Japan’s ruling party is in crisis as voters swing to right-wing rivals. Can a new leader save it?

Tokyo
—
Japan’s ruling party is in trouble, and it knows it.

The country is rife with political instability, having cycled through four prime ministers in the last five years – all members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

And while the LDP…[Read more]

Trump to Visit Japan on October 27th

Former US President Donald Trump is arranging a three-day visit to Japan starting on October 27th, marking his first trip to the country in six years.

According to government sources, Trump is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Japan’s new prime minister, who succeeded Ishiba, and also attend a dinner e…[Read more]

Bones Found in Kochi Mountains Linked to Crime Syndicate Victim

A man in his twenties who was abducted in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, in June and later killed has been confirmed dead after his remains were found as bones in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture.

Police arrested Kohei Mitani, a 27-year-old member of the Akamatsu-gumi under the…[Read more]

EU leaders discuss drone defence and assistance for Ukraine

Against the backdrop of recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets and kamikaze drones, EU heads of state and government are today discussing joint efforts to improve deterrence and defence. Plans are already on the table for a “drone wall” that would detect, track and int…[Read more]

Germany arrests suspected Hamas members accused of procuring weapons to target Jewish or Israeli institutions

German police arrested three suspected Hamas members who were allegedly procuring weapons “for assassinations targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions,” German prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday.

The three accused, who police onl…[Read more]

Trump’s 100% pharmaceutical tariffs won’t apply to Japan and EU

U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports will not apply to countries with negotiated agreements with the U.S. that contain provisions on drugs, according to a White House official, delivering promised relief to economies including the European Union and J…[Read more]

In Prime Minister Election, JIP Leader Rules out Cooperation with CDPJ, Lowering Risk of Loss for LDP

Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura effectively denied on Friday that his party would cooperate with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in a prime minister election.

“It would be difficult to name a CDPJ representative i…[Read more]

Ukrainian YouTuber arrested in Japan over Fukushima livestream

A Ukrainian YouTuber with more than 6.5 million subscribers has been arrested in Japan after livestreaming himself trespassing in a house in the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone, police and media said Friday.
The arrest, which reportedly occurred in an area declared a no-go zone after…[Read more]

Merz wants to use Russian assets for Ukraine loan

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to make almost 140 billion euros available to Ukraine in the form of an interest-free loan, financed with the Russian Central Bank’s assets frozen in Europe. “This loan would not be repaid until Russia has compensated Ukraine for the damage it has cau…[Read more]

Germany’s Merz says Europe still far too dependent on software from US

Germany still depends far too much on software from the United States, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday, calling for Europe to focus more on digital sovereignty and its own data centers.

“I want us in Europe, not just us in Germany, but we in Europe as a whole, to bec…[Read more]

Which German cities are the most expensive for international students?

Authorities probe suspected surveillance operations in northern state of Schleswig-Holstein after similar incidents in neighboring Denmark

Multiple drones were spotted over Germany’s northern state of Schleswig-Holstein overnight, prompting an investigation into possible…[Read more]

Japan Postpones Recognition of Palestinian State

Japan decided not to recognize Palestine as a state during a high-level meeting in New York aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as about 10 other countries declared recognition.

The conference, held alongside the United Nations General Assembly, sought to promote a two-state…[Read more]

Japan Urges Iran to Resolve Nuclear Issue through Dialogue

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Tuesday conveyed to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, Tokyo’s strong hope that the issue of Iran’s nuclear development will be resolved through dialogue.

In their meeting in New York, the two ministers also exchanged views on the tense…[Read more]

Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba: Palestine state recognition ‘when not if’

Japan’s prime minister told the United Nations on Tuesday that Tokyo’s recognition of the State of Palestine was only a question of time, saying he was “indignant” at recent comments by Israeli officials.

Nearly 80 percent of UN members recognize the State of Palestine,…[Read more]

Event Marking 1 Year Until 2026 Asian Games Held in Nagoya as Prefecture Prepares to Host

An event marking one year until the opening of the 2026 Asian Games took place on Saturday in Nagoya.

“We want as many people as possible to watch Asian countries compete in what will be a festival of peace,” said Hideaki Omura, Aichi Prefecture gov…[Read more]

40 Years After Plaza Accord, U.S.-Japan Exchange Rate Risks Remain

Monday marks the 40th anniversary of the Plaza Accord, under which the Group of Five countries — Japan, the United States, Britan, France and then West Germany — decided to correct the excessive appreciation of the dollar through currency adjustments.

The accord was led by the…[Read more]

Osaka High Court Upholds Don Juan of Kishu’s Will

A will left by Kosuke Nozaki, the wealthy businessman known as the ‘Don Juan of Kishu,’ declaring that his entire estate of about 1.3 billion yen be donated to Tanabe City has again been recognized as valid, with the Osaka High Court upholding the earlier ruling against claims by his relatives…[Read more]

Deutsche Bahn regional transport head to become CEO, sources say

Evelyn Palla, the board member in charge of regional transport at Deutsche Bahn (DBN.UL), will become the German state-owned railway operator’s new CEO, two people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
The transport ministry and Deutsche Bahn declined to comment.

Palla, who…[Read more]

Germany updates: AfD tops poll with highest support ever

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party tops the poll with the highest support ever. Meanwhile, Kenyan athletes won both the men’s and women’s races at the Berlin Marathon. DW has the latest from Germany.

Dortmund: 400 football fans brawl in organized fight

Around 400 football…[Read more]

Delays continue at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports after alleged cyber-attack

Airlines reverted to manual check-in from Friday after service provider hit by ‘cyber-related incident’

Delays continue at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin airports after alleged cyber-attack
Airlines reverted to manual check-in from Friday after service pro…[Read more]