Retro Japan: Hagi merchant mansion blends samurai grandeur with centuries-old town life

The Mainichi - Sep 27, 2026

HAGI, Yamaguchi -- White walls line the streets of the former Hagi domain's castle town in this western Japan city. Passing through the "nagayamon," a

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Sep 28, 2026

Swiss voters reject tighter neutrality rules that would have curbed NATO cooperation

ZURICH — Swiss voters on Sunday firmly rejected a proposal to adopt a more restrictive form of neutrality that would have blocked their country from imposing economic sanctions or cooperating with NATO. All cantons and about 70 percent of voters rejected the proposal for a strictly defined version of neutrality to be written into the Swiss constitution, final results from the Federal Statistical Office showed. "This result is not a vote against neutrality. Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it is neutral today, and it will remain neutral in the future," Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at a press conference following the outcome. While Swiss neutrality has been internationally recognised since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, how the government implements it is not spelled out. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) has said that Switzerland's traditional position has been eroded after Bern imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The campaign had funded posters across the country urging people to vote "No war, yes to neutrality," featuring white peac

Sep 28, 2026

Trump expects new Iran talks despite rejecting deal offer

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite his rejection of a truce proposal put forward by Tehran. Iranian officials brought with them to the U.N. General Assembly in New York a plan for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Trump dismissed the plan and has mused on resuming full-scale air strikes on Iranian targets, but he told the news platform Axios that he expects negotiations to resume. "They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make," Trump told Axios. "It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago." "They overplayed their hand," Trump said, in the interview published Sunday. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Axios reported that indirect talks between Washington and Tehran could take place as early as Monday. On Sunday, Iran was still standing by its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the Gulf front of the Middle East war locked in a stalemate, while fighting rages in Yemen. 'We will not back down' Horm

Sep 28, 2026

Trump asked China's president if he wants to buy US arms, ambassador says

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has justified the pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world — even asking Xi if he’d be in the market for U.S. arms, Trump’s ambassador to China said on Sunday. David Perdue said Trump raised the prospect of the arms sales from the U.S. to its ascendant geopolitical rival, an unlikely offer that if consummated would upend generations of U.S. policy toward China and Taiwan and potentially expose U.S. technology to a potential foe. Perdue, speaking to Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday” days after Trump hosted Xi for a state visit in Washington, didn't specify when the offer was made. Bream had cited concerns from Republican and Democratic lawmakers over delayed aid packages and weapons orders to Taiwan , the self-ruled democracy, to defend itself from China’s threat to invade the island. Bream asked if the U.S. is denying Taiwan to appease the Chinese president, who visited Trump last week. Perdue pushed back on the suggestion, stating that

Sep 28, 2026

Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Lisa win at MTV's Video Music Awards

LOS ANGELES — Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter claimed best collaboration and K-pop superstar Lisa won best pop video as MTV kicked off its annual Video Music Awards on Sunday. "Bring Your Love" from Madonna and Carpenter earned the VMA collaboration award at the show in downtown Los Angeles. The pair had opened the ceremony with a high-energy performance of the song to the cheering crowd. Madonna, the night's top nominee, said she enjoyed working with Carpenter because their work styles complemented each other. "When I show up late, she shows up early," Madonna said, adding that both share the old-school habit of writing lyrics on pieces of paper. "It's been wonderful working with you, and I love this song," she added. Lisa, a member of the group Blackpink, won the VMA for best pop video for her solo effort "Dream." Sporting a black outfit with large white fringe sleeves, she spoke through tears as she thanked her fans, known as Lillies. "I wouldn't be here without you guys," she said as she held the VMA Moon Person trophy. "Thank you so much for your love and support." Taylor Swift was in

Sep 28, 2026

70% Swiss say no: Switzerland rejects push for tighter neutrality amid Russia war

The initiative would have restricted Switzerland from joining sanctions against other countries unless those measures had been imposed by the United Nations. That would have significantly affected Switzerland’s ability to impose sanctions independently. Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has veto power over decisions by the council.

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Retro Japan: Hagi merchant mansion blends samurai grandeur with centuries-old town life

Swiss voters reject tighter neutrality rules that would have curbed NATO cooperation

Trump expects new Iran talks despite rejecting deal offer

Trump asked China's president if he wants to buy US arms, ambassador says

Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and Lisa win at MTV's Video Music Awards

70% Swiss say no: Switzerland rejects push for tighter neutrality amid Russia war

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