The Japan Times - Politics

Over 500 economists, top experts call for G20 inequality panel

More than 500 economists and other leading experts, including a Nobel laureate and a former United States treasury secretary, on Friday urged G20 leaders to establish an international panel to tackle extreme wealth disparities.

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

A Russian attack overnight, mostly targeting the capital Kyiv, killed four people and damaged buildings across the city, Ukrainian authorities said Friday.

Ecuador to vote on foreign troops, constitutional reform

Ecuadorans will vote Sunday on whether to allow the return of foreign military bases and the drafting of a new constitution that could give the country's Trump-friendly president more power.

China retail sales grew at slowest pace in over a year

Retail sales in China grew last month at the slowest pace in over a year, official data showed Friday, highlighting the battle facing authorities' efforts to counteract persistent consumer malaise.

Tobacco conference to weigh up stubbing out cigarette butts

Next week's global conference on tobacco control will consider what to do about the sheer volume of cigarette butts trashing the planet, with some recommending banning them completely.

Ukrainian capital comes under 'massive' attack

Almost every district in Kyiv came under "massive" attack Friday morning, the Ukrainian capital's mayor said, with a death reported hours after AFP journalists heard explosions in the city centre.

MAGA civil war: How a white nationalist blew up the American right

It began as a simple stunt -- a long, provocative chat between two lightning rods of the American right. The goal: spark debate, go viral and maybe boost their brands.

Asian markets sink on concerns over tech rally, Fed rates

Asian markets sank Friday, tracking a selloff on Wall Street as worries over next month's Federal Reserve interest rate decision and persistent speculation about a tech bubble dampened sentiment.

Ukraine capital under 'massive' attack: Kyiv mayor

Almost every district in Kyiv was under a 'massive' attack Friday morning, the Ukrainian capital's mayor said, with AFP journalists reporting explosions in the city centre as Russia intensifies its attacks on infrastructure.

Brazil rebuts UN complaint about COP30 security, but boosts presence

Brazil has pushed back against a complaint by the UN's climate chief over a security breach at the COP30 summit in Belem, saying responsibility for safeguarding the venue's interior lies with the world body itself.

Palestinian Authority says Israel killed two teens in West Bank

The Palestinian Authority said Thursday that Israeli soldiers had killed two 15-year-olds in the occupied West Bank, while Israel called them "terrorists" attempting to carry out an attack.

Stocks slide despite end of US government shutdown

Global stocks slid back sharply on Thursday, dashing hopes that US President Donald Trump's signing of a spending bill to end a record government shutdown might enliven trading floors.

25 oil-supplying states accused of 'complicity' in Gaza war

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the United States shipped vast amounts of oil to Israel during its two-year Gaza offensive, according to a report by Oil Change International, which says the same fossil-fuel system driving climate change is also enabling "genocide."

'My whole life is here': migrants in Chile fear far-right rule

At an informal settlement near a disused landfill, a group of migrants anxiously await the outcome of Chile's presidential election, in which many voters are baying for them to be thrown out.

'Like a horror movie': 770 km of fear for those fleeing Sudan's El-Fasher

Survivors of the bloody takeover of El-Fasher walked for days through the desert, past bodies and armed men who humiliated them, desperate to escape the Sudanese city now overrun by paramilitary forces.

Zelensky sanctions associate as fraud scandal rocks Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday ordered sanctions on a former business partner at the heart of a corruption scandal that has sparked outrage in a nation exhausted by nearly four years of war.

Right-tilting EU parliament backs unpicking green business rules

European lawmakers voted Thursday to back the weakening of landmark EU environmental and human rights rules, as part of a business-friendly drive to slash red tape pushed through with far-right support.

Zelensky sanctions associate as corruption scandal engulfs Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday ordered sanctions on an associate and former business partner at the heart of a massive corruption scandal that has sparked outrage in a nation exhausted by nearly four years of war.

Germany agrees to keep military service voluntary

Germany's coalition government has agreed a new voluntary military service model, politicians said Thursday, after weeks of wrangling over whether there should be a compulsory element.

Japan PM Takaichi says she sleeps only 2-4 hours a night

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday she only sleeps for between two and four hours every night, while she also faces criticism for encouraging people to overwork.

Juan Ponce Enrile, architect of Philippines martial law, dies at 101

Juan Ponce Enrile, a shrewd political operator who helped usher in the darkest repression of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos's rule, died on Thursday at the age of 101, his daughter said.

Juan Ponce Enrile, architect of Philippine martial law, dies at 101: daughter

Juan Ponce Enrile, a shrewd political operator who helped usher in the darkest repression of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos's rule, died on Thursday at the age of 101, his daughter said.

Asian stocks rise with focus on Fed, tech as US government reopens

Asian markets rose on Thursday after Donald Trump signed a spending bill to end a record US government shutdown, while focus was also turning to Federal Reserve interest rates and tech bubble worries.

Sri Lanka to stay in Pakistan after bomb, games move to Rawalpindi

Sri Lanka's cricket board said Thursday that its players will remain in Pakistan to complete a one-day international series and a subsequent T20 tri-series, with all games to be played in Rawalpindi.

Zanzibar women turn to sponge farming as oceans heat up

Around 10 in the morning each day, women in hijabs and loose long dresses wade through Zanzibar's turquoise shallow tides to tend their sponge farms -- a new lifeline after climate change upended their former work.

India's top tennis player says denied China visa

India's top-ranked men's tennis player Sumit Nagal said China denied him a visa weeks before he was set to appear at an Australian Open qualifying tournament in southwestern Sichuan.

EU lawmakers to vote on unpicking green business rules

European lawmakers are expected on Thursday to back weakening a set of EU environmental and human rights rules, as part of a business-friendly push against red tape that has split parliament.

Record-breaking US shutdown ends as political fallout begins

Congress on Wednesday ended the longest government shutdown in US history -- 43 days that paralyzed Washington and left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid while Donald Trump's Republicans and Democrats played a high-stakes blame game.

New Epstein emails claim Trump 'knew about the girls'

Jeffrey Epstein suggested Donald Trump knew about the disgraced financier's abuse and "spent hours" with one victims at his house, according to emails released by Democrats Wednesday that raised fresh questions for the US president.

Dow ends at record on hopes US government will reopen

Wall Street stocks finished mostly higher Wednesday with the Dow climbing to a fresh record on hopes a US government shutdown would soon end, while oil prices fell sharply on oversupply worries.

US presses final penny after more than 230 years

The United States pressed its final circulating penny on Wednesday, in a move made to save money as the one-cent coin denomination became less relevant over time.

Pardoned French-Algerian writer Sansal arrives in Germany

Jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal arrived in Germany for medical treatment on Wednesday after Algiers agreed to a German request that he be pardoned.

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