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EDITORIALS
Jun 22, 2008

Uphold disabled people's rights

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took effect May 3 — 30 days after it received its 20th ratification (April 3). So far, 27 countries have ratified the convention, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and promotes their social participation.
COMMENTARY
Jun 21, 2008

Baptism by fire for Taiwan's President Ma

The success of the first round of talks between Taiwan and the China mainland is a feather in the cap of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who made improved relations with Beijing the central theme of his campaign platform. But he has yet to display his acumen where foreign policy is concerned.
BUSINESS
Jun 15, 2008

G8 finance chiefs target inflation

OSAKA — The Group of Eight finance chiefs pledged Saturday to tackle the economic risks posed by soaring oil and food prices that are threatening global growth, which is already being hampered by the U.S. subprime mortgage loan crisis.
BUSINESS
Jun 6, 2008

Qantas to slash Japan service

Qantas Airways Ltd. said Thursday it plans to slash services to Japan, shift other Asian routes to low-cost unit Jetstar and cut jobs in response to surging fuel costs.
JAPAN / G8 SUMMIT 2008
May 27, 2008

Kobe meet fails to set 2020 goals

KOBE — Environment ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations ended a three-day meeting in Kobe on Monday united on the need for a long-term goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
COMMENTARY / World
May 14, 2008

Condemning the crime in Gaza

ATLANTA — The world is witnessing a terrible human rights crime in Gaza, where a million and a half human beings are being imprisoned — with almost no access to the outside world by sea, air or land.
COMMENTARY / World
May 14, 2008

Russia's oil treasure shows signs of decline

SINGAPORE — In the eight years of Vladimir Putin's presidency, Russia's energy riches were used as a lever to rebuild the country's influence and power. As his successor, Dimitry Medvedev, took over last week and Putin became prime minister, both leaders will worry about signs that this energy muscle...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 10, 2008

JAL's group profit soars amid cost cuts

Japan Airlines Corp. said Friday that its group operating profit more than quadrupled to ¥90.01 billion for the business year that ended March 31, helped by its cost-cutting efforts amid surging fuel costs.
COMMENTARY
Apr 27, 2008

It doesn't take much imagination to guess the winner of an imaginary 'world primary'

LOS ANGELES — OK, so he did lose the Pennsylvania primary — but might Sen. Barack Obama be otherwise elected king of the world?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2008

Lee comes to Tokyo seeking pragmatic ties

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak arrived Sunday in Tokyo for a two-day visit, bringing with him hopes of launching a new bilateral relationship based on pragmatism rather than nationalistic and often conflicting sentiments between the two countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / MIXED MATCHES
Mar 8, 2008

Pair practice art of collaboration in life, work

Designers Yoshiko Tajima and Ansgar Vollmer met and fell in love while students at Koeln International School of Design in Cologne, Germany.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2008

Conferees assess state of Afghan reconstruction

Officials from Afghanistan and 23 countries and international organizations kicked off a two-day conference Tuesday in Tokyo to assess the progress of a five-year reconstruction project in the war-torn state.
EDITORIALS
Jan 25, 2008

A time for calm and patience

The U.S. Federal Reserve has moved quickly to avert a financial crisis. Earlier this week, the Fed slashed its key interest rate to calm international markets. The rush to provide liquidity is intended to head off a panic and the possibility of a global capital crunch. The Fed's action is only a first...
COMMENTARY
Nov 24, 2007

Evidence on Iran doesn't seem to matter

LONDON — Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli defense minister, is not a fan of Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In fact, he wants him fired. "The policies followed by ElBaradei endanger world peace. His irresponsible attitude of sticking his head in the sand over Iran's...
JAPAN
Aug 30, 2007

Japan profited as opium dealer in wartime China

A Japanese narcotics firm in wartime occupied China sold enough opium to nearly match the annual budget of Tokyo's puppet government in Nanjing, according to an internal company document recently discovered by The Japan Times.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 9, 2007

High expectations for APEC meeting

SYDNEY — Ten years after the last Asian financial crisis hit world markets, the leading countries in the region need to work harder to ensure that the next downturn does not descend into a global collapse. Have the region's financial regulators gotten the message?
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT
Aug 1, 2007

Taiji officials: Dolphin meat 'toxic waste'

For what is believed to be the first time anywhere in Japan, elected officials have openly condemned the consumption of dolphin meat, especially in school lunches, on grounds that it is dangerously contaminated with mercury.
COMMENTARY
Jul 31, 2007

'Sugar daddy' relationships and HIV

NEW YORK — Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the world's leading AIDS scientists, warned at an international conference on AIDS in Sydney, Australia, that the world is losing the battle against the virus. He indicated that increased emphasis should be placed on prevention efforts, particularly with regard...
COMMENTARY
Jul 25, 2007

The death of Iraq's Christian community

WASHINGTON — Although Islam long has been in the ascendancy in Iraq, the so-called Assyrians, who speak a neo-Aramaic language, predate the rise of Islam. Today, however, the Iraqi Christian community faces possible extermination.
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2007

N. Korea talks could restart next month: Hill

are very aware of the fact that this is a step-by-step process, with many steps to come," Hill said. Pyongyang agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for access to frozen funds at a Macau bank. The funds were frozen after the U.S. blacklisted the bank for allegedly assisting North Korea in...
EDITORIALS
Jun 10, 2007

Another frustrating G8 summit

One step forward, one step back. That's likely to be the verdict on the just-ended summit of the Group of Eight industrial powers. Progress came on climate change; the retreat was on AIDS. Yet the trimming of ambitions regarding AIDS policy should shape perceptions of the historic deal on greenhouse-gas...
COMMENTARY
May 14, 2007

Cherry-picking an identity

LONDON — Political leaders nowadays are fond of talking about national identity and culture, but do we know what they mean by either identity or culture, and do they know themselves what they mean?
EDITORIALS
Apr 9, 2007

How does the ASDF help Iraq?

The government has submitted to the Diet a bill for a two-year extension of the July 2003 ad hoc law to deploy Self-Defense Forces for noncombat activities in Iraq. Since the law expires at the end of July, the government hopes the Diet will pass the bill by the end of June. The specific aim of the bill...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 23, 2007

Ishihara, Asano are in capital duel

Organizers of the 40th Annual Ome City Marathon were furious when Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara scheduled the first Tokyo Marathon for Feb. 18, the same day as their race.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’