Search - 2020

 
 
An ongoing shortage of rice has resulted in rising prices for Japan's main food staple.
LIFE / Food & Drink / Longform
Apr 7, 2025

Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it

Outdated government policy, changing diets and even an earthquake scare have had an impact on the national food staple.
U.S. molecular biologist David Liu in 2017. A revolution is underway in gene editing, and at its forefront is Liu, whose pioneering work is rewriting the building blocks of life with unprecedented precision.
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 7, 2025

The scientist rewriting DNA, and the future of medicine

American molecular biologist David Liu foresees his work to also contribute to areas such as developing more nutritious or disease-resistant crops.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a news conference in Tokyo on April 1. The approval rating for Ishiba's Cabinet fell to 30.6% over the weekend, according to a JNN poll.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 7, 2025

Ishiba under pressure to take stronger stance against U.S. on tariffs

Some opposition leaders are urging the prime minister to rally his party around a strategy before speaking with the U.S. president, but others are eyeing his removal.
Two Japanese men are suspected of helping an IT worker from North Korea create an account for a job-matching service by sending driver's license photos and other information to the IT worker in September and October 2020.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 8, 2025

Pair suspected of helping North Korean IT worker pose as a Japanese citizen

Police in Tokyo believe the IT worker was involved in North Korea's efforts to obtain foreign currency.
A boy watches forensic investigators comb the ground for DNA evidence near airplane debris at the crash site of an Ethiopian Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max aircraft on March 16, 2019 in Oromia region, Ethiopia.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 8, 2025

Boeing settles to avoid civil trial over Ethiopian Airlines crash

The Boeing 737 Max plane crashed just six minutes after takeoff on March 10, 2019, killing all 157 people on board.
Japan is facing challenges with Donald Trump's new tariffs and is considering increased purchases of U.S. goods, negotiating tariff reductions and expanding auto production in the U.S. to reduce the trade deficit and avoid further economic tension.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 8, 2025

What is Japan's play on Trump's tariffs?

Japan had expected some consideration for being the largest source of foreign direct investment in the U.S. from 2019 to 2024, with total investment of around $860 billion.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. TSMC could face a penalty of $1 billion or more to settle a U.S. export control investigation over a chip it made that ended up inside a Huawei artificial intelligence processor,
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 9, 2025

TSMC could face $1 billion or more fine from U.S. probe, sources say

The penalty is to settle a U.S. export control investigation over a chip it made that ended up inside a Huawei artificial intelligence processor.
A myocardial cell sheet using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 9, 2025

Japanese startup seeks approval for world’s first iPS regenerative treatment

The Osaka University startup is targeting patients suffering from severe heart failure for whom current treatment options are limited.
Guests play the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console at an event in Paris on April 2.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 10, 2025

Nintendo gets breathing room on tariffs — just in time for Switch 2 launch

Nintendo dodges a 46% tariff on Vietnam-assembled consoles, buying time to flood the U.S. with Switch 2 units before the launch window closes.
Producer prices of farm goods surged 19.7% in fiscal 2024 from the previous year, reflecting higher prices of rice sold to wholesalers.
BUSINESS
Apr 10, 2025

Japan producer prices rise 3.3% in fiscal 2024

According to a preliminary report by the Bank of Japan, the producer price index in the year through March hit a record high for the third straight year.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. delivers speaks during a function at the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 10, 2025

Palau stands with Taiwan 'until death do us part,' President Whipps says

Despite rising pressure from China, Palau says its support for Taiwan is unshakable — even as military risks grow.
The offices of Kirkland & Ellis in Manhattan, New York, last June. Five more prominent law firms facing potential punitive action by U.S. President Donald Trump reached deals on Friday with the White House to provide a total of $600 million in free legal services to causes supported by the president.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 12, 2025

Law firm targeted by Trump sues as five other top firms make deals

The lawsuit comes as five other firms offered costly concessions to avoid the president's crackdowns.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Argentinian President Javier Milei talk pose for a photo during a Group of Seven summit in Borgo Egnazia, Italy, last June.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 12, 2025

Argentina lands $20 billion IMF agreement and eases FX rules

Negotiations dragged on for months as stakes remain high for a successful program after the past two went off the rails in the crisis-prone nation.
Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera speaks at LDP headquarters in Tokyo last October.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 13, 2025

Japan doesn’t plan to use U.S. Treasurys as tariff talk leverage

Causing market disruption "is certainly not a good idea,” Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera said.
The U.K. government rushed urgent legislation through Parliament on Saturday to stop the Scunthorpe plant's blast furnaces from turning off.
WORLD
Apr 13, 2025

'Naive' to trust Chinese firm with British Steel, U.K. minister says

The government rushed urgent legislation through parliament on Saturday to stop the Scunthorpe plant's blast furnaces from turning off.
Lo Kin-hei (center), chairman of the Democratic Party, attends a news conference after an extraordinary general meeting to seek members' views on the potential dissolution of the party in Hong Kong on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 14, 2025

Hong Kong's last major opposition party moves toward disbanding

The head of the Democratic Party says 90% of its 110 members had voted for disbandment arrangements to begin, followed by a final vote in the coming months.
ICC chairman Jay Shah (left) attends an Indian Premier League match on March 30.
MORE SPORTS / Cricket
Apr 14, 2025

International Cricket Council creates fund for displaced Afghan female players

Afghanistan had 25 contracted female cricketers in 2020, most of whom have resettled in Australia with humanitarian visas due to restrictions at home.
Whooping cough is believed to be spreading in Japan mainly among children.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Apr 14, 2025

Whooping cough is spreading in Japan

Cases reported so far this year have already exceeded the total number from 2024.
In Europe, the PS5 digital edition will now cost €499.99 ($570.04), PlayStation said, while in Britain its price will be £429.99 ($566.53).
BUSINESS
Apr 14, 2025

Sony announces PS5 price hikes in some regions

The price of the PS5 digital edition, which has no disk drive, will rise by more than 10% in Europe, Britain and Australia.
Nomura Orient International Securities has trimmed staffing by about two-thirds in its China wealth business over the past two years.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2025

Nomura scaling back China wealth unit, shifting focus to brokerage and assets

Japan's biggest brokerage is currently seeking a new CEO for the securities business on the mainland.
Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, well regarded in Tokyo as a leading voice in the promotion of U.S.-Japan ties, has died at the age of 79.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 15, 2025

Richard Armitage, ex-U.S. diplomat known for boosting Japan ties, dies at 79

He was a leading voice in the promotion of U.S.-Japan relations even after leaving government service.
The Trump administration, in a desperate bid to cushion trade war inflation, is pushing for cheap oil, but $50-a-barrel will ultimately widen the very trade deficit the U.S. president wants to reduce.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 13, 2025

$50-a-barrel oil is a problem for the U.S. trade deficit

If oil prices fall to $50, under that scenario, total petroleum production in America will probably decline by 1 million barrels a day by the end of 2025.
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 16, 2025

In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google

The Japan Fair Trade Commission has accused the U.S. tech giant of violating the country's anti-monopoly law by forcing manufacturers to preinstall its apps in smartphones.
A concept image of the Hayabusa2 unmanned probe, which utilizes Earth's gravity for acceleration as part of its asteroid exploration mission
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2025

Hayabusa2 target asteroid may be smaller than expected

Direct exploration Hayabusa2 is expected to provide important insight into planetary defense to help prevent disasters caused by asteroid collision.
India's Akash missiles are displayed during a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2020.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 16, 2025

India carving niche as budget-friendly arms maker for Russia's past buyers

The effort aims to capitalize on a sourcing scramble since the outbreak of war in Ukraine by nations that had historically relied on Washington and Moscow for weapons.
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg departs after attending a Federal Trade Commission trial at a U.S. District Court in Washington on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 16, 2025

Zuckerberg defends strategy behind Instagram, WhatsApp deals

The Federal Trade Commission alleges the acquisitions of the two apps give Meta Platforms a social media monopoly, and is fighting to break up the company.
Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard speaks during a news conference in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, in December 2023.
BUSINESS
Apr 16, 2025

Renault chairman will leave Nissan’s board, sources say

The French company remains Nissan’s largest shareholder even as the carmakers gradually loosen their decades-long alliance.
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid during the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Madrid on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Apr 17, 2025

Arsenal dethrones Real Madrid to reach Champions League semifinals

Inter Milan advanced from the night's other quarterfinal, earning a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich after an enthralling 2-2 draw in the second leg.
A U.S. security report cites DeepSeek’s ties to Chinese government interests as "significant.”
WORLD / Politics
Apr 17, 2025

DeepSeek poses ‘profound’ security threat, U.S. house panel claims

The committee urged Nvidia to hand over information on sales of chips that the Chinese startup may have used to develop its breakthrough chatbot model.
Students practice dance during a project activity at Hotei Junior High School in Konan, Aichi Prefecture.
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Apr 28, 2025

'Voluntary' school clubs face reform amid excessive burdens

Club activities have long been a standard part of junior high and high school life in Japan, but some schools now struggle to form teams.

Longform

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What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji