The Japan Times - Politics

US flexes 'new order' trade policy as WTO meet kicks off

US trade policy is a "corrective response" to the unbalanced rules of the World Trade Organization, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said as the WTO's ministerial conference opened Thursday.

UK PM 'very keen' to curb addictive social media after US ruling

UK leader Keir Starmer said Thursday he was "very keen" to tackle addictive features on social media following a landmark US ruling that found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman.

Belarus' Lukashenko gifts automatic rifle to North Korea's Kim

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gifted Kim Jong Un an automatic rifle during his maiden visit to Pyongyang, joking that the North Korean leader may need it "in case enemies appear", state media said Thursday.

Venezuela's Maduro back in US court after stunning capture

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will appear Thursday in a New York court for the second time since his capture by US forces in an extraordinary nighttime raid.

Iran may believe it has the upper hand as Trump seeks talks

Iran's decision to rebuff a 15-point peace proposal from US President Donald Trump and outline its own conditions for a ceasefire reflects growing confidence in its negotiating position after nearly four weeks of war, analysts say.

Trump says Iran 'better get serious' in Mideast war talks

US President Donald Trump warned Iran Thursday to engage in talks to end the Middle East war "before it is too late", after Tehran publicly spurned US overtures to resolve the nearly four-week conflict.

Global trading system hit by 'worst disruptions in the past 80 years': WTO chief

The global trading system is experiencing the "worst disruptions in the past 80 years", World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned as the WTO ministerial conference opened Thursday.

EU parliament backs Trump tariff deal -- with conditions

European Union lawmakers on Thursday gave a green light -- with conditions -- to the bloc's tariff deal with US President Donald Trump, which Europe hopes to salvage while also racing to diversify its trade ties around the globe.

Israel strikes Iran as Tehran rejects US talks overture

Israel struck new targets across Iran on Thursday, after Tehran rejected US overtures to wind down the nearly four-week Middle East war and vowed to keep up its "resistance".

Leaked Nepal report into deadly uprising calls for prosecuting ex-PM

A Nepal commission has recommended the prosecution of ex-prime minister KP Sharma Oli in connection to the deadly September 2025 uprising that toppled his government, according to a leaked report.

EU to vote on Trump tariff deal -- but eyes rest of world

European Union lawmakers are on track to give a green light -- with conditions -- Thursday to the bloc's tariff deal with US President Donald Trump, which Europe hopes to salvage while also racing to diversify its trade ties around the globe.

North Korea, Belarus sign 'friendship' treaty during Lukashenko visit

North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday after Kim Jong Un gave a lavish welcome to President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit.

North Korea, Belarus sign 'friendship and cooperation' treaty

North Korea and Belarus's strongmen leaders signed a "friendship and cooperation" treaty on Thursday, state media reported, after Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang for a maiden visit.

Israel strikes Iran as Trump says Tehran wants deal to end war

Israel launched strikes across Iran on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said Tehran wanted a deal to end the nearly four-week war despite its top diplomat rejecting any talks with Washington.

Hezbollah rejects truce talks as Israel presses Lebanon strikes

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said negotiations with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender", as the Iran-backed group launched attacks and Israel said it was expanding a "buffer zone" inside Lebanon.

Mideast war fuels disinformation about Taiwan's gas supply

Taiwan has been targeted by a wave of online disinformation claiming the self-ruled island's gas supplies will soon be completely depleted due to disruptions from the Middle East war -- a narrative officials say could cause panic and undermine confidence in the government.

Zimbabwe lithium export ban triggers crackdown, concerns

A month after banning raw lithium exports, Zimbabwe is tightening its regulations and ramping up its crackdown on mineral smuggling in a major shake-up that is winning local praise even as it stirs concerns.

North Korea's Kim 'warmly' welcomes Belarusian leader

North Korea's Kim Jong Un "warmly" welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on his maiden visit to the fellow Russia ally, with the two strongmen set to sign a friendship and cooperation treaty, state media reported Thursday.

Oil edges up and equities mixed amid mixed messages on 'talks'

Oil prices rose and equities were mixed Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East warafter Iranian officials were said to have replied to US demands to end a conflict that has sparked warnings of an unprecedented energy crisis.

Russian oil arrives as Philippines battles 'energy emergency'

A ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Thursday, days after the country declared a national energy emergency over the Middle East war.

G7 meets in France to narrow transatlantic Iran split

Foreign ministers from the G7 meet outside Paris from Thursday with European nations and allies seeking to narrow differences with the US on the Middle East war while keeping other crises like Ukraine and Gaza high on the agenda.

UN pushes fuel solution for Cuba aid work amid US talks

The United Nations has proposed an emergency plan for crisis-hit Cuba, including tracking fuel use, amid talks with the United States on allowing energy imports for humanitarian services, a UN official said Wednesday.

Belarus' Lukashenko greeted by North Korean leader in Pyongyang

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he arrived on his first visit to the reclusive nation, the Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday.

UK teenagers to trial social media bans, digital curfews

Hundreds of British teenagers will trial social media bans and time limits on apps as part of consultations over new measures to keep children safe online, the government announced Wednesday.

'No negotiations' says Iran FM as US touts peace plan

US President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" if Iran doesn't accept a deal to end the Middle East war, the White House warned Wednesday, but a defiant Tehran said it did not intend to negotiate.

Trump to 'unleash hell' if Iran fails to make a deal

US President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" if Iran doesn't accept a deal to end the Middle East war, the White House warned Wednesday, adding that talks continued despite Tehran reportedly rejecting a proposed US peace plan.

US says Iran talks continue, will 'unleash hell' if no deal

The White House said Wednesday it was still in talks with Iran despite Tehran reportedly rejecting a US plan to end the war -- but warned President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" if there is no deal.

UN designates African slave trade as 'gravest crime against humanity'

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," despite opposition by the United States and some European countries.

Trump's Beijing trip rescheduled for May, after Iran delay

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing in May after delaying an earlier summit because of the war against Iran.

Gaza civil defence says Israeli strike kills one, tents on fire

A fireball erupted over Gaza on Wednesday as an Israeli strike tore through a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians, killing one person and injuring seven, the territory's civil defence agency said.

UK govt denies cover-up after PM ex-aide's phone stolen

UK officials denied Wednesday any conspiracy over the theft of a phone belonging to the prime minister's ex-chief aide after the government vowed to release messages related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

South Africa police clash with anti-immigrant protesters

South African police on Wednesday fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters in the coastal city of Durban.

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