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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 15, 2018

Highchairs and cuddles: How parliaments are catering for lawmaker mums

When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returns to Parliament after becoming only the second elected leader in the world to have a baby in office, her daughter will be allowed to cuddle with her during debates and swim in the pool.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 15, 2018

Iraqis protest graft and poor services storm government building

Protesters stormed the provincial government building in the Iraqi city of Karbala on Saturday as protests over poor public services and corruption across southern Iraq entered their sixth day.
EDITORIALS
Jul 14, 2018

Mahathir reorients Malaysia

Malaysia's new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has long been a friend of Tokyo. This bodes well for Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jul 13, 2018

Poverty in Japan: Underclass struggles to achieve upward mobility

Last month, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai said during an LDP gathering in Tokyo that people who opt not to have children are "selfish" given the country's demographic crisis.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 12, 2018

China's silk road isn't turning out to be smooth

Skeptics' warnings about the 'Belt and Road' initiative are beginning to come true.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 10, 2018

How the world will look at mid-century

By 2050, the world will look very different than it does today.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 10, 2018

Kavanaugh resembles Roberts, but he's no clone

The U.S. Supreme Court chief justice has encountered some buyers' remorse, but that won't stop the confirmation of Trump's latest Supreme Court pick.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT
Jul 10, 2018

As Arctic warms, reindeer herders tangle with new industries

When he's not out on the Arctic tundra with his 2,000 reindeer, his dog and Whitney Houston blasting through his headphones, Nils Mathis Sara is often busy explaining to people how a planned copper mine threatens his livelihood.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jul 10, 2018

Democrats mobilize over fears Trump's Supreme Court pick could endanger landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision

President Donald Trump said he would nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, a choice that could create the most conservative court in generations and threaten landmark rulings including the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 9, 2018

Stop the stupid trade game of chicken!

Washington and Beijing need to come to their senses before they ruin global trade system that has taken decades to build and maintain.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 9, 2018

Trump's neo-isolationism won't work

Trump can't deconstruct globalization. It's too big and well-entrenched.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 9, 2018

In blow to Britain's May, top Brexit officials quit posts

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May was plunged into the worst crisis of the past year after key members of the government quit over her Brexit plan. Her government is in disarray and her leadership in question just nine months before Britain leaves the European Union.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 9, 2018

Inside U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fraught trip to North Korea

As U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touched down in Pyongyang at 10:54 a.m. on Friday he had few details of his schedule in the North Korean capital — even which hotel he and his staff would stay in.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 8, 2018

Johnson uses colorful language to make point about May's latest Brexit plan

British Foreign Secretary (foreign minister) Boris Johnson strongly criticized Prime Minister Theresa May's latest Brexit proposal in typically colorful terms before agreeing with his colleagues to back the compromise Friday, reports said.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 8, 2018

With decree, Turkey sacks more than 18,000 personnel ahead of expected lifting of emergency rule

Turkey on Sunday issued a decree dismissing more than 18,000 civil servants, half of which were from the police force, ahead of this month's expected lifting of a two-year-old state of emergency imposed after an attempted coup in July 2016.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 7, 2018

Open-plan offices are making us less social

Being in a wall-less aquarium makes workers want to communicate electronically rather than face-to-face.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 6, 2018

Trump's summit with Kim could foretell catastrophe with Putin

Before the U.S. president's second summit, it's time to note all that went wrong at the first.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 6, 2018

In last-ditch call, May urges divided government to do its Brexit duty

Prime Minister Theresa May called on her government to do its duty and agree a plan for Britain's future outside the European Union, a last-ditch appeal to ministers to put Brexit rows behind them and take a "step forward."
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 6, 2018

Trudeau, facing 2000 journalist groping allegation, says he apologized and did nothing wrong

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a supporter of feminist causes, on Thursday conceded for the first time that he had apologized in 2000 to a woman who accused him of groping her but insisted he did not feel he had done anything wrong.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 5, 2018

Mexico gets its own Trump

Out of Mexico's three presidential contenders, Andres Lopez Obrador was the least prepared to manage the bully in the White House.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 3, 2018

Russians love being victorious underdogs

Why the anti-Putin opposition is mad about the national soccer team, too.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 2, 2018

Let's discuss the New Zealand PM's baby

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern becomes the first woman in the country's history to give birth while in office.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 29, 2018

Japanese and Polish fans experience mixed feelings over Samurai Blue's teamwork, World Cup progress and passive approach

Japanese and Polish soccer fans were left with mixed feelings Friday morning, after Japan's World Cup game against Poland — the last in the tournament's group stage — showcased not only the Samurai Blue's teamwork and fair play but a passive approach that almost had them packing their bags.
Reader Mail
Jun 29, 2018

Depopulation needs a sober, serious response

In his opinion piece "Reversing Japan's demographic nosedive" in the June 20 edition, Ichiro Asahina says he was shocked by the latest Japanese demographic forecasts. Why be shocked by an inevitable prospect?
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jun 29, 2018

Russia probe counsel Robert Mueller subpoenas another associate of Trump adviser Roger Stone

U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has issued a grand jury subpoena to another associate of longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone, a lawyer for Andrew Miller, the subject of the subpoena, said on Thursday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 28, 2018

The Asia-Pacific region's gender parity imperative

Asia-Pacific economies could boost their collective GDP by $4.5 trillion per year by 2025, just by accelerating progress toward gender equality.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 27, 2018

Sumo world attracts wide range of characters

Sumo is a monolith. Individual stables may exhibit variances in training and culture, but for the most part life for wrestlers is the same throughout the sport. Enter any stable early in the day and you will find training going on. Come back at 6 p.m. and everyone will be eating dinner.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 26, 2018

Brexit's big short: Hedge funds hired pollsters and cashed in

At 10 p.m. on June 23, 2016, Sky News projected the words "IN OR OUT" across the top of a London building as an orchestral score ratcheted up the tension. "In or out—it is too late to change your mind," declared Adam Boulton, the veteran anchor, seated in a makeshift studio across from Big Ben. "The...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 25, 2018

Migrant misery, from Europe to the U.S.

Poor immigrants are finding the welcome mat missing almost everywhere they go.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo