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French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine "as soon as possible" as the two held their first known phone talks since 2022 on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 2, 2025

Macron and Putin discuss Iran and Ukraine in first talks since 2022

The two leaders also discussed Tehran's nuclear program, with French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting Moscow and Paris work together to de-escalate tensions.
The Asaichi-dori morning market street in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, was devastated by a fire following an earthquake on New Year's Day in 2024.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2025

Noto quake-hit area sees biggest roadside land price drop

The roadside land price for a plot in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, plunged 16.7%, a stark contrast to a 4.5% decline in the previous year.
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an in-depth investigation of SoftBank Group's acquisition of semiconductor designer Ampere Computing.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 2, 2025

SoftBank’s Ampere deal now faces a more in-depth review by FTC

SoftBank’s acquisition of semiconductor designer Ampere Computing is facing a potentially lengthy probe by the U.S. government.
Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts and ranking member of the House Rules Committee (center left) speaks during a hearing in Washington on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 2, 2025

Trump tax bill hits Republican resistance in House ahead of vote

Trump, the GOP’s most forceful whip, quickly turned his attention from the Senate to the House, putting public pressure on Republicans to back the bill.
Tomonobu Kojima, admitted his involvement in the "Luffy" cases at the first hearing of his trial at Tokyo District Court on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 2, 2025

Senior member of 'Luffy' crime ring pleads guilty at hearing

Tomonobu Kojima, 47, said, "There is no mistake" regarding his charges of aiding robberies and committing fraud.
Blue Impulse, the Air Self-Defense Force's aerobatic team, performs ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, in September 2023.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2025

ASDF's Blue Impulse to perform for Osaka Expo on July 12 and 13

The aerobatic team will also fly over top tourism sites in the city and the 1970 Expo site in nearby Suita.
Born in late 2011, Cheyenne is an affable canine companion who gets along with humans, most dogs and even cats.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Jul 2, 2025

A furry ball of sunshine

Thirteen-year-old Cheyenne may be in her golden years, but her good cheer and affability will win anyone over.
Opposition parties are proposing a consumption tax cut as inflation, especially food inflation, remains high.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jul 2, 2025

Consumption tax cut enters political conversation ahead of Upper House election

The Liberal Democratic Party opposes a reduction in the tax, but opposition parties are in favor of a cut.
Fiji's Albert Tuisue celebrates at the end of the match against Australia at World Cup 2023 in France.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Jul 2, 2025

Fiji looks to soften up Wallabies before Lions series

Fiji's Australian coach Mick Byrne has brought a strong squad for Sunday's test in Newcastle, the hosts' last warmup before facing the British and Irish Lions.
Residents cool themselves in Parc Andre Citroen's fountains in Paris on Tuesday.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jul 2, 2025

Europe’s climate resolve faces big test as EU unveils 2040 goal

The European Commission is set to propose a binding law to slash emissions by 90% by 2040 as part of its overarching goal to reach climate neutrality by the middle of the century.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speak as they stand with Mayor of Hiroshima Kazumi Matsui in front of the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima in May 2023.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2025

Hiroshima mayor urges Trump to visit after atomic bomb comments

U.S. President Donald Trump should visit Hiroshima to see the effects of nuclear weapons, the city's mayor said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday
WORLD
Jul 3, 2025

Swiss say foreign spying threat high, citing Russia and China

The global context has direct implications for Switzerland, a militarily neutral country which hosts multiple international organizations.
Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham speaks at a League of Social Democrats news conference at their headquarters in Hong Kong on June 29.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 3, 2025

Hong Kong proposes limited recognition of same-sex couples' rights

The move comes as the Hong Kong government seeks to comply with a landmark court ruling from September 2023.
Recent preprint research suggests students who use ChatGPT to write essays engage in less critical thinking, with different areas of their brains connecting less often.
WORLD / Society
Jul 3, 2025

'Writing is thinking': Brain study prompts debate on ChatGPT use in education

The recent preprint research suggests students who use ChatGPT to write essays engage in less critical thinking, with different areas of their brains connecting less often.
An event to promote Japan-India cooperation on supply chains for minerals was held at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2025

New Delhi event highlights Japan's bid to deepen India ties on critical minerals

The event brought together a total of some 70 companies from both countries, including members of the Battery Association for Supply Chain, a Japanese industry group.
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2025

Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight

The move comes in response to a series of incidents involving battery packs emitting smoke or catching fire during flights.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a news conference to mark his first 30 days in office at the Blue House in Seoul on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 3, 2025

South Korea's Lee pledges 'bold' economic policy after martial law crisis

The South Korean president says his top priority is to improve the lives of the people, whose faith in government had been greatly shaken by "a national crisis."
Australian Arisa Trew won gold in the women's skateboarding park competition at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
MORE SPORTS / Skateboarding
Jul 3, 2025

Teenage skateboarding star Arisa Trew has no plans to slow down

Trew is set to defend her Olympic title at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 at age 18.
A Japan day ceremony at the Osaka Expo featuring Myaku-myaku on Thursday in the city of Osaka
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2025

Best-selling singer Misia and Hello Kitty celebrate Japanese culture at Osaka Expo

The expo’s national day celebrating its host country spanned culture from contemporary to ancient, in a ceremony featuring calligraphy and gagaku and more.
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
MORE SPORTS / Football
Jul 1, 2025

Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead

Growth of the sport is being seen in Japan and elsewhere, and some feel this could even benefit traditional gridiron.
Workers at 5,162 companies affiliated with Rengo secured an average wage increase of 5.25% in this year’s negotiations, according to the final update of pay deals announced Thursday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 4, 2025

Japan’s 2025 wage talks conclude with highest gain in 34 years

Workers at 5,162 companies affiliated with Rengo secured an average wage increase of 5.25% in this year’s negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin remain at odds over ending the war in Ukraine.
WORLD
Jul 4, 2025

No progress at all, Trump says after phone call with Putin

The two leaders did not discuss a recent pause in some U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv during the nearly hourlong conversation.
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 4, 2025

U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case

This is the first direct apology from the U.S. military to the Okinawa Prefectural Government for a series of sexual crimes committed by U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.
Ubu (Saki Miyashita) is a bounty hunter who takes down cyborg criminals in "Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl."
CULTURE / Film
Jul 4, 2025

‘Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl’: Beautiful, brutal and bringing back ’90s anime energy

The first chapter of Yasuomi Umetsu's new "Virgin Punk" project delivers old-school action and animation in a cyberpunk future.
A container ship is anchored at the Tan Vu port in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Much of Vietnam's exports to the U.S. are made up of items such as AirPods, phones or other products assembled with Chinese components and then shipped on.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 4, 2025

U.S. trade deal leaves Vietnam with questions and one big challenge

Companies operating in the Southeast Asian hub are on notice to move up the value chain.
Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party's international department, speaks during an event in Beijing on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 4, 2025

Top Chinese official says war with U.S. unimaginable in tone tweak

China is adopting a less confrontational tone with the U.S. days after confirming details of a trade framework with Washington.
Outlays by households in Japan, adjusted for inflation, gained 4.7% from a year ago in May, according to the internal affairs ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 4, 2025

Japan’s households boost spending by most since summer of 2022

Consumption makes up more than half of Japan’s economic output and could determine whether the economy will enter or avoid a technical recession.
Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (right) shakes hands with Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Kabul on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 4, 2025

Russia becomes first country to recognize Taliban government

Moscow has taken recent steps to normalize relations with the Taliban authorities.
Terry Kilgore, 70, stands in his property where the yard used to be before losing his home to the Eaton Fire in January 2025, in Altadena, California.
WORLD / Society
Jul 4, 2025

Six months after LA wildfires, some adjust to new life in RVs

Many homeowners are crashing with friends and family, or renting during the rebuild, but others have chosen to live in RVs on their properties.
Max Verstappen says he is happy with Red Bull amid questions about his future.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Jul 4, 2025

Max Verstappen sidesteps questions about future ahead of British GP

The 27-year-old said that staying with one team was an interesting prospect for him.

Longform

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