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An Iron Dome missile battery site in southern Israel on April 17
WORLD / Politics
Apr 18, 2024

For Israel, Iran crisis tests limits of allies' aid and domestic unity

Rather than offering to fight for Israel as they have in the past, Western allies are suggesting that no one challenge Iran militarily just now.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in New York on Tuesday. The Japanese government’s top spokesman on Wednesday played down the meeting as one conducted "in the capacity of one lawmaker" and “without the government’s involvement.”
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 24, 2024

Japan's former PM Aso meets Trump for talks on security and economy

The visit highlights behind-the-scenes moves by Tokyo to cultivate ties with the Trump camp ahead of November’s U.S. presidential election.
The skyline of central Mumbai's financial district
JAPAN
Apr 28, 2024

India seen overtaking Japan in nominal GDP in 2025

Japan's economy is expected to fall to the fifth largest in the world. In February, GDP data showed that Japan was overtaken by Germany in 2023.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Natsumi Sakai (center) celebrates with other CDP officials and supporters on Sunday in Tokyo's Koto Ward after being announced as the winner of the Tokyo No. 15 district by-election.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 29, 2024

Election trouncing a blow to Kishida, but snap election unlikely

The PM might order a Cabinet reshuffle and make leadership changes within the LDP to boost his popularity ahead of the party's presidential election.
This Israeli Army handout released on April 18 shows Israeli soldiers conducting operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas militants.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2024

Freeing hostages matters more than destroying Hamas

After a joint plea from the US and 17 other nations focusing on Hamas, Israel should lean into a deal.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 5, 2024

Kishida, fresh off Latin America visit, vows to zero in on political funds reform

Grappling with record-low approval ratings, the prime minister hopes to amend the Political Funds Control Act during the current session of parliament.
Floodwater near a highway following heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on Sunday
WORLD / Politics
May 10, 2024

Brazil’s historic floods create ‘Katrina moment’ for Lula’s presidency

Natural disasters like the record-breaking deluge that hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil carry tremendous power to reshape politics.
Singapore Prime Minister-designate Lawrence Wong at the Group of 20 finance ministers' meeting in Indonesia in 2022
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 14, 2024

Singapore PM-designate Lawrence Wong keeps old guard in reshuffle

Wong picked Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong as his deputy, keeping the Cabinet of outgoing leader Lee Hsien Loong largely intact.
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
JAPAN
May 15, 2024

Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years

The review is due to be submitted as early as next spring.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is greeted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping before the opening ceremony at the Expo Center at the fourth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia summit in Shanghai in May 2014.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
May 15, 2024

Putin to visit Xi amid U.S. threat of China sanctions over Ukraine

The two sides are set to discuss ways to challenge the U.S.-led global order while bolstering Moscow’s economic resilience amid its war in Ukraine.
Japan's gross domestic product shrank at an annualized pace of 2% in the three months through March.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 16, 2024

Japan’s economy contracts as consumers and firms cut spending

Gross domestic product contracted at an annualized pace of 2% in the three months through March.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant talks to soldiers during a visit to a position along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel near Rafah.
WORLD / Politics
May 16, 2024

Israeli defense chief challenges Netanyahu over post-war Gaza plans

The televised vow to oppose any long-term Israeli rule over the ravaged Palestinian enclave is the most vocal dissent from within Israel's top echelon.
Osaka Metropolitan University has reviewed its records and interviewed faculty members and students but has been unable to determine the whereabouts of two missing bottles of cyanide.
JAPAN / Society
May 16, 2024

Two bottles of cyanide go missing from Osaka university

A laboratory worker discovered the bottles of deadly compounds were missing during an inventory check on May 2.
Group of Seven leaders, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden, after visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on May 19, 2023
JAPAN / FOCUS
May 19, 2024

G7 goal of nuclear-free world increasingly challenged

Momentum for nuclear disarmament has not increased, partly because Russia has threatened to use nuclear weapons in its military aggression against Ukraine.
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
May 19, 2024

The politicians moving Japan forward on climate

In the halls of power, climate-friendly voices may be few and far between, but some in politics are pushing for more aggressive action on decarbonization.
Judge Nawaf Salam (from left), Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf and Judge Georg Nolte attend a hearing at the International Court of Justice as part of South Africa's request on a Gaza cease-fire, at The Hague on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
May 25, 2024

Top U.N. court orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive

The landmark ruling is likely to increase international pressure for a cease-fire more than seven months into the war sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.
Mourners attend the state funeral for President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and others in Tehran on Wedneday.
WORLD / Politics
May 26, 2024

Calls, search parties, drones: 17 hours to find Iran’s president

As a frenzied quest began for the fallen helicopter of President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran moved to control possible threats from abroad and unrest at home.
Richard Grenell speaks at a Donald Trump rally in Florence, Arizona, on Jan. 15, 2022.  Grenell has a good chance of landing a top foreign policy job in a second Trump administration — if not as secretary of state, which requires Senate confirmation, then perhaps as national security adviser, which does not.
WORLD / Politics
May 26, 2024

He threw ‘spaghetti at the wall’ for Trump. Now he’s after a top job.

If Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidency, Richard Grenell hopes to be secretary of state. But his work raises questions, even from his former boss.
A peace rally on Constitution Memorial Day in Tokyo on May 3. Japan’s identity as a pacifist nation is shifting as the government strengthens its military, but many don’t agree with the policy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 27, 2024

Government and society are at odds on national security

Tokyo posits itself as a mutual defense ally of the U.S., but polls show that while the public wants a stronger military, changes should align with the peace Constitution.
Apple will enable individuals to add their My Number card to their Apple Wallets, the company has said.
JAPAN / Society
May 30, 2024

My Number card feature to be launched on iPhone next spring

Apple will enable individuals to add their My Number card to their Apple Wallets, allowing them to have their identity verified without using their physical card.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (left) addresses a meeting of ministers involved in compiling a policy to revise the system for foods with function claims, held at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday.
JAPAN
May 31, 2024

Japan to overhaul foods with function claims system

The overhaul plan will make it mandatory for companies to promptly report health issues related to foods with function claims to authorities to prevent spread.
Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's president, during the election result announcement at the Independent Electoral Commission national results center in Midrand, South Africa, on Sunday
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2024

South Africa’s ANC courts rivals after election humiliation

The African National Congress' slump comes after years of economic mismanagement and corruption saddled the country with high unemployment and weak growth.
A child holds a sign during a rally demanding the release of Israeli hostages outside the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv on Monday.
WORLD
Jun 4, 2024

Back to class — or shelters? Next school year snags Israel's Lebanon strategy

Of 60,000 civilians relocated from northern Israel at the outset of the war, 14,600 are children, scattered in temporary kindergartens and schools.
Lebanon's Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview in Beirut's suburbs on June 6, 2022.
WORLD
Jun 5, 2024

Israel nears decision on Lebanon border offensive, army chief says

The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel intensifying adds concerns that an even wider confrontation could break out between the heavily armed adversaries.
Demonstrators hold Fatah flags during a protest in support of the people of the Gaza Strip in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 27, 2023.
WORLD
Jun 5, 2024

Hamas signals post-war ambition in talks with Palestinian rival Fatah

The meetings highlight that the Islamist militant group is likely to retain influence in the Gaza Strip after its war with Israel.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida answers questions during a session of the Lower House special committee on political reform at parliament in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 8, 2024

Kishida faces tough time constraints in parliament after bill's delay

The political funds bill only cleared the Lower House on Thursday, two days later than the LDP had expected, due to prolonged negotiations to amend the legislation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a joint press conference with Chile's president after talks at the Chancellery in Berlin on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 11, 2024

Scholz heading for another election rout in eastern Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his allies in government have little choice now but to go into survival mode.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens to voters in the city of Kumamoto in April. Liberal Democratic Party politicians are afraid that Kishida's unpopularity could seal their own fates when they stand for local elections.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2024

Calls for Kishida to step down growing among local LDP chapters

They blame their party’s unpopularity on him over the way he handled the kickbacks scandal and the political funds bill aimed at toughening up rules in its wake.
Core machinery orders in April dropped month-on-month for the first time in three months, but the Cabinet Office said they are continuing to show signs of picking up.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 17, 2024

Japan's core machinery orders down in April but seen firming up ahead

Core orders fell 2.9% month-on-month in April, the first drop in three months.
The administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday approved this year's honebuto economic and fiscal policy guidelines.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 21, 2024

Japanese government restores 2025 primary budget surplus target

In its economic blueprint, the Kishida administration has pledged a balanced budget other than interest payments by fiscal 2025.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?