Passengers Evacuated From Smoking Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama was halted and partially suspended on Friday night after white smoke began pouring out from under the train’s carriage between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima.

According to police and Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai), at around 9:45 p.m., the conductor of the upbound…[Read more]

NAB and subsidiary ordered to pay $15.5 million after ASIC takes court action

A big four bank and one of its subsidiaries have been ordered to pay $15.5 million for failing to respond to struggling customers.
The Federal Court yesterday ordered National Australia Bank (NAB) and AFSH Nominees to pay the penalty for failing to respond to 345…[Read more]

‘No rules’: Public consultation opens on Victoria’s work-from-home laws

A state government has made a major announcement on work-from-home laws that would affect millions of office workers.

The Victorian government has taken the next step in its pursuit of legislating the right to work from home twice a week for public and private sector worke…[Read more]

Inside Australia’s billion-dollar bid to take on China’s rare earth dominance

Drive three hours north of Perth, and you’ll arrive in Eneabba – barren and desolate, just the odd hill in the distance.

This is Western Australia mining territory. Buried in this vast terrain is a massive pit, full of what looks like mounds of worthless dirt.

But…[Read more]

German economists disappointed by Merz government’s slow reforms, survey shows

Economists in Germany say the new government’s lack of structural reforms, particularly to curb pensions costs, poses long term problems for Germany, even though a massive spending program will boost the economy in the short run.
Germany’s anaemic economy could be…[Read more]

European leaders comment on teleconference with Trump on Ukraine

Donald Trump joined a teleconference with European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, two days before the U.S. leader is due to hold a summit in Alaska with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT…[Read more]

Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz marks 100 days in office

Friedrich Merz has begun curbing irregular immigration and shaping foreign policy, while cracks are appearing in his government.

Germany’s largest-circulation tabloid, Bild, has passed judgment on Chancellor Friedrich Merz : “The solitary chancellor explains his biggest mistake,” the…[Read more]

Macron admits France waged a repressive war in Cameroon during its decolonization

In a letter, President Emmanuel Macron cited a report by a joint French-Cameroonian team of historians, which clearly demonstrated that France had waged a ‘war’ in Cameroon, characterized by ‘repressive violence.’

France waged a “war” in Cameroon marked by…[Read more]

UK, France and Germany ready to reimpose sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme

The UK, France and Germany have told the UN they are ready to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme if it fails to resume talks by the end of August.

The three countries, known as the E3, said they were prepared to trigger a “snapback” mechanism -…[Read more]

Far-right populists top polls in Germany, France and Britain for the first time

Alternative for Germany has joined France’s National Rally and Reform U.K. in becoming the most popular party in its country, according to polls.

For the first time in modern history, far-right and populist parties are simultaneously topping the polls in Europe’s t…[Read more]

‘Türkiye won’t let Netanyahu plunge region into greater disasters’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday that Türkiye will not permit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his network of massacres to push the region toward greater disasters in a bid to extend their political survival.

“We will not allow Netanyahu and his massacre ne…[Read more]

Türkiye’s UN envoy: Gaza ceasefire ‘essential’ to secure Red Sea navigation

Türkiye on Monday stressed that a “permanent ceasefire in Gaza is essential to securing freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” warning that Israel is fueling instability across the region.

“Türkiye places a high priority on maritime security, freedom of navigation and op…[Read more]

Türkiye mobilizes all resources, diplomatic efforts to bring hope to Gaza: Erdoğan

Türkiye has mobilized all of its resources and diplomatic capabilities to bring hope to Gaza, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.

“We will not allow (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his murde…[Read more]

Türkiye mobilizes all resources, diplomatic efforts to support Gaza: Erdogan

Türkiye has mobilized all of its resources and diplomatic capabilities to bring hope to Gaza, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.

“We will not allow (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his murderous network to d…[Read more]

Japan’s deepening political woes cloud budget, rate hike timing

Japan’s deepening political uncertainty risks prolonging policy paralysis that could affect the drafting of next year’s budget and the timing of the central bank’s next interest rate hike, analysts say, clouding the outlook for the fragile economy.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is…[Read more]

Japan weather bureau says 60% chance of La Nina not occurring

Japan’s weather bureau said on Tuesday that there was a 60% chance that the La Nina phenomenon would not occur and normal weather patterns would continue towards the Northern Hemisphere winter.
A La Nina weather event is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the…[Read more]

Budget Request Ceilings: Where Is The Mechanism To Curb Spending?

How can the ballooning national budget be curbed without cutting existing expenditures? Government ministries and agencies must not request funds without carefully reviewing the necessity of projects.

The government has approved at a Cabinet meeting the budget request ceilings,…[Read more]

Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Races to Record High, SoftBank Leads Tech Surge

Japan’s Nikkei share gauge .N225 powered to an all-time high on Tuesday, driven by sharp gains for tech companies and renewed optimism over trade with the United States.

With financial markets reopening after a holiday in Japan on Monday, the stock benchmark caught up…[Read more]

Ishiba says he will assess his responsibility based on election review

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Saturday that he will assess his responsibility for the ruling camp’s poor result in the Upper House election based on an upcoming review, as well as on the opinions of lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party.
The LDP plans to release a…[Read more]

Nagasaki marks 80th anniversary of US atomic bomb attack on Japan

Restored bell to ring at Nagasaki’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral for the first time since A-bomb devastated the city in 1945.

Twin cathedral bells will ring in unison in Nagasaki for the first time in 80 years, as the Japanese city commemorates the moment the United States d…[Read more]