February 13, Tuesday, 2024

1. A working team put together by Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to start discussing potential revisions to the political funds control law. The party has been rocked by a political funding scandal involving some of its factions.
2. An economist says US pop singer Taylor Swift has given a significant boost to Japan’s economy. Eto Mitsumasa says Swift’s four days of concerts in Tokyo last week have generated an economic impact of over 34 billion yen, or about 228 million dollars.
3. US President Joe Biden says the United States is trying to secure at least a six-week pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The US and others have been trying to broker an agreement to pause the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas.