Policy

Komeito: “LDP’s response to slush fund scandal inadequate” Even allies turn their backs, Takaichi faces growing crisis Without a new coalition partner, premiership nomination uncertain As Japan’s parliamentary vote to nominate a new prim

Tighter corporate accountability for youth-targeted AIRegulatory debate expands to federal level

“Don’t Worry About China,” Trump Signals Softer Stance Beijing Responds With Defiance, Turning Pressure Back on Washington China’s Control of Rare-Earth Supply Chain Undermines U.S. Leverage U.S.

Market turmoil after ‘deficit bond issuance’ remarksOfficials warn of fiscal deterioration

European scholar networks lift collaboration and raise median quality U.S.

Coercion hardens Taiwan’s views; education diplomacy builds trust Extend China’s regional magnanimity to Taiwan with visas, credit recognition, scholarships, and joint labs Protect academic freedom, track mobility and co-production, and scale successes to shift opinion

Takaichi’s rise is a pragmatic bet, not a protest vote Shrinking cohorts demand an education reset—protect funding, cut teacher overload, use AI with guardrails Judge success by delivery: fair consolidation and measurable gains in teacher time

Trump Vows 100% Tariffs on Foreign-Made Films Hollywood Turns Overseas Amid Soaring U.S. Production Costs As U.S. Film Industry Faces Turmoil, Japan and Others May Reap the Benefits U.S.

Eight Hwasong-11MA, Three Hwasong-20 ICBMs on Display Nuclear Status Emphasized along with China–Russia Cooperation “Survival Diplomacy” Aimed at Advancing as Arms Export Nation North Korea held a massive military parade in Pyongyang’s Kim I

Trump’s Message of “Respect for Xi” Amid Rising Tensions China’s Rare Earth Offensive Targets America’s Achilles’ Heel Tariff Truce Under Strain as Strategic Power Struggle Reignites U.S.

Higher education now behaves like a market good, and price signals matter Governments should fund fewer, stronger universities and tie money to outcomes Demographic decline demands ruthless quality control, clear labeling, and real bridges to opportunity

China is accelerating BRI investment and pushing CPEC into Afghanistan India needs a dual anchor: Russian channels for access; US–EU scale for finance and standards Keep a compliant Chabahar link and build skills-led corridors to retain leverage in Kabul

Childcare subsidies alone haven’t raised births in Korea, Japan, or China The binding constraint is marriage risk—up-front costs and divorce/career exposure De-risk marriage with clear legal defaults, lower entry costs, and work guarantees

A 55% China tariff is rerouting supply chains toward ASEAN ASEAN can seize a third path by treating skills as trade infrastructure Bind investment to portable credentials and cross-border training to grow without picking sides On

Security and economics in Asia-Pacific have fused Alliances are uneven across the region Education must lead a balanced third path Asia-Pacific security economics has shifted from a background issue to a driving force.

AI shifts tasks across borders rather than causing mass layoffs Southeast Asia absorbs more of this work thanks to digital capacity and wages Skills, standards, and cross-border partnerships turn the shift into shared gains

Japan–China relations now shape Japan’s classrooms and campuses Low public trust and export controls tighten research and admissions Universities should segment risk, diversify enrollment, and teach geo-literacy Thirteen perce

China wins on speed and scale; the EU Global Gateway must answer with reliability and skills Education, maintenance, and transparent contracts should drive projects to deliver uptime, not just assets With faster procurement and pay-for-performance finance, Europe can win trust without matching China’s spending

Shutdown deepens gaps in public servicesInterest rate cuts possible as markets face uncertainty

Opposition Unity Collapses, LDP Likely to Produce Prime Minister Koizumi Leads Among Lawmakers and Party Members If No Majority, Runoff Between Top Two Candidates The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership contest, effectively a prime