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Election in Bolivia
Centrist candidate wins – promises to tackle fuel crisis

Centrist politician Rodrigo Paz wins the presidential election in Bolivia, preliminary results show. He thereby breaks a 20-year socialist rule in the country.

In his victory speech, Paz promised to solve the fuel crisis that has plagued the country for several months, including through negotiations with the US government, reports the television channel Red Uno. The economic crisis must also be addressed.

– This is your government. This government exists to move Bolivia forward.

Sunday's election was not against the socialist party MAS candidate, but against the right-wing candidate Jorge Quiroga. Paz looks set to get around 54 percent of the vote, against Quiroga on 45.

Japan one step closer to female prime minister

After a signed coalition agreement, conservative politician Sanae Takaichi is well on her way to becoming Japan's first female prime minister.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its smaller coalition partners signed an agreement on Monday that paves the way for Takaichi to take over as prime minister.

The agreement with the right-wing Nippon Ishin party came at the last minute, just a day before the lower house is set to vote on Takaichi's appointment as the fifth prime minister in as many years. If she wins the vote, she will take office the same day.

"I am very much looking forward to working with you to strengthen Japan's economy and shape Japan into a country that can take responsibility for future generations," Takaichi told Nippon Ishin party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura when the coalition agreement was signed.

Yoshimura said the parties were "on the same page in the desire to push Japan forward."

Takaichi, 64, is a right-wing politician in the LDP who is critical of China and won the party leadership in October. Her path to the prime ministership was first blocked when the LDP's 26-year coalition with the Komeito party collapsed after a financial scandal and concerns over Takaichi's China rhetoric. Her regular visits to a Tokyo shrine for Japan's war dead, including war criminals, were also painted as a possible problem,
 

EU: Boarding more ships in the shadow fleet

The EU warns of tougher measures and more boardings of the Russian shadow fleet.

Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas wants the countries where the ships are registered to be able to allow them to be boarded for inspection in advance. This is reported by the AFP news agency and the Politico Europe news site, among others, with reference to leaked documents.

Kallas herself speaks publicly about the need for "better coordination".

– We should think about what we can do more and be more creative in this, says Kallas on the way to Monday's meeting with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

More ships in the shadow fleet are expected to be listed if and when EU countries can agree on their 19th sanctions package against Russia.

– Unfortunately, it won't be today, but we have a summit with the leaders on Thursday, says Kallas.