After preordained election, Putin claims vote proves public support for his policies

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday thanked Russians for casting ballots in a presidential vote in which he cemented his grip on the country for another six years after the harshest crackdown on dissent since Soviet times. Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled, independent media have been crippled, Putin’s … Read more

Portugal’s center-right wins an election but surging populists want a say in the government

LISBON, Portugal — A center-right alliance led by the Social Democratic Party has won Portugal’s general election by a slender margin and is set to form a minority government that could have a difficult term in office as a radical-right populist party that came third in the voting tries to get a hand on the … Read more

Senegal heads to the polls Sunday in an election that has fired up political tensions

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal will head to the polls Sunday to vote in a tightly contested presidential race that has fired up political tensions and tested one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. The presidential election will take place after much uncertainty following President Macky Sall’s unsuccessful effort to delay the Feb. 25 vote until … Read more

Venezuelan authorities arrest campaign staffers of opposition candidate in alleged violent plot

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s top prosecutor on Wednesday announced arrest warrants for the presidential campaign manager of opposition powerhouse María Corina Machado and eight other staffers, accusing them involvement in a violent anti-government conspiracy. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a nationally televised news conference that campaign manager Magalli Meda and the other Machado … Read more

Why—and How—WIRED Is Covering Politics

Since taking the helm as WIRED’s global editorial director last August, I’ve heard from plenty of avid audience members—some with enthusiastic feedback about WIRED stories or coverage areas, and others with a consistent message that goes something like this: “I come to WIRED to read about tech, not [insert topic]. Stick to tech.” In January … Read more

Don’t trust Trump’s ‘impossible’ appeal bond claims, attorney general tells judges

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he arrives at a Manhattan courthouse trial in a civil fraud case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James against him, his adult sons, the Trump Organization and others in New York City, U.S., October 4, 2023.  Mike Segar | Reuters Donald Trump should have pledged real … Read more

The U.K. has its first Black government leader as Vaughan Gething is elected first minister of Wales

LONDON — LONDON (AP) — Vaughan Gething was elected first minister of Wales on Wednesday, becoming the first Black leader of a government in the U.K. Gething was elected government leader by members of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff, four days after winning the contest to be leader of Wales’ governing Labour Party. He secured … Read more

Hats, T-shirts and dolls reflect outgoing Mexican president’s outsized presence in upcoming election

MEXICO CITY — Souvenirs bearing the image of 70-year-old Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sell like T-shirts at a Taylor Swift concert. Just outside of Mexico’s presidential palace, throngs of mostly Mexicans crowd around a booth selling plush talking dolls, earrings, plastic sandals, stickers, hats, mugs, lighters and even coloring books plastered with the … Read more

Reactions as Vladimir Putin secures a fifth term as Russia’s president after tightly controlled vote

Vladimir Putin secured an unprecedented fifth term as president of Russia Monday, as the election commission announced the results of a vote in which he faced no serious challenges and which happened amid the strictest crackdown on opposition and free speech since Soviet times. Putin claimed his overwhelming margin was proof that Russians had placed … Read more

Trump cannot get $454 million appeal bond in New York fraud case

Former President Donald Trump has been unable to obtain an appeal bond to secure a $454 million civil judgment against him in a New York business fraud case, his attorneys said in a court filing Monday. Lawyers for Trump and his co-defendants said it has been “impossible” for them to secure a complete appeal bond, … Read more