News

Japan's Lower House passed the initial budget for fiscal 2025, marking a victory for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's minority government. The budget includes the largest general account ever at 115.1978 trillion yen ($773.2 billion) and was approved with the support of the opposition Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were stranded on the International Space Station for nine months due to technical issues with their spacecraft, are finally returning home after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying their replacements successfully launched on Friday night. The new crew will spend six months on the ISS, allowing Wilmore and Williams to prepare for their departure and return to Earth.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for unity within the LDP to win the upcoming Upper House and Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections, despite the party's recent loss of its Lower House majority. He acknowledged the public's distrust in politics and emphasized the need for the party to listen to the people, speak truthfully, and engage in dialogue.

Japan's auto industry is bracing for potential US tariffs on imported vehicles, with industry officials expressing concern about the impact on production and emphasizing the significant contributions of Japanese automakers to the US economy. The industry is working with the government to avoid the tariffs, but automakers are already taking steps to prepare for the possibility.

A SpaceX crew capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station on March 16th, delivering four new astronauts to the orbiting laboratory. The newcomers will spend the next few days learning the ropes from the two astronauts they are replacing, who will return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule later this week.