Berita Desk delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
A surge in bear encounters across Japan has strained municipal services, with more than 40% of surveyed local governments reporting harassment, abusive phone calls, and online attacks from frustrated citizens.
A resurfaced 2002 debate clip showing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defending Japan's WWII aggression as self-defence has triggered widespread domestic criticism, deepening concerns about revisionist historical narratives in Tokyo.
Japan's parliament has approved revisions to its Imperial House Law to stabilize the shrinking royal family, permitting male adoptions and allowing women to retain status after marrying commoners—yet the male-only succession tradition persists despite strong public backing for female emperors.
Japan's parliament has reformed its imperial succession laws to allow adoption of distant male relatives, yet maintained the centuries-old prohibition against women becoming emperor—a decision at odds with 72% public support for female succession.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating has fallen below 50 per cent for the first time since taking office in October, according to a Jiji Press poll, as concerns over policy effectiveness and regional tensions weigh on public support.
Japan's lower house has approved a landmark bill revising the 1947 Imperial House Law, permitting male adoptees from former imperial branch families and allowing female members to keep imperial status after marriage.