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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 19, 2018

America's never-ending struggle: Gun rights versus gun control

There are at least two sides to every issue, and gun ownership in America is no exception.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 19, 2018

Curlers left bemused by doping allegation

Of all the questions surrounding reports of a Russian curler's alleged doping infraction at the Pyeongchang Olympics, the biggest is why?
EDITORIALS
Feb 16, 2018

Focus U.S.-North Korea talks on de-nuclearization

If dialogue takes place between Washington and Pyongyang, it should place priority on getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 15, 2018

Volkswagen's monkeys

Could the vehemence of the response to revelations of the carmaker's experiments on the effects of diesel exhaust indicate a tectonic shift in ethical attitudes toward animals?
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 15, 2018

Congress probing when White House learned of 'disqualifying' info on ex-Trump aide

President Donald Trump faced new pressure on Wednesday from his Republican allies in Congress over domestic abuse allegations against a former aide as lawmakers questioned whether his administration has properly vetted top staffers.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 14, 2018

ANC orders Zuma to step down as South African president but doesn't specify timing

South Africa's ruling party ordered Jacob Zuma on Tuesday to step down as head of state after marathon talks over the fate of a leader whose scandal-plagued years in power darkened and divided Nelson Mandela's post-apartheid "Rainbow Nation."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 13, 2018

China's Xi stresses military modernization in pre-new year visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed military modernization and technological advances during meetings with servicemen and women ahead of the Lunar New Year, state media said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 11, 2018

'Shut up and let me trade': How the week that rocked stock markets went down

One of the wildest runs in U.S. stock-market history began with the collapse of arcane bets on volatility and ended with a sober realization: The easy ride is over. After heart-stopping swings in the Dow (Down 1,000 points! Up 500 points!), a market correction is finally here.
WORLD
Feb 11, 2018

Iranian-Canadian environmental activist imprisoned by Tehran dies

An Iranian-Canadian dual citizen and environmental activist imprisoned by Iranian authorities last month has died in prison, his son wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Feb 10, 2018

'Taka' Hirose: Looking and playing the part

A veteran of the U.K. music scene, Takashi "Taka" Hirose has been playing bass guitar in popular British indie-rock band Feeder for more than two decades. As chilled off stage as he is energetic on it, the 50-year-old Gifu Prefecture-native reminisces about his time in the group, which began back in...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Feb 10, 2018

Gift-giving etiquette in Japan is driving some recipients crazy

With spring looming, perhaps it’s time to re-think the national obsession with seasonal gifts and souvenirs.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 10, 2018

Trump picks U.S. Pacific Command chief Harry Harris to be ambassador to Australia

U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris — known for his strident views on China's military expansion and nuclear-armed North Korea — to be the United States' next ambassador to Australia.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 9, 2018

White House aide ousted over abuse claims never had security OK, putting chief John Kelly in hot seat

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly knew that President Donald Trump's staff secretary had issues in his past possibly impeding a permanent security clearance before news reports this week on domestic violence allegations against the aide, people familiar with the matter said.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2018

Election victory in Nago seen as LDP win but new mayor may prove tough to crack

Sunday's victory in the Nago mayoral election by a candidate who appears to favor the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the city's Henoko district is widely seen as a political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a defeat for anti-base advocates in Okinawa, starting with Gov....
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 5, 2018

Rex Tillerson raises specter of U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil to pressure Maduro

The United States is considering restricting imports of Venezuelan crude oil and exports of U.S. refined products to Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday, to put pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro to "return to the constitution."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Feb 3, 2018

Finnish broadcaster targets youth vote with anime-inspired video

On Jan. 27, the day before Finland’s presidential election, a Finnish social media news and current affairs service called Kioski released an election video that caused a stir online, receiving over 700,000 views since its release. While President Sauli Niinisto’s landslide victory with 62.7 percent...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / HOOP SCOOP
Feb 2, 2018

B. League boosts Kumamoto recovery

Sometimes, the combined efforts of government officials, volunteers, local residents and sports leagues team up to produce a certifiable winner.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 2, 2018

Top U.S. envoy says America not close to taking military action against North Korea

The U.S. special envoy for North Korea has said that while Washington was keeping all options on the table, he did not believe the United States was close to using military action to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile ambitions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 31, 2018

Berkshire, Amazon and JPMorgan bosses look to shake up U.S. health care market

It's no secret Jeff Bezos has been looking to crack health care. But no one expected him to pull in Warren Buffett and Jamie Dimon, too.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 27, 2018

White House counsel McGahn 'fed up' with Trump, threatened to quit job last year

White House Counsel Donald McGahn threatened to quit last June because he was "fed up" after President Donald Trump insisted he take steps to remove the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, a person familiar with the matter said.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 26, 2018

Proposed Kibo no To policy criticizes Abe-backed security laws, but conservative members may balk

The leadership of Kibo no To (Party of Hope) on Friday proposed to rank-and-file members that the opposition party strongly criticize the controversial 2015 security laws pushed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a senior member and media reports said.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2018

Some policy dentistry could combat truth decay

The American public's mental bandwidth is being stressed by a torrent of information.
JAPAN
Jan 24, 2018

Businesses in Gunma resort town near volcanic eruption brace for impact on local economy

Tuesday's volcanic eruption near a ski resort in Gunma Prefecture, which left one dead and injured 11, is also impacting the local economy as visitors from Japan and overseas turn away from the popular travel destination.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 23, 2018

Obayashi president to step down 'to renew the top management' at scandal-tainted firm

Obayashi Corp., one of the country's four largest general contractors, said Tuesday that its president, Toru Shiraishi, will step down in a bid to shake up management as the firm faces allegations of bid-rigging involving construction related to the ¥9 trillion maglev rail project.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 23, 2018

North Korea may seek to steal Olympic spotlight with massive military parade one day ahead of games

In a move seen as a possible bid to steal some of the Olympic limelight and one that could jeopardize easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has moved forward the date it will mark the 70th anniversary of its regular army's founding to Feb. 8 — just a day before the Winter Games kick...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 23, 2018

Bad rap: China takes aim at hip-hop, saying 'low-taste content' must stop

China's censors have a new target in a widespread clamp-down on popular culture: the country's nascent hip-hop scene, which resonated with Chinese youth last year on hugely popular television show "Rap of China."

Longform

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