Politics

BLOOMBERG Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won a historic victory at a by-election in the state of Victoria, becoming the first government in more than 100 years to take a district off the opposition outside a national vote. The ruling Labor party’s candidate, Mary Doyle, was set to win the district of Aston in eastern Melbourne, according to Australian Broadcasting ...

BLOOMBERG Bulgarians are voting in their fifth election in two years, seeking to end turmoil that has paralysed the political system and put at risk European Union (EU) unity over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Balkan country has been grappling with a political stalemate after a series of inconclusive votes — most recently in October — has given no political ...

BLOOMBERG Satellite images indicate North Korea may be close to completing a new reactor in its major nuclear complex in Yongbyon, according to 38 North, a Washington-based website that tracks events in the country. Construction crews are working on a support building at the site’s Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) development and water discharges have been spotted near the ELWR’s ...

BLOOMBERG China is ready to work with Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations to speed up consultation for a South China Sea code of conduct, Xinhua reported, citing Premier Li Qiang. Beijing is prepared to collaborate to jointly maintain peace and stability of the area, Li was cited as saying during a meeting with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. ...

BLOOMBERG President Vladimir Putin approved a new Russian foreign policy concept that set out to confront the US and its allies, claiming an “era of revolutionary changes” was under way in international relations. The US is “the source of fundamental risks to the security of the Russian Federation” and most European states are pursuing an “aggressive policy” aimed at undermining ...

BLOOMBERG Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former prime minister, were arrested by security officials in recent weeks, escalating political tension ahead of national elections this year. The police have detained more than 2,100 party workers, according to Fawad Chaudhry, Khan’s aide. He said the whereabouts of many are unknown. Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party Khan founded, ...

BLOOMBERG Japan and China finished setting up a military hotline aimed at reducing tensions between the two largest economies in Asia, just ahead of a rare meeting of their foreign ministers in Beijing. The installation of equipment and lines has been completed, Japan’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday in a statement, calling it a “linking mechanism” that will build ...

BLOOMBERG The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is calling on its wealthier member nations to contribute to a trust for the poorest countries that is short billions of dollars at a time of rising demand from economies in debt distress. The IMF needs about $6.3 billion to meet its fundraising target for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, its main vehicle ...

LUCKNOW (INDIA) / WAM At least 35 people were killed and 16 were injured after the roof of a stepwell in a temple complex collapsed in central India, Reuters quoted a local government official as saying on Friday. The incident occurred in the central Indian city of Indore after a concrete slab covering the roof of a stepwell in a ...

BLOOMBERG King Charles III waded into European politics, praising Germany’s decision to reverse decades of defense policy by supplying Ukraine with arms. “Germany’s decision to send such significant military support to Ukraine is remarkably courageous, important and appreciated,” Charles said in a speech to the lower house of parliament in Berlin. Speaking to Bundestag lawmakers in German during his first ...