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Ra Mason

Ra Mason

Lecturer in International Relations and Japanese Foreign Policy, University of East Anglia

I have spent the past 20 years working, researching and writing in the field of Japanese studies. This includes time spent as a Coordinator for International Relations and researcher in Okinawa, as a translator in Tokyo and, most recently, as Associate Professor of Public Policy at Tohoku University.

Shinzo Abe's latest cabinet reshuffle could transform Japan

Sep 28, 2019 14:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

With just two years until he will likely step down, the time left to Shinzo Abe, Japans very soon-to-be longest serving postwar prime minister, is limited. But if his latest cabinet reshuffle is anything to go by, it seems...

Global Geopolitics Series

Profile: Japan's controversial, shrewd and ambitious Shinzo Abe

Oct 08, 2017 10:33 am UTC| Insights & Views

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe campaigns in a snap election, he looks set to enter into an unprecedented third term in office, and become Japans longest serving postwar prime minister. So who is he? What is the...

North Korea knows it can't afford to go to war

Aug 12, 2017 14:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The current flare-up over North Koreas missile tests and Donald Trumps belligerent response is frightening for many, but anyone worried that Pyongyang wants to start a war is fortunately mistaken. For all its fighting...

Global Geopolitics Series

Japan and South Korea's latest row could have deeper consequences

Jan 18, 2017 16:17 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Japan and South Korea have reopened an old spat over wartime sexual slavery, or so-called Comfort Women. The latest flare-up began when a bronze statue of a girl representing former comfort women was installed in front of...

Global Geopolitics Series

Japan's change in military outlook marks the end of a 'Peace State'

Dec 26, 2016 01:00 am UTC| Insights & Views

Thanks to the constitution imposed on its citizens by the US after the end of World War II, Japan has long been thought of by pacifists as a Peace State. Article 9 of the constitution states that: The Japanese people...

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Economy

Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act

The Federal Reserve has proposed a broad regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuers, moving forward with implementation of the GENIUS Act and efforts to bring dollar-backed digital assets further into the...

U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge

The U.S. dollar strengthened for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday, reaching its highest level in nearly two months as rising oil prices, surging Treasury yields and expectations for further Federal Reserve rate...

U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High

U.S. Treasury yields surged again Thursday as investors sold government bonds amid rising inflation concerns, strong economic data and growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates. The...

Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals

Chicago soybean futures edged lower on Thursday as traders closely watched Chinese President Xi Jinpings state visit to Washington for signs of progress on U.S.-China agricultural trade and future soybean purchases. CBOT...

European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh

European stocks closed lower on Thursday as rising bond yields, geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence weighed on investor sentiment. The pan-European STOXX 600 dropped...

Politics

North Korea Warns South Korea Over US-Led Defense Role

North Korea warned that South Korea could become a decisive target for collective retaliation if Seoul develops into a central hub for a US-led collective defense system, according to state media KCNA on Friday. The...

Pezeshkian Says US Must Choose When Iran War Ends

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States holds the key to ending the Iran war, signaling that Tehran does not want the conflict to continue but will not surrender under US pressure. Asked whether the war...

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Restore Third-Country Deportations

President Donald Trumps administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to continue deporting migrants to countries other than their homelands without automatically giving them an opportunity to raise...

Netanyahu Defends Israel at UN as Delegates Stage Walkout

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, defending Israels military actions as dozens of delegates walked out in protest. The speech came as...

US Backs Musk in Fight Against EU’s €120 Million X Fine

The U.S. government has formally moved to join Elon Musks legal challenge against a 120 million ($136.5 million) European Union fine imposed on his social media platform X, escalating a dispute over the reach of European...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Jeff Bezos Invests $32 Billion in Blue Origin as Space Firm Targets Major Growth

Jeff Bezos has invested about $32 billion in Blue Origin since founding the space company in 2000, underscoring the Amazon founders long-term commitment to competing in the rapidly expanding commercial space industry....

OpenAI to Preview GPT-6 Cyber AI Model for Cybersecurity

OpenAI is preparing to preview GPT-6 Cyber, a new artificial intelligence model focused on cybersecurity, within days as the company expands its push into AI-powered security tools, according to a Fortune report cited by...

Former OpenAI Data Center Chief Chris Malone Joins Nvidia

Chris Malone, the former head of data centers at OpenAI, has joined Nvidia as vice president of its DSX Platform, strengthening the chipmakers leadership team as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure continues...

Akamai Shares Surge on $11.6B Anthropic AI Cloud Deal

Akamai Technologies shares jumped as much as 20% in after-hours trading Thursday after the cloud computing company announced an $11.6 billion, seven-year agreement with artificial intelligence firm Anthropic. The contract...

Oracle Shares Fall as New Mexico AI Data Center Faces Power Delays

Oracle Corp. shares fell after reports that the technology giant is seeking protection from financial obligations linked to its massive artificial intelligence data center project in New Mexico amid regulatory and...
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