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Global trade, energy and financial networks are increasingly being leveraged as strategic tools by nations, with supply chains, shipping routes and financial systems becoming potential points of conflict.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 21, 2025

How much 'weaponization' can the global economy take?

Global trade, energy and financial networks are increasingly being leveraged as strategic tools by nations.
Pope Francis blesses the faithful during the weekly general audience at the Vatican in August 2023.
WORLD
Apr 21, 2025

Pope Francis, radical leader who broke the papal mold, dies at 88

Francis' often turbulent reign was marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton shake hands ahead of the second leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign Sydney on April 16.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 22, 2025

Early voting kicks off in close election for Australia’s prime minister

Almost 50% of Australians cast their ballots early in the last election in 2022.
Candles and flowers are placed next to images of the late Pope Francis at the entrance of the Buenos Aires Cathedral on Monday.
WORLD / Society
Apr 22, 2025

What happens after the pope dies?

The Catholic Church will first enter a period known as "Sede Vacante," during which a senior cardinal takes over day-to-day affairs.
Executives from U.K. self-driving startup Wayve and SoftBank attend an event in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 22, 2025

U.K. AI startup Wayve makes Japan debut after Nissan partnership

Earlier this month, Wayve said it was joining forces with Nissan Motor to help build the next generation of its ProPilot driver-assist system.
Members of the clergy celebrate Mass in memory of Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, in La Paz, Bolivia, on Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 22, 2025

A conclave to test Pope Francis’ legacy

Francis unraveled many knots after his elevation in March 2013, leaving the question of whether he did enough to secure his legacy now that he’s passed.
A person walks with a dog through the "micro-forest" park created by the Athens City Council near Alepotrypa Park in downtown Athens, Greece, on March 31.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Apr 22, 2025

Tentative tree planting 'decades overdue' in sweltering Athens

Planting vegetation is crucial to help cities beat the heat, scientists say, as climate change stokes hotter and more intense heatwaves.
A photo taken from a Norwegian surveillance aircraft shows Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov in international waters off the coast of Norway in October 2016.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Apr 23, 2025

Global warming is a security threat and armies must adapt, experts say

Defense departments have already underscored that a warming planet poses major national security challenges, and militaries need to adapt to respond to these evolving threats.
Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, poses with a "Make America Great Again" cap at the White House in Washington on April 16.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Apr 23, 2025

Japan wants to 'separate' tariff and security issues. That may be tough.

Disentangling the two will prove a challenge as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to voice long-held complaints about the alliance’s fairness.
A restaurant owner pours California-grown Calrose rice into a rice cooker at his restaurant in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 23, 2025

Japan weighs using U.S. rice imports as tariff negotiation tool with Trump

The government hopes an import quota will give them more cards to play in tariff negotiations with the U.S.
Indian security forces personnel escort an ambulance carrying the bodies of tourists who were killed in a suspected militant attack near Pahalgam, outside the police control room in Srinagar, on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 24, 2025

India downgrades ties with Pakistan after attack on Kashmir tourists kills 26

The dead included 25 Indians and one Nepalese national, and at least 17 people were also injured in the worst attack on civilians in decades.
A tourist sits on the banks of Dal Lake with her belongings as she waits for transport to leave for Srinagar airport, following a suspected militant attack near south Kashmir’s scenic Pahalgam, on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 24, 2025

Kashmir killings shatter Modi's tourism success in troubled region

Tuesday's attack by suspected militants has left panicked tourists seeking an early exit at the start of the busy summer season.
Asuka Tsuzuki (left), the principal of Linden Hall School's secondary school, and Kota Sugimoto, the school's head chef, display the Japanese Agricultural Standards certificate the school obtained for its lunches.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Kyushu
May 5, 2025

In a national first, Fukuoka school obtains organic lunch certificate

A Fukuoka school has become Japan’s first to earn JAS certification for organic school lunches, using seasonal and local produce to promote environmental education.
Magokoro Yoshihira (center) is the managing director of Yui Associates, which operates the neighborhood fixtures of Sanya Cafe and Juyoh Hotel. Yusuke Takahashi (left) met Yoshihira during a difficult period in his life and now works as the cafe’s chef. Nancy Anne (right) has worked for over 10 years at Juyoh Hotel and enjoys the multicultural environment.
COMMUNITY / Issues / The Foreign Element
Apr 28, 2025

Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time

Since 2018, Sanya Cafe has been building community in one of Tokyo’s most colorful — and infamous — neighborhoods.
Once known only by his first name, Sasuke Haraguchi scrapped the pretension of a crafted image for bare authenticity. He’s now an in-demand electronic producer and artist in his own right.
CULTURE / Music
Apr 25, 2025

Sasuke Haraguchi’s provocative soundtracks for digital natives

The 21-year-old electronic producer and artist taps into the chaotic nature of modern online life.
The Thunder's Chet Holmgren (left) and Grizzlies center Zach Edey battle for a rebound during Game 3 of their series in Memphis on Thursday.
BASKETBALL / NBA
Apr 25, 2025

Thunder rally from 29 down to stun Grizzlies in Game 3

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Jalen Williams added 26 and Chet Holmgren scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half.
Pope Francis, a reformer known for his humility, inclusivity and focus on social justice, passed away at 88, leaving behind a divided church and a legacy of advocating for humanity's most vulnerable.
EDITORIALS
Apr 25, 2025

The Catholic church loses a lion

Francis’ spirit of inclusion should define who we are as human beings and his compassion should be the lodestar for action, both personal and political.
Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa is leading Japan's negotiations to forge a trade deal with the U.S. Carefully contemplated and measured retaliatory levies are one of the tools at the tariff czar's disposal.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Apr 25, 2025

Japan needs clarity as an antidote to contradictory tariffs

With incompatible goals and an erratic timeline, Trump's tariff strategy has more holes than Swiss cheese. In response, Japan should bring a strong, coherent strategy to the table.
An investigation by World Rugby found that JRFU Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi did not breach Asia Rugby's code of conduct.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Apr 25, 2025

Furious Japan seeks apology after 'no basis' found for chairman's Asia Rugby ban

World Rugby was called in to investigate in February when Asia Rugby banned Iwabuchi from its executive committee for a potential code of conduct breach.
Indian soldiers trek back after a search operation around Baisaran meadow in the aftermath of an attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-held Kashmir, on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 26, 2025

Pakistan official calls for international inquiry into Kashmir terror attack

The defense minister’s remarks appeared to be aimed at defusing tensions with India, after armed militants attacked a tourist group in the disputed territory.
Virginia Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York in August 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Apr 26, 2025

Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre takes own life in Australia, family says

"It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia," the family said in a statement.
Al Hilal's Salem al-Dawsari during a Saudi Pro League match in Riyadh earlier this month.
SOCCER
Apr 26, 2025

Al-Hilal surges into Asian Champions League semis by thrashing Gwangju

Al-Hilal was several levels above the K. League side, which was appearing in the competition for the first time.
Crown Prince Akishino attends the memorial mass for Pope Francis at St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN
Apr 27, 2025

Japan crown prince attends memorial mass for Pope Francis

The mass, hosted by the Apostolic Nunciature to Japan, was attended by about 1,000 people, including U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan head Yoshihiko Noda speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 28, 2025

CDP's about-face piles pressure on LDP to cut consumption tax on food

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yoshihiko Noda pledged that the party will abolish the consumption tax on food products for a year.
Pope Francis prays in front of a candle lit to remember victims of abuse by the church, inside St Mary's Pro Cathedral during his visit to Dublin, Ireland on August 25, 2018.
WORLD / Society
Apr 28, 2025

Abuse victims say they saw progress under Pope Francis, just not enough

For abuse survivors, Francis' legacy on the issue is a mixed one of powerful words and at times underwhelming deeds.
People line up outside a polling station to vote in Canada's federal election, in Toronto on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 29, 2025

Canada votes as Trump renews U.S. takeover push

Trump put himself into Canadian politics again with a social media post saying Canada would face "ZERO TARIFFS" if it "becomes the cherished 51st state."
Delta Air Lines signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York on April 9. The airline is flying a new Airbus SE plane through Japan to skirt U.S. import tariffs.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 29, 2025

Delta routes new Airbus plane to Tokyo to sidestep Trump tariffs

Planes are classified as "used” once they’re flown for any reason other than testing and delivery, and then tariffs usually don’t apply.
A car with curtains drawn, one of two, is seen leaving Hong Kong's Shek Pik prison just before sunrise on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 29, 2025

First batch of Hong Kong democrats freed after four years in jail

Four former pro-democracy lawmakers, including Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan, were driven away from three separate prisons across Hong Kong around dawn.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 20
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Apr 29, 2025

FIA president considering 'improvements' to swearing rules

Competitors in rallying and Formula One have been at loggerheads with the Emirati over a crackdown on bad language during events.
Christophe Lemaire rides Admire Daytona, who was bred in Japan, during the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on April 5.
MORE SPORTS / Horse Racing
Apr 29, 2025

Could this be Japan’s year at the Kentucky Derby?

Japan has made great strides in thoroughbred racing, and many feel it is no longer a question of "if" a Japanese horse will win the event but "when."

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji