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Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of hostage Edan Alexander, points at the portrait of her grandson at Kibbutz Nir Oz, in southern Israel on April 20.
WORLD / Politics
May 12, 2025

Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander

Israeli officials said that their offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a G20 summit in Japan on June 28, 2019.
WORLD / Politics
May 12, 2025

Prospects of Saudi ties to Israel elusive as Trump seeks $1 trillion bonanza

Supporters of normalizing relations say it would bring stability and prosperity to the region, while countering Iran's influence.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attend a news conference after trade talks with China, in Geneva on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 12, 2025

U.S. and China agree to lower tariffs in 90-day cooling-off period

The temporary move will give the world’s two largest economies three more months to resolve their differences.
A sign for battery manufacturer CATL is seen at the Auto China 2024 exhibition in Beijing on April 25, 2024.
BUSINESS / Markets
May 12, 2025

CATL starts taking investor orders for world’s biggest listing this year

The Chinese electric vehicle battery giant is seeking to raise as much as HK$41 billion ($5.3 billion).
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House earlier this year. Ishiba said Monday that farmers won't be sacrificed for automakers in Japan's tariff negotiations with the U.S.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
May 12, 2025

Japan might be playing long game in U.S. tariff talks

Tokyo is resisting making any major concessions, possibly in the hope that mounting domestic pressure will force U.S. President Donald Trump to give it a better deal.
Since the LDP resumed discussions on the issue in February, members against introducing a selective dual surname system have been gaining momentum, calling for expanding the use of maiden names.
JAPAN
May 12, 2025

LDP to forgo compiling bill on dual surname system

The LDP concluded that it would be unwise to create divisions within the party ahead of this summer's election for the House of Councilors.
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard in action against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a WNBA preseason game in Atlanta on Saturday.
BASKETBALL
May 13, 2025

WNBA roars into new season marked by growth and star power

The league has expanded for the first time since 2008 by introducing the Golden State Valkyries.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enter the White House in Washington on April 7.
WORLD / Politics
May 13, 2025

Trump casts Netanyahu adrift with shifts on Iran, Houthis and Gaza

The freeing of the last living U.S. citizen held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is another sign the U.S. president is starting to make unilateral decisions.
Senior officials of Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito agreed Tuesday on the need to draft a supplementary budget before a possible extraordinary session of the Diet this autumn.
JAPAN / Politics
May 13, 2025

LDP and Komeito agree to draft supplementary budget before autumn session

The extra budget is expected to fund measures to deal with inflation and the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Saudi investment forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
May 14, 2025

Trump says U.S. to lift Syria sanctions as he secures $600 billion Saudi deal

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. arms — part of a decadeslong arrangement where the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 13.
WORLD / Politics
May 14, 2025

NATO is sketching out a plan to meet Trump's call for 5% of GDP on defense

Negotiators are making progress ahead of a NATO summit in The Hague in June on a path to hitting the spending goal by 2032.
A uranium conversion facility in Iran. The country currently enriches uranium to 60% purity — far above the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 deal but below the 90% needed for weapons-grade material.
WORLD / Politics
May 15, 2025

Top Iran aide says nuclear deal possible for sanctions relief

An adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran could accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer travels to the resort island of Jeju, South Korea, to join his counterparts at the meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members on Thursday and Friday.
WORLD / Politics
May 15, 2025

Trade chiefs jostle for time with Greer at APEC meeting in South Korea

Many will seek talks with the U.S. trade representative to try to blunt the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s barrage of tariffs.
As Japan heads into summer elections, debate over the consumption tax has intensified, with opposition parties demanding cuts to ease pressure on households and the government defending the levy as essential amid rising debt and economic uncertainty.
EDITORIALS
May 16, 2025

Don’t overreact to the consumption tax debate

Economic uncertainty in combination with rising prices are squeezing the budgets of households, businesses and the government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks on the phone ahead of a meeting at the European Political Community summit, at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania, on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
May 17, 2025

Ukraine calls on allies to keep pressure on Russia after ceasefire talks fall short

Russia is presenting conditions that a Ukrainian source described as "non-starters."
Moody's first gave the United States its pristine "Aaa" rating in 1919 and is the last of the three major credit agencies to downgrade it.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 17, 2025

Moody's cuts America's pristine credit rating, citing rising debt

The move that could complicate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, Michigan, on April 29.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
May 18, 2025

Trump’s deals cast China both as foe and prize, blurring signals

Pick through the details of recent U.S. trade negotiations and an outline of Donald Trump’s vision for the global economy starts to come into focus. As do its contradictions.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba
JAPAN / Politics
May 19, 2025

Ishiba rebuffs tax cut demands with Greek debt comparison

The premier said he disagrees with the idea of funding tax cuts with Japanese government bonds, signaling caution over additional government spending.
Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News, speaks during the Axios BFD event in New York on Oct. 12, 2023.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 20, 2025

CBS News boss resigns amid tensions with Trump admin

"The past few months have been challenging," CEO Wendy McMahon wrote in a goodbye letter to staff. "It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward."
Shipping containers in Oakland, California, on May 12
WORLD
May 20, 2025

Even on nontariff issues G7 finance leaders may still face U.S. pushback

A source briefed on U.S. positions in the talks in Canada has said that any consensus needs to align with Trump administration priorities.
China’s Made in China 2025 program set an ambitious agenda, and a decade later, initial assessments conclude it had mixed success but maintain its goals will shape Chinese policy for years to come.
COMMENTARY / World
May 20, 2025

Ten years of Made in China 2025 sees mixed success

MIC2025 set an ambitious agenda, and a decade later, early reviews say it has had mixed success but maintain that its goals will shape Chinese policy for years to come.
Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a mortar toward Russian troops in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on May 16.
WORLD / Politics
May 21, 2025

EU and Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump

The measures would zero in on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
Canadian Finance Minister Franiis-Philippe Champagne (left), and Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko hold a news conference during the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
May 21, 2025

Canada seeks to send 'strong message' with Ukraine at G7 finance talks

In meetings through Thursday, leaders will discuss global economic conditions and seek a common position on Ukraine.
Nippon Steel Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 21, 2025

Nippon Steel says it is confident Trump's buyout concerns have been addressed

Wednesday is the deadline for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review Nippon Steel's acquisition plan again.
Lakshmi Kumari Patel (left) teaches students at a primary school at Nichla Fala village in India's Rajasthan state.
WORLD / Society
May 22, 2025

India's mother-tongue teaching spells reading success

Primary school teaching in India is often in a language the children do not understand.
Ushers replace a European Union flag with a Ukrainian flag on the day of an EU leaders' special summit to discuss Ukraine and European defense in Brussels on March 6.
WORLD / Politics
May 22, 2025

'Massive sanctions': Can the EU do much more to punish Russia?

Diplomats say it is becoming increasingly difficult to agree on areas to hit Moscow, a task made even tougher by Russia-friendly Hungary.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
May 23, 2025

Netanyahu links embassy shootings to hostility over Gaza

Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the war and there was no sign that the Washington killings would affect the conduct of Israel's military operation.
Imperial family members attend a spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo on April 22.
JAPAN
May 23, 2025

Support for female imperial family members keeping status at 64.9%: poll

While many respondents backed the idea, 10.7% opposed it and a total of 24.3% had no opinion or were not sure.
A third-party committee set up by Fuji Television Network said in a statement Thursday that its recognition of sexual violence was based on the World Health Organization's definition because Fuji TV and its parent, Fuji Media Holdings, needed to fulfill their accountability to global shareholders.
JAPAN / Media
May 23, 2025

Fuji TV panel defends conclusion of 'sexual violence' by Nakai

The committee rejected the request from Nakai's lawyer to disclose interview records and other evidence, claiming that it would undermine its independence and neutrality.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba briefs reporters after his call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 23, 2025

Ishiba and Trump speak as Akazawa heads to Washington

The call raised hopes for a breakthrough as Japan's chief tariff negotiator heads to the U.S. for a third round of high-level negotiations.

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