Japan's vice foreign minister resigns amid allegations of extortion

Masatoshi Akimoto, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, resigned as vice foreign minister on Friday amid allegations that he received tens of millions of yen in bribes from a wind power company, according to sources close to the situation.

According to the sources, ...

Talks about the U.S. debt cap need to be more mature, says a German minister.

There isn't much time left to reach a deal. Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that if a deal isn't reached, the biggest economy in the world could default on its debt on June 1.

Leaders of the Democratic Party want to raise the cap, but Republican law...

Four out of five Diet by-elections are won by the Liberal Democratic Party.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, won four of the five Diet seats up for grabs in by-elections held on Sunday, which bodes well for him amid rumors that he may soon dissolve the lower house.

The LDP won the Yamaguchi Nos. 2 and 4 district...

After the head of the main opposition party narrowly avoided arrest, the party was thrown into disarray.

After their leader, Lee Jae-myung, barely escaped arrest in Monday's National Assembly vote, the major opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is plagued by factional strife. Prosecutors requested his arrest on accusations of corruption and bribery, and some members of his own party voted ...

The panel urges the Japanese people to pay more for defences spending.

A government panel on Tuesday encouraged "the entire nation" to pay a greater cost in order to strengthen the country's military capabilities in the face of mounting security concerns, basically asking for tax increases rather than fresh national bond issuances.

The panel ...

Pelosi is stepping down from Democratic leadership after four decades at the helm of the party.

The Democratic Party's longest-serving House leader has declared that she would not fight for re-election in the upcoming Congress. She will, however, remain as Democrats usher in a 'new age.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has led House Democrats for the past two decades, ...

Former US Senator Harry Reid Dies at 82

Former U.S. Senator Harry Reid died on Tuesday at the age of 82. The political leader rose from Southern Nevada to become one of the most powerful politicians in American history.

Reid had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018.

Reid was part of the Democratic Party for...

OPPOSITION PARTY IN JAPAN SEEKS EXTENSION OF DIET SESSION BY 3 MONTHS

Highlights –

• Opposition party in Japan seeks extension of diet session by 3 months.
• The country’s main opposition party plans conduct further debate on the govt.'s COVID-19 response.
• The CDPJ's head of Diet affairs Jun A...

JAPAN PARLIAMENT TO AMEND NATIONAL REFERENDUM LAW

Highlights –

• Japan parliament to amend national referendum law.
• The revision in the law will makes it easier for citizens to vote.
• The revision also coincides with growing calls for the introduction of an emergency clause.
• ...

OPPOSITION PARTIES IN JAPAN SEEK EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT SESSION

Highlights –

• Opposition parties in Japan seek extension of parliament session.
• The opposition parties are asking more time to debate COVID-19 vaccination programs.
• They also wish to discuss whether to hold the Tokyo Olympics and Paral...

TOKYO ASSEMBLY GROUPS VOTE AGAINST THE CANCELLATION OF SUMMER OLYMPICS

Highlights –

• Tokyo assembly groups vote against the cancellation of Summer Olympics.
• The Tokyo Metropolitan assembly groups include Tokyoites First, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Komeito, JCP, and CDP.
• The Tokyoites First group su...

JAPAN’S PM APOLOGIZES FOR NEGLIGENCE IN PROTECTION OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

Highlights –

• Japan’s PM apologizes for negligence in protection of construction workers.
• The asbestos construction workers had contracted lung cancer and other illnesses.
• The Supreme Court of Japan ruled that the state should ha...

CHINA GIVES JAIL TERMS TO HONG KONG’S ANTI-GOVT. PROTESTORS

Highlights –

• China gives jail terms to Hong Kong’s anti-govt. protestors.
• Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong publisher has been sentenced to 14 months in jail this week.
• Some of the sentences handed down on Friday were suspended.

FORMER LDP LAWMAKER QUESTIONS GOVT. ON USE OF MAIDEN NAME AS ALIAS

Highlights –

• Former LDP lawmaker questions govt. on use of maiden name as alias.
• Ex policy chief Tomomi Inada have doubts on granting permission for the use of aliases.
• Inada has also raised an issue with Japan's current system fo...

JAPAN LAWMAKERS TO MAKE NEW SANCTIONS OVER HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

Highlights –

• Japan lawmakers to make new sanctions over human rights abuses.
• Lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties have launched a bipartisan group for the same.
• The group is jointly led by LDP member Gen Nakatani, and Shiori Y...

JAPAN PASSES BILL TO TIGHTEN REGULATIONS ON FOREIGNERS PURCHASING LAND

Highlights –

• Japan passes bill to tighten regulations on foreigners purchasing land.
• Japan Cabinet approved a bill on the same on Friday.
• The government aims to turn the bill into law during the current Diet session through June.
...

S. KOREAN FINANCE MINISTRY LIKELY TO SUBMIT EXTRA BUDGET PROSPOSAL

Highlights –

• S. Korean finance ministry likely to submit an extra budget proposal.
• Finance Minister Hong Nam Ki has instructed officials to do the same by next week.
• The govt. and the ruling Democratic Party may surpass the budget by ...

S. KOREAN PM ANNOUNCES NO CASH HANDOUTS FOR VIOLATORS OF ANTIVIRUS MEASURES

Highlights –

• S. Korean PM announces no cash handouts for violators of antivirus measures.
• The PM gave off stern measures with the norm of "one-strike, you're out" punishment.
• Shops, restaurants, and other businesses nati...

S. KOREAN GOVT. LIKELY TO EXPAND EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS FOR THE 4TH TIME

Highlights –

• S. Korean govt. likely to expand emergency relief funds for the 4th time.
• The emergency relief funds would include merchants whose yearly sales are more than $364,000.
• The country’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) and ...

ANRI KAWAI SUBMITS HER RESIGNATION AS LAWMAKER AFTER VOTE-BUYING SCANDAL

Highlights –

• Anri Kawai submits her resignation as lawmaker after vote-buying scandal.
• The upper house member was found to be guilty last month.
• Her husband, a former justice minister is also under trial for the same.
• Anri ...