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Spain's Sabadell bank to move HQ back to Catalonia

Spain's Banco Sabadell approved Wednesday moving its headquarters back to Catalonia, the first major firm to do so after thousands left in the wake of the region's failed 2017 independence bid.

Fashion world 'afraid' of Trump, says Belgium's Van Beirendonck

Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck said Wednesday that the fashion world was "afraid" of US President Donald Trump and failing to speak out against him for commercial reasons.

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At VW home base, Germany's Scholz vows to revive economy

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday laid out his vision to secure the future of Germany's ailing economy at a campaign event in the historic home base of the crisis-hit auto titan Volkswagen.

Israeli cabinet convenes to vote on Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's cabinet convened on Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

30 killed in Colombia armed violence, govt suspends rebel peace talks

Thirty people have been killed in violence between rival leftwing groups near Colombia's restive border with Venezuela, authorities said Friday, prompting the government to suspend peace talks with one guerilla group.

Trump readies for triumphant, but icy, inauguration

Donald Trump will complete an extraordinary comeback on Monday when he is sworn in for a second term as US president -- although his inauguration will be moved indoors due to an arctic blast.

Trump inauguration moved indoors due to extreme cold

Donald Trump confirmed that his inauguration as US president on Monday will move indoors due to expected freezing weather, undercutting the Republican's hopes for a grandiose spectacle to kick off his second term.

Trump inauguration to be moved indoors due to cold

Donald Trump said Friday that his inauguration as US president on Monday will be moved indoors due to expected freezing weather.

Biden grants clemency to 2,500 people, most ever in a day

President Joe Biden on Friday commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses in what the White House called the largest single-day act of clemency in US history.

Trump homeland security pick calls border 'number one' threat

US Homeland Security secretary nominee Kristi Noem said Friday weaknesses at the southern border are the country's "number one threat" as she set out her vision for the department that will oversee Donald Trump's promised immigration crackdown.

Over 230,000 flee eastern DR Congo violence since January 1: UN

More than 230,000 people have fled surging violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of the year, the United Nations said Friday, labelling it one of the world's "most alarming" humanitarian crises.

Russia, Iran harden military and trade ties in new pact

Russia and Iran signed a new treaty on Friday underpinning their economic and military cooperation, in what both sides cast as a major milestone in their relations.

Trump, Xi speak by phone, vow improved ties despite threats

Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Friday, days before the incoming US president returns to the White House, with both leaders vowing to take a positive approach to improving ties between the rival countries.

Macron announces aid conference to rebuild Lebanon

France's president said Friday that Paris will soon host an aid conference to help rebuild Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah war last year, as he visited Beirut in a show of support for Lebanon's new leaders.

Musk backing for European far right 'endangers democracy': Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said US tech billionaire Elon Musk is threatening European democracy with his attacks on political leaders and support for the far right.

Displaced Gazans awaiting truce so they can go home

In a sprawling tent city in central Gaza, Palestinians displaced by war to other parts of the territory are all waiting for one thing: a ceasefire so they can go home.

US president-elect Trump holds phone talks with Chinese leader Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping held phone talks Friday with US president-elect Donald Trump, Chinese state media reported.

Trump's economic plans could cause inflation: IMF chief economist

Donald Trump's economic plans risk reigniting US inflation, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told AFP, a few days before the president-elect returns to the White House.

French patrol aircraft threatened by Russian military: minister

A French maritime patrol aircraft was the object of an "intimidation attempt" this week by the Russian military over the Baltic Sea, France said Friday, calling the incident "unacceptable".

Russia, Iran to harden military and trade ties in new pact

Russia and Iran are poised to sign a new treaty on Friday to cement their military and economic ties, a pact between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned nations that is likely to alarm the West.

Israeli security cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet approved in a vote on Friday a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, the prime minister's office said.

Russia sentences Navalny lawyers to years behind bars

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

EU 'ready' to restart Gaza border mission after ceasefire deal

The EU is prepared to redeploy a monitoring mission to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after a ceasefire deal to end Israel's war in the territory, the bloc's top diplomat said Friday.

France's Macron in Lebanon to back new leadership

France's President Emmanuel Macron was in Lebanon on Friday, where he was due to meet his newly-elected counterpart and offer support to leaders seeking to open a new chapter in their country's turbulent history.

Residents of Canada, US border towns fear Trump creating divisions

A shared library, sports fields and fire stations. The American border town of Derby Line and its Canadian twin Stanstead have been living in harmony for more than two centuries, but their bonds are being tested by US President-elect Donald Trump.

Russia, Iran to harden military, trade ties in new pact

Russia and Iran are poised to sign a new treaty on Friday to cement military and economic ties between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned nations, in a pact likely to worry the West.

Aid agencies ready Gaza push but warn of mammoth obstacles

An Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal expected to take effect on Sunday has sparked hope for life-saving aid to reach Palestinians, but aid agencies warn of obstacles from destroyed infrastructure, massive need and collapsed law and order.

South Korea investigators seek to extend President Yoon's detention

South Korean prosecutors asked a court Friday for a new arrest warrant for detained President Yoon Suk Yeol as he again refused questioning by investigators probing his failed martial law bid.

Israeli security cabinet meets on ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet met Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

Israeli security cabinet to finalise ceasefire deal

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

Trump says ceasefire 'would've never happened' without his team

US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas would have never been reached without pressure from him and his incoming administration.

South Korea's Yoon refuses questioning again

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday again refused investigators' efforts to question him over his failed martial law bid, as the deadline on his detention neared.

US trade envoy finds China's shipbuilding policies warrant 'urgent action'

The US Trade Representative said Thursday that its probe into China's practices in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors found that Beijing's undermining of fair competition warranted "urgent action."

Russia and Iran to sign 'partnership' pact

Russia and Iran will sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty on Friday during a visit to Moscow by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, cementing ties between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned countries.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)