South Korea’s impeached president defies warrant in hourslong standoff

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ South Korean investigators left the official residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after a near-six-hour standoff during which he defied their attempt to detain him.… Read more

FBI says driver in New Orleans rampage acted alone, was ‘100%’ inspired by Islamic State group

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ The U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers acted alone, the FBI said Thursday, reversing its position from… Read more

Israeli airstrike hits Gaza humanitarian zone as Netanyahu OKs a delegation to talks in Qatar

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ Israeli airstrikes killed at least 26 people across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, hitting Hamas security officers and an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone. As the daily bombardment… Read more

Soldier shot himself in head before Cybertruck exploded outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, officials say

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ The highly decorated U.S. Army soldier inside the Tesla Cybertruck that burst into flames outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel shot himself in the head… Read more

Outlook for Japan’s politics set to hinge on small opposition party

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ The outlook for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government is likely to hinge on a small opposition party that in an electoral breakthrough secured 28 seats in… Read more

Japan won’t be too high on list of Trump priorities, but role may grow in Asia

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ Japan-related issues are not likely to be high on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s to-do list once he takes office on Jan 20, but for him to… Read more

Starbucks Japan to switch to green plant-based straws

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd will replace paper straws with plant-derived biomass alternatives at its outlets from this month, aiming to halve waste and emissions by 2030.… Read more

Tesla sales drop 1.1% in 2024, its first annual decline in a dozen years

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ Tesla posted its first annual sales drop in more than a dozen years Thursday, sinking a stock that has soared since Donald Trump’s victory on optimism… Read more

Sales surge in 2024 for Chinese EV giant BYD

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ Leading Chinese electric car maker BYD’s vehicle sales surged in 2024, the company said in a statement, as the firm grows its overseas presence. The EV… Read more

U.S. jobless claims fall to 211,000, the lowest level since March

Tokyo, 3 January, /AJMEDIA/ The number of Americans applying for unemployment checks dropped last week to the lowest level since March, suggesting that suggest most U.S. workers continue to enjoy… Read more