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July 05, 2025
 

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Richard Cowan
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (right) poses with U.S. Rep. John Rutherford on the day of a vote on final passage of U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 4, 2025
Republicans and Democrats look at how to use Trump's tax-cut bill in 2026 elections
Democrats view the cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in U.S. President Donald Trump's bill as ready ammunition for their future campaign.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (fourth from right, front row) gestures after signing U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 4, 2025
U.S. Republicans muscle Trump's tax-cut and spending bill through Congress
The 218-214 vote is a significant victory for U.S. President Donald Trump that will fund his immigration crackdown, make his 2017 tax cuts permanent and deliver new tax breaks.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak in the Oval Office before departing the White House in March.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 7, 2025
Republican lawmakers try to dodge Trump-Musk crossfire
Their buddy-movie dynamic evaporated this week as Musk and Trump openly feuded over a sweeping tax-cut and spending bill.
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to members of the news media along with U.S. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 20, 2024
Trump-backed spending deal fails in U.S. House as shutdown approaches
Government funding is due to expire at midnight on Friday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the White House in Washington on July 3.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 6, 2024
Harris picks Minnesota's Tim Walz for vice president, sources say
Walz is a progressive policy champion and a plain speaker from America's heartland who may help Harris win over rural, white voters.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris waves upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 30, 2024
As Democrats embrace Harris, some pivotal House candidates hold back
In the 35 competitive races that will determine control of the House, 12 Democratic incumbents or challengers have so far held off on endorsing Harris.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak during a news conference in Washington on Tuesday. Zelenskyy came to the U.S. Congress to appeal for more aid to resist Russia's invasion, and Republican leaders told him to first wait for an elusive U.S. deal on immigration.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2023
Zelenskyy meets U.S. Republicans in push for aid to fight Russia
Some Republicans oppose more aid, saying any further money must be paired with changes to immigration policy at home.
Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block an emergency spending bill to provide $110.5 billion in funds for Ukraine, Israel and other security needs.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 8, 2023
Prospects dim for new Ukraine aid in U.S. Congress
Senate Republicans voted unanimously to block the emergency spending bill to provide $110.5 billion in funds for Ukraine, Israel and other security needs.
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks with reporters after opening the House floor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Sept. 18.
WORLD / Politics
Sep 25, 2023
Republicans appeal to conservatives to avert U.S. shutdown
Congress so far has failed to finish any of the 12 regular spending bills to fund federal agency programs in the fiscal year starting on Oct. 1.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 1, 2023
U.S. debt ceiling bill passes House with broad bipartisan support
The Senate must now enact the measure and get it to U.S. President Joe Biden's desk before a Monday deadline, when the federal government is expected to run out of money to pay its bills.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 11, 2023
U.S. Congress and White House begin tough debt limit and budget negotiations
Time is tight to avoid a historic, economically destabilizing default on government debt, which the Treasury Department has warned could come as soon as June 1.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 27, 2023
U.S. House Republicans pass debt-ceiling hike, hoping to spur Biden to talks
The bill isn't expected to pass the Senate, but the mostly partisan 217-215 vote is a win for Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on an issue that rattled investors and markets.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 16, 2023
U.S. could face debt-ceiling crisis this summer without deal
If the debt limit is not raised or suspended before extraordinary measures are exhausted, the government will be unable to pay its obligations fully.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 28, 2023
Why Biden pushes an assault weapons ban despite the political odds
Flags are lowered, sorrowful statements are issued, pleas to lawmakers are made, again.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Oct 28, 2022
How Congress might look for Biden post midterms: The good, bad, and the ugly
The worst-case scenario for Biden and his party would likely see his agenda completely frozen for the next two years.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 22, 2022
Trump watched U.S. Capitol riot unfold on TV, ignoring pleas to call for peace
Trump's daughter Ivanka and son Don Jr. are said to have been among those who pleaded with the former president to act.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 13, 2022
Trump incited Capitol attack after 'unhinged' White House meeting, panel told
The committee also produced evidence that aides and outside agitators knew before the riot that Trump would urge thousands of his supporters to march on the Capitol.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 24, 2022
Trump allies sought pardons after supporting his attempts to overturn election
Their names emerged at the end of a fifth day of hearings that focused on how Trump pressured top Justice Department officials daily in his final weeks in office.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 10, 2022
Hearing on U.S. Capitol riot shows key Trump allies rejected his vote fraud claims
In video testimony, Ivanka Trump said she accepted the view of former Attorney General William Barr, who called the election fraud claims 'bullshit.'
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 7, 2022
A year after U.S. Capitol siege, Biden blasts Trump's 'web of lies'
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday accused his predecessor of spreading a “web of lies” to undermine U.S. democracy in a speech on the anniversary of the deadly Capitol attack by Trump supporters.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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