Search - 2023

 
 
Far from making America great again, Donald Trump’s actions since assuming the presidency are giving a giant boost to China’s attempts at world leadership.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 7, 2025

‘America First’ in action

Far from making America great again, Trump is giving a giant boost to China’s claims to world leadership.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 8, 2025

Trump targets U.S. trade deficit in first meeting with Ishiba

The two leaders pledged to pursue a "new golden age" of U.S.-Japan relations — though Ishiba did get an earful about America's trade deficit with its ally.
The Supreme Court could be called upon in the coming weeks or months to act in a challenge to U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, depending on how quickly appeals move through the lower courts.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Feb 8, 2025

As U.S. Supreme Court girds for Trump cases, can it be an 'effective firewall'?

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump's views of presidential authority appear far less restrained than those of his White House predecessors.
The Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2025

Kansai Electric to ship more spent nuclear fuel to France

The move comes as Fukui Prefecture, home to several nuclear plants, urges Kansai Electric to address shrinking storage capacity for spent nuclear fuel, the sources said.
A participant in a research study to test a new device to prevent pregnancy and HIV infection, leaves a clinic in Vulindlela, South Africa, on Wednesday. A U.S. Agency for International Development-funded trial shut down, leaving a medical device in her body that needed to be removed right away.
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 9, 2025

Trump administration cuts put medical progress at risk, researchers say

The new policy, which takes effect Monday, will cap "indirect funds” for costs like buildings, utilities and support staff at 15% and is aimed at saving $4 billion.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump, at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka in 2019.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 10, 2025

Trump's plan for U.S. to own Gaza provokes rebuke from Middle East

Trump's idea to take over and redevelop Gaza faces mounting opposition, with Jordan's King Abdullah calling it a dangerous plan that could destabilize the region.
The new Nippon TV series “The Hot Spot” follows an alien superhero navigating rural Japanese life but focuses more on dialogue than splashy, action-packed plot points.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
Feb 10, 2025

‘The Hot Spot’: Close encounters of the mundane kind

Japanese dramas have been taking bolder risks recently, and Bakarhythm’s new sci-fi series surprises by centering its high-concept ideas on trivial occurrences.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) and head coach Nick Sirianni celebrate after winning Super Bowl LIX at the New Orleans Superdome on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Feb 10, 2025

Eagles dominate Chiefs to capture Super Bowl title and prevent three-peat

The game was played before a crowd that included U.S. President Donald Trump and pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Israeli military vehicles drive past destruction in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel on Jan. 26.
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2025

Investors return to new-look Middle East, but Trump causes some concern

President Donald Trump's proposal that the U.S. take over Gaza may have thrown a curveball into the mix, but recent events in the Middle East have fed hopes of a reset.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that U.S. Steel would remain American.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 10, 2025

Nippon Steel goes quiet after U.S. Steel deal seemingly nixed for good

Comments over the weekend by U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba point to the U.S. steelmaker remaining American.
Giving out courtesy chocolates to coworkers on Valentine's Day is becoming obsolete.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 10, 2025

How giving chocolates on Valentine’s Day is evolving in Japan

One change is fewer people are handing out chocolates to others at work, which had been a widespread practice over the past few decades.
Billionaire Elon Musk's bid is likely to ratchet up longstanding tensions with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the future of the ChatGPT maker at the heart of a boom in generative AI technology.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 11, 2025

Musk-led group makes $97.4 billion bid for control of OpenAI

The move was another salvo in billionaire Elon Musk's fight to block the AI startup from transitioning to a for-profit firm.
An unmanned Hamadori drone developed by Japanese company Space Entertainment Laboratory and equipped with various sensor options for surveys is displayed at the Japan Drone 2020 exhibition at Makuhari Messe in the city of Chiba in September 2020.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2025

Japan exploring drone production capabilities for military aid program

Tokyo has begun asking local firms about their capabilities to determine which systems it could provide under the next tranche of security assistance in fiscal 2025 and beyond.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashes a victory sign as he arrives at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters to celebrate the party's win in the Delhi legislative assembly election in New Delhi on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 11, 2025

Anti-Muslim hate speech surged in India's election year, led by Modi

At rallies Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" and claimed the main opposition party would redistribute the nation's wealth to them if it won.
U.S. President Donald Trump made reference to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has competed as a woman, in a speech after signing an order on transgender participation in sports, calling her "a male boxer."
SPORTS
Feb 11, 2025

Trump order on transgender athletes clashes with international norms

There was no immediate outpouring of support from international organizations for the U.S. president's move.
Donald Trump has halted most U.S. government-funded aid globally for 90 days, while moving to dismantle USAID, which he accused of being run "by a bunch of radical lunatics."
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Feb 11, 2025

U.S aid freeze risks handing influence to China in Beijing's backyard

Trump has halted most U.S. government-funded aid globally for 90 days, while moving to dismantle USAID, which he accused of being run "by a bunch of radical lunatics."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 12, 2025

China removes buoy in Japan's EEZ near Senkakus amid warming ties

The buoy’s removal comes as Beijing looks to further improve relations with Tokyo — and drive a wedge between the U.S. and Japan.
U.S. President Donald Trump and King Abdullah II of Jordan shake hands during a meeting in the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 12, 2025

Trump eases off aid threat after Jordan agrees to take ill Gaza children

The king's visit to Washington shows Arab leaders have little choice but to deal with the emboldened U.S. president.
An Israeli tank on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 12, 2025

Netanyahu says Israel will end Gaza ceasefire if hostages not returned on Saturday

Following Netanyahu's ultimatum, Hamas issued a statement renewing its commitment to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of jeopardizing the truce.
Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring Real Madrid's winning goal against Manchester City in the Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Feb 12, 2025

Guardiola can't explain another late City collapse to Real Madrid

Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham struck late to erase Manchester City's 2-1 lead, the latter netting the winner in the 92nd minute.
Self-Defense Forces members march in formation at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefectures, last November. Japan has picked the head of its new Joint Operations Command, which is set to be launched on March 24 at the Defense Ministry's headquarters in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2025

SDF Joint Staff official tapped as first chief of new Joint Operations Command

The Joint Operations Command for the ASDF, the Ground SDF and the Maritime SDF is set to be launched in March at the Defense Ministry's headquarters in Tokyo.
Sam Altman (left) and Elon Musk were among the 11-person team that founded OpenAI in 2015.
BUSINESS / Tech
Feb 12, 2025

AI feud: How Musk and Altman's partnership turned toxic

Facing a barrage of hostility, Altman has increasingly suggested that Musk's actions stem from regret over leaving OpenAI in 2018.
The Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters in the city of Osaka
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 12, 2025

Osaka police arrest man for abandoning his wife’s body

His wife was last seen leaving work early at around 2 p.m. on May 26 last year.
Construction workers in Pasadena, California, on Tuesday. The U.S. could lose millions of workers in the construction industry if President Donald Trump carries through on his campaign of mass deportations, with workers in agriculture, bars and restaurants also at risk.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Feb 12, 2025

Trump deportations send construction workers 'back to the shadows'

Such a response could worsen a labor shortage that already threatens to delay homebuilding and exacerbate a housing affordability crisis.
The International Criminal Court is pursuing arrest warrants for Taliban leaders accused of human rights abuses against Afghan women and girls, but legal and political obstacles complicate the process.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2025

The long road to justice for Afghan women

Afghan women and girls need every bit of global support they can get to push back against the Taliban’s unhinged misogyny.
Japanese companies face mounting pressure as U.S.-China tensions grow, forcing them to navigate security concerns, economic dependencies and shifting trade policies.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 12, 2025

For Japanese firms, the China dilemma is set to intensify

“America First” and “Make America Great Again” are simple slogans that can be fitted to any outcome. All that ultimately matters is the final say of the president.
Israeli soldiers stand on top of a tank at the border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
WORLD
Feb 13, 2025

Israel calls up reservists as fears over Gaza ceasefire breaking grow

Hamas had agreed to free three more hostages on Saturday but said this week that it was suspending the handover over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms.
By cancer type, the 10-year survival rate was 57.9% for stomach cancer, the most common cancer among the patients surveyed.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 13, 2025

Japan's 10-year cancer survival rate stands at 54% in latest survey

The rate was 57.9% for stomach cancer, the most common cancer among patients surveyed.
Ispace CEO Takeshi Hakamada says the company believes joint lunar missions between United States and Japan will remain on course after the leaders of the two countries met last week.
BUSINESS
Feb 13, 2025

Ispace upbeat as Trump keeps Artemis lunar missions with Japan

Launched last month, Ispace's Resilience lander will approach the moon in about three months for the company's second lunar touchdown.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani warms up during spring training in Glendale, Arizona, Tuesday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Feb 13, 2025

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani expected to throw first bullpen session this weekend

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023 while still with the Los Angeles Angels. He was unable to pitch in 2024.

Longform

The building of new high-rise residential buildings has some alarmed that they could empty and fall into disrepair as Japan's population shrinks.
The high cost of letting Japan's condos crumble