Politics News
Latest politics news and updates
Total: 107
Takaichi’s Bold Start: Japan’s Lurch Right Risks Debt, Inflation and Social Strain
Sanae Takaichi’s elevation to prime minister follows a decisive LDP electoral victory and ushers in a policy mix of aggressive, debt‑funded fiscal expansion targeted at defence and high‑tech industries. Critics warn this approach risks worsening Japan’s already massive public debt burden, accelerating yen depreciation and stoking inflation and social division, while political scandals and intra‑party factionalism threaten the government’s stability.
US Air Force Confirms Trump‑Preferred Red, White, Gold and Navy Livery for New Air Force One Fleet
The US Air Force will apply a red, white, gold and deep‑navy livery — a color scheme associated with Donald Trump — to two new VC-25B Boeing 747s and a Qatar-donated 747 earmarked for presidential use. The move reverses an earlier rejection on cost and technical grounds and underscores the political and symbolic stakes of presidential aircraft procurement.
Seoul Alleges Yoon-Era Drone Provocations Toward Pyongyang as New Government Moves to Rebuild 2018 No‑Fly Pact
Seoul's unification minister announced investigations into drone flights to North Korea by three South Korean civilians and accused the previous Yoon administration of conducting 11 operations totalling 18 drone sorties aimed at Pyongyang. The new government plans to restore the no‑fly provisions of the September 19, 2018 military agreement to rebuild confidence and reduce airborne tensions between the Koreas.
Founder of APA Hotels and Prominent Nanjing Massacre Denier, Toshio Motoya, Dies at 82
Toshio Motoya, founder and CEO of APA Hotels and a prominent funder of Japanese ultranationalism who drew global condemnation for placing books denying the Nanjing Massacre in hotel rooms, died at 82. His death raises questions about the future of the networks and institutions that promoted historical revisionism and a more militarised Japan.
PLA's New‑Year Video Seeks to Humanize Hong Kong Garrison and Normalize Presence
The PLA garrison in Hong Kong released a Lunar New Year video that frames soldiers' holiday duty as an act of companionship and civic service. The clip is a targeted soft‑power effort to humanize the military presence in the city and to normalize its role amid ongoing political sensitivities.
Israel’s Attorney-General Says Pardon Request From Netanyahu Has Not Yet Been Examined
Israel’s attorney-general, Gali Baharav-Miara, said she has not yet reviewed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request and will follow standard procedures in examining it. The decision now turns on legal advice to President Isaac Herzog and could have major implications for Israeli institutions, public trust, and political stability.
At Munich, Germany’s Chancellor Tells Washington: ‘You Cannot Go It Alone’ — Europe Must Wean Itself Off U.S. Dependence
At the 62nd Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Mertz urged the United States not to act unilaterally and called on Europe to reduce its dependence on American power. He framed multilateral cooperation — on trade, climate and public health — as essential to meeting global challenges and signalled a renewed push for European strategic autonomy.
When the Prelude Plays: China’s 2026 Military Spring Gala Reaffirms the PLA’s Cultural ‘DNA’
China’s 2026 military Spring Festival Gala used music and spectacle to promote the idea of an enduring "military soul," reinforcing political loyalty and morale inside the PLA while projecting unity to the wider public. The event illustrates how cultural programming has become an instrument of military modernization and domestic signaling.
Israeli Attorney General Says She Has Not Yet Reviewed Netanyahu's Clemency Request
Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav‑Miara, said she has not yet reviewed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s November 2025 clemency request to President Isaac Herzog and that any review will follow standard procedures. The pending legal assessment places the spotlight on the balance between legal process and political pressure in a case that has deeply divided Israeli society.
China’s 2026 Military New Year Gala Repackages ‘Unchanging’ Soldierly Spirit for a New Audience
China’s 2026 military Spring Festival Gala used music and staged scenes to highlight a continuous ‘military DNA’ and reinforce themes of sacrifice and loyalty. Presented during the Lunar New Year by state military media, the gala functions as a cultural tool to boost troop morale and shape public perceptions of the PLA.
Japan’s Big Gamble: Takaichi’s Fiscal Blitz Risks a ‘Truss Moment’ as Debt and Supply Chains Bite
Sanae Takaichi’s electoral win paves the way for ambitious fiscal stimulus, defence spending and a temporary cut to food consumption tax, moves that have boosted equities but raised alarms about Japan’s ability to finance such a course. With public debt near 230% of GDP and heavy dependence on foreign and Chinese processing capacity for strategic minerals, Tokyo faces a high-stakes test of credibility that could spill across bond, currency and commodity markets.
Partisan Rift Shuts Down Homeland Security as Immigration Clash Escalates
A partisan fight over aggressive immigration enforcement in Minnesota led Democrats to block further funding for the Department of Homeland Security, precipitating a partial shutdown as Congress recessed. While essential DHS staff will continue working unpaid, longer closures risk disrupting aviation, disaster response and border operations, and underline deeper political and social fractures over U.S. immigration policy.