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Muslim worshipers gather to pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on Sunday ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
WORLD
Jun 2, 2025

Saudi Arabia cracks down on unauthorized Hajj pilgrims, aiming to save lives

Last year, 1,301 pilgrims, most unregistered and lacking access to air-conditioned facilities, died as temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 winners trophy is displayed in Times Square, New York City, on May 20.
SOCCER
Jun 3, 2025

FIFA's inaugural Club World Cup set to kick off in the U.S. amid challenges

The tournament has had to contend with the prospect of empty seats, controversial qualification rules and player welfare concerns.
Novak Djokovic eyes the ball as he plays against Cameron Norrie during their men's singles match on Day 9 of the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Monday.
TENNIS
Jun 3, 2025

Djokovic cruises into record 19th French Open quarterfinal

The three-time French Open champion will renew his rivalry with third seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight on Wednesday.
Russian delegation head and presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky speaks to the press after a meeting at Ciragan Palace during the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Russia sets out punitive terms at peace talks with Ukraine

The terms highlighted Moscow's refusal to compromise on its longstanding war goals despite calls by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the "bloodbath" in Ukraine.
An Iranian newspaper, with a cover photo featuring the flags of Iran, Oman and the U.S., is seen in Tehran on May 11. Tehran is poised to reject a U.S. proposal for a new nuclear deal presented to it on Saturday by Oman's foreign minister, an Iranian diplomat says.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Iran poised to dismiss U.S. nuclear proposal, Iranian diplomat says

The proposal fails to address Tehran's interests or soften Washington's stance on uranium enrichment, the diplomat says.
A mining machine at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals in Inner Mongolia, China, in 2011
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

China’s rare earths grip gives Xi leverage in U.S. trade duel

For years, Washington was believed to have the advantage over China in the fight for technological dominance thanks to its grip on semiconductor supply chains.
A resident in Uchinada, Ishikawa Prefecture, points to a boundary of his property with his neighbor which shifted due to liquefaction following the massive earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in January 2024.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2025

Noto quake liquefaction hampers land boundary redrawing

Liquefaction during the Noto quake caused a lateral flow of up to 3 meters along a prefectural road running north to south through Uchinada and Kahoku.
Trump hopes increased levies on aluminum and steel will protect margins for domestic mills and spur investment in new production capacity.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 3, 2025

U.S. aluminum and steel prices surge as Trump doubles tariffs

U.S. buyers could end up paying about 50% more than international competitors to get hold of aluminum.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (third from left) speaks at a Council for Gender Equality meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Japan to promote women's startups as part of push to stop rural outflow

Seeing fewer job prospects for women in the countryside as a problem, the government will improve consulting systems for business startups in rural areas.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continuing support for his pro-EU government, after nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Tusk calls confidence vote after nationalist wins Polish presidential election

European far-right leaders welcomed the election of Karol Nawrocki, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump who has said he will oppose the government's progressive agenda.
A view of high-voltage transmission towers, where the cables were cut and stolen, in Damascus on May 26
WORLD / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

For Syria, Qatar's $7 billion power plan hinges on it fixing its grid

Years of neglect have left the sprawling network of transformer stations and towers stripped as looters continue to steal cables and other components.
The Fighters' Franmil Reyes celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Marines on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 3, 2025

What you need to know ahead of NPB interleague play resuming

Since 2005, one constant has been Pa League dominance.
The average price of rice sold at some 1,000 supermarkets across Japan in the week through May 25 stood at ¥4,260 ($29.80) per 5 kilograms, down ¥25 from the previous week.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2025

Retail prices for rice across Japan make first dip in three weeks

The average price in the week through May 25 stood at ¥4,260 ($29.80) per 5 kilograms, down by ¥25 from the previous week.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles delivers an address during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Australian defense chief doubles down on trilateral ties but rules out Asia pact

A key factor behind the trilateralization push has been the speed at which Japan-Australia ties have been expanding.
Toyota group companies could establish a new holding company to privatize Toyota Industries.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 3, 2025

Toyota Industries receives $33 billion buyout offer from group companies

The deal would be in line with government efforts to encourage big companies to unwind cross-held shares with subsidiaries and other businesses.
The basic framework adopted by the government calls for measures to improve the employment situation of those in their 40s and 50s, and for steps to assist them in their later years.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 3, 2025

Japan government to boost support for job 'Ice Age' generation

The framework calls for measures to improve the employment situation of those in their 40s and 50s, and for steps to assist them in their later years.
Zico, Brazilian soccer legend and current technical director for Kashima Antlers, poses following an interview at the Antlers's training ground in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, on May 28.
SOCCER
Jun 3, 2025

Zico warns Japanese players not to follow Brazilians into transfer trap

The 72-year-old says Japanese players looking beyond the J. League is a "positive" development — as long as they move at the right time.
Laleli's informal shipping scene, once a bustling hub of cross-continental trade, is now facing growing pressure from rising costs and tougher residency rules imposed by Turkish authorities.
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2025

Tough residency rules and Chinese competition squeeze Istanbul's 'suitcase trade'

Shipments have dropped, even as Turkish exports to Africa have generally soared — from $11.5 billion in 2017 to $19.4 billion last year.
Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China in 2010.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 4, 2025

Global alarms rise as China's critical mineral export curbs take hold

China has a stranglehold on minerals crucial for sectors ranging from aerospace to semiconductors.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa looks on as he attends a ceremony marking Syria’s liberation, in Aleppo, Syria, on May 27.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 4, 2025

Israel unleashes strikes on Syria after projectile launches

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the two projectiles.
Arrows lead to the tax-free counter at a branch of discount retailer Don Quijote in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 4, 2025

Is Japan ready to say goodbye to tax-free shopping?

Amid widespread abuse of Japan’s tax-free shopping system, a group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are mulling over its possible abolition.
Japanese trading companies' shares gained following comments from Warren Buffett at the Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting that he expects his company to hold the shares for 50 years or more.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 4, 2025

Buffett inspires retail investors to bet on Japan trading houses

Japanese trading companies shares gained following comments from Warren Buffett that he expects his company to hold the shares for 50 years or more.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in The Hague, Netherlands on Tuesday. Schoof has resigned as prime minister after the far-right Freedom Party pulled out of the government.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 4, 2025

Dutch prime minister resigns after far-right party pulls out of coalition

The Freedom Party withdrew from the Dutch government over the refusal of three coalition partners to agree to its plans to curb migration.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli (center), along with his teammates, celebrates with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 final cricket match against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Cricket
Jun 4, 2025

'Emotional' Kohli fulfills IPL dream as Bengaluru claims first title

"This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team, it's been 18 long years," said Kohli, one of India's all-time greats in all formats of the game.
The year so far is only proving that Mrs. Green Apple is the biggest band in Japan. Their success also seems to be hinting at a change in the musical landscape more broadly.
CULTURE / Music
Jun 5, 2025

Six months into 2025, J-pop is having a full-on identity crisis (and a great time)

Halfway through 2025, J-pop is in flux — swinging between AI absurdity, idol nostalgia and viral sugar highs.
The Kumamoto Municipal Government building in the city of Kumamoto
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2025

Around 100 dead cats found at woman's home in Japan

City officials and animal rights volunteers inspected the house twice, before launching a full search and rescue mission.
Palestinians move humanitarian aid collected from a distribution center in the Netzarim Corridor, central Gaza Strip, on May 29.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 4, 2025

Israel’s Gaza push spurs Europe leaders to turn on Netanyahu

The condemnation is symbolic of the shift in Europe and of Israel’s increasing isolation.
Travel advisories, declining visitor numbers from key countries and stricter border enforcement by the Trump administration have cast doubt on tourism gains for Los Angeles, which is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and also the 2028 Olympics.
COMMENTARY / World
May 28, 2025

Is LA throwing a world cup party no one will attend?

At a time when the U.S. should be preparing to roll out the welcome mat to the world, President Trump’s erratic immigration policies and rhetoric are scaring tourists away.
Akio Toyoda’s involvement in the $33 billion buyout of Toyota Industries signals a potential corporate comeback, and that’s a good thing despite criticism.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 4, 2025

For Toyota, more Akio Toyoda would be a good thing

This opposition is nonsensical. Akio turned Toyota into the biggest automaker in the world during a period of intense industry change.
Bangladesh hoped to celebrate progress towards eradicating tuberculosis this year. Instead, it is reeling from a $48 million snap aid cut by U.S. President Donald Trump's government, which health workers say could rapidly unravel years of hard work and cause huge numbers of preventable deaths.
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 4, 2025

From Nigeria to Pakistan, TB testing 'in a coma' after U.S. aid cuts

Moves by U.S. President Donald Trump have stalled vital research in South Africa and left TB survivors lacking support in India.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years