Search - about-us

 
 
U.S. President Donald Trump shows a copy of an article he said is about white South Africans who had been killed, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
WORLD
May 23, 2025

Trump's image of dead 'white farmers' did not come from footage of South Africa

The image U.S. President Donald Trump used was pulled from footage shot following deadly battles with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A student walks on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Friday.
WORLD / Society
May 24, 2025

Harvard wins temporary block of Trump’s foreign student ban

The attempted ban could make foreign students shy about coming to the U.S. at all, even if the government doesn’t take similar actions against any other universities.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to punish Harvard by targeting its international students is an unconstitutional power grab aimed at intimidating free institutions and advancing his authoritarian agenda.
COMMENTARY / World
May 25, 2025

Harvard is fighting for much more than foreign students

Trump is trying to break the world’s leading university because he knows that higher education — everywhere — is one of the bulwarks of a free society.
The U.S. military’s longstanding dominance is eroding as China exploits its vulnerabilities with cheaper, faster and smarter warfare, demanding urgent American reinvention in energy, logistics and artificial intelligence.
COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2025

America’s hard power must get harder — quickly

Aircraft carriers and fighter jets look a lot less stealthy in a world of limitless drones and autonomous submarines.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second from left), the businessman Dang Thanh Tam, (third from left), and Eric and Lara Trump (center) attend a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Trump hotel and golf course in the Hung Yen Province of Vietnam on May 21.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 26, 2025

Why Vietnam ignored its own laws to fast-track a Trump family golf complex

Hanoi faces intense pressure to strike a trade deal that would head off Trump’s threat of steep tariffs, which would hit about 30% of Vietnam’s exports.
A member of Pakistan armed forces takes a selfie at the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar in Karachi in November.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
May 27, 2025

India and Pakistan's drone battles mark new arms race in Asia

The South Asian powers are now locked in a drones arms race, according to security officials, industry executives and analysts in both countries.
Yuka Saso of Japan hits a tee shot at the first hole during the first round of The Chevron Championship golf tournament in The Woodlands, Texas, on Apr 24.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
May 28, 2025

Yuka Saso chasing third U.S. Women’s Open title at Erin Hills

The Philippines-born Japanese golfer is gearing up for the U.S. Women's Open this week at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, and she'll do so as the defending champion.
A Skechers store in Times Square in New York. The company has announced plans to sell to investment firm 3G Capital in a take-private deal for about $9.4 billion.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 28, 2025

Retailers pummeled by Trump's trade war entertain more 'take-private' offers

Such companies have been hard-hit by rapidly shifting tariff announcements and are frustrated with an inability to provide earnings guidance.
Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York on May 23
BUSINESS / Tech
May 28, 2025

Apple reels from share selloff as Trump’s 25% tariff threat drives uncertainty

Some are skeptical the tariffs will come to pass, but any such measures would require Apple to absorb costs or raise prices, eroding demand.
The Chinese Communist Party has significantly expanded its global influence operations by using tactics like election interference, disinformation, elite capture and pressure on the diaspora to sway politics and policies in democracies worldwide.
COMMENTARY / World
May 28, 2025

Is Beijing engineering election wins for 'soft on China' politicians?

Beijing legally requires all citizens to support Communist Party policies and views ethnic Chinese everywhere as instruments for advancing its global goals.
A Donald Trump 2024 campaign hat on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
BUSINESS / Markets
May 29, 2025

'It’s called negotiation': Trump bristles at ‘TACO trade’ betting on him backing down

The acronym — which stands for Trump Always Chickens Out — was coined by a Financial Times columnist and has since been adopted by traders.
As humidity rises in the rainy season, it’s a good idea to get some moisture absorbers and place them around the home.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 30, 2025

How to talk about change in Japanese — one forecast at a time

Use the changing seasons as a springboard to learn how Japanese expresses cause-and-effect shifts.
Mako Komuro (right), the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, left the Imperial Family after marrying Kei Komuro, a former schoolmate at International Christian University in Tokyo, in October 2021.
JAPAN
May 30, 2025

Former Japanese princess Mako gives birth to first child

Mako, 33, left the Imperial Family after marrying Kei Komuro, 33, a former schoolmate at International Christian University in Tokyo, in October 2021.
Mao Saigo watches her putt during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open in Erin, Wisconsin, on Friday.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
May 31, 2025

Mao Saigo takes three-shot U.S. Women's Open lead

The Japanese golfer, who won a five-way playoff to lift her first major trophy at the Chevron Championship, shrugged off a spectacular piece of bad luck to build a lead.
Maja Stark hits a chip shot during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Jun 1, 2025

Maja Stark takes one-shot lead entering final round of U.S. Women's Open

A trio from Japan — Rio Takeda, Hinako Shibuno and Mao Saigo — are tied for third at 5-under 211.
A banner showing Lee Jae-myung (left), the South Korean presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, and Kim Moon-soo, the candidate for the conservative People Power Party, outside a polling station in Seoul on Friday
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 1, 2025

South Korean presidential election set to reshape diplomatic chessboard

Liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung is projected to sail to a win that could shake up ties with Japan and the U.S. and kick-start talks with North Korea.
Maja Stark holds up her championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament in Erin, Wisconsin, on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Jun 2, 2025

Maja Stark beats out Rio Takeda to capture U.S. Women's Open

Takeda made an early double bogey in an otherwise solid round to stay close to the top of the leaderboard all day.
Displaced Palestinians carrying relief supplies return from an aid distribution center in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 2, 2025

Trump vowed to remake aid. Is Gaza the future?

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is distributing food through several hubs in the war-ravaged territory, with contracted U.S. security and Israeli troops.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivers his report to delegates at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 19.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 2, 2025

Trump’s WHO withdrawal could cost the U.S. dearly

Despite progress since COVID-19, the U.S. remains vulnerable to pandemics like H5N1, and withdrawing from the WHO would weaken its ability to respond to global health threats.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office on Feb. 27. U.S. conservatives may be unlikely defenders of free speech but their criticism of censorship in the U.K. and Europe raises real concerns about vague hate laws and curbs on liberty in the name of harmony. 
COMMENTARY
Jun 2, 2025

European kindness is threatening the foundations of free speech

Right-wing U.S. critics of U.K. and European censorship have a point.
Trump hopes increased levies on aluminum and steel will protect margins for domestic mills and spur investment in new production capacity.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 3, 2025

U.S. aluminum and steel prices surge as Trump doubles tariffs

U.S. buyers could end up paying about 50% more than international competitors to get hold of aluminum.
Despite doubts and talk of alternatives in Asia and beyond, the dollar remains dominant because there are no viable rivals and it continues to serve as the world’s key safe asset.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 3, 2025

The problem with Asia's ‘sell America’ moment

The region’s currencies are enjoying a healthy rally. History warns against anti-dollar triumphalism.
French President Emmanuel Macron gives the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 4, 2025

The 'Macron Doctrine' goes to Asia: Autonomy with partners, steady on China

Macron affirmed that "France is a friend and ally of the United States, and a friend that cooperates — even if we sometimes disagree and compete — with China”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 5, 2025

Putin tells Trump Russia has to respond to Ukrainian attacks

After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of bombers, Putin said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace.
Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, left Tokyo for Washington on Thursday for the fifth round of trade negotiations with the United States.
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2025

Japan to continue to seek tariff removal in latest negotiations ahead of G7

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of the summit, with anticipation mounting for a trade deal announcement.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a speech in Berlin on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 5, 2025

After courting and criticizing Trump from afar, Merz now set to meet U.S. leader

Past meetings between the two countries’ leaders have often been formalities to reinforce their unshakable postwar partnership. This time is different.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 6, 2025

Germany’s Merz lets Trump do the talking and survives Oval Office meeting

Merz heeded the advice from a number of European leaders that he should let Trump do most of the talking, and when he did talk, to praise the president.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his wife, Kim Hye-Kyung (left), arrive for a ceremony to mark the 70th Memorial Day at Seoul National Cemetery on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 7, 2025

South Korea's Lee and Trump agree to work toward swift tariff deal

The future of South Korea's export-oriented economy may hinge on what kind of deal the country's new president, Lee Jae-myung, can strike with U.S. leader Donald Trump.
Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win her first French Open title at Roland Garros in Paris on Saturday.
TENNIS
Jun 9, 2025

French Open champion Coco Gauff proud to represent 'Americans that look like me'

Gauff is the first Black American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015.
Amid growing global tensions and military rearmament, allies in Europe and Asia increasingly fear that under Donald Trump, the U.S. has become an unreliable partner — undermining trust, unity and the foundation of the postwar international order.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 9, 2025

Whose side is the U.S. on? Doubts strain alliances

The U.S. once anchored a stable world order. Now, with rising threats from China and Russia, allies scramble to adapt as Washington sends mixed signals on defense and trade.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight