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Japan's major paper manufacturers are developing a new fiber to expand the use of wood amid a decline in domestic demand for paper.
BUSINESS
Aug 21, 2023

Japan paper industry to develop new wood fiber material

With demand for paper in the doldrums, the industry is looking to expand the use of wood, a renewable resource, beyond paper products.
A Taiwanese air force pilot inspects ordnance on an Indigenous Defense Fighter at an undisclosed military base in Taiwan on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 21, 2023

Taiwan proposes record defense budget, though spending growth slows

It would be the island's seventh consecutive year of growth in military spending, though the rate of growth will be slower than this year's 14% rise.
The initial public offering for Arm Holdings is set to be the biggest in the United States this year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 22, 2023

SoftBank’s planned IPO for Arm set to be biggest of 2023

Arm didn’t disclose proposed terms for the share sale in the document, but it’s expected to seek a valuation of $60 billion to $70 billion.
Sha'carri Richardson celebrates winning gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Monday.
MORE SPORTS / Athletics
Aug 22, 2023

Sha’Carri Richardson is the fastest woman in the world

Richardson on Monday won her first title at a world track and field championships, running 10.65 seconds to win the 100 meters.
Spain players celebrate with the trophy after winning the World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Aug 22, 2023

Success of Women's World Cup can't hide financial gap with men

The 2023 World Cup buoyed hopes that the women's game can start to bridge the yawning financial gap.
New Zealand's Dane Coles celebrates after winning a Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, on Aug. 5.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 22, 2023

All Blacks star 'gobsmacked' by former coach assisting Australia

Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen is helping rivals Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup, it was revealed this week.
Jenni Hermoso celebrates with Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales after Spain's victory in the World Cup final on Sunday.
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Aug 22, 2023

Spanish soccer boss apologizes for kissing World Cup star

Luis Rubiales planted the kiss on Jenni Hermoso after she collected her medal following the final in Sydney, provoking outrage in Spain.
Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas (left) battles for the ball against English forward Lauren James during in the final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sydney on Sunday. Spain won the match 1-0.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 22, 2023

FIFA boss should read the pitch on women’s pay

More than 2 billion people are expected to have tuned in. About 2 million attended matches in person. Both records. The FIFA Women’s World Cup generated more than $570 million to break even.
Leaders from the BRICS group of major emerging economies are set to meet this week in South Africa, but internal divisions are likely to slow any plans to expand the bloc, experts say.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 22, 2023

Divergent interests likely to slow BRICS expansion

Plans to expand the bloc and boost payments in local currencies will top the agenda at the group's summit this week.
An office worker in London. A new report found that 36% of so-called workpoints — cubicles and desks — are never occupied, "indicating a general oversupply.”
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 23, 2023

More than one-third of desks globally sit empty all week long

The dearth of desk usage could prompt employers to rethink their real estate needs.
Flames reach upward along the edge of a wildfire near Mistissini, Quebec, in June.
ENVIRONMENT
Aug 23, 2023

As wildfires multiply, a new era of air pollution

The average American had already been exposed to 450 micrograms of smoke per cubic meter by early July, worse than from 2006-2022.
Former U.S. President and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump walks off stage after speaking at an event in Las Vegas on July 8.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 23, 2023

Trump set to upstage Republican rivals despite debate no-show

Five months ahead of the start of primary elections to choose the party's flag-bearer, the runaway front-runner's grassroots support is as strong as ever.
Robust demand from visitors for lodgings and rising prices in Japan create an ideal scenario to fuel a boom for investment in hotels.
BUSINESS
Aug 23, 2023

Goldman, KKR and Blackstone join investor rush for Japan hotels

Compared with before the pandemic, visitors to Japan are spending more, with most of that money going on lodgings and hospitality.
Hoshoryu (left) beats rank-and-file wrestler Hokutofuji in a playoff on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena last month.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 23, 2023

A closer look at sumo's 'hot hand' after Hokutofuji's Nagoya run

Hokutofuji’s career best 12-win outing in July not only came out of the blue, but was his first winning record of any kind since the previous September.
Artificial intelligence is likely to help Big Tech companies cement their industry dominance as they are the ones with the resources to develop and maintain the most powerful AI models.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 23, 2023

Unlocking AI’s potential for everyone

The tech industry’s dominant players are now deploying artificial-intelligence models to reinforce their positions in the market.
England's Mary Earps won the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper of the 2023 Women's World Cup
SOCCER / Women's World cup
Aug 24, 2023

England goalkeeper Mary Earps hits back at Nike over statement

England goalkeeper Mary Earps has questioned a Nike statement regarding the unavailability of her replica jersey during the recent Women's World Cup.
People visit Semicon China, a trade fair for semiconductor technology, in Shanghai in 2021
BUSINESS
Aug 24, 2023

China quietly hires overseas chip talent as U.S. tightens curbs

The revamped recruitment drive is said to offer perks including home-purchase subsidies and typical signing bonuses of $420,000 to $700,000.
A promotional poster for the film "Barbie" in Tokyo on Aug. 3
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 23, 2023

Why is the ‘Barbie’ movie bombing in Japanese theaters?

The fact that the movie's female empowerment theme won’t have a positive, lasting impact in Japan is a shame.
Foreign visitors in Kyoto. Local governments are rushing to use big data on spending by foreign visitors to analyze trends.
JAPAN
Aug 24, 2023

Local governments tap big data on spending by foreign visitors

Such data allows authorities to analyze consumption trends in detail, "visualize" markets and place targeted advertisements.
The release of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the sea in the town of Okuma, in Fukushima prefecture, began Thursday.
JAPAN / Explainer
Aug 24, 2023

A closer look at the Fukushima water discharge plan

The IAEA, the Japanese government and many nuclear experts say this process is safe and consistent with what other countries are doing.
Russian businessman and co-founder of Alfa Group Mikhail Fridman (left) attends a conference in Moscow in September 2019.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 24, 2023

Sympathy for the oligarch

As private actors sought to navigate the collapse of the Soviet economy, they ended up shaping it into something far more functional and prosperous.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster is not concerned about former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen helping Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Aug 24, 2023

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has no issues with Steve Hansen helping Australia

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster insisted Wednesday he had known for a month that predecessor Steve Hansen had agreed to help rival Australia prepare for the Rugby World Cup.
Solar panels at a proof-of-concept site for green hydrogen production in Vredendal, South Africa
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 25, 2023

The key to greening heavy industry

If the world’s vast ocean resources can be tapped directly to produce hydrogen, there will be no holding back the green transition.
The Netherlands' Femke Bol (left) and Shamier Little of the U.S. compete during the women's 400-meter hurdles at the world championships in Budapest on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Athletics
Aug 25, 2023

Femke Bol captures long-awaited gold in 400-meter hurdles at worlds

Bol's win helped her put last week's crushing relay heartbreak behind her.
Investors stand in front of an electronic board showing stock information on the first trading day after the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday at a brokerage house in Shanghai.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Aug 26, 2023

China’s market rescue is failing as Xi holds back on stimulus

China’s regulators face a losing battle convincing global funds to invest in the nation’s stocks without stronger stimulus packages.
President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales announces he will not quit after his kiss on the lips of a star player sparked outrage.
SOCCER
Aug 27, 2023

FIFA suspends Spanish soccer chief over World Cup kiss

The outrage began after Rubiales celebrated Spain’s victory by kissing Jennifer Hermoso on the lips.
Noah Lyles celebrates after the U.S. won the men's 4x100 meter relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Athletics
Aug 27, 2023

Gold rush for Noah Lyles and Faith Kipyegon at world championships

On an enthralling night's action Armand "Mondo" Duplantis and Sha'Carri Richardson also rubberstamped their authority in their events.
A new Russian textbook for high school students on general world and national history
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 27, 2023

Putin’s history lessons fail to heed the lessons of history

Putin seems to have forgotten is that rewriting history to serve the interests of those in power tends to invite dissent and often backfires.
Three MV-22B tilt-rotor Ospreys fly in formation above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Sydney in June 2017. A U.S. Marine Osprey crashed on a remote island north of Australia's mainland while taking part in military exercises on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 28, 2023

Three U.S. Marines die in Osprey crash during Australia drills

Australian personnel were not involved in the crash that occurred during Exercise Predator's Run 2023.
Members of the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and U.S. armed forces carry national flags during the opening ceremony of joint military exercises in Taguig, Philippines, in October 2022.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Aug 27, 2023

How Japan can make the most of its latest diplomatic tool

Japan recently decided to establish a policy of Official Security Assistance. But how can it ensure its success?

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?