Political situation in Japan
Rice crisis forces Japan to act – may open rice reserve
Japanese rice prices surged by 55 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, to around 1,700 kronor per 60-kilogram bag. The rally was commented on last week's interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan and is now prompting the government to act, writes the Financial Times.
Agriculture Minister Taku Eto announced on Friday that they are considering opening the rice reserve, which has not been used since the 2011 tsunami.
At the same time, experts link the deficit to the fact that the deflation years seem to be over. They believe that it has become easier to raise prices and that this has caused retailers to stock up
Rice crisis forces Japan to act – may open rice reserve
Japanese rice prices surged by 55 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, to around 1,700 kronor per 60-kilogram bag. The rally was commented on last week's interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan and is now prompting the government to act, writes the Financial Times.
Agriculture Minister Taku Eto announced on Friday that they are considering opening the rice reserve, which has not been used since the 2011 tsunami.
At the same time, experts link the deficit to the fact that the deflation years seem to be over. They believe that it has become easier to raise prices and that this has caused retailers to stock up
Alarms for floods in Australia: "Is critical"
Heavy rain is hitting Australia hard, which is now preparing for floods as high as two-story buildings, writes The Guardian. Authorities have knocked on doors in an area of Townsville, in northeastern Australia, urging residents of about 3,100 homes to leave immediately.
– We don’t want to have to rescue you when the water levels rise, it puts you, your family and our staff at risk, says emergency coordinator Shane Chelepy.
– This is very serious and dangerous, and the next 24 hours will be critical, he says.
Heavy rain is hitting Australia hard, which is now preparing for floods as high as two-story buildings, writes The Guardian. Authorities have knocked on doors in an area of Townsville, in northeastern Australia, urging residents of about 3,100 homes to leave immediately.
– We don’t want to have to rescue you when the water levels rise, it puts you, your family and our staff at risk, says emergency coordinator Shane Chelepy.
– This is very serious and dangerous, and the next 24 hours will be critical, he says.
The future of the Democrats
The Democrats’ new chairman: We were slapped in the face
The Democratic Party in the United States has appointed Ken Martin from Minnesota as the new party chairman, several media outlets report.
– We were slapped in the face in November. Now it’s time to get up off the floor, brush ourselves off, and get back into the fight, says Ken Martin.
According to the AP, none of the top candidates had proposed any radical changes within the Democrats as part of their platform. Martin clarified in his victory speech that he hoped to unite the party.
– Our fight is not in here, it is out there. The fight is against Donald Trump and the billionaires who bought this country, he says according to NBC News.
Martin replaces Jamie Harisson, who did not run for re-election.
The war in Sudan
40 killed in grenade attack on market in Sudan
At least 40 people have been killed in a grenade attack on a market in Omdurman in Sudan, a hospital source told AFP. According to the source, casualties continue to come in after the attack.
The paramilitary group Rapid support forces (RSF) is said to be behind the attack.
An armed conflict has been ongoing between the RSF and the military in Sudan since April 2023.
40 killed in grenade attack on market in Sudan
At least 40 people have been killed in a grenade attack on a market in Omdurman in Sudan, a hospital source told AFP. According to the source, casualties continue to come in after the attack.
The paramilitary group Rapid support forces (RSF) is said to be behind the attack.
An armed conflict has been ongoing between the RSF and the military in Sudan since April 2023.
Violence in Pakistan
18 paramilitaries killed in attack in Pakistan
18 paramilitaries have been killed and three others seriously injured in an attack in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, AFP reports, citing local police.
According to police, a vehicle carrying unarmed paramilitaries was fired upon by 70 to 80 armed attackers who had blocked the road. The incident occurred near Mangochar.
In addition, 12 militants were killed in the attack.
Sorrowful mountain in New Zealand becomes a legal entity
The 2,500-meter-high and dormant volcano Taranaki in New Zealand can now call itself a legal entity and thus receive the same rights and obligations as citizens of the country, news agencies write.
The decision, which was recently made by parliament, means that the mountain is seen as sacred and that the indigenous population can take the New Zealand state to court for injustices from the colonial era - with the land as the plaintiff, writes TT.
Taranaki is one of several large volcanoes in New Zealand that have been given human characteristics in mythology. According to old legends, the volcanoes on the country's North Island were warriors who all competed for the love of Mount Pihanga. But Taranaki lost and was forced to retreat westward on the island, and has since remained there in eternal sorrow.
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