In a striking turnaround that reshaped the San Jose political landscape, Anthony Tordillos claimed victory in the District 3 special election runoff after initially placing second in the April 8 primary. As chair of the San Jose Planning Commission, Tordillos entered the race with relatively low name recognition compared to his opponent, Gabby Chavez-Lopez, who had built her profile through leadership in a community-focused organization. Despite this, Tordillos secured a commanding win in the ru

In the latest Henley Passport Index update, India’s passport saw the most significant improvement, climbing eight spots from 85th to 77th position. This leap makes India the largest mover globally over the past six months, as its passport now allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations. Countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand are among the many that offer visa-free ac

President Donald Trump has triggered a new wave of international trade tension by announcing that the United States will impose steep import tariffs on 14 countries starting August 1. The new tariffs, set at a minimum of 25 percent, will affect both rivals and close allies, including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, unless trade agreements are finalized before the deadline. This marks one of the most aggressive trade policy shifts under Trump’s renewed administration and represe

President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. The formal notification was delivered to the governments of both countries, accompanied by warnings that any retaliatory measures would lead to further tariff hikes above the 25% rate. The announcement sent global markets into a tailspin as investors weighed the potential fallout of rising trade tensions. The U.S. stock market opened the week with sharp declines. The

President Donald Trump has announced that he does not intend to extend the 90-day pause on tariffs beyond July 9, signaling a return to aggressive trade measures that could affect several countries unless individual trade agreements are secured. Speaking in an interview, Trump stated that his administration would begin sending formal notifications to countries soon, warning them of upcoming trade penalties unless they finalize deals with the United States. The president emphasi

Weeks after Japan’s ispace Mission 2 suffered a crash landing on the Moon, nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has captured detailed images of the impact site, shedding light on the final moments of the ambitious Japanese lunar mission. The spacecraft was attempting a soft landing in the northern hemisphere of the Moon, specifically targeting an area within Mare Frigoris, also known as the Sea of Cold. However, the lander experienced a loss of communication with mission cont

Rice prices in Japan have experienced a dramatic surge, more than doubling in May with a year-over-year increase of 101.7%, marking the steepest rise in over 50 years. This significant increase follows a 98.4% spike in April and a 92.1% year-over-year rise recorded in March, underscoring the growing concerns over staple food affordability in the country. The Japanese government has attempted to curb the rapid price rise by releasing emergency rice stockpiles, aiming to stabiliz

In a significant move to strengthen international relations and improve connectivity, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that efforts are underway to establish a direct flight route between Hyderabad and Kitakyushu, a prominent city in Japan. The proposal came during a high-level meeting in Hyderabad on June 2, when Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi and his delegation visited the state to attend the Telangana Formation Day celebrations.

An earthquake’s effects are not confined to the ground—it can send invisible shockwaves high into the atmosphere, affecting even space-based technology. Researchers from a university in Japan have recently achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating the world’s first 3D visualization of how seismic activity disturbs the ionosphere, the charged layer of the atmosphere that sits between 60 and 1,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The study focused on the power

In a landmark economic achievement, India has officially become the world’s 4th largest economy, overtaking Japan, according to recent data shared by government officials and confirmed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The development comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the milestone on social media platform X, stati

Japan's farm minister, Taku Eto, has issued a public apology after a controversial statement claiming he “never had to buy rice” triggered backlash among citizens struggling with record-high food costs. The comment, made during a political fundraiser on Sunday, was first reported by Kyodo News and quickly went viral, amplifying public frustration over rising staple prices and government inaction. Retail rice prices in Japan have doubled compared to the previous year,

Japan's economy contracted in the first quarter of 2025 for the first time in a year, and the decline was sharper than expected. This latest data highlights the fragile nature of the country's recovery, now under added pressure from anticipated US trade actions that threaten to weigh further on exports and consumer sentiment. According to newly released government statistics, Japan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) shrank at an annualized rate of 0.7% from January

Man of Masses NTR, currently in Japan for the promotion of his upcoming film Devara, experienced a touching moment when a Japanese fan revealed she learned Telugu after watching the global blockbuster RRR. The fan expressed her admiration directly to NTR in fluent Telugu, surprising and moving the actor, who is a well-known lover of both cinema and languages.

India’s Loss in the Quarterfinals: India’s campaign in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship ended on a disappointing note as they suffered a 0-3 defeat against a second-string Japan team. The Indian squad, despite being the 2023 bronze medalists, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match. The team fell behind early, losing the mixed doubles match, with Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto showing resilience but ultimately losing 13-21, 21-17, 13-

Practice "Hara Hachi Bu" The Okinawan principle of eating until you're 80% full helps prevent overeating, reduce calorie intake, and allows your body to register fullness, promoting sustainable fat loss. Prioritize Nutrient-Dense, Low-Calorie Foods The Japanese diet is rich in vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, while being low in processed foods and refined sugars. These foods provi

Space One, a Tokyo-based space startup, faced another setback in its mission to develop Japan's domestic space industry when its second rocket launch was aborted minutes after liftoff. The Kairos No. 2 rocket, designed to carry small satellites into orbit, launched from Spaceport Kii in the Wakayama prefecture on Wednesday. The rocket's trajectory became unstable shortly after takeoff, leading to a termination of the flight about 10 minutes in. The mission, which carried five satellit