Anutin says Bhumjaithai Party wins Thai election
Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul announced at a press conference on Sunday that the Bhumjaithai Party has won Thailand's House of Representatives election.
Anutin said that the victory is a victory of all people.
With more than 87 percent of ballots counted by the country's Election Commission, the Bhumjaithai Party is leading the vote, followed by the People's Party in second place and the Pheu Thai Party in third.
At an earlier press conference, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, said that the party accepts the current result and will not form a competing coalition.
If the Bhumjaithai Party forms a government, the People's Party is ready to act as an opposition party, he said.
Seguro declares victory in Portugal's presidential run-off
Center-left Socialist Party candidate Antonio Jose Seguro declared victory in Portugal's second-round presidential election on Sunday.
According to data from Portugal's Interior Ministry, 99 percent of the ballots have been counted so far, with Seguro winning 66.7 percent of the vote and far-right Chega leader Andre Ventura securing 33.3 percent. Ventura has conceded defeat.
Outgoing President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced that he had phoned Seguro to congratulate him on his electoral victory.
In a statement published on the Presidency's website, de Sousa also said that he will receive Seguro at Belem Palace on Monday afternoon.
According to the statement, de Sousa wished Seguro "every success and fulfilment for the mandate entrusted to him by the Portuguese people, which will begin on March 9," and expressed his full availability to ensure a smooth institutional transition.
Iran's FM says nuclear talks to continue if U.S. shows "necessary seriousness"
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that indirect talks will continue if Iran comes to the conclusion that the United States has the "necessary seriousness" to reach a negotiated solution to Tehran's nuclear issue.
He made the remarks at a press conference in Tehran while elaborating on the indirect nuclear talks held on Friday between the Iranian and U.S. delegations in the Omani capital Muscat, according to the official news agency IRNA.
He noted that there are signs suggesting the United States has the seriousness, while other indications that undermine its determination are also seen.
The Iranian foreign minister stressed that the continuation of sanctions against Iran and certain military movements in the West Asia region raises doubts about the other side's extent of seriousness and readiness.
Araghchi said that Iran will monitor and evaluate all the signs in tandem, emphasizing that the indirect talks with the United States pose no obstacle to achieving an agreement.
Japan's ruling coalition secures lower house majority in election
Japan's ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) won more than a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives following Sunday's general election, public broadcaster NHK reported early Monday.
The ruling bloc secured 352 seats, surpassing the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a bill approved by the lower house but rejected by the House of Councillors, or the upper house, NHK reported.
The LDP, which had 198 seats before the election, gained control of two-thirds of the 465-member lower house on its own after winning a total of 316 seats.
The outcome does not appear too favorable for the JIP as a junior partner, which added two seats to its pre-election strength of 34 seats in the lower house. The JIP's influence over the coalition is expected to decline due to the LDP controlling a majority even on its own, NHK said.■
