LATEST OP-ED STORIES

By TAKAMITSU SAWA

Unless aging Japan welcomes foreigners who work in the medical, education and engineering fields, it faces doom — economically and academically.

By RAMESH THAKUR

The United Nations matters, and voting Australia onto the Security Council this autumn should matter to the world. Yet some critics ask, why bother?

By GEORGE WILL

Bipartisanship, the supposed scarcity of which so distresses the high-minded, actually is disastrously prevalent in the United States for the "entitled."

By KEMAL DERVIS

Internal adjustment in the eurozone is achievable if productivity growth accelerates in the south and faster wage gains are encouraged in the north.

By KARL-HEINZ KAMP

The first new topic on this month's NATO summit agenda in Chicago will be "smart defense," as there is little hope of increasing defense expenditures.

By SHINJI FUKUKAWA

East Asia's manufacturing industry will face more years of economic slumps in their major export markets because of worsening fiscal structures.

By VISHAKHA N. DESAI and ASTRID S. TUMINEZ

Despite formidable economies and a picture of rising wealth and confidence in Asia, social norms undervalue women and few become senior managers.

By KEVIN RAFFERTY

"Stupid" losses of some $2 billion by J.P. Morgan Chase happened on the watch of a chief executive who has argued against tougher banking regulations.

Japan-related commentary

Japan's ruling and opposition parties reach a compromise on how much autonomy to give the new Nuclear Regulatory Agency. How did that happen?

By TADASHI OGAWA

When it comes to manga and anime, Japan has the edge, but in the world of TV programs and pop music, South Korea is tops among Southeast Asians.

Country-specific commentary

By FRANK CHING

While Beijing is making the life of foreign correspondents increasingly difficult, it is expanding its own global media outreach, pouring in billions of dollars.

By TINA BURRETT

Proposals to effectively abolish the House of Lords and move to a largely elected upper house are creating rifts within Britain's coalition government.

Global-related commentary

By ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization grew out of the North American and European sacrifices of World War II. It remains vital security insurance today.

By JONATHAN RAUCH

The issue of same-sex marriage clusters together conflicting legal, social and moral claims. There are a few key points that many people get wrong.