Japan

[ad_1] Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed Monday to put Japan at the forefront of global affairs in a "tense" 2024 that will see several important events, including the U.S. presidential election.In his New Year's address, Kishida, who puts intense focus on diplomacy with other world leaders, said he will exert leadership "unique to Japan" through summit diplomacy to "overcome challenges," citing issues such as Russia's war on Ukraine and the […]

[ad_1] Japan revamped its NISA tax-free stock investment program for individuals on Monday, reinforcing the country's efforts to encourage a shift from savings to investments in the equities market.The new Nippon Individual Savings Account program expands annual investment limits and extends the tax-exempt period from up to 20 years to an indefinite term.The reform reflects "the new form of capitalism" advocated by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as he aims to […]

[ad_1] Beijing – Chinese leader Xi Jinping exchanged congratulations with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.Xi said he was willing to work with the United States to promote stable bilateral ties following his meeting with Biden in San Francisco in November. The two leaders vowed to improve communication in an effort to stop competition […]

[ad_1] Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called on Beijing to help maintain peace in the region in a New Year’s speech, two weeks before a hotly contested election dominated by debate over the island’s ties with China."We hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can return to healthy and constructive exchanges,” Tsai said. "We will not provoke or submit, but we will earn the international community’s trust and deepen our […]

[ad_1] A powerful earthquake measuring a 7 on the Japanese scale — the strongest on the scale — rocked central Japan on Monday, prompting a tsunami warning for a broad swath of the country's western coast. The tsunami warning urged people to quickly leave coastal areas of Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama and Yamagata prefectures, with over 1.2 meter waves reaching the Noto Peninsula’s Wajima Port in Ishikawa — where a rare […]

[ad_1] Seoul – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told his top military officers to use maximum force against South Korea and the United States if they initiate a military confrontation, state media reported Monday.Seoul and Washington have ramped up defense cooperation in the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang over the past year.At a meeting with North Korea's major commanding officers in Pyongyang on New […]

[ad_1] Washington – U.S. President Joe Biden was getting ready to leave the White House for an audacious flight to Israel to demonstrate solidarity after Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack when suddenly the trip seemed to be falling apart before it even began.An explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital had reportedly killed or wounded hundreds, the Palestinians were blaming Israel, and Arab leaders were refusing to meet with Biden when […]

[ad_1] Brisbane, Australia – Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka looked solid on her return to elite tennis after 15 months out as she beat Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 7-6(9) in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday. The 26-year-old from Japan last competed on tour at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in September 2022 and had her first child, daughter Shai, in July before stepping up […]

[ad_1] COPENHAGEN/DUBAI/CAIRO – U.S. helicopters repelled an attack by Iran-backed Houthi militants on a Maersk container vessel in the Red Sea, sinking three ships and killing 10 militants, according to accounts by American, Maersk, and Houthi officials on Sunday.The naval battle occurred Sunday as the attackers sought to board the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, Maersk and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. Helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely joined the […]