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Ami Yuasa performs in the b-girls breaking competition final during the Paris Summer Olympics earlier this month. She won gold in the event.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 21, 2024

The victories, viral moments and vocabulary of Paris 2024

When following the Olympics in Japanese, knowing all the buzzwords that spring up could be a competition of its own.
A portrait taken on May 26, 1979, shows French actor Alain Delon during the filming of "Le toubib" directed by Pierre Granier Deferre, in Sissonne, central France.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Aug 20, 2024

Alain Delon: A 'god' in Japan

The French actor, who died on Aug. 18, held special appeal for his Japanese fans, as he embodied a "thirst" that postwar youth could identify with.
New gene-edited crops could address climate change and agricultural challenges; however, high regulatory barriers and safety concerns limit innovation.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 18, 2024

It’s time to embrace a new era of gene-edited food

New crops may improve our health or help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In September, world leaders will meet in New York for the United Nation's Summit of the Future to strengthen international cooperation on digital technology and innovation, as well as development financing, security, employment and gender equality.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 20, 2024

The U.N. is charting a new course for our technology future

By closing digital and data divides through international cooperation, we can foster a technology culture that addresses global challenges.
Jannik Sinner poses with the Rookwood Cup trophy after winning the men’s singles final against Frances Tiafoe at the Cincinnati Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Monday.
TENNIS
Aug 21, 2024

Jannik Sinner cleared of wrongdoing after failed drug tests, ITIA says

The tribunal accepted Sinner's explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy.
China's Sun Yang swims to win the men's 1500m freestyle final during the World Swimming Championships at the Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona in August 2013.
MORE SPORTS / Swimming
Aug 21, 2024

China's Sun set to return to the pool after long doping ban

The swimmer will represent Zhejiang province at the National Summer Swimming Championships, which start on Sunday in Hefei.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen in action during the Belgian Grand Prix on July 28
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Aug 21, 2024

Verstappen needs a home win to end losing streak

Verstappen, who leads Formula One by 78 points with 10 rounds remaining, has not stood on top of the podium since Spain on June 23.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (right) shakes hands with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a joint news conference in Seoul in May.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 21, 2024

Kishida eyes visit to South Korea in early September

Kishida apparently hopes that he and Yoon will confirm the importance of keeping relations between their countries on track.
The integration of large language models into war-game simulations and planning promises faster scenario analysis, but recent research highlights significant issues, including a risk of escalation.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 21, 2024

Resist the seductive power of AI in military decision-making

The maturation of AI and the creation of large learning models have driven the war-gaming industry — and it is an industry — to new heights of fever and frenzy.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pays her respect to a picture of Thailand King Maha Vajiralongkorn as she receives a royal endorsement to become the 31st prime minister in Bangkok on Sunday.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 21, 2024

Thailand’s democracy is on shaky ground

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is in the middle of yet another political crisis. Citizens deserve better.
The ability of Xi Jinping's government to control China's  industrial overcapacity crisis is limited, and stimulating domestic demand is difficult amid geopolitical tensions.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 21, 2024

Xi’s supply-side panacea has lost its magic

China’s excess capacity problem will have to fester until even its industry leaders call it quits. That may be some years away.
Existential risks like bioterrorism or climate change, created by humans, are not being treated by governments with anything like the seriousness or urgency they deserve.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 21, 2024

Will we survive the next 100 years?

Existential risks like bioterrorism or climate change, created by humans, are not being treated by governments with anything like the seriousness or urgency they deserve.
European Union member flags are hoisted in front of the European Parliament building in Luxembourg. The country hosts key EU institutions and has recently concluded a working holiday visa program with Japan.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Aug 22, 2024

Luxembourg opens door for Japanese working holiday visitors

The working holiday program is available to Japanese nationals between the ages of 18 and 30.
The yen's rebound is clouding an outlook for Japanese firms' earnings that have enjoyed a boost from the weak yen.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 22, 2024

Yen’s rebound threatens earnings growth in Japan

Weak demand in China and the risk of a slowing U.S. economy are fueling worries about how sustainable their earnings growth will be.
Jannik Sinner has been cleared to continue competing despite failing two doping tests this year.
TENNIS
Aug 22, 2024

Tennis players decry double standards after Jannik Sinner avoids doping ban

Some players have suggested that the Italian received preferential treatment.
Seven & I Holding’s logo is seen at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Tokyo on Aug. 19. Apart from 7-Eleven, Seven & I also owns, has stakes in or operates a number of other iconic properties, including Denny’s, Tower Records and Ito-Yokado.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 22, 2024

Japan warms to audacious Canadian bid for 7-Eleven operator

The deal might just work if Alimentation Couche-Tard lets the convenience store chain get on with business and continue to develop and expand globally.
Ebenezer Agyarko tends to his cocoa plantation in Kwabeng, north of Accra, the capital of Ghana.
BUSINESS / Markets
Aug 22, 2024

Chocolate prices unlikely to decline even as African cocoa harvest improves

Issues that have long hobbled the industry remain, meaning bean prices aren’t likely to fall back to previous levels.
The 2024 Kentaro Kaneko Award ceremony will be held Oct. 15 at the International House of Japan in Tokyo’s Minato Ward.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Aug 24, 2024

America-Japan Society announces recipients of 2024 Kentaro Kaneko Award

This year's Kentaro Kaneko Award celebrating achievements in furthering U.S.-Japan relations goes to a volunteer, an educator and a legendary musician.
Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, speaks during a news conference following the suspected first case of the new, more dangerous strain of mpox in Bangkok on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Aug 23, 2024

Thailand confirms Asia’s first case of new mpox virus strain

The patient who tested positive for clade Ib was a European man who arrived in Bangkok last week from Africa.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 23, 2024

Indian PM Modi set to visit Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy

The visit, which follows a trip by Modi to Moscow in July, is important for Western-backed Kyiv.
Iga Swiatek hits a return against Mirra Andreeva at the Cincinnati Open on Aug. 17.
TENNIS
Aug 23, 2024

Tennis great Chris Evert expects No. 1 Iga Swiatek to bounce back at U.S. Open

"Iga's very disciplined, very organized, very serious about her game and very mature," Evert, now a tennis analyst for ESPN, told reporters.
Kylian Mbappe will make his home debut for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid on Sunday.
SOCCER
Aug 23, 2024

Kylian Mbappe set for home debut as Carlo Ancelotti seeks to get Madrid on track

Mbappe was shut out by Mallorca and goalkeeper Dominik Greif in his first Spanish league match on Sunday.
A boy pushes a biped robot developed by LimX Dynamics at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 23, 2024

China's robot makers chase Tesla to deliver humanoid workers

The Asian giant's push into the emerging industry draws from the formula behind its initial electric vehicle drive more than a decade ago.
An AI-driven smartphone application, jointly developed by a tech startup and researchers at Nihon University, purports to tell when cats feel pain. It was being demonstrated during a vet examination in Fujisawa on June 11.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 23, 2024

Japan should go big or go home on startups

As of last month, Japan had just 10 unicorns, according to Pitchbook data, compared to 714 in the U.S., 316 in China and 62 in India.
Novak Djokovic in action during the men's singles final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 4.
TENNIS
Aug 25, 2024

Djokovic eyes Grand Slam records in U.S. Open defense

Djokovic can become the oldest U.S. Open champion of the Open era as he seeks to break a tie with Margaret Court and win a 25th major.
Britain's Lucy Shuker competes at a tournament in Eastbourne, England, in 2022.
PARALYMPICS
Aug 25, 2024

Paralympian Lucy Shuker indebted to wheelchair tennis for giving her some 'joy'

Just 21 years old when she suffered the life-changing injury, Shuker, now 44, has become one of the finest doubles players in the world.
U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris arrives onstage Thursday to speak on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 25, 2024

Kamala Harris charts her vision for the United States

Harris’ speech capped a week featuring the Democratic Party’s brightest stars, showcasing a broad, diverse and inclusive party.
Sarvam AI, often described as India’s OpenAI, introduced software for businesses that can interact with customers using spoken voice rather than just text.
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 26, 2024

Cheap AI voice bots are suddenly everywhere in India

Startups may turn India into a proving ground for what could be the next frontier of generative artificial intelligence products.
A humanoid robot developed by Ex-Robots winks at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 21.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Aug 26, 2024

China robots conference spotlights the changing face of humanoids

"The robot industry has broad prospects and huge market potential," said Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
A monument of baseball legend Babe Ruth stands at Monument Park at Yankee Stadium on Feb. 25, 2009.
BASEBALL / MLB
Aug 26, 2024

Babe Ruth jersey sells for record-shattering price

The jersey sold for $24.1 million in an online auction.

Longform

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