The Japan Times - Politics

Ukraine, Russia to sign elusive grain deal in Turkey

Ukraine and Russia were due Friday to sign an elusive deal designed to help relieve a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain exports.

Italy to hold September elections after PM Draghi resigns

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament Thursday, triggering early elections which could bring the hard right to power after the country's warring parties toppled reformer Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Trudeau rebukes Hockey Canada over alleged gang rape

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday blasted Hockey Canada over its handling of an alleged gang rape by eight players, saying it must do much more to regain the country's trust.

Storied Minneapolis venue scraps Dave Chappelle set

Minnesota's famed First Avenue venue canceled comedian Dave Chappelle's show mere hours before he was set to go on, responding to protests from staff and the community over jokes many people have deemed transphobic.

Pelosi faces pushback on potential trip to Taiwan

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced pushback Thursday on potential plans to visit Taiwan, with President Joe Biden saying that the military was opposed amid fears of inflaming tensions with China.

Lukashenko says Belarus is 'authoritarian'

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko admitted on Thursday that he ran an authoritarian state but claimed there were no political prisoners in his isolated country.

US, UK say 15,000 killed in Russia's Ukraine 'cannon fodder'

Some 15,000 Russians have died in the five-month-old invasion of Ukraine, the US and British spy chiefs said, as they assessed that President Vladimir Putin was suffering far greater losses than expected.

UK spy chief doubts Iran supreme leader will back nuclear deal

Britain's spy chief voiced doubt Thursday on reviving a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, saying Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained opposed despite marathon diplomacy with the United States.

Snap elections called in Italy after Draghi resigns

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella dissolved parliament Thursday, triggering early elections which could bring the hard right to power after the country's warring parties toppled reformer Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

Biden positive for Covid, symptoms 'very mild'

President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, with his doctors saying the 79-year-old leader was experiencing mild fatigue and would isolate at the White House while carrying out his full duties.

Tribal candidate wins Indian presidential election: partial results

A woman from India's tribal minority, Droupadi Murmu, was elected as the country's president Thursday with the backing of the ruling party, making her the first person from the marginalised community to occupy the top post.

Tribal woman wins Indian presidential election: partial results

A woman from India's tribal minority, Droupadi Murmu, was elected as the country's president Thursday with the backing of the ruling party, making her the first person from the marginalised community to occupy the top post.

Biden tests positive for Covid, 'very mild symptoms'

President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, his administration announced, saying the 79-year-old leader was experiencing "mild symptoms" and would carry out his full duties while isolating at the White House.

Ukraine war must end to prevent nuclear 'abyss', Lukashenko tells AFP

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko Thursday said Russia, Ukraine and the West must agree to halt the Ukraine conflict to avoid the "abyss of nuclear war" and insisted Kyiv should accept Moscow's demands.

Biden says US military opposes Pelosi trip to Taiwan

A potential visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is generating concern in Washington, with President Joe Biden saying the US military was opposed amid fears of inflaming tensions with China.

Euro gets boost as Russian gas returns, ECB supersizes rate hike

The euro briefly gained ground against the dollar on Thursday after Russia resumed gas supplies to Europe and the European Central Bank surprised markets with a 0.5-percentage-point rate hike.

Angry Iraq buries dead from shelling blamed on Turkey

An angry and grieving Iraq on Thursday buried nine holidaymakers -- including a newlywed -- killed in the artillery bombardment of a Kurdish hill village.

Facebook removes Afghan media pages controlled by Taliban

Facebook has removed the accounts of at least two state-owned media outlets in Afghanistan, the company confirmed Thursday, saying it was complying with laws in the United States listing the Taliban as a "terrorist organisation".

Italy's Draghi resigns, paving way to snap elections

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned Thursday after the country's fractious parties torpedoed his national unity government, kicking off a snap election campaign which could bring the hard right to power.

Biden seeks to mobilize on crime and climate ahead of midterms

Climate change in Massachusetts on Wednesday, gun control in Pennsylvania on Thursday, next week -- law and order in Florida.

UK PM contenders squabble over tax as campaign kicks off

Liz Truss, the favourite to become Britain's next prime minister, on Thursday criticised rival Rishi Sunak over his tax policies while finance minister, as the pair kicked off six weeks of campaigning.

Russia resumes 'unstable' gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream

Russia on Thursday restored critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline after 10 days of maintenance, but uncertainty lingered over whether the Kremlin would still trigger an energy crisis on the continent this winter.

Euro up as Russian gas returns, stocks waver ahead of ECB decision

The euro gained ground against the dollar on Thursday after Russia resumed gas supplies to Europe but stock markets were twitchy ahead of a European Central Bank policy meeting, where the guardian of the euro is expected to announce its first rate hike in over a decade.

Russian rockets pummel Kharkiv as gas flows to Europe resume

Russian artillery strikes pounded Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv on Thursday after Moscow announced it was expanding its war aims, even as Russian gas flows to Europe resumed through the Nord Stream pipeline.

Angry Iraq mourns dead from shelling blamed on Turkey

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi declared a day of national mourning Thursday after nine holidaymakers were killed in the bombardment of a Kurdish hill village he blamed on neighbouring Turkey.

Italy's Draghi resigns after coalition implodes

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned Thursday after efforts to bring the country's fractious parties to heel failed, kicking off a snap election campaign which could bring the hard right to power.

UK's Tempest fighter project soars as European rival remains in limbo

Britain's future combat fighter jet project Tempest soared this week past a key barrier at Farnborough Airshow 2022, but Europe's rival FCAS concept is stuck in limbo.

Euro up as Russia gas returns, equities struggle ahead of ECB decision

The euro rose Thursday after Russia resumed gas supplies to Europe, while traders await a crucial European Central Bank policy meeting, with the continent's equities struggling.

Markets, euro rise as Russia turns on gas taps

Asian and European equities mostly rose with the euro Thursday after Russia resumed gas supplies to Europe, while traders await a crucial ECB policy meeting.

Ukrainians in limbo at Polish refugee centre

Kyrill is killing time. Sitting on his cot at the Global Expo refugee reception centre in Warsaw, the 11-year-old busies himself by trying to take apart a scooter.

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi hit with $1.2 bn fine

China has fined ride-hailing giant Didi 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), regulators announced Thursday, concluding a year-long investigation into alleged data security violations.

Russia resumes critical gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream

Russia on Thursday resumed critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany, reopening the Nord Stream gas pipeline after 10 days, but uncertainty lingered whether the continent could avert an energy crisis this winter.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)

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