5 h. ago Who is Sanae Takaichi? Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ calls snap election after only three months as PM

Conservative leader is seeking to take advantage of strong approval ratings to strengthen her hold over the ruling LDP and reinforce her coalition’s narrow majority

Politics

6 h. ago Japan’s Sanae Takaichi calls snap election next month: ‘Staking my own future as PM’

Takaichi’s decision to call for a fresh election will see voting on all 465 seats in parliament’s lower house

Politics

6 h. ago Japanese PM Takaichi to dissolve parliament and call snap election

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi has announced her decision to dissolve parliament on 23 January and call snap election.

Politics

6 d. ago Japan’s Takaichi poised to call snap election just 4 months after taking office

Prime minister seeking to capitalise on strong approval rating to boost her party’s seat tally

Politics

6 d. ago MPs clash over ‘childish’ petition calling for snap general election

The petition was debated in parliament after a petition attracted more than one million signatures

Politics

1 week ago Space heater warning as experts say one habit could lead to fires

As the cold snap continues, many households will turn to electric heaters to keep warm

Events

2 w. ago Calls for snap UK General Election as questions over Starmer's future grows

The PM led his party to a 174-seat majority just 18 months ago, but there have been growing calls for him to step down and now a petition has called for him to call an election

Politics

3 w. ago Kosovo prime minister wins snap election to end political deadlock

Albin Kurti’s emphatic victory strengthens mandate for domestic reforms including welfare expansionKosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti has won an emphatic election victory, marking a resurgence for the nationalist leader and ending a political deadlock in Europe’s youngest state.The win in Sunday’s snap election strengthens Kurti’s mandate to push through domestic reforms, including welfare expansion and higher salaries for public workers, although he faces significant problems including tensions with Serbia and health and education systems that lag behind Kosovo’s Balkan neighbours. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Kosovo goes to the polls in snap election in bid to end political crisis

PM Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination party may struggle to win majority after rival parties refused allianceVoters in Kosovo are casting ballots in an early parliamentary election in the hope of breaking a political deadlock that has gripped the small Balkan nation for much of this year.The snap vote was scheduled after the prime minister Albin Kurti’s governing Vetëvendosje, or Self-Determination, party failed to form a government despite winning the most votes in a 9 February election. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Spain’s ruling party faces crunch regional poll amid corruption and harassment claims

Results of Sunday’s snap election in Extremadura are seen as key test of Pedro Sánchez and his PSOE partySpain’s beleaguered prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, faces a key test on Sunday when voters in the south-western region of Extremadura cast their ballots in the first major election to be held since a series of corruption and sexual harassment allegations enveloped his inner circle, his party and his administration.Extremadura, once a stronghold of Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE), has been in the hands of the conservative People’s party (PP) since 2023, when the latter managed to form a short-lived coalition government with the far-right Vox party, despite finishing just behind the socialists. Continue reading...

Events