Briefly

CHILE

Far-right leader wins presidential runoff

Jose Antonio Kast, presidential candidate of the far-right Republican Party, won the Chilean presidential runoff election, becoming the country's new president, said the electoral authorities on Sunday. According to Chile's Electoral Service, with 99.33 percent of the votes counted in the runoff, Kast won 58.18 percent, compared with 41.82 percent for Jeannette Jara, candidate of Chile's ruling left-wing coalition. Kast, 59, will take office on March 11, 2026.

UNITED STATES

Police probe death of filmmaker Reiner

Actor-director and political activist Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, and police detectives are investigating the circumstances as an apparent homicide, city officials said. While police declined to publicly identify the two people found deceased, Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom each released statements confirming that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, had died. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement on social media earlier calling the case an investigation of an "apparent homicide". Reiner directed When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride.

TONGA

Lord Fakafanua elected as new PM

Lord Fakafanua has been elected Tonga's next prime minister by the 26 new members of parliament, made up of nine Noble's Representatives and 17 People's Representatives. According to Radio Nukualofa, Fakafanua defeated the only opponent, incumbent Prime Minister Aisake Eke, by 16 votes to 10 on Monday. Fakafanua has served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly since 2017. Eke will stay on as caretaker prime minister until King Tupou VI formally appoints his replacement.

MIDDLE EAST

Hamas confirms commander's death

Hamas' Gaza chief, Khalil al-Hayya, on Sunday confirmed the death of senior commander Raad Saad in an Israeli strike a day earlier. Marking the 38th anniversary of Hamas' founding, al-Hayya said in a televised address that "Raad Saad was killed along with his brothers". On Saturday, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle west of Gaza City.

Xinhua - Agencies