MUFG Emut Bank to operate without cash cards
MUFG Emut will be the first bank affiliated with a major Japanese financial group not to issue cash cards.
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Tokyo police to introduce AI-based accident reconstruction system
The system will combine AI with 3D spatial data from accident sites and footage from security cameras, reducing the need for on-site inspections.
Talk of Germany joining GCAP fighter program grows, but Japanese concerns persist
Officials in Tokyo are worried that adding a new partner at this stage could further delay the aircraft's planned 2035 introduction date.
Japan unlikely to raise cap for foreign workers despite labor shortages
Kimi Onoda, minister in charge of policies related to foreign nationals, said demand for a special visa category is expected to eventually decline.
‘Sister Brother Manhole Cover’ wins top prize at Tokyo International Film Festival
Directed by Milcho Manchevski, the film took the Tokyo Grand Prix, earning top honors among 15 entries in the Competition section.
Trump hand-picked Senate candidates. Republicans paid the price.
Tuesday's results revealed the U.S. president was unable to persuade the broader electorate to back his choices.
25.7% in Japan to use food tax cut benefits for savings, survey finds
Regarding how the tax cut might affect their consumer behavior, 49.7% of people surveyed said they would not change their spending plans.
DPP leader rejects food tax cut bill in current form
Yuichiro Tamaki indicated the DPP's decision to back the legislation would depend on if the ruling coalition accepts its alternative proposal.
Japanese stocks sink as U.S. midterm results hit tech shares
The tech-heavy Nikkei 225 declined as much as 4.8%, with chip and AI-related shares slumping more than 13% and among the worst performers.
Family receives remains of Hiroshima A-bomb victim 81 years after his death
It marks the first time Hiroshima returned the remains of an atomic bomb victim whose name had been found to be recorded incorrectly in its registry.
North Korea pours cold water on Kim-Trump meeting as APEC summit looms
The powerful sister of North Korea's leader issued a familiar ultimatum to Trump, telling him to drop his country's "hostile policy."
Record 3.3 million tuned in for WNBA’s first-ever Game 7
The number was a 128% improvement over the deciding game of the 2025 Finals, Las Vegas vs. Phoenix (Game 4).
Jets beat Habs in latest four-goal comeback win in NHL history
The Jets overcame a 4-0 deficit by scoring four times in a stretch of 2:06 late in the third period.
High waves around Ogasawara Islands expected as Typhoon In-fa approaches
Rain could also intensify in areas from the Kanto region to around Shizuoka Prefecture on Thursday.
Patrick Stewart embodied the value of aging actors
Patrick Stewart died at the age of 86, and many paid tribute to him by invoking the fictional icons he played such as his work in Star Trek.
America is making a ‘freaking fortune’ in an energy crisis
U.S. and Canadian natural gas consumers are not facing the economic fallout of the Iran conflict due to the shale revolution and geography.
Djokovic battles through Paris Masters opener
Victory kept alive Djokovic's chances of landing a spot in the season-ending ATP Finals later in November.
‘Manhole card’ collectors’ bad behavior forces some municipalities to end distribution
The popular card program, with a total distribution of around 26 million, has been hindered by verbal abuse toward employees and illegal parking.
Camara to make home F1 debut in Brazil as Haas rules out Ocon’s return
Ocon was sidelined ahead of last Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix for unspecified reasons and was replaced by Japanese reserve Ryo Hirakawa.
Tenerife striker De Miguel dies after collision in match
The La Liga 2 game was abandoned seven minutes into stoppage time after De Miguel collapsed after a clash with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono.
PSG hits Villarreal for six as Bayern wins and Man United fights back
PSG set a record as the fastest team to score four goals in a Champions League match on its way to a 6-0 victory.
Japan’s food delivery market faces shakeout as Uber Eats dominates
The food delivery industry saw a surge in new entrants during COVID-19, but the sector has now largely consolidated around three players.
Uncool! Hacking refrigerators is a hint of threats to come
Fiddled freezers are not a national security threat. But think of refrigerators as the tip of the iceberg.
Trump’s Supreme Court winning streak in election cases screeches to a halt
Justices acted with remarkable speed to shut down his attempt to intervene in California's ballot count on the eve of Tuesday's midterm elections.
North Korea fires off ‘several’ missiles in latest weapons test
Tokyo did not issue an alert about any North Korean missile launches, as it usually does with those that could pose a threat to Japan.
OpenAI employees warned about operational security lapses for years, sources say
Workers said OpenAI's controls were so lax that outsiders could obtain sensitive information about the AI lab's technology with relative ease.
Disaster management minister visits areas in Kumamoto affected by July quake
Goshi Hosono called on the central government to support local governments while stressing the need to improve conditions at evacuation centers.
Indonesia arrests chief of staff and top policemen for alleged wiretapping of president
The suspects are accused of illegally tapping phones of the president, journalists, politicians, business people and more from 2025 to this year.
Bomb threats cause disruptions across Europe but no explosives found
No explosives were found, despite extensive searches on the ground after the planes all took off and landed safely in different European cities.
Art Week Tokyo’s Atsuko Ninagawa wants to connect the city’s scattered art scene
The fifth edition brings together 56 venues and international participants for five days of exhibitions, conversations and creative exchange.
Honda weighs restarting EU car output as new rules take shape
Proposed regulations in the European Union aim to favor locally made cars.
Opposition steps up criticism of Takaichi for skipping last month’s G7 meeting
Parties said the explanations for the prime minister's absence were vague and aim to use it to grill the administration.
U.S. intelligence sharing has fractured under Trump, officials say
The disruptions to sharing risk leaving policymakers with an incomplete picture of threats facing the country.
Google lets schools turn off Gemini, but not the AI in search
Alphabet, whose Chromebooks are the most widely used laptops in U.S. classrooms, faces growing resistance to AI from parents and school districts.
Serbia’s leaderless force starts dismantling Vucic’s regime
The student-led bloc still hasn't taken its seats in parliament or named its prime minister after unseating the country's longtime leader in polls.
As Americans vote, Trump says U.S. will stop $4 billion in aid to Israel
Israel's future leadership is uncertain after an Oct. 27 election in which Benjamin Netanyahu lost his governing majority.
Ahead of COP31, Brazil offers a global fossil fuel exit plan
The Brazilian roadmap calls for countries to shift away from oil, gas and coal on a voluntary basis.
Binance hackers used fake job interviews in record heist
The crypto exchange has said that it will bear the financial cost but the exchange paused withdrawals for almost two days after the incident.
Russia bombards Ukraine power grid before Abu Dhabi talks; Merz urges Moscow to engage
In more than four years of war, Russia has repeatedly targeted the Ukrainian energy system as winter approaches.
Democrats clinch huge wins on inflation anger and Trump fatigue
The party flipped Senate seats in Republican bastions and racked up wins in competitive House races.
Talking braille blocks allow people with visual impairments to walk around freely
A company is aiming to create a society where everyone, including those with visual impairments, can enjoy getting around and exploring freely.
Private sector steps in to revitalize Japan’s rural communities
Such efforts are expected to help secure agricultural labor and broaden the ranks of people with continuing ties to the regions.
For many Russians, higher utility bills are latest inflation shock
Utility bills in Russia have risen more than 50% since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and more than 13% this year alone.
Japan’s newest female astronaut wants to speak Japanese on the moon
Ayu Yoneda, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's youngest astronaut, is mission-ready for her first flight.
Asia for China? Tokyo’s answer to Beijing’s coercive strategy
Tokyo can preserve its autonomy by balancing diplomatic engagement, economic resilience and credible deterrence.
India faces prolonged food inflation as weak monsoon threatens winter crops
Lower crop yields could further stoke food inflation, with some prices already climbing and annual retail food inflation hitting 7.74% in September.
Japan and Vietnam consider new pact to prevent crimes
The plan would allow them to mutually provide information on each other's nationals arrested or detained in their own countries.
Japan and South Korea agree to cooperate over remains from undersea mine
Workers from the Korean Peninsula were among victims of a 1942 flooding at the Chosei coal mine in the city of Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
War widens in the Black Sea in a test of NATO red lines
Unabating attacks show how the escalating maritime war between Russia and Ukraine is expanding into a major challenge for NATO.
A guide to the U.S. midterm elections’ biggest questions
Polls show that Democrats could take control of the House of Representatives, posing a threat to the Trump administration.
Global markets were already fragile. Big AI bets could break them.
So far, the multitrillion-dollar spending splurge on artificial intelligence has propelled stock markets to record highs.
South Africa and Rwanda lose access to U.S.’ AGOA trade pact
The pact gives duty-free access to the world's largest economy for more than 1,800 products and has boosted trade between the U.S. and the region.
Too much AI can stifle innovation
Process management programs stifle true innovation by reinforcing existing practices instead of encouraging entirely new ideas.
Asian Cup postponed until December 2027 due to Saudi Arabia unrest
The 24-team tournament will now take place from Dec. 23, 2027 to Jan. 21, 2028.
The world’s perilous Ebola complacency
Global leaders must fund the Africa-led regional response today, or risk paying a higher price in human lives and economic devastation tomorrow.
Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Cavaliers
Oklahoma City had been rocked after suffering a slew of injuries followed by back-to-back 20-point defeats
Japan gets serious about defense spending hike as year-end deadline looms
The government and ruling coalition are reportedly considering nearly doubling defense spending over the next five years.
Swift and Simmons star as Bears maul Seahawks
Simmons, traded to the Bears last week from the Tennessee Titans, enjoyed a dream debut with six tackles and a sack.
ICC president urges U.N. members to defend court against U.S. sanctions
President Tomoko Akane used an annual report to warn that sanctions imposed by Washington threaten international justice and the rule of law.
Japan recognizes 3,861 people, including 99 foreign nationals, in autumn honors
Among recipients of the honors, set to be awarded at ceremonies including the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 400 are women, accounting for 10.4%.
Sea drone makers compete in Taiwan for soaring investment
While Taiwan already has the know-how to make high-tech sea drones, the island is keen to work with foreign firms whose systems are battle-tested.
How did the Golden State Valkyries fast-track a WNBA title in two years?
Golden State became the fastest expansion team to win a title in major North American sports history.
Fuji Media and SBI to form joint venture
The capital and business alliance will focus on media and content production when it is established in January next year.
Disney plans thousands of layoffs while targeting 20% cost savings
Some of the company's operations, ranging from theme parks, TV network and a movie studio, will be affected disproportionately.
Ceremony held for recipients of Japan’s Order of Culture
The government announced the names of the eight awardees, including Nobel laureate Kenso Soai and Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, last month.
As Japan marks 80 years of Constitution, debate continues on emergency clause
Some experts argue such a clause is needed for swift initial responses to disasters, while others worry it could lead to concentrated authority.
Second Japanese national confirmed dead in Spanish train crash
Spanish authorities have identified all 69 people killed in a high-speed train collision in central Spain last week.
Trump touts Washington makeover as midterm campaign nears end
Meanwhile, Democrats sought to contain a rift in Michigan's closely fought U.S. Senate race.
The promise and peril of Singapore’s vulnerable prosperity
Singapore grew rich servicing the immense volume of global trade squeezed through the choke point of its narrow strait.
Long COVID recovery varies sharply by symptoms, study finds
Fewer than one in five people with multiple body systems impacted experience sustained improvement within three years of infection, a study found.
Russian army suffers record losses in Ukraine as land gains slip
Battlefield successes underscore Ukraine's ability to fight back despite Russia's increasingly deadly airstrikes menacing its civilian population.
Trump approval near career low ahead of elections, poll finds
While U.S. President Donald Trump won't be on the ballot on Tuesday, he looms large in the midterm election.
More data breaches hit Japan, including leak of 77 million email addresses
The breaches join a growing list of reported cyberattacks on Japanese companies as concerns rise over the security measures companies are taking.
Khamenei empowers talks as Trump says Iran deal could happen
Iran's president didn't clarify the extent of the authority bestowed by Khamenei or if it signals a broader shift in the Islamic Republic's red lines.
Supermarkets across Europe report new suspected freezer hack
Danish refrigeration systems maker Danfoss said the incidents across Europe involved its products, as was the case in France last month.
Israel opposition meets to back Eisenkot, but Netanyahu says voters chose him
Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats while Netanyahu's camp secured 53, of which 27 are from his Likud party.
North Korea calls U.S. claims it was behind Binance hack ‘a grave political provocation’
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, called the allegations "absurd rhetoric and nothing new."
Trump’s Iran threat renews Gulf fears of a war it didn’t choose
Iranian missiles striking U.S. military bases and Gulf energy facilities exposed a vulnerability at the heart of security in the Middle East.
Binance outflows hit $4.7 billion after record North Korea hack
Net withdrawals from the platform reached $4.7 billion by Monday morning in London, according to a Binance spokesperson.
Newly formed agency calls on Japan public to prepare for disasters
Goshi Hosono, who became the first chief of the agency, noted that there are limits to what the government can do in the event of a massive disaster.
North Korea’s hackers supercharge crypto heists with AI skills
North Korea maintains a thousands-strong hacker army, but the top unit known as "TraderTraitor" may only have a dozen or so members, experts say.
Will Chinese AI build a global advantage?
Developing countries, however, are not necessarily choosing sides. They seek competitive prices, technology transfer, jobs and data sovereignty.
Oji makes inroads on licorice cultivation in Japan
A unit of the paper manufacturer has established a large-scale harvesting system for the medicinal plant in Hokkaido to create stable supply.
More companies seeking cyber insurance following high-profile data breaches
Such policies typically cover the cost of tracing the source of data breaches and compensation, but not ransom paid to cyberattackers.
BOJ signals low hopes for consumer spending as population falls
Private consumption accounts for about half of Japan's economy, making its strength a key consideration for the central bank.
GMO execs apologize for inadequate response to cyberattacks
CEO Masatoshi Kumagai formally acknowledged failings at the firm's first public briefing since it became embroiled in a massive data breach scandal.
Stolen luxury watch returned to Tokyo store via courier with apology note
The package containing the stolen watch had been sent from Aichi Prefecture and included a handwritten apology.
Ishiba underscores importance of National Disaster Management Agency
The agency must be made "capable of accumulating and passing on knowledge and experience" of disaster management, the former prime minister said.
As Europe’s right advances, Germany’s AfD rethinks its anti-euro roots
The party's popularity is prompting debate over how to balance an anti-establishment identity with the need to appear as a credible partner to allies.
Erik ten Hag floats relegation as possibility for struggling Manchester United
United is 17th with seven points from nine games, above Crystal Palace in the final relegation spot on goal difference.
Japanese national confirmed dead in Spanish train crash
Another Japanese citizen is believed to be one of the remaining unidentified victims in the collision that killed 69 people.
Shock, vindication, regret: Scientists react to AI roiling life’s work
A string of AI results have shaken academia, setting off soul-searching, most notably among mathematicians, over the future of their profession.
Japan extends transition bond push despite fossil-fuel reliance
Japanese government bonds have rallied alongside other so-called safe-haven assets in recent weeks as technology-sector jitters unsettled investors.
Lack of snow a headache for ski resorts in the Chugoku region
While snowmaking machines are becoming a necessity, even artificial snow melts in high temperatures, leading to fewer days of operation per season.
Thousands build Buddhist monuments for Bhutan’s ‘mindfulness’ city
The 15-meter-tall solid towers stretch along 12 kilometers of riverbank near the Indian border, at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Is science possible without scientists?
Systems that generate and test their own hypotheses and then write up the results are no longer a thought experiment.
Digital Agency offers AI app to help draft parliamentary answers
The artificial intelligence app also helps government officials better understand the intent behind lawmakers' questions in advance.
Machado’s biggest challenge in Venezuela is patience
Machado should resist the temptation to rush the process or make impractical demands, even if she has the legitimacy to do so.
Mitsui Fudosan hopes to book gains and make mark with British Library project
The largest property development in Europe by a Japanese company is just a stone's throw from the Harry Potter train station.
Japan Post starts sales of 2027 New Year’s cards
It will accept cards for New Year's Day delivery from Dec. 20 to 27, a later deadline than in previous years.