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Singer Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation 'unjustifiable' following controversy

Pop star Ed Sheeran said Saturday the situation in Gaza is "unjustifiable," following a wave of criticism that he had failed to back his opening act who was booted from their tour after making pro-Palestinian comments.

German state elections threaten new shock waves for Merz

German voters go to the polls Sunday in two state elections where far-right and far-left gains could send new shock waves to Berlin and rock the government of embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

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Oil prices, US inflation stoke Fed hike worries

High oil prices, record American diesel costs and hot US inflation data on Friday cemented investor fears that the Federal Reserve is all but certain to hike rates soon, despite the potential to dent growth in the world's biggest economy.

Macau to hold closed-door trial in first national security case

Macau will hold its first national security trial behind closed doors next week, a court said on Friday, in a case against a former pro-democracy lawmaker charged with "subversion".

Sweden's outgoing PM wants to 'make Sweden great again'

Outgoing Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hopes to keep his centre-right coalition in power in Sweden's upcoming general election.

Yemen's Houthis take over strait vital to global shipping

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis seized a strategic Red Sea island on Friday after capturing territory along the coast, sealing their takeover of a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia.

Fenced off: Thailand builds border wall after Cambodia clashes

A concrete fence topped with looping barbed wire runs for a kilometre along the Thai-Cambodia border, punctuated only by marker stones erected during French colonial times.

Russia rolls out long-delayed 5G, but not for iPhones

Russia announced Friday that it was rolling out its long-delayed 5G mobile network, but that iPhone users would be unable to connect until Apple coordinated the move with Moscow.

India welcomes Russia, Iran leaders for BRICS summit overshadowed by war

Leaders from Russia and Iran were in India for talks on Friday, ahead of a BRICS summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges, which Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend.

Stocks tumble as oil and inflation worries fan rate hike bets

Asian stocks sank on Friday after oil prices and bond yields spiked as the Middle East crisis stoked supply concerns and a forecast-topping US inflation report ramped up rate hike bets.

From potato chips to silicon chips: lobbies cover all in Brussels

If there is an industry for it, there will be a lobby group representing its interests in Brussels, home to the European Union's institutions.

Business booms as lobbyists push 'priorities' in EU capital

In the shadow of the EU Parliament in Brussels, under a grand white tent filling a museum garden, hundreds of lobbyists, officials and lawmakers hobnob as the cava flows.

Putin in India for BRICS summit overshadowed by war

Russian President Vladimir Putin was in India on Friday for talks ahead of an 11-member BRICS summit dominated by conflict and economic challenges, with the leaders of China and Iran set to attend.

Vance assails Democratic 'hatred' in fiery US midterm pitch

US Vice President JD Vance called Democrats the "party of hatred" Thursday and urged voters to send them packing in November's midterms, in a prime-time convention speech that showcased him as a possible heir to Donald Trump in 2028.

Stocks tumble as oil and inflation fan rate hike bets

Asian stocks tumbled Friday as oil prices extended gains and bond yields held at multi-year highs as the Middle East crisis stoked supply concerns and a forecast-topping US inflation report ramped up rate hike bets.

Hong Kong sentences Tiananmen activists to between 5 and 7 years in jail

A Hong Kong court handed three Tiananmen vigil activists jail sentences of between five and seven years on Friday for national security crimes, following a trial that has drawn international condemnation.

Party leaders trade barbs before Swedish election

Sweden's party leaders traded barbs on housing, schools, jobs and the climate in one of their final televised debates ahead of Sunday's general election, which could see a left-wing government come to power.

Statecraft or scripture: Why Pacific nations want Jerusalem embassies

An ancient Biblical prophecy lies at the heart of a Pacific islands push to open embassies on contested ground in Jerusalem, experts and former diplomats told AFP.

China, Iran among countries that have used AI to aid spying, Anthropic says

Anthropic said Thursday it shut down multiple cases of state-sponsored surveillance operations that used its artificial intelligence (AI) models, and warned that governments and state-aligned actors are increasingly using AI to spy on ethnic minorities and dissidents.

Tremor recorded as Israel says Hezbollah tunnels destroyed in south Lebanon

Israel said Thursday it demolished key tunnels built by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, triggering a 4.1 magnitude tremor.

Russian strike on Ukraine shopping centre kills five

At least five people were killed and nearly 70 others wounded on Thursday when a Russian strike hit a shopping centre in Pavlograd, central Ukraine, the authorities announced.

Surging oil prices, higher bond yields weigh on stocks

Oil prices surged Thursday as advances by Yemeni rebels threatened the flow of crude supplies while yields on long-term US Treasury bonds reached new multi-year highs following data showing an uptick in US wholesale inflation.

Russian strike on Ukraine shopping centre kills at least six

At least five people were killed and nearly 70 others wounded on Thursday when a Russian strike hit a shopping centre in Pavlograd, central Ukraine, the authorities announced.

Canada pledges support for Ukraine air defense as Zelensky visits

Canada offered support Thursday to boost Ukraine's air defenses and help replenish its drone stocks, as the countries pledged to deepen their alliance during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Morocco says not involved in Ceuta migrant influx

Morocco said on Thursday there were "no facts" establishing its involvement in the massive migrant rush into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta in July.

NGO chief sees 'hypocrisy' in Afghan women's rights calls amid aid cuts

The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, Jan Egeland, criticised on Thursday what he called the "hypocrisy" of countries demanding rights for Afghan women while cutting humanitarian assistance.

Latin America could see fresh disinformation after Meta changes

As Meta moves to scrap fact-checking for Facebook and Instagram posts across Latin America, experts predict the change will lead to sharply degraded public debate in the region.

UAE to invest 40 billion euros in Germany, including for data centres: Berlin

The leader of the United Arab Emirates was on a state visit to Germany on Thursday that resulted in a promise to invest 40 billion euros ($46.5 billion) into Europe's top economy.

Russia trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine, Amnesty says

Russia is illegally trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine, Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, citing interviews with prisoners of war whom it said had been deceived into signing Russian military contracts.

Yemen's Houthis seize key city on Red Sea

Yemen's Houthis seized control of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday, with witnesses telling AFP of fighters marching on the area chanting "death to America, death to Israel".

Rubio ends South America swing with Peru security talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wraps up a whirlwind tour of Latin America in Peru on Thursday, deepening cooperation with a new bloc of conservative governments and pressing the fight against regional drug cartels.

Defiant Iran seeks to bruise Trump ahead of midterms

Iran is intensifying confrontational actions against the United States in the hope of further raising the cost of the conflict for President Donald Trump less than two months ahead of the US midterm elections, analysts say.

In their words: Israeli forces describe AI-backed Gaza killing in new film

A new documentary from two Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers provides damning new testimony about AI-enabled mass killings in Gaza from the men and women who took part, the directors told AFP on Thursday ahead of its premiere in Venice.

Vance takes spotlight as Republicans close Trump-heavy convention

US Republicans return to the stage Thursday to close their midterm convention, still betting that Donald Trump's political magnetism can overcome grim election forecasts -- while giving Vice President JD Vance a prime-time showcase as a potential heir.

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The Japan Times - Politics (English)