Japan Conservative Ruling Bloc Raises Majority in Upper House Poll

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s ruling conservative coalition increased its majority in Upper House elections on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK and other news media reported based on their exit polls and ongoing vote-counting, an outcome that would allow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to focus on his longer-term projects to narrow the income gap and […]

G7 Leaders Pledge Continued Actions Vs Russia

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – Leaders of the G-7 countries, including President Joe Biden, Sunday met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky by video hookup, afterwards issuing a long statement pledging continued widespread sanctions and other actions, like phasing out Russia energy supplies, to support the war effort. The statement follows: G7 Leaders’ Statement Today, on 8 May, […]

Analysis: Japan PM Kishida to Face Bad Economic News After Omicron Storm

–Economists Revise Down Forecasts to Show Slight Contraction in 1Q By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to face bad news on the economic front after barely surviving voter frustration over public health restrictions imposed about two months ago aimed at fighting a surge in Covid infections caused by the […]

Japan Government Downgrades View: Some Weakness Seen in Pickup Hit by Covid

— Pickup in Consumption Pausing on Resumed Covid Restrictions — Business Investment Moving Upward as Seen in Q4 GDP Rebound By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday downgraded its economic overview for the first time in five months, noting the recent spike in coronavirus cases sparked by the Omicron variant is hurting consumer spending, […]

Japan Government Keeps Economic Pickup View After December Upgrade

— Consumers Brave Omicron Scare in Year-End, New Year Leisure Season — Production Improving on Easing Supply Constraints By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Tuesday maintained its economic overview after upgrading it last month for the first time in 17 months, saying consumer spending is picking up — despite rising Covid cases — and […]

Japan Govt Sees Slower Economic Pickup Amid Disrupted Supply Chains, Pandemic Spike

— Consumption, Factory Output Downgraded While Exports on Track By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Thursday provided a more cautious view of the recent pickup in the domestic economy, saying its pace is slowing in the face of global supply chain disruptions and a surge in coronavirus cases, according to its monthly report released […]