French officials blame Iran for refrigerator hacks, vow retaliation
A joint report issued by French spy and cyber agencies accused a cyber offensive unit tied to the Revolutionary Guard of being behind the campaign.
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Honey traps: Sex, lies and a spy’s oldest trick
History is packed with people who found themselves ensnared by men and women tasked with winning their trust before extracting information.
Covert Russian network exploited French riots on social media, EU report says
A separate internal assessment found accounts linked to Israel and to the U.S. MAGA movement connected the riots to radical Islam and migration.
Japan’s household spending slumps most since pandemic
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation declined 6.8% in September from a year earlier, led by transport, education and entertainment.
Nvidia scandal creates risks for whole AI industry, not just CEO
The chipmaker's shares slid as much as 8.8%, at one point erasing nearly $400 billion in market valuation, after CEO Jensen Huang disclosed his infidelity.
Russia, Ukraine envoys to talk ceasefire monitoring, territory
The meeting marks a resumption of talks put on hold in February when the Trump administration's focus shifted to the Iran war.
Hegseth accused of crimes, misconduct in impeachment effort
Hegseth is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the Iran war, which spiked energy prices, fueled inflation and doomed Republicans in the midterms.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ director sees the monster as a mirror
Real-world anxieties have always underlain the monster movie franchise, says Takashi Yamazaki, director of Japan's first "Filmed for IMAX" production.
Japan’s search for a better public trash bin — and why robots may help
With public trash bins scarce, Japan is turning to smart receptacles and autonomous robots to make garbage disposal easier.
Japan and Vietnam agree to boost economic security and energy ties
Japan and Vietnam seek to strengthen economic and strategic ties amid rising regional geopolitical and trade tensions.
Russia has seized dozens of Ukrainian hotels. One owner is fighting back.
In a Ukrainian civil court Russia doesn't recognize, businessman Denys Katyukha has secured a $5.1 million judgment Russia will likely never pay.
‘Burning’: life under the world’s dirtiest skies
Loni, one of five areas in the Delhi metropolitan region, features among the world's most polluted in an annual list by Swiss monitoring firm IQAir.
Environmental groups embrace AI, even as they warn of data center impacts
The contradiction is forcing organizations to justify their AI use in carrying out missions to combat climate change or protect natural resources.
Man arrested over operation of rogue cellular base station in Tokyo
Chinese national Yu Hai, 31, is believed to have caused smartphones to connect to the base station through which fraudulent messages were transmitted.
Okinawa’s Koja calls for central government to explain ‘minimum’ military buildup
Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja emphasized the need to balance building up Japan's defense capabilities in the southernmost prefecture with residents' wishes.
South Korea’s military ambitions get a reality check
Lee's decision to push for a timetable to take wartime operational control is a bold but ultimately fraught plan.
China’s hard power keeps undermining its soft power
China undoubtedly has real soft power. Yet its behavior repeatedly undermines it.
The rise of the global oligarchic world order
The question is thus no longer whether oligarchs will rule the world, but rather what kind of world they are building.
Takaichi and LDP weigh disciplinary action for party members who abstained from food tax vote
Party leadership demanded that the lawmakers, including former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, write statements on why they walked out of the vote.
Government betting on language app powered by anime and AI
The planned app would target young people overseas, allowing them to have AI-powered conversations in Japanese with popular anime characters.
Voters reset the debate on data centers and billionaires
Building data centers in the U.S. just became more difficult, but perhaps as important, voters issued a challenge to the AI billionaires behind them.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ makes monster debut at the box office
Opening-day takings marked the highest single-day box office revenue for a live-action film in Japanese history, according to the film's X account.
Philippine economic slump worsens on Iran war, bad weather
The slowdown is raising questions about the central bank's rate-hike cycle and heaping pressure on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Gyan-tsuma : How one woman discovered her husband’s gambling addiction
Mei Nanaumi's experience led her to find an online community of gyan-tsuma — wives grappling with their spouses' gambling.
G7 allies to assess impact of Trump’s midterm setback at Paris talks
Diplomats signaled the results could narrow Trump's room for maneuver but warned against expecting a return to traditional U.S. multilateralism.
Airlines bet that more premium offerings will boost profits
The strategy is expected to accelerate the shrinking share of coach class on many flights.
New Zealand’s Luxon on course for second term, but weaker hand in coalition
Luxon's National Party could lose control of key government ministries to right-wing coalition partners.
Hasina seeks new passport in clearest sign of Bangladesh return
The request marks the clearest step by ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to act on her plan to return to Bangladesh in December.
Mitsui Chemicals to take over chip linchpin JSR for $12 billion
The deal would further a government-backed effort to consolidate Japan's fragmented semiconductor-materials industry.
Peer-support program for healthier aging gains ground in Sendai
The program, focused on frailty prevention, was launched in 2015, and similar programs are now active in more than 100 municipalities across Japan.
Bears overcome mistakes, beat Bucs on game-ending field goal
Caleb Williams threw two touchdown passes in a mixed performance with a career-high four interceptions.
Pressure still on Man United boss Carrick despite dramatic Villa draw
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is facing another international window filled with uncertainty after his side slipped into the Premier League relegation zone despite a sensational comeback to claim a 4-4 home draw with Aston Villa.
Private high schools remain out of reach for many despite tuition-free policy, survey finds
While tuition-free private high school education began in April, families still face a heavy financial burden from expenses other than tuition.
COP31 to open in Turkey, with climate goals under pressure from war and AI
A United Nations Environment Program report said the world is already set to overshoot 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above preindustrial times.
Poland mourns victims of Krakow shooting amid security fears
Saturday's shooting shocked a country that had prided itself on being safer than many of its Western European neighbors.
How a digital bank’s collapse toppled Paraguay’s president
Until March 2025, impeached Paraguayan President Santiago Pena had been a business partner of the group that owns Ueno Bank.
‘Last generation’: ‘Kristallnacht’ survivor, 94, bears witness
Violence the Nazi regime unleashed on Nov. 9 to 10, 1938, saw at least 90 Jewish people killed and 1,400 synagogues set alight across Germany.
Norris wins in wet Brazil as Mercedes takes constructors’ title
The title is Mercedes' first team crown since 2021.
Alcaraz downs Shelton to win Paris Masters for first time
Coming into Paris on the back of winning the 500-level title in Vienna, Carlos Alcaraz has won his last nine matches.
Gauff outruns Pegula to win thriller at WTA Finals, Noskova beats Kostyuk
Coco Gauff had beaten Jessica Pegula three months ago in Cincinnati and had the right formula once again.
War drove refugees into Turkey. Climate change is making it harder to leave.
What's happening in Turkey is an emblem of how, even when war ends, global warming can make displacement and destitution all but intractable for many.
‘Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?’: The comedy and horror of being forgotten
"Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?" is a genuinely funny, uplifting and heartwarming watch — if you can get over its slightly problematic premise.
Eisenkot gets chance to form Israeli government after vote
The ex-general has up to six weeks to try to form a coalition, failing which the task likely reverts to caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
With Stephen Miller at the helm, Trump charts a course for conflict
Trump's decision to elevate loyalist Miller to run his White House indicates that he plans to ramp up confrontation in his final two years in office.
Japan to launch online reporting system for nursing care accidents
The aim is to help local governments quickly identify accidents and share with the central government so it can collect more comprehensive data.
Mizuho pierces Nomura’s Japan bubble with big-ticket global IPOs
Anthropic's listing is the third in a string of blockbuster deals where Mizuho snagged a key role.
Man arrested following string of attacks on women on Tokyo street
Hikaru Hamaguchi, 39, is believed to have physically assaulted a total of seven female high school and university students within about 15 minutes.
Trump-Xi-Putin trilateral summit moves closer to reality
U.S. President Donald Trump said talks with China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin were likely to be held at next week's APEC summit.
Berkshire plans first Japan bond offering since April
The U.S. giant mandated Mizuho Securities and BofA Securities for a potential benchmark yen bond offering that's expected in the near future.
Cities turn to private parking garages for vehicle storage amid flood risks
Local governments in Japan are partnering with private businesses to give drivers a safe place to store their cars during heavy rain or flooding.
Japan says three-day yen intervention lifted currency in summer
The data showing three days of intervention came as a surprise, as traders had previously thought action came over two days
‘Feeling guilty’: price hikes a tough sell in Japan despite inflation
Firms are struggling as they battle rising costs in a country where decades of deflation have nurtured a consumer class averse to higher prices.
ニュースで学べる週刊英語学習サービス『The Japan Times Alpha』価格改定のお知らせ
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Price Adjustment for The Japan Times Alpha
The Japan Times Publishing, Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideki Ito) announces that it will raise the price of its weekly English-learning service, The Japan Times Alpha (hereinafter referred to as “Alpha”), beginning with the combined issue dated Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, 2027, to be published on Dec…
Tokyo’s office rent boom spurs deals as Blackstone plans sale
Commercial-property investment across Japan hit ¥2 trillion in the third quarter, according to data from brokerage firm Jones Lang LaSalle.
Evan Gershkovich on prison, Russia and liberty
The reporter was the first U.S. journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War before being freed in 2024.
Man arrested after Ishikawa woman’s body found in forest
The suspect told the police that he killed the woman, 26-year-old Saya Nakada, and left her body in a mountainous area.
Hacked records show 400,000 Russians killed in war on Ukraine
The material, obtained by a Belarusian pro-opposition group and a Ukrainian hacker operation, gives rare insight into the war's true cost for Russia.
Japan works to shield Takaichi from any Xi snub at China summit
Ties between Japan and China, have over the past year hit one of their lowest ebbs since the countries normalized relations in 1972.
Iran suggests blasts are not U.S. attacks as both sides report ships hit
Iran's state television said officials had not confirmed any missile strikes on Iranian territory following blasts heard in several areas.
Nvidia CEO’s affair engulfs AI giant in Chinese spying probe
In a memo to employees, Jensen Huang left no doubt that the chip colossus was embroiled in a crisis like none before in its three-decade history.
800 rally in Tokyo to demand North Korea abductees’ immediate return
The rally adopted a resolution calling on North Korea to return all abductees while members of the parents' generation are still alive.
Dutchman and Spaniard in two-horse race for ECB presidency
While no other candidate was proposed before Friday's deadline, a surprise contender could yet appear, just like current ECB head Christine Lagarde did in 2019.
JCG-discovered ‘Godzilla’ seafloor formation wins heritage status
A megamullion is a dome-shaped seafloor structure formed when mantle rocks are exposed on the ocean floor was the seafloor spreads.
Azerbaijan welcoming ‘set-jetting’ fans of Japan TV drama ‘Vivant’
Fans of popular Japanese TV drama "Vivant" have flocked to Azerbaijan, where the second season of the hit series was filmed.
What the end of U.N. peacekeeping in Western Sahara means
Western Sahara is largely controlled by Morocco but has been claimed for decades by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
Eurovision brings pop and politics to Asia
Eurovision is the world's biggest televised live music event, launching the careers of artists such as ABBA and Celine Dion.
Magnitude 5.7 quake injures dozens in central Japan
The quake struck at 1:04 am in Shizuoka Prefecture but no tsunami warning was issued.
SoftBank and ABB consider China carve-out to salvage robotics deal
The companies seek a solution after China's Office of the Working Mechanism for Foreign Investment Security Review halted plans worth $5.4 billion.
Japan holds nuclear disaster drill simulating Tomari plant accident
With close to 8,500 local residents taking part, the drill includes exercises conducted at the Tomari plant for the first time in 10 years.
Astellas employee to be released from China prison in December
Beijing had accused the Japanese citizen of espionage by providing China-related information to an intelligence agency but had not provided further details.
How China’s clean-tech machine is reshaping the global climate fight
Beijing sent $132 billion in clean technology and investment to the developing world last year — the largest such contribution of any country.
Can’t cook or shower: Indonesians take aim at data centers
Frustration is bubbling over in Indonesia and Malaysia — especially in regions bordering Singapore that are seen as a prime location for new tech facilities.
Sci-fi anime anthology ‘Grotesqqque’ prizes style over substance
The three-part feature is uneven and at times overwhelming, but ultimately a fun romp through the mind of Atsushi Nishigori.
AI safety advocates make gains after $110 million midterm fight
A rival funding network pursuing the opposite cause — offering the industry more leeway to develop AI — also claimed successes.
Expanding on naval blockade, U.S. military looks to restrict Iranian land commerce
Task Force Iron Gate will be based in Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies.
Heavy rain leaves tens of thousands without shelter in Gaza: local authorities
Hundreds of displaced Palestinian families have been seen fleeing camps after they flooded.
Poland in shock after six die in Krakow mass shooting
The scenes of carnage in one of Poland's main tourist attractions shocked a nation that has long viewed itself as safer than much of western Europe.
Rubio warns top staff against conflicts of interest as U.S. Republicans look to 2028
His message comes as leading Republican figures attempt to distance themselves from an increasingly unpopular Trump administration.
Crypto’s Trump-fueled Washington boom reaches its endgame
The industry now faces the challenge of remaining a lasting force in finance as its extraordinary political advantage evaporates.
Trump taps UFC boss as press secretary and urges criminal probes into Democrats
The posts echoed comments Trump made after a midterm defeat in 2018, when he said his White House would assume "a war-like posture."
Newsroom bomb threats follow escalating European flight hoaxes
Security experts said the threats might be a way Russia is trying to punish European nations that have armed or financed Ukraine.
New Zealand preliminary vote leaves it unclear who will govern
Neither current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon nor opposition leader Chris Hipkins claimed victory in their speeches following the election.
Israeli president picks Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu rival, to try to form government
Israel's president on Saturday chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to try to form a new government.
A toast to Naohiko Noguchi, sake’s first living national treasure
Known as the "god of sake brewing," Noguchi will become the first master brewer recognized as a "ningen kokuhō."
A curry palette for all your ‘hidden flavors’
"Kakushi aji" is the Japanese culinary term for ingredients you might not overtly taste, but without them the entire recipe suffers.
Japan considering early ICC funding contribution as court faces U.S. sanctions
If the sanctions are fully implemented as early as April next year, the ICC could be cut off from dollar-based settlements.
Japan picks 28 priority items for ¥370 trillion in investments
The priority items, which were picked from 62 products and technologies, include semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Japan to boost education programs for U.S. forces in Okinawa after robbery-murder
Among the recurrence prevention measures, which were agreed upon by both sides, are lectures on Okinawa's culture and history.
BOJ’s Ueda says unclear how long 2% inflation rate will remain
Gov. Kazuo Ueda indicated an awareness that the goal had been reached hasn't yet become embedded among the broader Japanese public.
China’s top spy agency recruited woman who targeted Nvidia’s Jensen Huang
Alice Huang, a Chinese executive who developed a relationship with Nvidia's leader, is believed to be an asset of the Ministry of State Security.
U.S. urges China to meet rare earths and agriculture commitments ahead of Trump-Xi meetings
Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to meet at two different summits, one in China and one in the U.S.
Japan and China shifting toward selective economic dependence
One year into an ongoing political row, the neighbors are continuing to look for new opportunities while cutting risks.
Crisis-hit Paraguay impeaches president and replaces him with VP
Pedro Alliana became president of Paraguay on Friday following the impeachment of his predecessor over a massive banking crisis.
Japan business community working to ease tensions between Tokyo and Beijing
Leading business officials say it is necessary to approach relations from various angles, not just political and diplomatic ones.
U.S. and Iran edge closer to deal with nuclear issue back in play
Tehran is showing a willingness to discuss issues related to its nuclear program that were previously off the table, according to a diplomat.
Trump and U.S. Congress set to clash over economic costs of tariffs
Curbing President Donald Trump's tariff powers will be hard, and there's a risk any efforts to do so will spur infighting in both parties.
Europe insists Putin end war before discussing Russia’s concerns
The stance risks putting them at odds with the U.S. over the best way to end the conflict.
Apple’s autocomplete restrictions include ‘Dictator Trump’ and ‘Sleepy Joe,’ researcher finds
The find offers insight into the tradeoff between guessing what users are trying to say and preventing the devices from offering offensive suggestions.
Xi taps military ‘hatchet man’ to rebuild China’s army command
Zhang Shengmin's promotion as the Politburo's sole military member comes as Xi prepares to mark the Chinese military's centenary in August 2027.