Latest news with #pro-Russia
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
'Japanese-first' party Sanseito denies ties with Russia
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Sanseito Party secretary general Sohei Kamiya delivering a campaign speech ahead of the July 20 upper house elections in the town of Kunitomi, Miyazaki prefecture. Tokyo - A populist party surging in the polls ahead of July 20's national elections in Japan has denied any ties to Russia, after one of its candidates gave an interview to Moscow state media. Japanese politics has long been dominated by the centre-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), with populist groups remaining on the fringes. But the right-wing Sanseito party is riding a wave of popular support for its inflammatory 'Japanese-first' platform including opposition to globalism, immigration and foreign capital. Opinion polls suggest it could win more than 10 upper house seats, up from two now, in an election where Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition risks losing its majority. Sanseito's latest controversy surrounds a rookie candidate known only as Saya, who gave Russia's Sputnik news agency an interview that was then published on its Japanese edition's X account on July 14. The sudden appearance on Sputnik sparked a storm of confusion that fuelled speculation on social media that Sanseito was Russia-friendly. Asked if the party had any special ties with Moscow, Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya told an internet news programme on July 15: 'We don't. Not at all. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Singapore Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it's time to raise the alarm Singapore NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa beaches after elevated bacteria levels delays World Aquatics events Life First look at the new Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa Opinion The workplace needs to step up on mental health to match Singapore's efforts at the national level Singapore Singapore Zoo celebrates reptile baby boom, including hatchings of endangered species Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? 'Not with Russia, China or America. We don't. We keep balanced diplomacy with any country', Mr Kamiya said. 'To say we're pro-Russia just because she appeared on Sputnik ... I think that's just too simplistic', he said. Kamiya attributed Saya's Sputnik appearance to 'human error', saying he had no knowledge this was being organised. He clarified that a staffer with no authority had told Ms Saya without prior consultation with the party headquarters that she was allowed to accept Sputnik's interview request. Sanseito's stance on Russia has come under scrutiny before, after Mr Kamiya said Moscow shouldn't be held entirely responsible for the war in Ukraine. 'Russia's military invasion was of course bad, but there are forces in the US that drove Russia into doing that,' he said July 15. 'So I said once that it's not fair to say Russia is the only bad guy here, and then people began saying I'm pro-Russia', he added. Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said July 16 that 'Japan is also becoming a target' of foreign election interference through social media and other means, according to local media reports. The European Union has banned Sputnik along with other Russian state media for 'disinformation and information manipulation'. The news agency has also been sanctioned by the United States. AFP
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Champions League qualifying kicks off as Finland's KuPS and Sweden's Malmo win first-leg games
GENEVA — Qualifying for next season's Champions League kicked off Tuesday even as freshly crowned title holder Paris Saint-Germain is still playing games at the Club World Cup. HT Image In Finland, KuPS Kuopio and Milsami of Moldova were the first teams to start, with the home team winning 1-0 in the first leg of their first qualifying round meeting. Milsami is owned by Ilan Shor, a pro-Russia oligarch who is a fugitive from his conviction in a bank fraud case. The first goal of the night was scored by Malmo, the 1979 European Cup finalist. The champion of Sweden took an eighth-minute lead scored by Gabriel Busanello away to Iberia of Georgia and went on to win 3-1. Armenian champion Noah won 1-0 at home to Buducnost of Montenegro and RFS of Latvia took a 1-0 advantage from its first-leg visit to Levadia Tallinn in Estonia. On Wednesday, FCSB — which was the 1986 European champion playing as Steaua Bucharest — hosts the first leg against Inter Escaldes of Andorra. Return games are next week. Teams entering the second qualifying round, which starts July 22, include 1991 European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade, Salzburg, Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv and Viktoria Plzen. Salzburg was playing at the Club World Cup in the United States until June 26. PSG is still playing the 2024-25 season more than five weeks after winning its first Champions League title, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. On Wednesday, PSG plays Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals in East Rutherford, New Jersey. PSG and Madrid are among 29 teams directly qualified for the 36-team Champions League opening phase that starts in September. Seven teams will advance through the qualifying rounds. soccer: /hub/soccer This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Fox Sports
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Champions League qualifying kicks off as Finland's KuPS and Sweden's Malmo win first-leg games
Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — Qualifying for next season's Champions League kicked off Tuesday even as freshly crowned title holder Paris Saint-Germain is still playing games at the Club World Cup. In Finland, KuPS Kuopio and Milsami of Moldova were the first teams to start, with the home team winning 1-0 in the first leg of their first qualifying round meeting. Milsami is owned by Ilan Shor, a pro-Russia oligarch who is a fugitive from his conviction in a bank fraud case. The first goal of the night was scored by Malmo, the 1979 European Cup finalist. The champion of Sweden took an eighth-minute lead scored by Gabriel Busanello away to Iberia of Georgia and went on to win 3-1. Armenian champion Noah won 1-0 at home to Buducnost of Montenegro and RFS of Latvia took a 1-0 advantage from its first-leg visit to Levadia Tallinn in Estonia. On Wednesday, FCSB — which was the 1986 European champion playing as Steaua Bucharest — hosts the first leg against Inter Escaldes of Andorra. Return games are next week. Teams entering the second qualifying round, which starts July 22, include 1991 European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade, Salzburg, Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv and Viktoria Plzen. Salzburg was playing at the Club World Cup in the United States until June 26. PSG is still playing the 2024-25 season more than five weeks after winning its first Champions League title, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. On Wednesday, PSG plays Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals in East Rutherford, New Jersey. PSG and Madrid are among 29 teams directly qualified for the 36-team Champions League opening phase that starts in September. Seven teams will advance through the qualifying rounds. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Champions League qualifying kicks off as Finland's KuPS and Sweden's Malmo win first-leg games
GENEVA (AP) — Qualifying for next season's Champions League kicked off Tuesday even as freshly crowned title holder Paris Saint-Germain is still playing games at the Club World Cup. In Finland, KuPS Kuopio and Milsami of Moldova were the first teams to start, with the home team winning 1-0 in the first leg of their first qualifying round meeting. Milsami is owned by Ilan Shor, a pro-Russia oligarch who is a fugitive from his conviction in a bank fraud case. The first goal of the night was scored by Malmo, the 1979 European Cup finalist. The champion of Sweden took an eighth-minute lead scored by Gabriel Busanello away to Iberia of Georgia and went on to win 3-1. Armenian champion Noah won 1-0 at home to Buducnost of Montenegro and RFS of Latvia took a 1-0 advantage from its first-leg visit to Levadia Tallinn in Estonia. On Wednesday, FCSB — which was the 1986 European champion playing as Steaua Bucharest — hosts the first leg against Inter Escaldes of Andorra. Return games are next week. Teams entering the second qualifying round, which starts July 22, include 1991 European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade, Salzburg, Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv and Viktoria Plzen. Salzburg was playing at the Club World Cup in the United States until June 26. PSG is still playing the 2024-25 season more than five weeks after winning its first Champions League title, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. On Wednesday, PSG plays Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals in East Rutherford, New Jersey. PSG and Madrid are among 29 teams directly qualified for the 36-team Champions League opening phase that starts in September. Seven teams will advance through the qualifying rounds. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Champions League qualifying kicks off as Finland's KuPS and Sweden's Malmo win first-leg games
GENEVA (AP) — Qualifying for next season's Champions League kicked off Tuesday even as freshly crowned title holder Paris Saint-Germain is still playing games at the Club World Cup. In Finland, KuPS Kuopio and Milsami of Moldova were the first teams to start, with the home team winning 1-0 in the first leg of their first qualifying round meeting. Milsami is owned by Ilan Shor, a pro-Russia oligarch who is a fugitive from his conviction in a bank fraud case. Advertisement The first goal of the night was scored by Malmo, the 1979 European Cup finalist. The champion of Sweden took an eighth-minute lead scored by Gabriel Busanello away to Iberia of Georgia and went on to win 3-1. Armenian champion Noah won 1-0 at home to Buducnost of Montenegro and RFS of Latvia took a 1-0 advantage from its first-leg visit to Levadia Tallinn in Estonia. On Wednesday, FCSB — which was the 1986 European champion playing as Steaua Bucharest — hosts the first leg against Inter Escaldes of Andorra. Return games are next week. Teams entering the second qualifying round, which starts July 22, include 1991 European Cup winner Red Star Belgrade, Salzburg, Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv and Viktoria Plzen. Salzburg was playing at the Club World Cup in the United States until June 26. Advertisement PSG is still playing the 2024-25 season more than five weeks after winning its first Champions League title, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final. On Wednesday, PSG plays Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semifinals in East Rutherford, New Jersey. PSG and Madrid are among 29 teams directly qualified for the 36-team Champions League opening phase that starts in September. Seven teams will advance through the qualifying rounds. ___ AP soccer:
