The Japan Times - Politics

Rubio at Munich security meet to address Europeans rattled by Trump

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to address European leaders on Saturday as they try to step up their autonomy in defence while salvaging transatlantic ties badly strained under President Donald Trump.

Carney offers support of united Canada to town devastated by mass shooting

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday pledged Canada's enduring support to the grief-stricken town of Tumbler Ridge, as he led a candlelight vigil for the eight victims of a mass shooting.

Canada PM visits memorial for mass shooting victims as new details emerge

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney laid a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial Friday as he visited the grief-stricken town of Tumbler Ridge, where a shooter killed eight people.

Malinin wilts at Olympics as Heraskevych loses ban appeal

Ilia Malinin's hopes of double Olympic figure skating gold crumbled Friday as he suffered a nightmare on the ice while Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych lost his appeal against his ban from the Milan-Cortina Games.

Peru Congress to debate impeachment of interim president on Tuesday

Peru's Congress will debate a motion to impeach interim president Jose Jeri next week, the head of the legislature said Friday, after the opposition garnered the 78 signatures needed to launch the proceedings.

Trump says change of power in Iran would be 'best thing'

US President Donald Trump said Friday that a change of government in Iran would be the "best thing that could happen," as he sent a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to ratchet up military pressure on the Islamic republic.

Canada's PM due in mass shooting town as new details emerge

A grief-stricken community in northern Canada will mourn with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, who is headed to the remote town of Tumbler Ridge to honor victims of a mass shooting.

Ex-CNN anchor pleads not guilty to charges from US church protest

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal civil rights charges stemming from his coverage of an immigration protest in Minnesota.

Indian writer Roy pulls out of Berlin Film Festival over Gaza row

Award-winning Indian writer Arundhati Roy said Friday she was withdrawing from the Berlin Film Festival over jury president Wim Wenders's comments that cinema should "stay out of politics" when he was asked about Gaza.

Conflicts turning on civilians, warns Red Cross chief

Conflicts are deliberately being turned into wars against civilians with drones and other technology and countries are flouting international law with impunity, the Red Cross chief said Friday.

Europe calls for US reset at security talks

German leader Friedrich Merz called Friday for "a new transatlantic partnership" between the United States and Europe, as he rallied officials at a top security conference under heavy pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Peru leader under investigation for influence peddling

Peruvian prosecutors said Friday they had begun investigating interim president Jose Jeri on suspicion of influence peddling over his role in the irregular hiring of nine women in his administration.

US waives Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump says expects to visit

US President Donald Trump said Friday he planned to visit Venezuela and reiterated satisfaction with its interim leader, as his administration authorized five major oil companies to operate in the country.

WTO chief urges China to shift on trade surplus

The head of the World Trade Organization on Friday urged China to change its growth model, arguing that its soaring trade surplus was ultimately unsustainable and risked sparking new trade barriers.

Trump sending second aircraft carrier to pile pressure on Iran

US President Donald Trump said Friday he was sending a second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East -- warning it would be a "bad day for Iran" if it fails to make a deal on its nuclear program.

Heraskevych loses Olympics disqualification appeal, Malinin eyes second gold

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych on Friday lost his appeal against his ban from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet depicting Ukraine's war dead, while US figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin eyes double gold glory.

Stocks sluggish as AI disruption worries move to fore

World stock indexes struggled for inspiration Friday as investors remained cautious after heavy selling of companies seen vulnerable to AI deployment and concerns about tech sector valuations more broadly.

Ukrainian Heraskevych loses appeal against Olympics disqualification

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych on Friday lost his appeal against his disqualification from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet adorned with pictures of the Ukrainian war dead.

Europe should speak to Russia with 'one voice', Putin foe says

Europe could be facing a period of prolonged tensions with Russia reminiscent of the Cold War, and should speak to Moscow with "one voice" to get its interests heard, Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky told AFP on Friday.

US to deploy new aircraft carrier to Middle East as Trump warns Iran

The United States was preparing on Friday to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East after President Donald Trump warned of "traumatic" consequences if Tehran failed to agree a deal over its nuclear programme.

Stocks trend lower as AI disruption worries move to fore

Stock indexes were mostly lower Friday as investors remained cautious after heavy selling of companies seen vulnerable to AI deployment and concerns about tech sector valuations more broadly.

US consumer inflation eases more than expected to lowest since May

Consumer inflation in the United States cooled slightly more than expected in January, government data showed Friday, as energy prices dipped.

Germany's Merz urges US to repair ties with Europe

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged Friday a rift had opened up between Europe and the United States but issued an appeal to Washington: "Let's repair and revive transatlantic trust together."

Europe seeks new 'partnership' with US at security gathering

German leader Friedrich Merz called Friday for "a new transatlantic partnership" between the United States and Europe, as he rallied officials at a top security conference under heavy pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Russia, Ukraine to hold talks in Geneva on February 17-18

Russia and Ukraine will hold US-brokered talks on February 17-18 in Geneva, both countries said Friday, announcing the next leg in fraught negotiations seeking to end the four-year war.

Stocks mostly drop after Wall Street slide

European and Asian stock markets mostly fell Friday following another tech-led plunge on Wall Street as investors reassess their vast AI investments.

Activist group Palestine Action wins legal challenge against UK ban

London's high court on Friday upheld a challenge to a government ban on activist group Palestine Action, saying the proscription had interfered with the right to freedom of speech.

Europe defends NATO, US ties at security gathering

European leaders strove to shore up relations with the United States and insisted they were strengthening their defences as they gathered for a security conference on Friday under heavy pressure from President Donald Trump.

Bangladesh nationalists celebrate landslide win, Islamists cry foul

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) celebrated a landslide victory on Friday in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with leader Tarique Rahman to become prime minister.

Thai PM agrees coalition with Thaksin-backed party

Thai caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's conservative party, which won a stunning election victory at the weekend, agreed to form a coalition with jailed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's party, both announced on Friday.

Merz, Macron to address first day of Munich security meet

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron will Friday address the first day of the Munich Security Conference at a time of strained ties between Europe and the United States.

Asian stocks track Wall St down as traders rethink tech bets

Asian stock markets fell Friday following another tech-led plunge on Wall Street as investors reassess their vast AI investments, while attention was also turning to US inflation data later in the day.

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