Search - 2019

 
 
A man rides a scooter past apartment high rises under construction in Zhengzhou, China, in January 2019.
BUSINESS
Apr 30, 2024

Strained Chinese cities struggle to pay homebuying subsidies

Some local governments are unable to raise funds to pay promised subsidies, frustrating buyers and casting doubts over future support measures.
A scene from "The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves" ("Benten Kozo") at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
CULTURE / Stage
May 5, 2024

Students from Hawaii to perform English-language kabuki in Japan

The group will perform "Benten Kozo," a play depicting the twists and turns of five thieves following their own code of honor.
Researcher Mercury Wong holds a rice plant on April 1.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Apr 30, 2024

Hong Kong team plants seeds to safeguard legacy grains

Scientists and farmers in Hong Kong are tending to local varieties of grain they say could be an important food source in the face of climate change.
Angels slugger Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a home run in a game on April 23.
BASEBALL / MLB
May 1, 2024

Angels star Trout to have left knee surgery

The 32-year-old slugger, an 11-time American League All-Star and three-time AL MVP, has struggled with injuries in recent years.
Visitors walk past an image of Chinese leader Xi Jinping inspecting the Shandong aircraft carrier, at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Museum on the 75th founding anniversary of the PLA Navy, in Qingdao, China, on April 23.
ASIA PACIFIC
May 1, 2024

China's newest aircraft carrier begins first sea trials

Experts say the Fujian aircraft carrier — Beijing's most advanced yet — will take it closer to its goal of projecting its military far beyond its shores.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako speak to evacuees at a shelter in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in March.
JAPAN
May 1, 2024

Emperor Naruhito marks five years since enthronement

The emperor's first five years on the throne were largely overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia PM Anthony Albanese. Albanese on Wednesday announced new legislation to ban deepfake pornography and additional funding for the country's online watchdog.
WORLD / Society
May 1, 2024

Australian PM says violence against women a 'national crisis'

28 women have been killed in Australia so far this year — an average of one death every four days.
We don't know how much damage these polymers do to our health. But we can make significant inroads on litter and emissions to tackle this issue head-on.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 30, 2024

Plastic pollution is a growing problem. Here are some ideas on how to solve it.

International cooperation and proactive measures are needed to mitigate the harmful effects of plastics.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 30, 2024

U.S.-China tensions rise as the tides begin shifting

Irritation colored last week’s visit to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken amid amplified Chinese anxiety.
Solomon Islands’ newly elected Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele speaks during a press conference outside the Parliament House in Honiara on Thursday. Manele was elected defeated an opposition leader intent on curbing Beijing's reach in the Pacific nation.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 2, 2024

China-friendly Manele elected as Solomon Islands PM

Manele chosen over an opposition leader intent on curbing Beijing's reach in the Pacific nation.
Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which allowed customers to grab grocery items from a shelf and walk out of the store, is reportedly being phased out of its grocery stores.
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2024

Amazon's AI stores seemed too magical. And they were.

There are plenty more examples of companies that have failed to mention humans pulling the levers behind supposedly cutting-edge AI technology.
The mercury hit 25 degrees Celsius in Tokyo on April 25.
JAPAN
May 2, 2024

Climate change, El Nino factor into Japan’s warmest April in 130 years

The weather agency said the average temperature for April was 2.76 degrees Celsius higher than the average year, making it the hottest April nationwide.
Artist Mitsuo Miyagi talks about the plan to make a giant shiisā statue in Okinawa Prefecture using damaged tiles from the fire-ravaged Shuri Castle.
JAPAN
May 2, 2024

10-meter lion statue to be built in Okinawa with burned Shuri Castle tiles

The project aims to foster remembrance of the castle, which suffered significant damage in a fire in October 2019, using the prefecture's mythical symbol.
A traditional Ainu preserved food called <i>satchep</i> (dried fish) being made at the government-run National Ainu Museum and Park, nicknamed Upopoy, in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on Dec. 25. The Sapporo District Court ruled last month that the Raporo Ainu Nation's rights as an Indigenous people did not extend to having an inherent right to fish for commercial reasons.
JAPAN / Society
May 3, 2024

Sapporo court ruling on Ainu fishing rights presents tough questions

A Sapporo court ruled last month that an Ainu group only has the right to engage in salmon fishing for cultural — but not commercial — reasons.
Optica headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday
BUSINESS / Companies
May 3, 2024

Huawei secretly backs U.S. research, awarding millions in prizes

Huawei Technologies is the sole funder of a research competition that has awarded millions of dollars since its inception in 2022.
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption to compete in this year's U.S. Open, the USGA announced on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
May 3, 2024

Tiger Woods accepts special exemption into U.S. Open

"The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career," Woods said.
Naoya Inoue (left) and Luis Nery following a pre-fight news conference in Yokohama on Saturday, two days ahead of their super bantamweight title fight.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
May 5, 2024

'Monster' Inoue ready to tear down Luis Nery in title defense at Tokyo Dome

Ahead of boxing's highly anticipated return to the Big Egg, Naoya “Monster” Inoue said he's ready to knock out his opponent.
British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Labour's Claire Ward embrace after Ward was elected as East Midlands Mayor in Mansfield, England, on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
May 5, 2024

Labour mayoral wins cap triumphant election run for U.K.'s Keir Starmer

The results dashed any hopes Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had of reassuring Tories anxious about the possibility of a general election wipe out.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 5, 2024

Kishida, fresh off Latin America visit, vows to zero in on political funds reform

Grappling with record-low approval ratings, the prime minister hopes to amend the Political Funds Control Act during the current session of parliament.
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (right) speaks at a news conference with then-South Korean President Park Geun-hye and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after their trilateral summit at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul in November 2015.
JAPAN
May 5, 2024

Japan, China and South Korea arranging summit for May 26-27

The meeting is expected to bring together Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal greets Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Orly Airport, south of Paris, on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 6, 2024

France's Macron seeks to sway China's Xi on Ukraine

Xi Jinping is making a state visit to France marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China. The trip is his first to Europe since 2019.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath attend an election campaign rally in Kanpur, India, on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 6, 2024

Fake videos of Modi aides trigger political showdown in India election

India's election will be the world's largest democratic event. With nearly a billion voters, tackling the spread of misinformation is a high stakes job.
Cars pass Chinese flags on a highway ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's visit in Belgrade, Serbia, on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
May 6, 2024

China’s billions help Xi make useful friends in Eastern Europe

China's ties with Serbia and Hungary highlight how it's helping transform a corner of Europe when much of the continent views Beijing as a strategic rival.
The Kioke Summit on Shodoshima has seen a steady rise in participants from dozens in its early days 12 years ago and about 100 in 2019 to more than 600 this past February.
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 8, 2024

On Japan’s island of olives, age-old shoyu secrets survive

Each Kioke Summit features many activities including a "kioke" auction — shoyu fermentation barrels that fetch anywhere from ¥60,000 to ¥450,000.
Naoya Inoue celebrates his victory over Luis Nery in their IBF-WBA-WBC-WBO super bantamweight title boxing match at Tokyo Dome on Monday.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
May 7, 2024

After blockbuster boxing victory, what next for ‘Monster’ Inoue?

Some want the boxer to take on more fights outside of Japan.
Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel is set to open in June in the theme park's new section featuring areas based on "Frozen," "Tangled" and "Peter Pan."
BUSINESS
May 7, 2024

Tokyo DisneySea taps ‘Frozen’ and 'Peter Pan' in ¥320 billion expansion

The expansion, which opens to the public June 6, is expected to help boost total annual sales by ¥75 billion.
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge (center) among his pacers during a training session in Kaptagat, Kenya, on Saturday.
OLYMPICS / Athletics
May 8, 2024

Kipchoge's road to third Olympic gold starts in Kenya's Rift Valley

"I'm feeling good. But I think the next months will be more interesting," the athlete said after a training session.
A Chinese flag is flown near a Huawei store in Shanghai in 2023.
WORLD / Politics
May 8, 2024

U.S. revokes some export licenses for firms supplying China's Huawei

Huawei was placed on a U.S. trade restriction list in 2019 amid fears it could spy on Americans.
Brazil's Ronaldo (left) celebrates his goal against Turkey with teammate Ronaldinho during a World Cup match in Ulsan, South Korea, in June 2002.
SOCCER
May 8, 2024

Is Brazil still the land of soccer?

"We're at a low point. We used to have more top-quality athletes," the late Pele's eldest son, Edinho, said recently.
Head of North Korean propaganda Kim Ki Nam has died at 94.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 8, 2024

North Korea propaganda boss who shaped image of leaders dies at 94

He played an essential role in shaping the country’s messaging as leadership transferred to Kim Jong Il, and helped in the succession of Kim Jong Un.

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