Search - 2020

 
 
Debt-laden companies in Japan are rapidly growing in number, in some measures even faster than in 1992 after the collapse of its asset price bubble.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 22, 2024

Zombie companies may finally succumb to bankruptcy on BOJ hikes

Bankruptcies topped 5,000 cases for the first time in a decade between April and September, a report by Tokyo Shoko Research showed earlier this month.
High construction costs due to rising material and labor costs continue to push up sales prices of new condominiums.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 22, 2024

Tokyo-area condo price hits new high in first half of fiscal 2024

The average price in the area, which includes Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba, rose 1.5% from ¥78.36 million a year earlier.
Moldova's incumbent President and presidential candidate Maia Sandu attends a press conference in Chisinau on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 22, 2024

Moldova votes in favor of EU membership by thin margin despite influence

Police in the country reported incidents including efforts to transport or bribe voters, photographing ballots, intimidation and scuffling.
The Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney fires an SM-6 missile during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024 in August.
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 22, 2024

Australia to buy advanced U.S. long-range missiles to boost deterrence

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 missiles, similar to those being procured by Japan, will be progressively rolled out across the Royal Australian Navy’s warships.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi stumps in the city of Nara on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 22, 2024

With her sights set on Ishiba's throne, will Takaichi take over the LDP?

Anything less than a comfortable victory in Sunday's general election will put the prime minister in a vulnerable position.
Tournament Director Stephen Farrow (far left) and others pose with United Cup trophy at the draw for the competition in Sydney on Oct. 21.
TENNIS
Oct 22, 2024

United Cup is here to stay, says tournament director

The tournament kicks off its third edition in Perth on Dec. 27, just 33 days after the Davis Cup finals conclude in Spain.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Michigan, on Oct. 10.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 23, 2024

U.S. Republicans press ahead in bid to block some overseas ballots

As many as 1.6 million Americans living overseas, including U.S. military members and their families, are eligible to cast ballots in the seven swing states.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company notified the U.S. that one of its chips had been found in a Huawei product, revealing a possible violation of export restrictions on the Chinese company.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 23, 2024

TSMC told U.S. of chip in Huawei product after TechInsights finding, source says

The revelation could show how difficult enforcing export controls can be for both companies making highly desired products and regulators.
A man who works for a restaurant consults a social welfare council official in Tokyo about COVID-19 relief loans in June 2020.
JAPAN
Oct 23, 2024

Welfare councils loaned ¥1.4 billion in COVID relief to ineligible borrowers

Individuals who were receiving welfare support were ineligible for the loans because they are already guaranteed a minimum standard of living.
Kazuya Shiraishi's "11 Rebels," a period actioner based on a long-forgotten script by Kazuo Kasahara, will open this year's Tokyo International Film Festival.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 24, 2024

Tokyo International Film Festival boasts strong line-up of Japanese fare

An excellent chance to see films from Japan, Asia and around the world, the annual event will kick off with Kazuya Shiraishi's gritty action feature "11 Rebels."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 24, 2024

Germany is courting India as ties with China sour: What to watch

The trip to India comes at a crucial time for Germany as it struggles to revive its economy, which has been buffeted by the war in Ukraine and competition from China.
Japan's factory activity contracted in October on subdued demand and weak orders.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2024

Factory activity down for fourth straight month, private-sector survey shows

In the service sector, firms said economic weakness in Japan and overseas had prompted clients to hold back on new orders, the survey showed.
Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI employee, in San Francisco on Oct. 3. Balaji helped gather and organize the enormous amounts of internet data used to train the startup’s ChatGPT chatbot.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 24, 2024

Former OpenAI researcher says the company broke copyright law

Suchi Balaji is among the first employees to leave a major AI company and speak out against the way these companies use copyrighted data to create their technologies.
General Motors CEO Mary Barrabefore an investor meeting in Spring Hill, Tennessee, on Oct. 8. Barra said that the company had fixed battery-manufacturing problems and that its electric vehicles would soon be profitable.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 24, 2024

Electric vehicles may be struggling. GM’s leader is still a believer.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra says the company is still committed to doing away with combustion engine cars in the United States by 2035.
Ramen shop Menya Taisei's owner Taisei Hikage cooks ramen at his shop in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 24, 2024

Japan's rising ramen prices give election voters food for thought

The problems facing ramen shop owners reflect a cost-of-living crunch that has become a top issue for voters in the general election on Sunday.
Sofia Kenin celebrates her quarterfinal win over Daria Kasatkina at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Friday.
TENNIS
Oct 25, 2024

Sofia Kenin into Pan Pacific Open semis while home favorite Sayaka Ishii withdraws

Ishii, the last Japanese player in the singles draw, pulled out of her semifinal against Diana Shnaider with an abdominal injury.
Kaori Sakamoto competes in the short program at Skate Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Friday.
MORE SPORTS / Figure skating
Oct 26, 2024

World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu

Sakamoto, the defending Skate Canada champion, won the short program with 74.97 points, while compatriot Hana Yoshida sits in fourth.
Flames leap out of an oven where rare-earth-based chemicals are roasted for more than 20 hours, in Changshu, China.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 27, 2024

China tightens its hold on minerals needed to make computer chips

The country already produces nearly all the world’s supply of these materials. The new restrictions solidify that market dominance.
Coral growing off Indonesia's Komodo island, located in the marine rich Coral Triangle
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Oct 27, 2024

Report details fossil fuel threat to 'Amazon of the seas'

The Coral Triangle covers waters claimed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pumps his fist during the sixth inning of Los Angeles' Game 2 World Series win over the Yankees on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 27, 2024

Yamamoto dazzles for Dodgers in Game 2 win as Ohtani leaves early with injury

Yamamoto, in his first MLB season after starring for the Orix Buffaloes in the Pacific League, twirled 6⅓ innings of one-run, one-hit ball to get the win for the Dodgers.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former first lady Michelle Obama at a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday
WORLD / Politics
Oct 27, 2024

The Obamas stump for Harris and key allies in final days of campaign

The rally marked the second major campaign event featuring Michelle Obama, while Barack Obama has already made several high-profile appearances.
Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 27, 2024

Michelle Obama makes a searing appeal to men: ‘Take our lives seriously’

Michelle Obama told her audience that Trump would further damage women’s health care, while Harris has vowed to enshrine the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law.
Komeito chief Keiichi Ishii leaves the party's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on Sunday. Ishii, who was elected party president just one month ago, failed to secure a seat in the Upper House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 28, 2024

Komeito chief's Lower House loss raises questions about party's future

Keiichi Ishii, who was elected party leader last month and did not stand for proportional representation, fell short in his bid to win a Saitama district seat.
A lawyer heads to the Fukuoka High Court on Monday to file a lawsuit concerning "vote disparity" in the Lower House election held the previous day.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 28, 2024

Lawyers file suits to nullify Lower House election results

The group have said that the poll was unconstitutional because it was carried out without correcting vote-value disparities.
Toyota Motor and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone will spend ¥500 billion together on a project to develop the traffic accident prevention technology, and aim to commercialize it in 2028.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 29, 2024

Toyota and NTT to jointly develop driver assistance technology that uses AI

The ¥500 billion project will use artificial inteligence and optical communication infrastructure, aiming to commercialize by 2028.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates with two-way player Shohei Ohtani after hitting a two run home run against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series in New York on Monday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Oct 29, 2024

Dodgers beat Yankees to reach brink of World Series crown

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was back in the leadoff role as designated hitter after suffering an injury on Saturday.
Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, during a press event in Paris on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Cycling
Oct 30, 2024

Tour de France 'comes home' as 2025 route unveiled

After successive starts outside France, the 2025 Grand Depart is in the northern French city of Lille.
Traffic in the Yeouido financial district of Seoul
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 30, 2024

Ex-Goldman banker-turned-billionaire takes on South Korea’s chaebol

While private equity’s involvement in South Korea's economy has grown over the last two decades, few have taken on the powerful, family-run conglomerates.
Ruben Amorim arrives for a match between his Sporting Lisbon and Nacional on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Oct 30, 2024

Manchester United target Ruben Amorim says 'nothing decided yet'

United pulled the plug on Ten Hag's two-year reign on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left one of the world's wealthiest clubs sitting 14th in the Premier League.
Onosato pushes out Hoshoryu during the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo last month.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 30, 2024

Onosato hogs spotlight, but there are big changes in latest sumo ranks

With his name writ large as ozeki on the latest banzuke, sumo’s hottest ticket took another step toward what looks like a procession to yokozuna.

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