Site-Wide Activity

Takaichi buys time and builds trust with ‘near-perfect’ Trump summit

A “near-perfect meeting.” That was how one senior Liberal Democratic Party official labeled new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
It’s hard to argue with that, supporters and rivals say. With a successful summit, Takaichi achieved mo…[Read more]

Japan to Introduce Free High School Education Next Year

The Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Komeito have reached an agreement on the framework for Japan’s new free high school tuition program, which will begin in fiscal 2026. Under the plan, tuition support for private full-time high schools will be capped at 457,000 yen, w…[Read more]

Hegseth welcomes Japan’s arms spending increase, says US-Japan alliance key to deter China

Japan has already moved up a planned deployment of its medium and long-range missiles such as Tomahawk and Japanese-made Tupe-12 anti-ship missiles.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday welcomed Japan’s determination to accelerate its ong…[Read more]

Australia’s consumer agency sues Microsoft over 365 pricing

Australia’s consumer authority accused Microsoft of “deliberately” hiding subscription information from its Australian customer base.

On Monday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued the software giant for allegedly misleading more than 2.5 million Australian users…[Read more]

Australia’s tropical forests now emit CO₂, clouding the COP30 talks

Carbon emissions from this one region may foreshadow global forest trends

Australia’s tropical forests are the world’s first to flip a worrisome switch. The forests are now putting more carbon into the atmosphere than they are taking out, researchers report in the Oct. 16 Natu…[Read more]

Indian minister accused of victim blaming after Australian cricketers’ assault

An Indian minister’s comment that two female Australian cricketers, who were “touched inappropriately” last week, should’ve informed authorities before leaving their hotel has sparked a row with many accusing him of victim blaming.

The incident occurred in Indore in…[Read more]

Trump administration plans new probe into global drug pricing, FT reports

President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing a new probe into drug pricing practices among U.S. trading partners, a move that would lay the ground for fresh tariffs, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Reuters could…[Read more]

Democrats call on ‘disengaged’ Trump to get involved to end shutdown

The top two Democratic leaders have requested a meeting with Trump after the last one went sideways. Some Republicans say it wouldn’t hurt for him to engage more but doubt he will.

As the government shutdown crosses the three-week mark, Democrats are increasingly calling on…[Read more]

Trump reiterates India will cut Russian oil after Modi call

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that India has agreed to reduce its purchase of Russian crude.

Trump said Indian PM Narendra Modi had assured him during a phone call on Tuesday that Delhi “was not going to buy much oil from Russia” as he too “wants the war end with…[Read more]

Shizuoka Studies Yamanashi’s Approach to Managing Overtourism on Mt. Fuji

The Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly’s special committee on the preservation and proper use of Mt. Fuji held its fourth meeting on October 21st, hearing from officials of Fujiyoshida City in neighboring Yamanashi Prefecture about their initiatives to curb “bullet climb…[Read more]

Japan’s new PM is preparing large economic stimulus to tackle inflation, sources say

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is preparing an economic stimulus package that is likely to exceed last year’s $92 billion to help households tackle inflation, government sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
The package of more than 13.9…[Read more]

Takaichi’s choice: revolution, reform or regression

Without bold action, the new prime minister will lack the momentum for enduring leadership

Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stands at a crossroads. Her choices will define not only her legacy but the nation’s trajectory for the next decade and beyond.
As the country’s first female…[Read more]

Victoria’s top cop Mike Bush apologises for using police helicopter to fly to Tasmania

Victoria’s top cop has apologised for making the “wrong decision” to take a police helicopter to Tasmania to attend a work conference.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush travelled to Hobart via a Victoria Police Air Wing on Monday afternoon for the annual A…[Read more]

Australian PM defends ambassador to US after Trump run-in

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly defended his ambassador to the US after Donald Trump said he did not like the diplomat during a meeting at the White House.

On Monday, Trump was asked about Kevin Rudd, a former prime minister turned ambassador to the US, who wrote…[Read more]

China accuses Australia of covering up South China Sea airspace incursion

China and Australia have traded accusations over an incident Australia said involved a Chinese jet releasing flares.

China has accused Australia of covering up an incursion into Chinese airspace in response to Canberra’s earlier claims about an “unsafe and unp…[Read more]

Zelenskyy holds out hope Trump will still provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles

Speaking with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” after his visit with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged he didn’t get what he wanted — but it could still happen.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck a hopeful tone while on a trip to the U…[Read more]

At least 15 detained after protesters and police clash outside Chicago Ice center

Officers reportedly tackled and dragged several people after authorities told demonstrators to stay in ‘protest zones’

t least 15 people were taken into custody outside the Broadview Ice detention center in the Chicago area after heated confrontations between Ill…[Read more]

Trump says he has commuted sentence of George Santos in federal fraud case

Former Republican US representative walks free after being sentenced in April to more than seven years in prison for deceiving donors and stealing identities of 11 people

Donald Trump announced on Friday he had commuted the sentence of George Santos, the disgraced former…[Read more]

Lost Recording of Anti-War Director Kihachi Okamoto Discovered

A long-lost recording of acclaimed film director Kihachi Okamoto, known for his lifelong commitment to anti-war cinema, has been discovered, shedding new light on the convictions behind his influential body of work. The tape, found in January in a storage room at BSS San’in B…[Read more]

Osaka Police Officers Demonstrate Safe E-scooter Riding to Promote Proper Use

To promote safe and proper use of electric scooters, Osaka prefectural police officers wearing helmets have been demonstrating correct riding methods for passersby. The police explained that “people will notice when uniformed officers ride them” and have encouraged res…[Read more]