Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, following her party’s last-minute coalition deal to secure a majority. She succeeds Shigeru Ishiba after his party’s heavy election losses. While Takaichi made history by becoming the first leader of a country where men still largely hold sway, she has not promoted gender equality or diversity. she supports the imperial family’s male-only succession and opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday, following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward. Vance was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials and is expected to stay in the region until Thursday. Vance is also expected to meet with families of hostages whose remains are still in Gaza and some of the living hostages released last week. The ceasefire took effect on October 10.
Hundreds of people gathered at two locations in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul Saturday to protest what they see as authoritarian actions by President Donald Trump’s administration. They were part of a larger movement of over 2,600 no kings protests across the country.
Sabrina Thompson can be reached at thom4836@stthomas.edu
