The Japan Times - Politics

Houthis claim missile attacks on Israel, entering Middle East war

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels joined the month-old Middle East war on Saturday, claiming two missile attacks on Israel as explosions shook the Iranian capital.

Cherry blossoms, kite-flying and 'No Kings' converge on Washington

A boisterous "No Kings" rally competed for visitors' attention Saturday in Washington, as people also packed the National Mall for a kite-flying festival and the US capital's favorite annual rite of spring: communing with the cherry blossoms.

Pakistan to host Saudi, Turkey, Egypt for talks on Mideast war

Pakistan's prime minister said he had a "detailed" call with Iran's president on Saturday, as foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey gathered in Islamabad for talks on the war in the Middle East.

'Risky moment': Ukraine treads tightrope with Gulf arms deals

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that his country had "undoubtedly changed the geopolitical situation" in the Middle East with a series of decade-long defence agreements with Gulf states being hit with Iranian drones and missiles.

Israel hits Iran naval research site, fresh blasts rattle Tehran

The Israeli military said it had struck an Iranian research facility for naval weapons, while a series of loud explosions rattled Tehran as night fell on Saturday.

Yemen's Houthis enter war as attacks take economic toll

Yemen's Houthi rebels announced their entry into the Middle East war on Saturday by launching a ballistic missile towards Israel, as the world struggled to contain the economic damage of a conflict now entering its second month.

Protesters rally in London against UK far-right rise

Tens of thousands of people marched through central London Saturday to protest the far-right, six months after Britain saw one of its largest-ever far-right demonstrations and weeks ahead of key local elections.

Zelensky agrees air defence cooperation with UAE, Qatar on Gulf tour

Qatar and Ukraine signed a defence agreement on Saturday which includes cooperation on countering threats from missiles and drones, the Gulf state's government said, as Iran presses an aerial campaign against its neighbours.

Yemen's Houthi enter war as Iran strikes disrupt shipping

Yemen's Houthi rebels announced their entry into the Middle East war on Saturday by launching a ballistic missile towards Israel, as the world struggled to contain the economic damage of a conflict now entering its second month.

Zelensky visits UAE, Qatar for air security talks with Gulf

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his country and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate on defence amid Iran's drone strikes across the Gulf, before heading to regional neighbour Qatar.

USS Gerald Ford arrives in Croatia for maintenance

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier that has been part of Middle East war operations, arrived at the Croatian city of Split on Saturday, the US embassy said in a statement.

Millions angry with Trump expected to fill American streets

Massive nationwide protests against US President Donald Trump are expected Saturday as millions of people vent fury over what they see as his authoritarian bent and other forms of cruel, law-trampling governance.

Unease for Iranian-Canadians after shooting at ayatollah critic's gym

After the airstrikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian-Canadian Salar Gholami went to a rally in a Toronto suburb to celebrate the downfall of a leader he fiercely opposed.

Sequins, slogans, conspiracies: Inside the right-wing culture at CPAC

The US Conservative Political Action Conference has become as much a cultural marketplace as a political gathering, with activists, vendors and influencers turning grievance and identity into a booming ecosystem.

US envoy predicts Iran talks as war enters second month

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday he believes Iran will hold talks with Washington "this week" as the US-Israeli war against Tehran entered its second month.

US envoy hopeful on Iran talks as strikes target nuclear facilities

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday he believes Iran will hold talks with Washington "this week" to end the month-long war, as US-Israeli strikes hit two Iranian nuclear facilities.

'Strait of Trump': US president says Iran must open key waterway

US President Donald Trump on Friday insisted Iran must open up the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic to make a peace deal -- and dubbed the crucial waterway the "Strait of Trump."

US hopes for Iran meetings 'this week': envoy Witkoff

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday he believes Iran will hold talks with Washington "this week," as President Donald Trump reiterated his claims that Tehran wants to make a deal.

Fishy trades before major news spark insider trading allegations

Unusual bursts of trading on the oil and stock markets this week, just minutes before social media posts on the Iran war by President Donald Trump, have added to suspicions of insider trading linked to his administration.

WTO reform talks coming to the crunch

The ambassador facilitating talks on reforming the World Trade Organization voiced cautious optimism Friday on prospects for progress at a high-level meeting in the Cameroonian capital.

Rubio sees G7 building 'coalition' against Iran strait control

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he saw European readiness to help form a coalition against Iranian control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli attacks unleashed a regional war.

Israel hits Iran nuclear sites as Washington trails end to war

US-Israeli strikes hit two Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday, as America's top diplomat left a meeting with his G7 counterparts to declare that Washington expects its military operation to prove victorious within a couple of weeks.

G7 urges end to attacks on civilians in Middle East war

G7 allies on Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war, after a foreign ministers' meeting in France attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio almost one month into the US-Israeli assault against Iran.

US and Israel hit nuclear sites as Rubio trails end to Iran war

US-Israeli strikes hit two Iranian nuclear facilities on Friday, as America's top diplomat left a meeting with his G7 counterparts to declare that Washington expects its military operation to prove victorious within a couple of weeks.

China used fake LinkedIn profiles to spy on NATO, EU: security source

China used fake LinkedIn profiles in an attempt to harvest sensitive data from NATO and European Union institutions by soliciting information from staff, a European security source said Friday.

G7 ministers urge end to attacks against civilians in Mideast war

G7 foreign ministers Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war and urged Iran to immediately restore freedom of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain cracks down on Shia dissent as Iran war tests kingdom

While Bahrain comes under Iranian fire, some in the country have expressed sympathy with Tehran and even rejoiced over hits on US bases, prompting a crackdown mainly targeting the Shia Muslim community, activists told AFP.

Brazil's Bolsonaro leaves hospital, starts house arrest for coup attempt

Former far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from hospital on Friday after a two-week stay and transferred to his home in Brasilia to begin house arrest, his doctor said.

Lebanon at risk of 'humanitarian catastrophe': UN

Nearly a month into the Middle East war, Lebanon is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis that now risks teetering over into a catastrophe, the United Nations refugee agency warned Friday.

Russia labels 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' teacher a 'foreign agent'

Russia declared the teacher and central protagonist of the Oscar-winning documentary "Mr Nobody Against Putin" a foreign agent on Friday, a label akin to being an enemy of the state.

Belgian diplomat appeals to avoid trial over Congo leader's murder

A 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat ordered to stand trial over the 1961 killing of Congolese independence icon Patrice Lumumba has appealed the decision, his lawmaker said Friday.

E-commerce in the crosshairs at WTO in digital taxes battle

The future of digital taxes is dividing countries at the World Trade Organization, with the moratorium that has prohibited customs duties on electronic transmissions since 1998 front and centre in the debate.

The Japan Times - Politics (English)

Featured

Inside the jails where Russia breaks Ukraine prisoners 'like dogs'

Oil jumps, stocks fall as US-Iran clashes spark peace talks fears

Last news