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Stocks dip, oil calmer as Mideast war persists

Stocks dipped and oil prices steadied Friday, at the end of a turbulent week in which attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure rattled global markets and sparked fears of an energy shock.

Jerusalem's Muslims despair as war shuts Al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid

Hundreds of Muslim worshippers held Eid prayers at the gates of Jerusalem's Old City Friday, with Israel closing access to the Al-Aqsa mosque and other holy sites over the war with Iran.

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Hezbollah's 'existential' war against Israel could be its last

Hezbollah suffered heavy losses in a war with Israel more than a year ago, but the Shia movement has now regrouped only to end up fighting what it has called an "existential battle" and which some warn could be its last.

US embassy in Iraq hit as Mideast War enters third week

Explosions rocked cities across the Middle East on Saturday as the US embassy in Baghdad was hit by a drone strike and Tehran warned Emiratis to stay away from ports as it targets the world's energy supply lines.

S.Korea says North fires around 10 ballistic missiles

North Korea fired about 10 ballistic missiles toward the sea of Japan Saturday, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, days after Pyongyang warned of "terrible consequences" over South Korea-US military drills.

Ukraine's 'Origami Deer' sculpture rescued from frontline tours Europe

An "Origami Deer" statue rescued from a Ukrainian city destroyed and occupied by Moscow's army is touring six European countries before featuring at the 61st Venice Biennale, which has sparked outrage over the inclusion of Russian artists.

Samsung battery plant turns toxic for Orban's re-election campaign

On the outskirts of the town of God, not far from Budapest, white smoke rises from a Samsung electric vehicle battery factory accused of exposing workers to cancer-causing chemicals, with Hungary's government under attack for failing to shut it down.

Facing rockets, Arabs in northern Israel fume over lack of shelters

Threatened by volleys of Hezbollah rockets and missiles from Iran, residents of Arab towns in northern Israel are complaining about a lack of public shelters.

Iranian leaders determined to prove Islamic republic's staying power

Iran's leaders are seeking to show the staying power of their near half-century old clerical-based system and prove that it can withstand the killing of its longtime ruler and war with United States and Israel, analysts said.

Few easy ways out for US as war with Iran drags on

US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's leader but have not toppled the government, which now, from its perch on the Strait of Hormuz, has put the entire world economy on the war's frontlines.

US Republican leaders in spotlight over anti-Muslim rhetoric

Republican leaders in the US Congress are facing mounting pressure to respond to anti-Muslim rhetoric after a series of inflammatory remarks and policy proposals reignited debate over Islamophobia in American politics.

Trump, Xi prepare to meet amid Iran war, uncertain goals

Just over two weeks before President Donald Trump is due to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, Chinese uncertainty over the US leader's goals and the impact of the Iran war hang over the highly anticipated state visit.

Lebanon says Israeli strike in south kills 12 medics

An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed a dozen medical staff at a clinic, Lebanese health authorities said Saturday, after Iran-backed Hezbollah's leader said his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel.

Trump 'has fun' buying shoes for cabinet members

US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that he had bought several members of his cabinet the same shoes from his favorite brand.

Trump replaces head of troubled Kennedy Center

US President Donald Trump announced Friday the replacement of the head of the Kennedy Center, the storied Washington arts venue he renamed after himself then closed for two years for refurbishment.

Blasts hit Tehran as US said to be sending more ships, Marines to Mideast

Heavy blasts shook Tehran late Friday, hours after the United States vowed intensified air strikes against Iran and reportedly sent Marines and more ships to the Middle East.

Hezbollah says ready for long battle as Israel threatens Lebanese infrastructure

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Friday his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel, as the latter threatened to make Lebanon pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure.

Democrats accuse Trump of aiding Russia with sanctions relief

Democrats accused US President Donald Trump on Friday of weakening pressure on Russia by easing oil sanctions amid the conflict with Iran, saying the move risks boosting Moscow's war revenues while American troops face threats of their own in the Middle East.

Brazil revokes visa of US diplomat in Bolsonaro row

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday banned a US diplomat who wanted to visit jailed former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro amid fears of US meddling in the run-up to elections this year.

Cuba releases prisoners, confirms talks with US

Cuba's communist authorities on Friday began a prisoner release negotiated with the Vatican and confirmed that talks were underway with the United States amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump.

Germans head to Polish pumps as oil price bites

Frugal Germans are crossing into Poland to buy petrol as pump prices rise as a result of Iran choking off global oil supplies in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

Drone strike kills French soldier in Iraqi Kurdistan

A drone strike killed a French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, France's armed forces ministry said on Friday, after President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the country's first military death in the Middle East war.

F1 races in Bahrain, Saudi 'cancelled or postponed': source to AFP

Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be cancelled or rescheduled as the Middle East war engulfs the region, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Friday.

War has halted Gulf oil flow -- and restarting it won't be easy

The war in the Middle East has largely paralysed the Gulf region's crucial oil industry, which has been hit by attacks and an export blockade.

Sri Lanka repatriates remains of 84 Iranians killed in US attack

Sri Lanka on Friday repatriated the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who perished when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, local officials said.

Trump administration lashes out at CNN over Iran war

The Pentagon and White House slammed CNN over its Iran war coverage Friday -- with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying he looked forward to an ally of President Donald Trump taking over the news network.

Which Khamenei family members were killed at start of war?

The US-Israeli air strikes that on February 28 killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei not only resulted in the death of Iran's longstanding supreme leader but also several key family members.

Trump vows intense strikes as Iran war heads into third week

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Friday that American forces would strike Iranian targets "very hard" in the coming days, signaling an intensification of the US-Israeli campaign as the war in the Middle East approaches its third week.

Senegal to take back assets of phosphate giant ICS

Senegal's government said on Friday it would take back all the assets of ICS -- one of Africa's biggest phosphate fertiliser producers -– ending the licence to control it held by Asian group Indorama Ventures.

Iran defiant, US vows even heavier bombing

Iranian officials led a pro-government rally as explosions rocked Tehran on Friday, while the US vowed to intensify its bombing and President Donald Trump said it was his "honour" to be killing the Islamic republic's leaders.

Oil-starved Cuba confirms talks with US

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed on Friday that his government had held talks with the United States, which has made no secret of its desire for regime change on the communist island.

Mideast war plunges Germany's energy-hungry industry into crisis

Germany's energy-hungry industries are sounding the alarm about the devastating impacts of the Middle East war as companies battle problems from surging power costs to snarled supply chains.

'Never forget': Ivory Coast commemorates 2016 jihadist attack on resort

Ivory Coast on Friday commemorated the 19 victims of a jihadist attack on a popular beach resort a decade ago.

Macron pledges no 'respite' for Russia despite Mideast war

French President Emmanuel Macron Friday vowed to keep up pressure on Russia to end its four-year invasion of Ukraine after Washington partially rolled back sanctions against Moscow to cool oil prices sent soaring by the Middle East war.

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The Japan Times - Politics (English)