Author: Andrew Rogers

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, the man who fatally shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, more than three years after the attack that shocked Japan. Yamagami killed Abe in July 2022 while the former prime minister was giving a campaign speech in Nara, using a homemade firearm. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, was 67 at the time. From the start, a guilty verdict was almost certain. Yamagami admitted to the killing in the first court hearing in October 2025. Attention during the trial focused on how severe the sentence should be. Judge Shinichi Tanaka…

The U.S. Justice Department has subpoenaed several top Minnesota officials in an investigation into whether local leaders obstructed federal immigration enforcement. Subpoenas were sent Tuesday to the offices of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and other state and county officials, including St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin and Ramsey county attorneys. Copies of the subpoenas request documents on immigration enforcement policies, communications with other agencies, and materials regarding “hindering, doxxing, identifying, or surveilling immigration officers.” Authorities say the investigation is focused on whether officials conspired to impede federal agents, a claim some…

Two former leaders of a Hong Kong pro-democracy group that organized decades-long vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown are set to stand trial under the city’s national security law. A third co-defendant is expected to plead guilty at Thursday’s hearing. The case highlights the shrinking space for civil liberties in Hong Kong, which Beijing promised to maintain for 50 years after taking control from Britain in 1997. Officials said law enforcement actions were evidence-based and fully compliant with the law. Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and Albert Ho, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements…

Iran is set to strengthen its military capabilities with the acquisition of 48 advanced Russian-made fighter jets, raising concerns about regional security in the Middle East. The deal, reportedly worth €6 billion, involves the Sukhoi Su-35 generation fighter jets and is part of a broader strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow. According to reports, Russia is expected to deliver the required technology to Iran between 2024 and 2026, with the full fleet anticipated to be operational in Iranian hands by 2026–2028. Some sources suggest that Russian technical teams may work directly in Iran to assemble the aircraft under the supervision of…

President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a nearly two-hour briefing at the White House, marking the first anniversary of his second term. The focus of his remarks was on the nation’s immigration enforcement, border control, and the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump presented a 365-page dossier highlighting his administration’s achievements in the first year. Central to his briefing was the administration’s aggressive actions against illegal immigration. He emphasized that the enforcement operations targeted murderers, drug traffickers, human smugglers, and criminal networks, successfully removing thousands of dangerous individuals from U.S. streets. While acknowledging that mistakes occurred and…

China has demanded that Afghanistan ensure the safety of Chinese citizens after a bombing in Kabul killed at least seven people, including a Chinese man. The explosion occurred at a Chinese Noodle restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area, a popular spot for Chinese Muslims, officials said. The blast, claimed by the regional branch of the Islamic State group, was reportedly a suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Afghan police confirmed six Afghan citizens also died in the attack, and five Chinese nationals were wounded. China’s foreign ministry urged immediate action, calling on Afghan authorities to treat…

Missouri’s budget received a small boost this week with the discovery of a $250 million error in state projections, but officials emphasized that tight spending controls remain necessary. State Budget Director Dan Haug told the House Budget Committee that more than $100 million in disaster relief funds had been mistakenly counted in both this year’s and next year’s budgets. Correcting the error increases the projected ending balance for the coming fiscal year from $4.7 million to $261 million. Although the adjustment improves the bottom line, Haug said it does not change the state’s core fiscal challenge: ongoing expenditures still exceed…

A Republican bill in New Hampshire that would require voters to approve local tax caps every two years faced heavy criticism during its first public hearing on Tuesday. The proposal aims to limit spending by cities, towns, and school districts but has drawn concerns from lawmakers and local leaders. The plan, part of a broader GOP effort to rein in local spending, would force communities to vote on property tax limits during high-turnout general elections in November. Supporters say this ensures voters have a say in how much local governments can spend. Critics question whether the state can legally compel…

An 18-year-old man plans to plead guilty to a 2022 mass shooting in North Carolina that left five people dead, including his older brother, his lawyers said Tuesday. The plea will allow him to avoid a trial scheduled for next month. Austin Thompson’s attorneys filed a notice in Wake County court saying their client intends to plead guilty to all charges. A hearing had been set for Wednesday ahead of the Feb. 2 trial. Thompson was 15 when the shootings occurred on Oct. 13, 2022. Authorities say the rampage began in his Raleigh neighborhood with his 16-year-old brother. His attorneys…

Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources, said his company will halt oil drilling in North Dakota’s Bakken shale for the first time in more than 30 years. The move comes as crude prices remain low and cut into profit margins for drilling operations. Hamm, a major figure in the U.S. shale oil industry, told Bloomberg that weak prices have made drilling rigs less profitable. He said there is no reason to drill new wells when costs outweigh financial return. However, he added that drilling could resume if oil prices rise in the future. Continental Resources helped fuel North Dakota’s oil…