Author: HeraldStar

Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister and prominent figure within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), announced on Saturday his intention to run in the party’s leadership election on September 27. The election will determine the successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who will step down in September after completing his three-year term as leader of the world’s fourth-largest economy. Ishiba’s candidacy comes as the LDP seeks to navigate a period of economic transition, with the Bank of Japan (BOJ) gradually raising interest rates to normalize its ultra-loose monetary policy. In a recent interview with Reuters, Ishiba expressed his support…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed support for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to gradually raise interest rates, citing increasing inflation expectations and the need to normalize its ultra-loose monetary policy. In an interview with Reuters at the Jackson Hole economic symposium, IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas noted that Japan’s inflation has surpassed the BOJ’s 2% target, with expectations moving towards or even exceeding this level. He praised the BOJ’s recent steps towards normalizing policy, including ending negative interest rates in March and raising the short-term policy rate to 0.25% in July. Gourinchas emphasized that further rate increases will…

A recent meeting of China’s Politburo has stressed the importance of fostering a strong sense of community and maintaining national unity and border stability in the country’s western regions. The meeting’s readout, released by state news agency Xinhua, highlighted the need to prioritize ethnic unity and stability in provinces and regions including Xinjiang, Tibet, and Yunnan. The Chinese government has faced criticism from Western nations over its human rights record in these regions, allegations that Beijing has vehemently denied as “smears” against its reputation. To drive development in Western China, the Politburo meeting outlined key strategies, including: These initiatives aim…

Chicago Bears cornerback Douglas Coleman III was released from a Kansas City hospital on Friday and returned to Chicago after suffering an injury during a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coleman was injured while making a tackle during the game on Thursday night. “He was walking around,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said in an interview with Chicago radio station WSCR “670 The Score.” “I did talk to him. He’s in good spirits.” The incident occurred on the first play of the second half when Coleman tackled Chiefs wide receiver Cornell Powell near the sideline. As he made…

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Israel’s credit score from A+ to A, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and escalating geopolitical risks as primary factors. The agency has also maintained a “negative” outlook for Israel, indicating the possibility of further downgrades in the near future. The downgrade follows the October 7 attack by Hamas, which led to a sharp decline in Israel’s stock market and currency. While both have since rebounded, concerns about the country’s economic stability persist. Earlier this year, Moody’s and S&P also reduced Israel’s credit ratings. The conflict in Gaza has already resulted in more than 40,000 Palestinian…

Sudan’s warring parties concluded a 10-day peace summit in Geneva on Friday, agreeing to improve access for humanitarian aid, but progress was hampered by the absence of the Sudanese army at the talks. The discussions, led by the United States and involving mediators from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, aimed to address the 16-month-long conflict that has devastated the country. The mediation group, calling themselves the “Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group,” announced the identification of two key routes to ensure the flow of humanitarian resources to civilians. The first route is through…

The United Nations Libya mission voiced serious concerns late on Thursday following reports of military mobilization in Tripoli, raising alarms over the potential use of force in resolving a mounting crisis surrounding the control of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL). In a statement to the U.N. Security Council on Monday, Stephanie Koury, the mission’s deputy head, highlighted the rapid deterioration of Libya’s political and military landscape over the past two months. She specifically pointed to the alarming mobilization of armed factions within the country. “The display of military power and armed confrontations in densely populated neighborhoods is unacceptable and…

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, under the leadership of Azerbaijan’s First Lady Her Excellency Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, has made significant contributions to the welfare and development of communities in need, not only in Azerbaijan but also in various friendly countries, including brotherly Pakistan. Through a wide range of projects and charity programs, the Foundation has played a crucial role in enhancing healthcare, education, and social services in Pakistan, thereby strengthening the bond between the two brotherly nations. One of the notable initiatives by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Pakistan was the vaccination campaign against the hepatitis B virus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and…

Japan reported a trade deficit of 621 billion yen ($4.3 billion) in July, driven by a significant increase in import prices, according to data released by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. The country’s imports surged nearly 17% year-over-year to 10.2 trillion yen ($70.6 billion), while exports rose by 10% to 9.6 trillion yen ($66 billion). The sharp rise in imports, particularly in meat, food products, and iron, reflects a relatively strong domestic economy where consumer spending has picked up amid rising wages. Despite the growth in exports, Japan’s trade balance remained in deficit. Exports to key markets such as the…

Influential Thai politician Prawit Wongsuwon is under formal investigation following allegations that he physically assaulted a female reporter. The 79-year-old Member of Parliament and former army chief was filmed striking the journalist several times after she asked him a question, an incident that has sparked widespread condemnation. The confrontation occurred on August 16, shortly after Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party was elected as Thailand’s new prime minister. Paetongtarn, 37, is set to become the youngest premier in the nation’s history and the third from the prominent Shinawatra family. Prawit, who leads the Palang Pracharat Party and has a…