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Tourists on a beach in China’s Fujian province in May
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2024

China’s tourists to spend nearly $1 trillion on holidays at home

Spending by domestic holidaymakers is expected to be 11% higher than 2019.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during their meeting at the Blue House in Seoul on May 27.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 3, 2024

South Korea to explore vast oil and gas prospects off east coast, Yoon says

The 500 billion won ($363 million) drilling project is slated to begin towards the end of the year, aiming for results by mid-next year.
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz Garfia plays a backhand return to Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime during their men's singles round of sixteen match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Sunday.
TENNIS
Jun 3, 2024

Alcaraz books Tsitsipas rematch as Swiatek races into quarterfinals

Alcaraz says he feels much more like himself in Paris after an injury-hit buildup saw him sidelined for almost a month.
Kazuto Takesako will open his Prizefighter campaign against British boxer Mark Dickinson in Osaka on July 15.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
Jun 3, 2024

$1 million purse on offer at revived Prizefighter event in Osaka

Eight fighters will get their first chance to punch their way to a big payday in Osaka on July 15.
Fans cheer after Japan's men's volleyball team qualified for the Paris Olympics on Oct. 7 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo.
MORE SPORTS / Volleyball
Jun 4, 2024

Japanese volleyball’s fastest growing fan base — female superfans

More than 80% of the fans at men’s domestic competitions are said to be women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
French forward Kylian Mbappe waits for the arrival of the French president at the team's training camp ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France, on Monday.
SOCCER
Jun 4, 2024

'Superstar' Mbappe makes 'dream' move to Real Madrid

The player is set to earn €35 million a season, according to reports in Spain.
While European countries such as Germany have strengthened bilateral ties with Beijing, the EU as a whole is set on reducing reliance on the Chinese economy: a strategy that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls "de-risking."
COMMENTARY / World / Geoeconomic Briefing
May 31, 2024

Europe’s vulnerability in the EU-China-U.S. geoeconomic triangle

Behind a semblance of unity, the EU and U.S. could be on clashing trajectories in their pursuit of economic security to reduce dependence on China.
A person walks past the logo of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Goyang, South Korea, on Tuesday. Seoul will aim to secure critical mineral imports and boost trade ties with Africa as President Yoon Suk-yeol hosts dozens of heads of state from the continent at a major summit.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 4, 2024

South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol pledges closer ties with Africa on minerals and trade

Hosting an inaugural summit, Yoon said South Korea will increase development aid for Africa as it looks to tap the continent's mineral resources and export market potential.
Geely Automobile Holdings' Zeekr electric vehicles bound for shipment to Europe at the Port of Taicang in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, China, on Aug. 24, 2023
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 5, 2024

China risks trade war on two fronts as low-tech exports soar, too

The European Union is poised to slap tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles this week, the latest example of rising barriers to global trade.
Christina Griffin-Jones was a big part of a historically strong U.S. women's team at the 2023 Sumo World Championships.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 5, 2024

American sumo organization becomes battleground in fight for equality

At the heart of the fight is growing opposition to a longtime federation trustee who has not been shy about expressing his homophobic views.
Ilya Sutskever, then-chief scientist at OpenAI, at the company’s offices in San Francisco in March 2023. Sutskever recently left the firm. He had been on the company’s board and had voted to oust Sam Altman, the chief executive, last year.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 5, 2024

OpenAI insiders warn of a ‘reckless’ race for dominance

Sources claim the firm has used hardball tactics to prevent workers from voicing their concerns about certain AI technology.
Mirra Andreeva hits a backhand return against Aryna Sabalenka during the French Open quarterfinals in Paris on Wednesday.
TENNIS
Jun 6, 2024

Teenager Mirra Andreeva stuns Aryna Sabalenka to reach French Open semifinals

Andreeva became the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist in 27 years.
Tomomi Bitoh, 33, Japan's top ultrarunner, stretches as she takes part in a workout session around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 6, 2024

As Japan's birth rate drops, runner freezes her eggs to sustain motherhood dream

Last year Tokyo authorities started offering subsidies of up to ¥300,000 ($1,900) for women aged between 18 and 39 to have their eggs frozen for future pregnancies.
Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin,” once the victim of high waves that dragged it into the sea, sits at the end of a pier on the south side of Naoshima.
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 6, 2024

The sweaty pleasure of Japan’s inconvenient art

This week, writer Thu-Huong Ha is our tour guide into the world of Japan’s inconvenient art movement.
Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City and Mexico's president-elect, during the closing campaign rally at Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City on May 29, 2024.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 7, 2024

Traders stunned by election surprises from Mexico to India

Voters in countries representing roughly 40% of the world’s population and its gross domestic product will have elected new leaders before the year is out.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be appearing in his 11th major tournament at Euro 2024.
SOCCER
Jun 7, 2024

Portugal putting faith in Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024

Roberto Martinez has given Cristiano Ronaldo his full backing since taking over as Portugal coach.
Bharatiya Janata Party supporters celebrate after India's general election results in New Delhi on Tuesday. The BJP emerged with 240 seats, making it the single largest party in the assembly, but well short of the 272 seats it needs for a majority.
EDITORIALS
Jun 7, 2024

India’s election humbles Modi and his party

Even as Prime Minister Modi and the BJP claimed a historic third term, voters recognized the need for moderation in some of its policies.
China isn’t worried that Hyundai and other South Korean firms will outcompete locals. However, their presence ensures a continued supply of production factors: equipment, chemicals and labor.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 7, 2024

Why China wants South Korea to stay open

Countries push for free trade when they have an edge. Beijing knows it.
Indonesian gymnast Rifda Irfanaluthfi practices at the gymnastics training center in Jakarta on May 16.
OLYMPICS / Gymnastics
Jun 8, 2024

Indonesia's first Olympic gymnast encourages others to 'dream higher'

Rifda Irfanaluthfi's feat is even more impressive considering Indonesia does not yet have a national training center for gymnastics
The Asia Peace March is held in observance of Human Rights Day in Tokyo in December 2021. This year, as Japan sits on key U.N. bodies, the government can show leadership in tackling human rights issues in Asia.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 7, 2024

Japan can aid in preventing human rights slide in Asia

As a stable democracy and big development donor, Japan should lead in tackling human rights abuses in countries like China, North Korea and Myanmar, and across Asia.
The BJP’s failure to secure even a simple majority has damaged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reputation not only in the eyes of Indian voters, but also within his own party.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 9, 2024

The Indian election’s winners and losers

The BJP’s failure to secure even a simple majority has damaged Modi’s reputation not only in the eyes of Indian voters, but also within his own party.
Retired boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (left) and mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki pose during a news conference on Monday.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
Jun 10, 2024

Retired boxing great Manny Pacquiao hints at comeback against Mario Barrios

Pacquiao has signed up to fight a three-round exhibition bout against Japanese mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki next month in Saitama.
Some experts believe if Beijing wants to assert its dominance on the world stage, then it is hard to see where common ground for compromise with the West can be found.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2024

The U.S. debate over China policy intensifies

Some experts believe if Beijing wants to assert its dominance on the world, then it is hard to see where common ground for compromise with the West can be found.
Leaders of six major countries hold a joint news conference following an inaugural summit held in the Parisian suburb of Rambouillet in November 1975.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2024

G7 becomes political playmaker; major nations to hold 50th summit

The world's major democracies are set to hold their 50th summit, a milestone for the framework.
People wade through a flooded road in Balagtas, Bulacan province, Philippines, on July 29, 2023.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jun 12, 2024

Hell or high water: Filipino schools lashed by climate extremes

The state weather bureau has said the country is likely to experience more tropical cyclones in 2024 due to the potential return of the La Nina weather phenomenon.
From left: Promoter Frank Warren, fighter Anthony Joshua and Saudi official Turki al-Sheikh attend a fight between Dmitry Bivol and Malik Zinad in Riyadh on June 1.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
Jun 12, 2024

Saudi Arabia wealth fund holding talks to create boxing league, sources say

PIF is looking to invest in a joint venture with some of the sport's stakeholders that would feature more boxing bouts.
In 2023, 15.4% of China's population was over 65, a demographic milestone that typically slows economic growth.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 12, 2024

Is China too old to get rich?

By 2023, 15.4% of China's population was over 65, a demographic milestone that typically slows economic growth.
Naomi Osaka hits a return to Suzan Lamens during their match on Wednesday in Rosmalen, Netherlands.
TENNIS
Jun 13, 2024

Osaka powers into last-eight of Wimbledon warm-up

The four-time Grand Slam winner dispatched home favorite Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2 in less than an hour.
Germany's Toni Kroos during a friendly against the Netherlands on March 26
SOCCER
Jun 13, 2024

Germany braced for Euro 2024 kickoff with France and England favored

The hosts will be looking to make a surprise run on home soil despite the apparent strength of the French and English sides.
Joey Chestnut (left) and Takeru Kobayashi compete in the Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest in New York on July 4, 2009.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 13, 2024

Netflix to air 'ultimate' hot dog eating contest

The announcement comes a day after the esoteric world of speed eating contests was rocked by news that Joey Chestnut had been banned from a popular New York event.

Longform

It's back to the classroom for some residents as municipal governments across the country conduct lessons to learn how to use new technologies.
Can aging Japan go digital without leaving anyone behind?