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Stocks recover but tariff uncertainty lingers over market

Stock markets managed to push higher on Tuesday but investors braced for volatility as President Donald Trump pressed on with tariffs against China after delaying duties on Mexican and Canadian imports.

Trump backs jailing Americans in El Salvador if has 'legal right'

President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed an offer by El Salvador to take in prisoners -- including US citizens -- despite clear legal problems with such an outsourcing under American law.

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'Protect our people': Armed Syrian volunteers watch over Damascus

Every night, Damascus residents stand guard outside shops and homes armed with light weapons often supplied by Syria's new rulers, eager to fill the security vacuum that followed the recent takeover.

Israel says Hamas has not given 'status of hostages' it says ready to free

Israel said Monday that Hamas had not yet provided the status of 34 hostages the group declared it was ready to release in the first phase of a potential exchange deal.

Jailed ex-Malaysian leader Najib moves closer to house arrest

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer on Monday to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim.

France's ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Kadhafi pact

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted twice in separate cases since leaving office, goes on trial Monday charged with accepting illegal campaign financing in an alleged pact with the late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Russia says captured key town in eastern Ukraine

Russia said Monday its forces had captured the "important logistics hub" of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine in what would be a key advance after months of steady gains in the area.

South Korea's Yoon set to avoid arrest by warrant deadline

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared set to evade arrest ahead of a Monday night deadline after anti-graft investigators asked for more time to enforce a warrant.

Charlie Hebdo unveils special edition 10 years since attack

French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo unveiled a special edition Monday to mark 10 years since an attack on its offices by Islamist gunmen that decimated its staff.

North Korea fires missile as Blinken warns of Russia cooperation

North Korea on Monday fired a missile as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea, where he warned Pyongyang was working ever closer with Russia on advanced space technology.

South Korea investigators ask police to arrest Yoon

South Korean anti-graft investigators asked police Monday to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he fended off their week-long efforts to bring him into custody over his failed martial law bid.

North Korea fires missile as Blinken seeks stability in South

North Korea on Monday fired a missile just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea, where he sought a stable course on foreign policy as political turmoil engulfs the US ally.

Venezuela opposition seeks army backing, leader to meet Biden

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia called Sunday for the military to recognize him as commander-in-chief, as he continued an international tour seeking to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power.

US lawmakers to certify Trump win, four years after Capitol riot

Exactly four years after Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol, seeking to overturn his election loss, lawmakers meet Monday to certify his 2024 win, cementing the Republican's comeback from political ignominy.

Canadian PM Trudeau likely to resign this week: report

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to announce his resignation this week as he faces mounting dissent within his Liberal Party, newspaper The Globe and Mail reported Sunday.

The quiet financier: Islamic State's elusive strongman

His orange henna-dyed beard and striking eyewear would make him easy to pick out in a crowd, but Abdul Qadir Mumin has remained elusive.

S Korea police seek to extend arrest deadline for impeached president

South Korean investigators trying to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol have asked for an extension to the warrant that expires Monday, with the embattled leader holed up in his residence.

'Form of violence': Across globe, deepfake porn targets women politicians

From the United States to Italy, Britain, and Pakistan, female politicians are increasingly becoming victims of AI-generated deepfake pornography or sexualized images, in a troubling trend that researchers say threatens women's participation in public life.

Blinken seeks stability in crisis-hit ally South Korea

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds talks Monday in crisis-riven South Korea, seeking to encourage policy stability in the US ally, including in its complicated relationship with Japan.

Arrest deadline for impeached South Korean president enters final day

South Korean investigators trying to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol have less than 24 hours before their warrant expires Monday, with the embattled leader holed out in his residence surrounded by loyal security forces.

Zelensky says 'strong' Trump can end Ukraine war

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism in an interview published Sunday that "strong" incoming US president Donald Trump will be able to force Russia into peace talks and end the war in Ukraine.

Hamas official says ready to free 34 Gaza hostages under mooted deal

A Hamas official on Sunday said the Palestinian militants were ready to free 34 hostages in the "first phase" of a potential deal with Israel, after Israel said indirect talks on a truce and hostage release agreement had resumed in Qatar.

Austria's conservatives ready for coalition talks with far right

Austria's conservatives said Sunday they were ready to start negotiations with the far-right Freedom party (FPOe) to form a new government, a policy U-turn after coalition talks with two centrist parties failed.

Blinken wades into South Korea political crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday opened a visit to crisis-riven South Korea, where he will seek delicately to encourage continuity with the policies, but not tactics, of the impeached president.

Russia says Ukraine launches 'counterattack' in Kursk region

Russia said Sunday that Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" in the western border region of Kursk, where Kyiv's forces began a shock ground offensive last August.

Dozens of marine mammals found dead after Russian oil tanker spill

Dozens of sea mammals have been found dead since last month's Russian oil tanker spill in the Black Sea, a dolphin rescue centre said Sunday, as authorities raced to contain the disaster.

Syria monitor: 101 killed in battles between pro-Turkey, Kurdish forces

More than 100 combatants were killed over the last two days in northern Syria in fighting between Turkish-backed groups and Syrian Kurdish forces, a war monitor said on Sunday.

Top US Republican eyes swift passage of Trump priority mega-bill

The speaker of the US House said Sunday he was pushing an "aggressive" timeframe for getting a multi-trillion-dollar bill addressing immigration, tax cuts and more to Donald Trump's desk by April, within his first 100 days in office.

Ecuador presidential campaign opens amid drug war, internal power struggle

The monthlong campaign for general elections in Ecuador began Sunday as President Daniel Noboa faces a challenging war against drug gangs and a power struggle within his administration.

Syrian ministers urge lifting of US sanctions in first visit to Doha

Ministers from Syria's transitional government urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Damascus during their first visit to Qatar since overthrowing president Bashar al-Assad.

Gaza rescuers say 23 dead in latest Israeli strikes

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing at least 23 people according to rescuers, nearly 15 months into the war with Hamas Palestinian militants.

Italy's Meloni visits Trump in Florida

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid an unofficial visit to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Saturday, the latest foreign leader hosted by the US president-elect as he prepares to take office.

Sarkozy: divisive French ex-president beset by legal woes

Nicolas Sarkozy, who ruled France as a tough-talking right-wing president from 2007 to 2012, is seen by supporters as a dynamic saviour of his country but by detractors as a vulgar populist mired in corruption.

NYC starts driver congestion charging despite opposition

New York launched a controversial scheme Sunday to charge drivers entering parts of the city, a first in the United States, putting local authorities on a collision course with President-elect Donald Trump.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)