Japan's new government boasts a record number of women, including two cabinet ministers, slightly shifting the gender balance in a country with historically low female representation in politics. The election victory of the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) altered the demographic map of the lower house, with 54 women winning seats in the 480-member chamber, up from 43 after the last election. One of them, Keiko Chiba, 61, is the new justice minister, who opposes the death penalty... Read Full Story
Japan's top opposition leader announced Monday that he will resign to keep a political funding scandal from pulling down his party in upcoming parliamentary elections. Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, told a news conference he had decided to resign because he does not want the scandal involving one of his aides to cloud the elections, which must be held by Sept. 10. "I deeply apologize," he said. "I must do this for myself, for the people and for my party." The... Read Full Story
The commander of US forces in Japan said Thursday a plan for the realignment of its bases there must be completed, speaking weeks before a crucial national election. Lieutenant General Edward A. Rice said the deal, which includes moving some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa island to the US territory of Guam, "is the right agreement for Japan and the people of the United States." The plan has been controversial, in part because Japan would pay billions of dollars for the move, and because US... Read Full Story
TOKYO: Ichiro Ozawa Chief of Democratic Party of Japan on Monday expressed his intention to step down as party head to take responsibility for the political funds scandal involving Nishimatsu Construction Co., party sources said.
Ozawa reportedly conveyed his intention to DPJ executives, according to the sources.
He said he decided to step down because of his strong desire that the DPJ win the next House of Representatives election.
Ozawa was to hold a press conference in the evening... Read Full Story
Japan's opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, under fire over a political donations scandal, on Monday stepped down ahead of polls that conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso must call by September. Ozawa -- head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) -- has been hit hard by the scandal, in which a top aide has been indicted for taking illegal donations from a construction company. "To strengthen our party unity for a victory in the upcoming general elections and for a change of government, I have... Read Full Story
TOKYO: Ichiro Ozawa Chief of Democratic Party of Japan on Monday expressed his intention to step down as party head to take responsibility for the political funds scandal involving Nishimatsu Construction Co., party sources said.
Ozawa reportedly conveyed his intention to DPJ executives, according to the sources.
He said he decided to step down because of his strong desire that the DPJ win the next House of Representatives election.
Ozawa was to hold a press conference in the evening... Read Full Story
Japan's opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, under fire over a political donations scandal, has told officials of his party that he plans to resign, media reports said Monday. Ozawa and his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have been hit hard by the scandal, involving funds from construction firm Nishimatsu, ahead of elections Prime Minister Taro Aso must call by September. "DPJ representative Ozawa told several senior members of his party of his intention to resign in order to avoid the impact of... Read Full Story
A second candidate entered the race Thursday to lead Japan's scandal-tainted main opposition party and run against conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso in elections later this year. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set to choose a new president Saturday who will run for premier and seek to end more than half a century of almost unbroken rule by Aso's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The new DPJ chief will take over from Ichiro Ozawa, who caved in to months of pressure and stepped down... Read Full Story
Support for Japanese Premier Taro Aso's cabinet has risen to more than four points ahead of his opposition rival, who is facing a money scandal, according to a new poll Monday. Aso must call elections by late September, when the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) hopes to end about a half century of nearly unbroken rule by Aso's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa long led Aso in the polls, but a political donations scandal involving a close aide... Read Full Story
Nicknamed "Mr. Clean" for his battle against corruption in Japan's scandal-hit politics, Katsuya Okada is widely seen by the public as a potential future candidate for the country's leadership. At 56, Okada is known for refusing all types of gifts, from large donations by lobbyists to chocolates on Valentine's Day. The vice president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Okada has been described as the white knight who could still save his party's reputation after its... Read Full Story
From Spain's Princess Letizia to Italy's Mara Carfagna, the game of politics is no stranger to beautiful, powerful women. Following is a list of women whose influence is matched only by their sheer hotness.
We've rounded up the fifty most infamous female teacher sex scandals the Internet has seen, and ranked them from most famous to least. We do it because we care.
