The Japan Times - Politics

Oil hovers around $100, stocks mixed as Iran war rages

Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

20 Thai sailors return home after vessel attacked in Gulf

Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship that was attacked in the crucial Strait of Hormuz arrived in Thailand on Monday, with three of their colleagues still stranded on the vessel in the Gulf.

Trump pressures NATO, China over Iran's closure of key waterway

President Donald Trump on Sunday sought to pressure NATO allies and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil transport conduit that Iran has effectively closed in retaliation for the US and Israeli war against Tehran.

Left leads in Paris, far right eyes gains in France local polls: projections

A Socialist candidate was leading in Paris while the far right looked strong in several southern cities as projections arrived from first-round local elections Sunday, seen as a political barometer ahead of France's presidential polls.

Israel launches fresh strike on south Beirut

Israel launched a fresh strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late Sunday as Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the city following earlier raids mainly in the country's south.

Israel says thousands of targets left as Iran warns others to avoid war

Israel said Sunday it still has thousands of targets to strike inside Iran as the Islamic republic warned other countries against getting involved in the war, which has spread across the Middle East.

Myanmar's post-coup parliament sits packed with junta allies

Myanmar's parliament is set to convene Monday for the first time since a military coup five years ago, packed with pro-junta lawmakers elected in a poll orchestrated by the top brass.

Hundreds join banned UK pro-Palestinian march

Hundreds of people turned out in London Sunday for a pro-Palestinian march banned by the government after police said it was organised by a group "supportive of the Iranian regime".

Hungary pre-election showdown draws crowds amid foreign interference claims

Huge crowds joined rival marches staged by Hungarian premier Viktor Orban and his main opponent Peter Magyar in Budapest on Sunday, as both push allegations of foreign interference just four weeks before tightly-fought elections.

No country 'formally' boycotting Paralympics ceremony: organisers

Organisers of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics said on Sunday that no countries are "formally" boycotting the closing ceremony in protest at Russian athletes being allowed to compete under their own flag.

Hundreds rally in London for banned pro-Palestinian march

Hundreds of people turned out in London Sunday for a pro-Palestinian march banned by the government after police said it was organised by a group "supportive of the Iranian regime".

Iran says women's football captain withdraws Australia asylum bid

The captain of the Iranian women's football team which played in the Asian Cup in Australia has withdrawn her bid for asylum, state media said Sunday, making her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind.

Blackened, wrecked Russian tanker nears Malta

A liquified natural gas (LNG) carrier Russia claims was attacked by Ukraine in the Mediterranean is blackened by fire with two large holes in the hull, AFP footage showed Sunday.

Strait of Hormuz forms part of front line in Mideast war

Attacks targeting commercial vessels in or near the Strait of Hormuz have put the blockaded waterway on the front line of the Middle East war, with spreading economic repercussions.

Iran warns against wider war as Trump asks allies to escort ships

Iran warned more countries against getting involved in its war with the United States and Israel on Sunday, after President Donald Trump urged world powers to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint in the Gulf.

Kazakhstan votes on constitution overhaul

Kazakhs began voting Sunday in a constitutional referendum that authorities brand as democratising -- though several proposed amendments appear to strengthen presidential powers in Central Asia's richest country.

Zelensky: EU pressure to open Russian oil pipeline is 'blackmail'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his European allies that pressure to re-open the Druzhba oil pipeline carrying Russian supplies was like "blackmail", he said in remarks released Sunday.

Trump says US not ready to agree deal to end Iran war

Donald Trump warned that he is not ready to seek a deal to end the war with Iran, as US ally Israel launched a new wave of strikes Sunday and Tehran's Revolutionary Guards threatened to hunt down and kill the Israeli leader.

Trump urges other nations' warships to protect Gulf oil route

US President Donald Trump called for other nations' warships to help protect world oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, still virtually blocked Sunday by the threat of Iranian attacks.

Kazakhstan to vote on constitution overhaul

Kazakhs will cast ballots on Sunday in a constitutional referendum that authorities brand as democratising -- though several proposed amendments appear to strengthen presidential powers in Central Asia's richest country.

The environment, another casualty of war in the Mideast

From the jet fuel used in bombing raids to acrid smoke from burning oil depots, the conflict in the Middle East is inflicting a significant toll on nature and the climate.

French right-wing ex-minister vies for Paris city hall

Leftist mayors have transformed Paris over the past 25 years to include countless cycling lanes, a cleaner Seine river, and even fresher air.

Deadly Israeli settler violence surges in West Bank during Iran war

When Israeli settlers attacked their West Bank village of Abu Falah, Milia Hamayel told her son not to try to fight them off, but the 30-year-old went to defend a friend's land anyway.

'Dubai is safe': UAE pushes to contain fallout from Iran onslaught

Dubai is scrambling to preserve its image as a safe haven despite Iran's onslaught, with influencers rallying behind the government's message as authorities crack down on those sharing footage of strikes.

North Korea conducts test of nuclear-capable rocket launchers

North Korea tested nuclear-capable rocket launchers, state media reported on Sunday, a day after Seoul detected the launch of around 10 ballistic missiles.

Polls open in Vietnam legislative election: AFP

Polling stations opened in Vietnam, AFP journalists saw Sunday, as voters began casting their ballots for members of the National Assembly of the one-party state.

North Korea conducts test of nuclear-capable multiple rocket launchers

North Korea conducted a test of its "state of the art", nuclear-capable multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS), state media reported Sunday, a day after Seoul identified the launch of around 10 ballistic missiles.

Trump seeks global backing to secure vital Gulf oil route

US President Donald Trump urged other nations to help secure a vital shipping lane choked off by the war with Iran that showed no signs of slowing on Saturday, as strikes hit the US embassy in Baghdad and a major Emirati energy facility.

Three Iranian football team members leave asylum in Australia

Three more members of the Iranian women's football team have left their asylum in Australia and decided to return home, Canberra said Sunday.

N. Korea conducts test of nuclear-capable multiple rocket launchers