News

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally returned to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station, thanks to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched their replacements earlier in the day. Their return was delayed due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, but they remained positive and continued to work diligently aboard the space station.

A group of researchers gained rare access to the Daisen "kofun" burial mound, a keyhole-shaped structure dating back to the fifth century, marking the first time scholars were allowed to enter the sacred site since the postwar era. The researchers hope to share their findings with the public and encourage the Imperial Household Agency to expand access to the site for further observation and potential public visitation.

Japan's Lower House passed the initial budget for fiscal 2025, marking a victory for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's minority government after revisions secured support from the opposition Nippon Ishin party. The budget includes record spending and measures like free high school education, but faces challenges including addressing unreported political funds within the LDP and debating the issue of separate surnames for married couples.

Asian markets rose on Friday, shrugging off another decline on Wall Street, with Chinese markets gaining after state-run banks were ordered to boost consumer spending. Meanwhile, Wall Street's sell-off deepened as President Trump's escalating trade war dragged the S&P 500 more than 10% below its record high.

The Japanese government has decided to assess the feasibility of human challenge trials, where healthy volunteers are deliberately exposed to viruses, to accelerate vaccine development. This initiative aims to bring Japan's vaccine clinical trials in line with international standards and improve the development of domestically produced vaccines.