Saudi Arabia on Sunday called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria after meetings with top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe that focused on the war-ravaged country's future.

Education activist Malala returns to a region in crisis

Twelve years after she was evacuated out of Pakistan as a badly wounded schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai has returned to her home country at a critical time for girls' education.

Arab, EU diplomats in Saudi for talks on support for Syria

Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe arrived in the Saudi capital on Sunday to discuss Syria, as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Malala Yousafzai tells Muslim leaders not to 'legitimise' Taliban

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders on Sunday not to "legitimise" the Afghan Taliban government and to "show true leadership" by opposing their curbs on women and girls' education.

Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols

The Philippines said Sunday it had deployed a coast guard ship to challenge Chinese patrol boats attempting to "alter the existing status quo" of the disputed South China Sea.

Sahra Wagenknecht, Germany's combative 'left-wing conservative'

After a lifetime in opposition, Germany's hard-left standard-bearer Sahra Wagenknecht has shaken up the political scene with a blend of pro-poor, Moscow-friendly and anti-immigration policies.

Croatia's populist president appears set for re-election

Croatians vote Sunday in a presidential runoff with the incumbent Zoran Milanovic appearing set to win a second term, in what would be a blow to the scandal-hit governing party.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)