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Runa Kurosawa, 20, a soldier with the Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, takes part in military training inside the Maritime Self-Defense Force's amphibious transport ship JS Osumi in waters near Okinawa Prefecture on Nov. 14.
JAPAN
Jan 21, 2024

The female marines Japan is training for war

The Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade — meant to lead assaults from the sea in a possible future war — has about 40 women in its 2,400 strong unit.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 16, 2024

North Korea's Kim calls for change in status of South and warns of war

Kim Jong Un has called for a constitutional amendment to change the status of South Korea to a separate state, while also abolishing three inter-Korean agencies.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference on Dec. 13.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 18, 2024

Kishida aims to disband his faction amid political funds scandals

The move would mark a bid to restore public trust toward politics amid a series of political funds scandals.
Police officers protest in Marseille, France, on Thursday, calling for "exceptional measures" in compensation for their compulsory presence at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
OLYMPICS
Jan 19, 2024

Protesting police highlight strike risk to Paris Olympics

French authorities are scrambling to settle pay deals with unions who are demanding bonuses for working during the July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympics.
Polish military vehicles are transported during NATO exercises in Klusy, Poland, in November 2022.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 19, 2024

NATO to hold biggest drills since Cold War with 90,000 troops

More than 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers will take part, as well as more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles.
A mid-19th century ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicts Xu Fu’s voyage in search of the elixir of life. He can be seen near the left side of the image, with what looks to be Penglai, or Mount Fuji, in the background.
JAPAN / History / Longform
Jan 20, 2024

Eternal pursuits: A history of Japanese quests for immortality

Whether it's a permanent state of meditation or feasting on mermaid, the quest for immortality in Japan isn't too far off from those in other cultures.
Keisuke Honda is joining an inflow of investment in Japan’s long-neglected startup scene.
BUSINESS
Jan 20, 2024

Retired soccer star Honda sets up $100 million Japan startup fund

In a country where celebrities shy away from speaking about their money or investments, the former AC Milan midfielder faces little competition from other sports stars.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu will be wary of making too many changes after admitting that his tinkering against Iraq "had an effect on the players."
SOCCER
Jan 20, 2024

Shock Iraq defeat exposes Japan frailties at Asian Cup

The 2-1 loss leaves Samurai Blue facing a potential last-16 match with South Korea, assuming Japan still qualifies from its group.
Patrick Roy speaks at a news conference in 2013. Roy was hired by the New York Islanders on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Ice Hockey
Jan 21, 2024

Islanders hire Patrick Roy as head coach after firing Lane Lambert

Roy, 58, is best known as one of the NHL's greatest goalies, but he has had a second career in coaching.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump exits the stage during a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 21, 2024

For the anti-Trump wing of the GOP, it all comes down to Tuesday

The old guard of the Republican Party has rallied around Nikki Haley ahead of New Hampshire’s primary, in a long-shot bid to stop the former president.
Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (right), had interviewed for several top jobs, but wasn’t hired.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Jan 23, 2024

NFL’s diversity push challenged by teams recycling older coaches

There are seven openings — and maybe more coming — among the league’s 32 franchises, compared to just five in 2023.
Ethnic Uyghurs protest against China in Istanbul on July 5.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 23, 2024

China to face rare scrutiny on rights record in U.N. review

The Universal Periodic Review is an examination all 193 U.N. member states must undergo every four to five years to assess their human rights record.
According to the the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, international economic activity is expected to slow amid changing trade patterns.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2024

From 'hyperglobalization' to 'thin globalism'

How geopolitics, pandemics, and economic tensions are transforming global trade.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a munitions factory at an undisclosed location in this picture released on Jan. 10.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 26, 2024

Is North Korea's Kim preparing for an actual war?

Some believe he may be disillusioned with diplomacy and is girding for conflict; others think the provocations are timed to coincide with U.S. and South Korean elections.
Jannik Sinner celebrates after his win over Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals in Melbourne on Friday.
TENNIS
Jan 26, 2024

Jannik Sinner dethrones Novak Djokovic in Australian Open semifinals

Jannik Sinner ended Novak Djokovic's reign at the Australian Open on Friday, stopping the Serb's record 33-match winning run at Melbourne Park and his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scores against the Texans during the fourth quarter of their playoff game in Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 20.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Jan 26, 2024

Ravens' Lamar Jackson ready for 'heavyweight fight' in AFC title game

The AFC championship showdown will determine which team advances to next month's Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
JAPAN
Jan 26, 2024

Number of foreign workers in Japan surpasses 2 million for first time

Tokyo has the largest population of foreign workers, followed by Aichi and Osaka prefectures.
Double articulated track
ESG CONSORTIUM
Jan 29, 2024

Seino delivers greener logistics through open public collaboration

Seino Holdings Co. Ltd. has been in the logistics business for more than 90 years. Last June, the Gifu-based company expanded its continuing efforts to be environmentally friendly when it announced a long-term vision of “Team Green Logistics” based on a concept of an open public platform.
Shitsui Hakoishi, 107, works with researcher Yasumichi Arai (left) while her younger brother, Hidemasa, looks on. Researchers like Arai believe the healthy and active Hakoishi's cells may hold the secret to living a long life.
JAPAN / Science & Health / Longform
Jan 27, 2024

Living until 100, if not forever, in good health

Immortality may be out of reach, but can a slew of research projects prolong our natural aging process?
Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee competes during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
OLYMPICS / Figure skating
Jan 28, 2024

Russian skater Valieva's future rests on sports court's decision

Valieva's positive doping test ignited a scandal at the 2022 Winter Olympics when she was just 15 years old.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during a joint news conference in Moscow in December.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 28, 2024

India pivots away from Russian arms, but will retain strong ties

Russia supplied 65% of India's weapons purchases during the last two decades but the Ukraine war hastened New Delhi's impetus to diversify.
As a small open economy, Hong Kong is vulnerable to financial contagion and capital flights to and from China.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 24, 2024

Hong Kong is facing a repeat of 1998 Asia financial crisis

As the Hang Seng Index selloff deepens, bankers and traders are preparing for the worst.
The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, even faster than the shinkansen. However, demand for the new railway service remains lacking.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 29, 2024

Linking 17,000 islands in Indonesia tests a nation on the rise

President Joko Widodo's grand vision for the world’s largest archipelago is colliding with financial realities.
A total of 65 stores in Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai offer various food and drinks, with many that incorporate fresh ingredients from the Toyosu market.
BUSINESS
Jan 29, 2024

New Edo-inspired venue near Toyosu market offers more than fish

Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai hosts restaurants and an onsen area that uses water sourced from popular hot spring towns in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft under construction in Renton, Washington, in 2017
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 30, 2024

Boeing under a microscope for safety issues as it reports results

Boeing shares have fallen 21% this month, putting them on track for their worst January since at least 2017.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Italy-Africa summit in Rome on Monday
WORLD / Politics
Jan 30, 2024

Overwhelmed by debt, Italy sells stake in Post Office 'crown jewel'

The government has a long way to go to reduce its debt, which currently amounts to 140.2% of GDP.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 30, 2024

Pakistan court jails Imran Khan for 10 years, days ahead of polls

Khan has been fighting dozens of cases since he was ousted from power in a parliamentary vote of no confidence in 2022.
Anti-landing barricades on a beach in Kinmen, Taiwan, with China's Xiamen in the background on Dec. 18, 2023
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 31, 2024

Taiwan assails 'unilateral' China change to flight path in strait

Taipei says the move in relation to the "median line" appears to be a deliberate attempt to change the status quo for possible military means.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (left) speak with relatives of hostages taken by Hamas during the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in Washington on Jan. 17. Gillibrand was one of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's guests at discussions that took place in earlier this month.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 31, 2024

Saudis resume U.S. defense talks after pause from Gaza war

Crown prince met U.S. senators for the revival of talks of a pact that would have included a tie-up with Israel.
JAPAN / Explainer
Jan 31, 2024

Quake-hit Noto faces a long road to recovery. Here's how you can help.

After initially asking people to refrain from coming as volunteers, municipalities in Ishikawa are now open to outside help.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?