The Japan Times - Politics

Featured

Sara Duterte back in Philippines after month with detained father

Impeached Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has returned home after nearly a month at her father's side in The Hague, where he is facing a charge of crimes against humanity, her communications team said Monday.

Market panic mounts as world scrambles to temper Trump tariffs

Wall Street was braced Sunday for significant losses at the start of the week over Donald Trump's punishing tariffs on exports to the United States, as oil prices plummeted even with countries seeking compromise.

Last news

Storied but sickly, historic W.House magnolia to come down

An enormous tree known as the Jackson Magnolia which has shaded the White House's South Portico for the majority of US presidencies will be taken down this week, Donald Trump said Sunday.

What we know about Syria's new government

Syria's new government, dominated by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's inner circle, faces the daunting challenge of gaining the trust of Syrians, as well as that of Western countries to secure sanctions relief.

Trump says 'very angry' with Putin over Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was "very angry, pissed off" with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, NBC reported, marking a sharp change of tone as Washington seeks to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump says 'very angry' with Putin over Ukraine: NBC

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he was "very angry, pissed off" with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, NBC reported, marking a sharp change of tone as Washington seeks to end the war in Ukraine.

Turkey opposition pushes for early polls as Swedish reporter jailed

The Turkish opposition on Sunday worked to keep up the momentum of the protest movement triggered by the Istanbul mayor's arrest by pushing for early elections as well as his release, with a Swedish reporter the latest detained in a government crackdown.

Sudan paramilitary chief admits withdrawal from capital

The head of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces admitted in a speech to fighters on Sunday that the group had withdrawn from the capital Khartoum which rival army forces have retaken.

Netanyahu offers Hamas leaders Gaza exit but demands group disarm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday offered to let the leaders of Hamas leave the Gaza Strip but demanded the group abandoned its arms, as his country kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Myanmar junta accused of air strike even after quake

Myanmar's junta has pressed ahead with its campaign of air strikes despite the country's devastating earthquake, with a rebel group telling AFP Sunday seven of its fighters were killed in an aerial attack soon after the tremors hit.

Turkey opposition presses protests as Swedish reporter jailed

Turkey's opposition on Sunday worked to keep up the momentum of the protest movement triggered by the arrest of Istanbul's mayor after a giant weekend rally, with a Swedish reporter the latest detained in a government crackdown.

RSF paramilitary chief admits forces withdrew from Sudan capital

The head of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces admitted in a speech to fighters on Sunday that the group had withdrawn from the capital Khartoum which rival army forces have retaken.

Beachcomber in France hunts fragments of migrant lives

The sand-covered notes outlining a migrant's travel plan to a better life read like an itinerary of hope: from Ethiopia to Sudan, Libya, Italy, on to France and finally, England.

In Turkey, new technologies reinforce repression

With anti-government protests sweeping across Turkey, the authorities have used all technological means to try to curb them, from restricting internet access to using facial recognition to identify protesters, who have been forced to adapt.

Ukrainian museum moves to 'decolonise' history

The quiet and echoing rooms of the museum in Poltava, dedicated to an 18th-century battle in central Ukraine, belie a struggle in the war-torn country on how far to go in recasting Russia's role in history.

Ukraine accuses Russia of 'war crime' with military hospital strike

Ukraine accused Russia of committing a "war crime" during its weekend attack on the city of Kharkiv, as the US-backed ceasefire efforts continue to prove elusive.

Orban's food price cap takes aim at foreign retailers in Hungary

Seeking to tame public anger over soaring inflation, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has imposed price controls on basic food items sold in supermarkets, renewing his fight against multinational companies.

Protesters denounce Musk at Tesla dealerships in US, Europe, Canada

Demonstrators descended on Tesla dealerships across the United States and in Europe and Canada on Saturday to protest company chief Elon Musk, who has amassed extraordinary power as a top advisor to US President Donald Trump.

Australian PM lures voters with supermarket crackdown

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised Sunday to outlaw supermarket price gouging with the threat of heavy fines, ahead of a tightly fought May 3 general election.

Syria interim president names new government dominated by allies

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday announced a new transitional government dominated by close allies and including one woman, replacing caretaker authorities in place since the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Protesters denounce Musk at Tesla dealerships in US, Europe

Demonstrators descended on Tesla dealerships across the United States and Europe on Saturday to protest company chief Elon Musk, who has amassed extraordinary power as a top advisor to US President Donald Trump.

Sudan army chief says war will not end until RSF lays down its arms

Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed Saturday that his troops will fight on until the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) lays down its weapons.

Hamas says agrees to new Gaza truce proposal received from mediators

A top Hamas official said on Saturday the group approved a new Gaza ceasefire proposal put forth by mediators, urging Israel to back it but warning the Iran-backed group's weapons were a "red line".

US woman thanks Trump after release by Taliban in Afghanistan

An American woman freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan celebrated her release, in a video shared Saturday by US President Donald Trump, in which she thanked him for helping secure her freedom.

US woman released by Taliban in Afghanistan

An American woman has been freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan after she, two Britons and their Afghan translator were detained earlier this year, Washington's former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Saturday.

Sudan army says retakes Khartoum-area market from paramilitaries

The Sudanese army said on Saturday it had taken control of a major market in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, long used by its rival Rapid Support Forces as a staging ground for attacks.

Guinea ex-dictator freed from jail after 2009 massacre pardon: junta

Guinea's ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, jailed for 20 years over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned for "health reasons" by the West African country's junta head, with a human rights body Saturday saying he has left prison.

'We need aid': rescuers in quake-hit Myanmar city plead for help

Exhausted, overwhelmed rescuers in Myanmar's second-biggest city pleaded for help Saturday as they struggled to free hundreds of people trapped in buildings destroyed by a devastating earthquake.

Rallies grow in South Korea as court weighs president's fate

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans rallied for and against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday as protests grow while the country's Constitutional Court weighs whether to dismiss him.

Guinea ex-dictator sentenced for 2009 massacre pardoned: junta

Guinea's ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned Friday for "health reasons" by the West African country's junta head, according to a decree read out on national television.

Academy apologizes after stars say it 'failed to defend' Palestinian filmmaker

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized Friday for failing to defend an Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker who said he was attacked by Israeli settlers.

UN rights chief demands end to 'horrific suffering' in Ukraine

The UN rights chief called Friday for an end to the "horrific suffering" caused by attacks on civilians in Ukraine, while the United States attempts to broker a ceasefire, more than three years into Russia's invasion.

Trump, Canada PM strike positive note after call

US President Donald Trump said he had an "extremely productive" first call Friday with Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney, after soaring tensions over tariffs and Trump's repeated calls to annex his northern neighbor.

Trump auto tariffs strike at heart of North American trade

US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported cars strike at the heart of a North American free trade agreement, threatening to disrupt supply chains and raise prices, experts say.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)