Japan ruling LDP launches new group

Japan ruling LDP launches new group

A new group created within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party holds its inaugural meeting in Tokyo on May 21, 2026, with 347 out of the ruling party's 417 lawmakers joining. The group, dubbed "the research group on the nation's power," is believed to seek to promote the national security and economic policy agendas of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japan ruling LDP launches new group

Japan ruling LDP launches new group

A new group created within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party holds its inaugural meeting in Tokyo on May 21, 2026, with 347 out of the ruling party's 417 lawmakers joining. The group, dubbed "the research group on the nation's power," is believed to seek to promote the national security and economic policy agendas of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Japan ruling LDP launches new group

Japan ruling LDP launches new group

A new group created within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party holds its inaugural meeting in Tokyo on May 21, 2026, with 347 out of the ruling party's 417 lawmakers joining. The group, dubbed "the research group on the nation's power," is believed to seek to promote the national security and economic policy agendas of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass speaks during a meeting of lawmakers of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on May 21, 2026.

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass speaks during a meeting of lawmakers of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on May 21, 2026.

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. ambassador to Japan

U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass speaks during a meeting of lawmakers of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on May 21, 2026.

Study session on abduction issue for new LDP lawmakers

Study session on abduction issue for new LDP lawmakers

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, meets the press at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on May 14, 2026, after making a speech during a study session held the same day for newly elected LDP lawmakers. His elder sister Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13.

Japan: Anti-Globalization Protesters Demand WHO Withdrawal Outside Ministry of Health 2

Protesters gathered outside the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Tokyo on Friday, May 8, calling for Japan's withdrawal from the WHO and opposition to globalism. The demonstration drew prominent speakers and former lawmakers.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (back, C) chats during a tea party for lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026, attended by House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (back, L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi (back, R).

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi attend a meeting between Japanese Emperor Naruhito (not pictured) and lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far R) speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (far R) speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori (L) and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi attend a meeting between Japanese Emperor Naruhito (not pictured) and lawmakers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Emperor meets with lawmakers at palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito speaks during a meeting with lawmakers including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori and House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on April 27, 2026.

[Breaking News]Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO, Japan, April 22 Kyodo - A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026. (Kyodo)

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Ichiro Aisawa (C), who heads a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, speaks during a press conference after the group visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Minoru Kiuchi (R), Japanese economic and fiscal policy minister, meets the press after visiting the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on April 22, 2026, during its three-day spring festival.

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

Lawmakers at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its three-day spring festival on April 22, 2026.

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen (L) shakes hands with Gen Nakatani, head of the Japan-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League, before the group's general meeting in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen (L) shakes hands with Gen Nakatani, head of the Japan-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League, before the group's general meeting in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Japan-Israel cross-party lawmakers group

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen speaks during a general meeting of the Japan-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League in Tokyo on April 1, 2026.

[Breaking News]Special Diet session

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 18 Kyodo - Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election. (Kyodo)

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

Special Diet session

Special Diet session

Japanese lawmakers arrive at the parliament building in Tokyo on Feb. 18, 2026, for a special session following the Feb. 8 general election.

[Breaking News]New political party in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 25 Kyodo - Former House of Representatives lawmakers Kazuhiro Haraguchi and Takashi Kawamura pose for a photo during a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2026. They plan to launch a new political party ahead of a general election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 22 Kyodo - Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, hold a press conference following the party's inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

New political party in Japan

New political party in Japan

Former House of Representatives lawmakers Kazuhiro Haraguchi (L) and Takashi Kawamura pose for a photo during a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2026. They plan to launch a new political party ahead of a general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japan PM dissolves lower house for snap general election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and other lawmakers from her Liberal Democratic Party raise their fists in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after she dissolved the House of Representatives earlier in the day for a snap general election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers leave the House of Representatives chamber in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house during its plenary session for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bows while lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, after the House of Representatives was dissolved for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japan PM Takaichi dissolves lower house

Japanese lawmakers throw their arms in the air for a customary "banzai" in parliament in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives for a snap election on Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda (C, L) and Tetsuo Saito (C, R), co-leaders of Japan's new centrist opposition party, the Centrist Reform Alliance, raise their fists during the party's inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers have joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda (L) and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, hold a press conference following the party's inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda (L) and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, wave at the end of the party's inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, speaks during its inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, speaks during its inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Tetsuo Saito, co-leader of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, speaks during its inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, speaks during its inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Inauguration of Japan's new centrist opposition party

Japan's new centrist opposition party, called the Centrist Reform Alliance, holds an inaugural convention in Tokyo on Jan. 22, 2026. Over 160 lawmakers joined the party formed following a deal between the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party ahead of a general election set for Feb. 8.

France: 5,000 Farmers Gather in Strasbourg to Demand Halt to EU-Mercosur Deal

In Strasbourg, roughly 5,000 protesters and hundreds of tractors demonstrated at the European Parliament on Tuesday, January 20, against the EU-Mercosur agreement. The protest precedes a key Wednesday vote, January 21, where EU lawmakers will decide if the deal should be referred to the European Court of Justice for a legal review, potentially stalling the ratification process.