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WORLD / Politics
May 10, 2014

Merkel, Hollande ready for further sanctions against Russia

Germany and France are ready to agree more extensive sanctions against Russia if a planned presidential election in Ukraine on May 25 is foiled, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande said on Saturday.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 10, 2014

Gatlin urges Kiryu to believe in his ability

Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin has told Japanese sprinters that posting a sub-10-second mark is a feat, but ultimately not difficult to achieve.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 9, 2014

Sleepy New Mexico town gears up for commercial launches as Spaceport America's moment of truth nears

After passing a sign reading, "Danger: falling aliens," New Mexico artist Roy Lohr and his dog, Yoda, lead visitors to the "spaceport" he has built in his backyard out of wine bottles and cement.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
May 9, 2014

Stress tests urged to gauge lenders' risks in JGB crisis

Japanese lenders should take stress tests to assess their ability to withstand swings in bond prices as the central bank's unprecedented monetary stimulus saps trading volumes, one of its former executives said.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2014

How a war hero managed to pin down a warfare state

The rise in defense spending under Barack Obama suggests that even an out-and-out 'peace' president is no match for the modern warfare state and the crony capitalist lobbies that safeguard the Moloch-like U.S. defense industry's vast budgetary appetites.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2014

Let regions of Ukraine vote

Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea and threat to Ukraine are causing damage he perhaps did not anticipate: U.S. disorientation, profound division in Europe and a real risk of war. Ukraine's regions should vote.
Japan Times
WORLD / EU SPECIAL 2014
May 9, 2014

EU continues commitment to security and peace

The European Union is now at its most critical stage ever. It is facing what European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called "a disgrace in the 21st century."
Japan Times
WORLD / EU SPECIAL 2014
May 9, 2014

Robot looks toward future of EU and Japan

In February 2014, a cute robot suddenly appeared on the wall of the Delegation of the European Union in Tokyo. The robot is looking around the corner to see what Japan and the European Union can do together in interesting new technologies. But the robot has no name.
WORLD / EU SPECIAL 2014
May 9, 2014

Horizon 2020 fosters knowledge

Horizon 2020 is the EU's biggest ever research and innovation framework program with a seven-year budget worth nearly €80 billion intended to help boost Europe's knowledge-driven economy and tackle issues that will make a difference in people's lives.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 8, 2014

Most shared Japan Times stories from April

In case you missed them, here are the most shared stories from The Japan Times for April 2014.
COMMENTARY / World
May 8, 2014

Sunni-Shiite divide pre-empts tranquil future

As long as Sunnis and Shiites refuse to think about their past together, it is difficult to foresee a tranquil future for Iraq.
Japan Times
Events / Events In Tokyo
May 8, 2014

Celebrate Okinawan culture at Tokyo's Yoyogi Park

In Okinawa Prefecture, soba is not a bowl of buckwheat noodles in a light broth — it is a helping of thick, white noodles served in a hot soup of pork-bone stock flavored with katsuobushi (dried skipjack tuna flakes). From foods to rituals, culture in Okinawa — shaped by its history as the Ryukyu...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
May 8, 2014

Roses to inspire life in the pink

Don't panic if you almost forgot that it's Mother's Day on Sunday. The International Roses and Gardening Show could be just the ticket to stay in Mom's good graces. Why not give her a gift of flowers and then take her to an event showcasing nearly a million different roses, arranged by breeders and flower...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 7, 2014

Surrender yourself to 'Fuerza Bruta' fun

Standing around with a drink in your hand as if you were on the dance floor of a club might not be a good idea at a Diqui James production.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 7, 2014

'Collection Exhibition 2014: Spiritual World'

For this year's "Collection Exhibition," the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography reevaluates the relationship between Japanese religious culture and visual arts through a pilgrimage of photographs, videos and other works of the museum collection. In search of aspects of spirituality that have been...
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 5, 2014

Fukuoka coach Duncan reflects on team's eventful season

Canadian coach James Duncan's arrival in Kyushu signaled the start of the Rizing Fukuoka's revival in the second half of the season.
COMMENTARY / World
May 5, 2014

Chinese cities' four modernizations

So far, China has largely taken a 'Field of Dreams' approach to urbanization: 'Build it, and they will come.' Now the effectiveness of these investments will depend on how skillfully they are adapted to each locality's distinct resources, needs and aspirations.
WORLD
May 4, 2014

A glance at the history of Polish immigration to U.K.

Poles are now the second-largest foreign-born group of people in the U.K., with numbers at a record high following Poland's accession to the EU 10 years ago. But the history of Poles in Britain goes back much further.
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2014

Pacific partners should push back against TPP until U.S. shows respect for financial reforms

Despite President Barack Obama's charm offensive in the region, Pacific nations should beware of the U.S. government's position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership until American negotiators show more respect for the regulation of financial services.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
May 3, 2014

Obama's pivot to Asia: Rebalance and reassure

Summits are all about symbolism and optics and on that score U.S. President Barack Obama's swing through Asia was a qualified success. Another few nails were hammered into the coffin of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with officials now edging toward a face saving TPP-Lite, but Americans paid little...
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2014

Freedom of expression under fire in America

If you can lose your job in the U.S. as Mozilla's CEO did — because those in charge found his politics repugnant — there are only two options available to those of us who need to earn a living: Keep our opinions to ourselves, or lie about them.
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2014

Ending Asia's zero-sum games

Perhaps if Asia's leaders viewed East Asia's rapid economic transformation, geopolitical dynamics and historical animosities like a recenlty arrived space alien, they would see what they need to do to halt the dangerous trends.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 2, 2014

Rethinking Japan's whaling

Although many Japanese seem indifferent to the question of whether they can get whale meat, pro and con reactions in and out of Japan will affect those who still live by whale hunting on a local scale.
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2014

Third Obama disappointment seems imminent

In the trivial case of the Sino-Japanese dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu isles, there was no cause for President Barack Obama's recent warning to China that the U.S. considers the islands as falling under protection of its Security Treaty signed with Japan in the aftermath of the Second World War. A polite reference to the matter as one for peaceful settlement would have sufficed.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 1, 2014

Ford names Fields CEO to replace Mulally on July 1

Ford Motor Co. promoted Mark Fields to Chief Executive Officer from Chief Operating Officer effective July 1 as CEO Alan Mulally retires from the second-largest U.S. automaker, the company said Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
May 1, 2014

Toyama's Joho named league MVP

Shooting guard Masashi Joho and forward Ira Brown form a dynamic one-two punch for the Toyama Grouses, a partnership that has helped the Hokuriku-based team make significant improvements — notably a steady increase in wins — in each of their three seasons together.

Longform

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