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The Clintons and Barack Obama engineered the disastrous situation in the 2024 election and have long dominated the Democratic Party, with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris serving as their appointees. 
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 24, 2024

How the Democrats sunk their own ship this year

The Democratic leadership would far rather lose an election or two — or even become a permanent minority party – than open the party to people it cannot control.
A resident of Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture takes a blood test in the town on Monday.
JAPAN
Nov 25, 2024

PFAS blood tests start in Okayama Prefecture town

About 800 residents are expected to take a blood test under the program, which runs through Dec. 8.
United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher kicks the ball into play in the second half of a match against Iceland in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 27.
SOCCER
Nov 26, 2024

U.S. women's keeper Naeher to retire after Europe matches

"I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field," the 36-year-old said.
Aiku Kurotaki’s “Human 1” (2024) — and “Human 0” (2024) to the left — on display at Tokyo’s Som Gallery earlier this year.
CULTURE / Art
Nov 26, 2024

‘From 0 to 1’: Aiku Kurotaki’s fabric of existence

The artist's wool sculptures play off the idea of string theory, which conceptualizes subatomic particles as infinitesimal strings vibrating in fixed patterns.
Global beef consumption has slowed and the carbon footprint of the global cattle herd may already be declining.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 26, 2024

Peak beef could already be here

Global beef consumption has slowed and the carbon footprint of the global cattle herd may already be declining.
Trucks wait near the Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing bridge to cross into the U.S., in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2024

Trump tariffs would harm all involved, U.S. trade partners say

Officials warn a trade war could erupt and damage economies, and seek talks with Trump after his surprise announcement of hefty tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
The sought ¥21.3 billion will be used for making the revised family register law widely known to the public and setting up call centers to receive questions from the public.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2024

¥21.3 billion sought to help with adding phonetic readings in family registers

The planned funds will be used for making the revision widely known to the public and setting up call centers to receive questions from the public.
Emissions rise from the Royal Dutch Shell Plc Norco Refinery in Norco, Louisiana, on June 12, 2020.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
Nov 27, 2024

How AI and cloud computing may delay the transition to clean energy

The pace of clean-energy deployments is moving too slowly to keep up with the new technology's demands.
Wall Street is rotating out of the chip sector, put off by stretched valuations and trade war-related risks under Donald Trump.
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 27, 2024

Software is in, chips are out as traders position for Trump era

Software has been on an upswing given its lower exposure to tariff risks, and as the tailwind from AI looks set to shift from infrastructure to services.
DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2024

DPP’s Tamaki leverages new position with energy proposal

Yuichiro Tamaki has been a long-time advocate of nuclear power and the reactivation of Japan’s halted nuclear power plants.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates with his team after clinching the Formula One world drivers' title on Saturday in Las Vegas.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Nov 28, 2024

Verstappen switches focus to reboot defense of F1 teams' title

Just days after clinching the title with a measured drive to fifth in Las Vegas, the 27-year-old will return to the track hoping he can repeat his triumph from last year.
In 2022, the number of elderly people with dementia in Japan reached 4.43 million, according to data from the health ministry.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 28, 2024

Japan researchers develop a simple way to spot signs of Alzheimer's disease

The study showed that Alzheimer's disease can be predicted by identifying the "head-turning sign" in response to questions.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to face intensified pressure from opposition parties after his ruling coalition lost its majority in the powerful House of Representatives in an election last month.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 28, 2024

Japan's parliament opens extraordinary session

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to face intensified pressure from opposition parties.
Masato Kanda, then the foreign ministry's vice minister for international affairs, speaks during a news conference in Sao Paulo in February.
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2024

Former top Japanese currency diplomat Masato Kanda chosen as next ADB chief

Masato Kanda will be tasked to navigate the ADB through fresh challenges such as helping Asia reduce poverty and mitigate risks from climate change.
The Ginza shopping district in Tokyo in August
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2024

Japan to overhaul tax exemption system for foreign visitors

The new system is expected to allow foreign visitors to receive tax refunds for products purchased at prices with the tax included when they leave the country.
The Social Media Minimum Age bill sets Australia up as a test case for a growing number of governments which have legislated or said they plan to legislate an age restriction on social media amid concern about its mental health impact on young people.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Nov 29, 2024

Australia passes social media ban for children under 16

The law forces tech giants to prevent minors from logging in or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
Yoshitaka Ito, minister for regional revitalization (right), and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba set up a signboard for an office in charge of regional revitalization on Nov. 8 in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2024

Japan will help revitalize willing municipalities, minister says

The government is working to create a 10-year basic plan for rural revitalization, said Yoshitaka Ito, minister for regional revitalization.
Commercial buildings in the Shibuya area of Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 29, 2024

Consumer inflation speeds up amid BOJ rate hike speculation

Overall inflation sped up to 2.6%, as food prices also pushed up the gauge, also outpacing economist expectations.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers his policy speech at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 29, 2024

Ishiba sticks to the basics in second policy speech

Rather than expand on his broader vision, Ishiba chose to focus on less-contentious individual policy matters.
The European Central Bank has signaled the need for coordinated fiscal and monetary efforts, with expectations for rate cuts amid rising inflation.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 27, 2024

Winter is coming for the euro in more ways than one

The European Central Bank has signaled the need for coordinated fiscal and monetary efforts, with expectations for rate cuts amid rising inflation.
RB's Yuki Tsunoda drives during a practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix on Friday in Lusail.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Nov 30, 2024

Tsunoda ready for a bigger and faster team, says RB boss

Tsunoda has scored 30 of RB's 46 points this season, providing the backbone of the team.
Rachel Accurso, in character as the internet personality Ms. Rachel, in New York on Nov. 4.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 30, 2024

Ms. Rachel’s improbable journey from toddler whisperer to holiday toy sensation

A series of toys depicting children’s YouTube sensation Ms. Rachel is quickly becoming one of the hottest holiday gifts.
Former chief of staff to the U.S. secretary of defense Kash Patel speaks during a campaign rally for former U.S. President Donald Trump in Las Vegas in October.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 1, 2024

Trump picks Kash Patel to head FBI

Patel has called for stripping the FBI of its intelligence-gathering role and purging anyone who refuses to support Trump's agenda.
Sharp's plant in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, that has ceased production of large liquid crystal display panels for television, a symbolic end to the company's signature business.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 1, 2024

Sharp marks end of era with halt to large LCD panel production

Now owned by a Taiwanese investor, Sharp has also scaled back production of small and medium-sized LCD panels used in smartphones and personal computers.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte holds a news conference in Quezon City, in Metro Manila, on Tuesday. She denied she was plotting to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying recent comments that sparked a government probe only reflected "consternation" with her one-time ally.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 1, 2024

Philippines politics is often mad. It just got crazier.

Manila cannot afford to be distracted by the latest round of clan rivalry and violent threats.
In the absence of a long-term revitalization strategy, the historic city of Venice will remain on the path to becoming a cultural mausoleum.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 1, 2024

Venice’s beauty curse

UNESCO’s World Heritage designation for Venice comprises the city in its entirety, rather than select buildings or neighborhoods.
Carlos Tavares, Chief Executive Officer of Stellantis, speaks at the Paris Automotive Summit during the Paris Auto Show on Oct. 15.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2024

Stellantis CEO Tavares quits and hands over to interim committee

The company said in a statement that a new CEO will be named in the first half of 2025, with an interim committee headed by Chairman John Elkann taking the reins for now.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura is elected as Nippon Ishin no Kai's leader in the city of Osaka on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 2, 2024

New Nippon Ishin leader vows to keep distance from other parties

Hirofumi Yoshimura says the party’s strategy is to not take sides with parties in the ruling or the opposition camps.
The average price of osechi traditional food for the 2025 New Year stood at ¥27,826 ($185), a 1.3% increase — or ¥360 — compared with that for the 2024 New Year.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 2, 2024

Osechi ryōri prices climb for a third consecutive year

The latest increase, at ¥360 ($2.40), is the smallest in three years, at less than half the increase for the 2024 New Year.
Nissan Motor vehicles bound for shipment at the Nissan Oppama wharf in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 3, 2024

Nissan is awash in outdated models as car buyers look elsewhere

While Japan’s other major carmakers take six months or more to ship a new vehicle, many of Nissan’s most popular models can be delivered within a month or two.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji