News

The US stock market rebounded slightly on Wednesday after a positive inflation report, but concerns about President Trump's trade war continued to weigh on investor sentiment. The trade war has already begun to impact some US businesses, and it remains to be seen how it will ultimately affect the economy.

Tomoko Yoshino, president of Rengo, called for the legalization of separate surnames for married couples at the LDP's annual convention, putting pressure on the party to address the issue despite opposition from some members. This move highlights the growing support for separate surnames in Japan, with opinion polls indicating majority support among voters.

Part-time workers in Japan saw record-breaking wage increases of 6.53% during this year's "shunto" negotiations, driven by a nationwide trend and a severe labor shortage. This marks the highest increase since the establishment of UA Zensen in 2012, and surpasses the 5.37% increase for regular employees.

The Japanese government has taken a significant step towards bolstering its vaccine development capabilities by exploring the introduction of human challenge trials. This initiative, embedded within a newly approved medical research plan, aims to align Japan's vaccine clinical trials with international standards and potentially expedite the availability of life-saving treatments for future infectious disease outbreaks.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba defended his country's defense budget, stating that it is determined by Japan itself and not by other nations, despite pressure from the US to increase spending. Japan's 2022 military build-up strategy doubled its defense budget to 2% of GDP, prioritizing quality over quantity.