The Japan Times - Politics

Featured

US trade gap swells in 2024 as deficits under fresh scrutiny

The US trade gap swelled last year to nearly $920 billion, according to government data released Wednesday, as deficits come under the spotlight with President Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Rubio sees Guatemala leader keen to please US

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seeking cooperation on migration Wednesday in Guatemala, whose leader, an anti-corruption advocate, is eager to please the new US administration to bolster his standing at home.

Last news

Panamanians protest 'public enemy' Trump's canal threat

Protesters in Panama on Tuesday burned an image of US President-elect Donald Trump following his threat to demand control of the country's interoceanic canal be returned to Washington.

Cyclone death toll in Mayotte rises to 39

The death toll from cyclone Chido in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte has reached 39, according to the latest count from the island's prefect.

Ecuador vice president says Noboa seeking her 'banishment'

A rift between Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa and his deputy deepened on Tuesday as his ally-turned-adversary accused the leader of the South American nation of trying to banish her to Turkey.

Syria authorities say armed groups have agreed to disband

Syria's new leaders announced Tuesday that they had reached an agreement with the country's rebel groups on their dissolution and integration under the defence ministry.

Le Pen says days of new French govt numbered

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Tuesday that the days of France's new government are already numbered, predicting an early presidential election in a few months.

Panama leaders past and present reject Trump's threat of Canal takeover

The status of the Panama Canal is non-negotiable, President Jose Raul Mulino said in a statement Monday signed alongside former leaders of the country, after Donald Trump's recent threats to reclaim the man-made waterway.

South Korea's opposition vows to impeach acting president

South Korea's opposition said Tuesday it would impeach acting president Han Duck-soo in protest at the interim leader's refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor.

Is he serious? Trump stirs unease with Panama, Greenland ploys

Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not.

Jordanian, Qatari envoys hold talks with Syria's new leader

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa held talks Monday with senior Arab diplomats expressing support for the Syrian people and discussing future cooperation, in the latest high-profile visits since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.

France's second woman premier makes surprise frontline return

Elisabeth Borne, only the second woman to serve as French prime minister, is making a surprise return to frontline politics as education minister less than a year after losing a job that she never wished to relinquish.

France's Macron announces fourth government of the year

French President Emmanuel Macron named a new government Monday evening, putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year, to drag the second-largest EU economy out of political crisis.

Netanyahu tells Israel parliament 'some progress' on Gaza hostage deal

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers on Monday that "some progress" had been made in negotiations to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, more than 14 months into the war.

Germany's far-right AfD holds march after Christmas market attack

Germany's far-right AfD party on Monday held what it called a "memorial" rally for victims of a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market that has newly inflamed debate on migrant and security policy.

Mozambique top court confirms ruling party disputed win

Mozambique's highest court confirmed Monday the ruling party's victory in a disputed October vote after allegations of rigging triggered weeks of deadly street clashes.

Syrian medics say were coerced into false chemical attack testimony

Two Syrian doctors and a nurse told AFP in a series of interviews over the weekend that Bashar al-Assad's government coerced them into providing false testimony to international investigators after a deadly 2018 chlorine attack.

Global stock markets mostly higher

Global stocks mostly moved higher Monday as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the market.

Not for sale. Greenland shrugs off Trump's new push

Greenland on Monday stressed that it was not for sale, after Donald Trump again suggested he wanted the United States to take control of the strategic island that holds major mineral and oil reserves.

Sweden says China denied request for prosecutors to probe ship linked to cut undersea cables

Sweden's foreign minister said Monday that China had denied a request for prosecutors to conduct an investigation on a Chinese ship linked to two severed Baltic Sea cables despite Beijing pledging "cooperation" with regional authorities.

German far-right AfD to march in city hit by Christmas market attack

Three days after Germany's deadly Christmas market attack in which a Saudi man was arrested, both the far-right AfD and counter-protesters were due to hit the streets Monday in the bereaved city of Magdeburg.

Clock ticks down on France government nomination

The clock ticked Monday for French President Emmanuel Macron to appoint the fourth government in a year marked by a deepening political crisis.

Mozambique on edge as judges rule on disputed election

Tension was mounting in Mozambique Monday with judges about to rule on its disputed election, with the opposition leader vowing "chaos" if the ruling party is confirmed as the winner in a standoff that has already claimed at least 130 lives.

Philippines says to acquire US Typhon missile system

The Philippines said Monday it planned to acquire the US Typhon missile system as part of a push to secure its maritime interests, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race".

Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions

Despite a barrage of Western sanctions and swathes of brands quitting Russia after the Kremlin launched its Ukraine offensive, Moscow's most well-off shoppers are still spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury Western goods.

Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system

The Philippine military said Monday it plans to acquire the US Typhon missile system to protect its maritime interests, some of which overlap with regional power China.

Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions

Exhausted by more than 14 months of war, the wives and mothers of Israeli soldiers are uniting in protest against exemptions from conscription for ultra-Orthodox men.

Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident

Tens of thousands protested Sunday in Belgrade to demand that Serbian leaders take responsibility for the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month.

Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam

Just 12 trucks distributed food and water in northern Gaza in two-and-a-half months, aid group Oxfam said on Sunday, raising the alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation in the besieged territory.

Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries

Russian President Vladimir Putin held surprise talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico at the Kremlin on Sunday to discuss the future of Russian gas deliveries.

Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin held surprise talks at the Kremlin on Sunday with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, officials said, after he had warned of harsh reprisals against Ukraine over a drone attack.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35

Gaza's civil defence agency said on Sunday that Israeli strikes killed at least 35 Palestinians across the territory, more than 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war.

Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to retaliate against Yemen's Huthi rebels after they fired a missile at Tel Aviv, warning that Israel would target what he described as the last remaining arm of "Iran's axis of evil".

France kept on tenterhooks over new government

President Emmanuel Macron and new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou kept the country waiting Sunday over the composition of the fourth government in a year that must drag France out of political crisis.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)