The Japan Times - Politics

US oil blockade of Venezuela: what we know

US forces in the Caribbean -- where Donald Trump has deployed a massive flotilla of warships -- have been tasked by the president with blockading "sanctioned oil vessels" going to and from Venezuela.

Venezuela says oil exports continue normally despite Trump 'blockade'

Venezuela struck a defiant note Wednesday, insisting that crude oil exports were not impacted by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a blockade.

What next for Belarus after US deal on prisoners, sanctions?

Belarus freed dozens of political prisoners over the weekend in exchange for the United States lifting some sanctions on the reclusive Moscow-allied country after talks that also implicated Ukraine.

Brazil Senate debates bill that could slash Bolsonaro jail term

Brazil's Senate on Wednesday began debating a bill that could slash the 27-year jail term of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of plotting a botched coup after a failed re-election bid.

French readers lap up Sarkozy's prison diaries

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy may have mounting legal problems but his status as a top-selling author is not in doubt: his hastily written book about his recent prison experience has sold 100,000 copies in less than a week, according to his publisher.

Finland PM apologises to Asian countries over MPs' mocking posts

Finland's prime minister apologised on Wednesday to citizens of Japan, China and South Korea after MPs sparked outrage by posting pictures of themselves making derogatory squinting gestures.

Bondi shooting shocks, angers Australia's Jewish community

Near the sun-soaked Sydney beach where father-and-son gunmen allegedly killed 15 people by firing into crowds at a Hanukkah festival, Jewish Australians say they feel unsafe and angry.

Gunman charged as Australia grieves victims slain on Bondi Beach

Australian police charged one of the alleged Bondi Beach gunmen with murder and terrorism on Wednesday, as grief-stricken mourners buried the first of 15 people slain in the attack.

Grief and fear as Sydney's Jewish community mourns 'Bondi rabbi'

Wails rang through a packed synagogue on Wednesday as Sydney's Jewish community laid to rest beloved local rabbi Eli Schlanger, gunned down on Bondi Beach in Australia's worst mass shooting in decades.

Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned' Venezuela oil tankers

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for access to the country's crude.

Brazil Senate to debate bill to slash Bolsonaro jail term

Brazil's Senate will on Wednesday begin debating a bill passed by the lower house of Congress that could slash the jail term of former president Jair Bolsonaro, a move that sparked nationwide protests over the weekend.

Asian markets drift as US jobs data fails to boost rate cut hopes

Asian equities fluctuated on Wednesday as mixed US jobs data did little to boost expectations for another interest rate cut next month, while oil rallied after Donald Trump ordered the blockade of "sanctioned" Venezuelan tankers.

What we know about Trump's $10 billion BBC lawsuit

US President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC, seeking $10 billion in damages over a misleading edit of his 2021 speech before the US Capitol riot.

Trump says orders blockade of 'sanctioned' Venezuela oil tankers

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for the country's crude.

Australia holds first funeral for Bondi Beach attack victims

Australia held the first funeral Wednesday for victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, as large crowds gathered to grieve a rabbi slain in the attack.

Costa Rican president survives second Congress immunity vote

Costa Rica's conservative President Rodrigo Chaves on Tuesday survived a second attempt to strip him of immunity so he can be prosecuted for alleged wrongdoing.

Married couple lauded for effort to thwart Bondi Beach shootings

A married couple killed in the mass shooting at Bondi Beach have been lauded for their bravery, after dashcam footage showed them wrestling with a gunman at the start of the attack.

Trump has 'alcoholic's personality,' chief of staff says in bombshell interview

Donald Trump said Tuesday he stood by his chief of staff Susie Wiles after she said the US president had an "alcoholic's personality" in an astonishing interview with Vanity Fair.

Stocks mostly retreat on US jobs, oil drops on Ukraine hopes

Stock markets mostly fell Tuesday as the US jobless rate hit its highest level since 2021, while oil prices slumped on renewed hopes for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Trump imposes full travel bans on seven more countries, Palestinians

President Donald Trump on Tuesday expanded a US travel ban by barring nationals of seven more countries including Syria, as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders, from entering the United States.

New Chile leader calls for end to Maduro 'dictatorship'

Chile's hard-right president-elect Jose Antonio Kast said Tuesday that he would back efforts to end Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's "dictatorship," giving Washington yet another regional ally in its showdown with Caracas.

French lawmakers adopt social security budget, suspend pension reform

French lawmakers on Tuesdayadopted a social security budget, which includes the suspension of an unpopular pension reform, as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu races to finalise a 2026 spending plan by year-end.

Lawmakers grill Trump officials on US alleged drug boat strikes

Donald Trump's top national security officials faced a grilling from lawmakers Tuesday on US strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific -- operations that have raised alarms about escalating military force near Venezuela.

Senators grill Trump officials on US alleged drug boat strikes

Donald Trump's top national security officials faced a grilling from senators Tuesday on US strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific -- operations that have raised alarms about escalating military force near Venezuela.

Serbian President blames 'witch hunt' for ditched Kushner hotel plan

Plans to build a hotel on the site of Belgrade's bombed-out Yugoslav army headquarters have been dumped, the country's President said Tuesday, blaming a "witch hunt" for scaring away the investment firm linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Sahel juntas would have welcomed a coup in Benin: analysts

Military rulers in west Africa's Sahel region may well have celebrated had a recent coup attempt in Benin resulted in another anti-Western junta in their neighbourhood, analysts said.

Suicide bomber kills five soldiers in northeast Nigeria: sources

A suicide bomber struck a military position in northeastern Nigeria near the border with Cameroon, killing at least five soldiers, security and local defence sources said.

Thailand says Cambodia must announce ceasefire 'first' to stop fighting

Thailand said Tuesday that Cambodia must be first to announce a truce to halt fighting between the two nations after more than a week of deadly clashes in a reignited border conflict.

M23 militia says to pull out of key DR Congo city at US's request

The M23 armed group said Tuesday it would withdraw from the key city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at the request of Washington, which vowed "action" over the "clear violation" of a US-brokered peace accord.

On the campaign trail in a tug-of-war Myanmar town

The election billboards are shining new in Myanmar's northern town of Nawnghkio, but the homes are still shattered by combat.

Australian PM says 'Islamic State ideology' drove Bondi Beach gunmen

A father and son were driven by "Islamic State ideology" when they fired on Bondi Beach in one of Australia's deadliest mass shootings, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

Canada plow-maker can't clear path through Trump tariffs

For decades, Arctic Snowplows has sold its Canadian-made galvanized steel products to "anywhere there is snow" across the border in the United States, says company president Mike Schulz.

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