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December 25, 2024
 

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Andrew Gray
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pose for a photograph after signing a memorandum of understanding during a NATO foreign ministers' meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 4, 2024
Ukraine pushes for NATO membership as allies sidestep call for invite
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said an invitation would remove one of Russia's main arguments for waging its war: preventing its entry into the alliance.
Ukrainian service members rest in a dugout near the front-line city of Toretsk, Ukraine, on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 30, 2024
As U.S. election nears, Europe worries over impact on Ukraine war and NATO
A Donald Trump win remains a concern given his strong criticism of the military alliance and his ambivalent view of Kyiv's fight against Russia's invasion.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes over as NATO secretary-general from Jens Stoltenberg of Norway at a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 1, 2024
Mark Rutte set to assume NATO top job amid Ukraine and U.S. uncertainty
Rutte is expected to continue rallying support for Ukraine, pushing members to spend more on defense and keeping the U.S. engaged in European security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Kyiv on April 29
WORLD / Politics
Jul 9, 2024
How the NATO summit in Washington will affect Ukraine membership
This year, many NATO countries want to state that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible." 
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) looks on as French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters on the day of a joint Franco-German cabinet meeting in Gransee, Germany, on May 28.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 4, 2024
As France votes, Europe holds its breath
The big fear for the European Union's traditional political mainstream is an outright National Rally victory in France.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a news conference in Berlin on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 11, 2024
EU centrists work to build coalition after far-right parties gain in vote
The rightward shift may make it tougher to pass new legislation to respond to security challenges, climate change or industrial competition from China and the U.S.
European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 18, 2024
EU leaders back new Iran sanctions after attack on Israel
Leaders condemned the attack, reaffirmed commitment to Israel's security and urged prevention of more tensions.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 5, 2024
NATO allies aim to send more air defense aid to Ukraine but make no concrete pledges
The alliance's 75th anniversary has been overshadowed by the war on its borders.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg presents the alliance's annual report at NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 14.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 3, 2024
NATO ministers mull €100 billion military fund for Ukraine
The plans will be discussed during a two-day meeting in Brussels.
European Council President Charles Michel during a news conference in Brussels on Feb. 1
WORLD / Politics
Mar 21, 2024
EU leaders to discuss using profits from Russian assets to arm Ukraine
EU leaders have voiced alarm about the state of the war in recent weeks, with ammunition-starved Ukrainian forces struggling to hold back Russian troops.
French President Emmanuel Macron's comments fitted with his reputation as a diplomatic disruptor who likes to break taboos and challenge conventional thinking.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Feb 28, 2024
Macron's Ukraine troop talk shakes up NATO allies
The French president's idea of possibly sending troops to Ukraine was so ambiguous that he sparked confusion and irritation among some allies.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg traveled to the U.S. last month for a visit partly designed to sell the alliance and support for Ukraine to the Donald Trump camp.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 19, 2024
Europe seeks to sway Trump camp on NATO and Ukraine aid
European leaders argue that they are spending more on defense and will do more, and that protecting Europe projects U.S. strength to China.
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares shells to fire a L119 howitzer toward Russian troops from a position near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Jan. 25.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 1, 2024
EU grapples with future of military aid for Ukraine
Most EU countries are ready to inject €5 billion into the military aid fund to help Kyiv but Germany wants changes to the fund first.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel during an EU summit in Kyiv on Feb. 3.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 15, 2023
EU grants Ukraine membership talks but can't agree on financial aid
The move comes at a critical time for Ukraine, with its counteroffensive against Russian forces having failed to make major gains.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the day of the annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday
WORLD / Politics
Sep 14, 2023
Hungary seen as stumbling block to Ukraine's EU membership
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban cultivates warmer ties with Moscow than many of his EU peers and has repeatedly locked horns with Kyiv.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
May 27, 2023
NATO struggles in the shadows to find new leader
Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, the transatlantic military alliance's secretary-general, is due to step down at the end of September after nine years in the post.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 13, 2023
German foreign minister embarks on post-Macron 'damage control' in China trip
The French leader provoked a backlash in the United States and Europe when he called on the European Union to reduce dependence on the U.S.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 9, 2023
Zelenskyy takes pitch for weapons and EU membership to Brussels
Following a surprise visit to Washington in December, the trip was the Ukrainian leader's second-known time out of his country since the war began.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Honda-Nissan megamerger in the works
Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida (left), Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe (second from left) and Takao Kato, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors, hold a news conference on merger talks on Monday in Tokyo.
Picturesque Japan hot spring town limits day trippers
Ginzan Onsen hot springs in Obanazawa, Yamagata Prefecture
Bankruptcies and suicides rise as Japanese struggle with mounting debt
Lawyers estimate that personal bankruptcies in Japan are on track to reach the highest since 2012 this year.
Japan accuses Google of violating antimonopoly law
The Japanese antitrust watchdog said that Google forced smartphone makers to preinstall its search app on their devices, sources say.
For baseball fans, 2024 brought The Summer of Shohei Ohtani
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to a standing ovation from fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season, against the Marlins in Miami on Sept. 19.
Trump's Pentagon policy pick pushed for Japan to spend 3% of GDP on defense
Elbridge Colby (center) speaks at the Threat and the Strategy panel during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in September 2019.
A brief history of ‘osechi ryōri,' Japan's edible tradition for the new year
Japan's traditional New Year cuisine has a long history, though modern developments have led to slight changes in the way things work.
Japan accuses Google of violating antimonopoly law
The Japanese antitrust watchdog said that Google forced smartphone makers to preinstall its search app on their devices, sources say.
Casual workouts, cool living, ‘complete’ food: Japan’s health trends of 2024
In 2024, efficiency trumped effort among Japan's fitness-focused aspirants.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
By Kathryn Wortley

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