The Japan Times - Politics

Leftist, far-right candidates go through to Chilean presidential run-off

Chile's leftist former labor minister Jeannette Jara and far-right leader Jose Antonio Kast will go head-to-head in a presidential run-off after topping Sunday's first round of voting in an election dominated by violent crime.

A pragmatic communist and a far-right leader: Chile's presidential finalists

A consensus-driven communist and a far-right law-and-order candidate vowing mass migrant deportations will duel for president of Chile after topping a first round of voting on Sunday.

Leftist leads Chile presidential poll, faces run-off against far right

Leftist former labor minister Jeannette Jara and far-right leader Jose Antonio Kast were leading the country's presidential race on Sunday, according to partial results, which show them heading to a December run-off.

UK govt defends plan to limit refugee status

Britain's interior minister on Sunday defended plans to drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, insisting that irregular migration was "tearing our country apart".

Crime, immigration dominate as Chile votes for president

Chileans stood in long lines on Sunday to vote in general elections dominated by far-right calls for an iron fist on crime and mass migrant deportations.

Ecuador votes on hosting foreign bases as Noboa eyes more powers

Ecuadorans went to the polls Sunday to vote on whether to allow the return of foreign military bases and on starting a constitutional overhaul that could give Trump-friendly President Daniel Noboa more power.

Ukraine signs deal with Greece for winter deliveries of US gas

Ukraine signed a deal with Greece on Sunday for winter deliveries of American liquefied natural gas to Kyiv, as Ukrainian energy infrastructure is battered by Russian strikes.

UK govt defends refugee shakeup in face of hard right

Britain's interior minister on Sunday defended plans to drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, insisting that irregular migration was "tearing our country apart".

Ecuador votes on reforms as Noboa eyes anti-crime ramp-up

Ecuadorans went to the polls Sunday to vote on whether to allow the return of foreign military bases and on beginning a constitutional rewrite that could give Trump-friendly President Daniel Noboa more power.

Chileans vote in elections dominated by crime, immigration

Chileans voted Sunday in elections dominated by rising crime and immigration, fuelling far-right calls for an iron fist and Donald Trump-style threats of mass deportations.

Serbia avoiding 'confiscation' of Russian shares in oil firm NIS

Serbia's president on Sunday said he wanted to avoid the "confiscation" of Russian shares in Serbian oil company NIS "at all costs", as his country seeks an exit from crippling US sanctions.

Clashes erupt in Mexico City anti-crime protests, injuring 120

More than 100 people were injured and 20 arrested during a massive protest on Saturday in Mexico City against the president's handling of violent crime, local government officials said.

UK to cut protections for refugees under asylum 'overhaul'

Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, the Labour government announced late Saturday, under new plans aimed at slashing irregular immigration and countering the hard-right.

UK to cut protections for refugees under asylum 'overhaul': govt

Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees under plans to overhaul its asylum system, the Labour government said on Saturday.

Zelensky renews calls for more air defence after deadly strike on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday renewed his plea for more air-defence systems a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv killed seven people.

Petain tribute comments raise 'revisionist' storm in France

A senior French official said Saturday legal action would be taken over comments made praising Philippe Petain, France's wartime head of state convicted of treason after World War II.

M23, DR Congo sign new peace roadmap in Doha

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia signed a new peace framework on Saturday in Qatar aimed at ending the fighting that has devastated eastern DRC.

Zelensky vows overhaul of Ukraine's scandal-hit energy firms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies, after a corruption scandal at the heart of a sector battered by Russian attacks sparked a public outrcy.

Prison looms for Brazil's Bolsonaro after court rejects his appeal

Brazil's far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro is running out of options to avoid prison, after judges on Friday rejected his appeal against a 27-year sentence for a botched coup bid.

UN Security Council to vote Monday on Trump Gaza plan

The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, diplomats said.

China tells citizens to avoid Japan travel as Taiwan row grows

China has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan, following a diplomatic feud sparked by comments by Tokyo's new premier about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.

'Desperation in the air': immigrant comics skewer Trump crackdown

Lucie Pohl opened a night of comedy with a stab at President Donald Trump's migration crackdown.

Russia strike on Kyiv apartment block kills six, Ukraine says

A barrage of Russian missiles hit Kyiv on Friday, killing six people in one apartment block, attacks that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced as a "heinous" bid to spread terror.

At COP30, senator warns US 'deliberately losing' clean tech race with China

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, one of only a handful of senior US political leaders attending this year's UN climate summit, told AFP Friday that President Donald Trump's America is "deliberately losing" the clean tech race to China.

Bulgaria names manager to take over Russia's Lukoil refinery after US sanctions

Bulgaria on Friday nominated a senior government official to take control of a major Lukoil refinery in the east of the country following US sanctions against the Russian oil giant.

Water shortage pushes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan into energy crisis

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are facing an energy crisis as water levels have plummeted at the reservoirs powering their largests hydropower stations, officials said this week.

Russia strikes on Kyiv apartment blocks kill six, Ukraine says

Russia struck residential parts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine said, killing six people in a single apartment block in attacks President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced as "heinous" and aimed at civilians.

Tanzania president announces inquiry into protest deaths

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday announced an inquiry into the killings that occurred during the election that returned her to power, and called for leniency for some protesters charged with treason.

Indigenous protest blocks entrance to UN COP30 climate summit

Dozens of Indigenous protesters blocked the main entrance to the UN COP30 climate summit Friday in the Brazilian city of Belem, in a peaceful demonstration.

'Time is running out': Serbia eyes winter energy crisis

Serbia's diplomatic balancing act has left it teetering on the brink of a winter energy crisis, analysts warn, as US sanctions on its only oil refinery, the EU's phaseout of Russian energy, and Moscow's gas supply hardball hit home.

Four killed in 'heinous' Russian attack on Ukraine: Zelensky

Russia struck apartment blocks across the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv overnight, killing at least four people in what President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed as a "heinous attack" that deliberately targeted civilians.

Taiwan star Chen Bolin charged in conscription evasion probe

Taiwanese star Chen Bolin and 11 others were charged Friday as part of an investigation into military draft dodgers.

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