TAIPEI: Taiwan’s president said Thursday he hoped the United States would approve a $14 billion arms sale “as soon as possible,” reiterating that the democratic island “rejects unification” with China. Taipei relies heavily on Washington’s support to counter growing pressure from Beijing, which cla»»»

Global crude oil markets extended a broad selloff on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), as Iranian oil tankers sail out after a two-month standoff, signaling first test of US-Iran Gulf truce amid signs of "softer" global demand. With benchmark prices hovering near three-month lows, oil traders continued to»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways continues to deliver on its commitment to network restoration, and is steadily expanding its reach to more than 160 gateways for the ease and convenience of international travellers. Starting today, the airline is returning to 26 destinations in key global markets. The Wo»»»

TOKYO: Japan said Tuesday it has not yet decided whether its military will join efforts to help the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Iran peace deal. US President Donald Trump said that the vital artery for oil and gas would be “completely open” from Friday but added»»»

Global oil benchmarks tumbled across the board on Monday evening and into Tuesday morning (June 16), as markets are treating the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as positive news. Crude oil rates prices are falling from their crisis highs as traders anticipate a gradual recovery in Gulf exports, w»»»

HONG KONG — Fresh worries about the Middle East ceasefire and the prospect of a US interest rate hike hit most stocks and lifted oil prices Thursday, following a rollercoaster week for markets that has sent shivers through trading floors.Investors took a little heart from closely watched data Wedne»»»

London: Oil prices dropped towards $80 a barrel and stocks rallied on Monday after Washington and Iran reached a framework deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, sending a wave of relief through global markets. The strait, through which roughly 20 percent of the world's cr»»»

This week, a town north of Tokyo shut down nearly 100 schools following a spate of bear sightings. In another Japanese town last week, a bear attacked four people, opened a water tap and unlatched a window to escape a building it had been trapped in. So are bears becoming a bigger threat? FRANCE 24»»»

US and Iran agreed to an “immediate and permanent” end to military operations under a surprise memorandum of understanding, announced via mediator Pakistan on Sunday, with both sides confirming a signing ceremony in Switzerland. The agreement includes plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease sanc»»»

Oil prices plunged early on Monday as investors bet that a potential US-Iran agreement to ease Middle East tensions would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and boost global crude supplies. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery fell $3.84, or 4.52%, to $81.04 a barrel in early Asian»»»

As a mother and a storyteller by profession, there is a question I often ask of myself and of others in my industry: where is the content my children can watch, and see themselves in? What version of themselves is being handed back to them through what they watch? Not simply shows that reflect thei»»»

London: Britain and Japan on Sunday sealed a sweeping economic and technological partnership, expected to generate over £18 billion ($24 billion) in investment, during a visit to London by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Takaichi held talks at his Dow»»»

QNA Tokyo Qatar has signed the contract for its pavilion at the International Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama, marking the beginning of the implementation phase of its participation in this major international event, which will be hosted by Japan from March 19 to 26 September, 2027. The contract w»»»

Over the past few years, I’ve grown fond of cozy, chaotic, cat-centric Japanese ‘healing-fiction’ books, which feel like a warm hug from our favorite feline creature. My latest snuggle read is the 2024 release, “The Blanket Cats” by Kiyoshi Shigematsu (translated into English by Jesse Kirkwood). It»»»

South Korea had a trilateral meeting with officials from the United States and Japan in Tokyo on North Korean affairs this week, the foreign ministry said Saturday. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo June 13 (UPI) -- South Korea had a trilateral meeting with officials from the United »»»

Tokyo The State of Qatar has signed the implementation contract for its pavilion at the International Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama, marking the beginning of the implementation phase of its participation in this major international event, which will be hosted by Japan from 19 March to 26 Septemb»»»

Tokyo: Two U.S. servicemen stationed in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa were arrested by local police on Saturday on suspicion of drunk driving, local media reported. Police discovered the two cases during an early morning patrol, Kyodo News reported. Breathalyzer tests showed that both »»»

Fans stand in front of a photo of BTS member J-Hope near Busan Asiad Main Stadium, where the K-pop band will kick off the Busan leg of their "Arirang" world tour on Friday. Photo by Yonhap K-pop supergroup BTS will begin the Busan leg of its "Arirang" world tour Friday, returning to the southern So»»»

Tokyo: Japan's space agency successfully launched its flagship H3 rocket on Friday, months after a previous mission to put a geolocation satellite into orbit ended in failure. The H3 was developed to boost the international competitiveness of the country's rocket industry, with the lift-off an impo»»»

Indian shooting legend Jaspal Rana, one of the country’s most decorated athletes and a coach who helped shape a generation of champions, died in New Delhi on Friday after suffering health complications. He was 49. Rana, who was serving as India’s high-performance coach for pistol events, was admitt»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a law ratifying the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Japan on the elimination of double taxation on income taxes. The document was signed on December 19, 2025, in Tokyo. Previously, the Zhogorku Kenesh adopted a law on its ratification, which is necessar»»»

Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are set to dominate next week’s Group of Seven summit, as host France crafts an agenda aimed at projecting unity and avoiding confrontation with US President Donald Trump. The June 15–17 gathering in Evian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva, brings together t»»»

Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are set to dominate next week’s Group of Seven summit, as host France crafts an agenda aimed at projecting unity and avoiding confrontation with US President Donald Trump. The June 15–17 gathering in Evian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva, brings together t»»»

Iranian news agencies reportedly on early Thursday that two vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz were struck, a fact denied by the US military. The report further heightens tensions in one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. It did not immediately clarify who carried out »»»

Tokyo: Japan's legislature endorsed on Wednesday a proposed framework aimed at easing a looming imperial succession crisis, with just one young heir to the throne currently remaining. The imperial household operates under strict rules that allow only male offsprings from the male side of the family»»»

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon vowed to prioritize elevating Seoul into a global top-three city after winning reelection last week. Oh is seen here during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at his office in central Seoul on Tuesday. Photo by Yonhap Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has vowed to prioritize elevating»»»

The former Japanese prime minister says Seoul and Tokyo should expand cooperation on supply chains, energy, AI and shared social problems. Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a keynote speech at a South Korea-Japan special session of the Nikkei Forum in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo by »»»

Utsunomiya, Japan: A bear that roamed the streets of a Japanese city for four days, forcing mass school closures, was caught on Tuesday, capping a search involving dozens of hunters and police. Terrified families in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, peered through windows as a search mission »»»

UTSUNOMIYA: A bear that roamed the streets of a Japanese city for four days, forcing mass school closures, was caught on Tuesday, capping a search involving dozens of hunters and police. Terrified families in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, peered through windows as a search mission that in»»»

The Japanese city of Utsunomiya captured a wild black bear on Tuesday after a dramatic multi-day search that gripped the nation, as local schools closed and residents were urged to stay indoors. The city closed all 94 municipal primary and middle schools for a second straight day on Tuesday after i»»»

New York City: Pop superstar Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made their first official red carpet appearance together at the Tribeca Festival. According to People magazine, the couple posed for photographs on Monday, June 8, at the premiere of Perry's concert film, 'Kat»»»

The hunt for a black bear spotted more than a dozen times in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya continued on Tuesday as all 94 municipal primary and middle schools were closed for a second straight day. The adult bear, with an estimated weight of about 100 kg (220 lbs), was last seen early on Tuesday »»»

On June 9, 2014, actor Laverne Cox became the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Time 1 of 4 | Laverne Cox arrives for the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on March 5. On June 9, 2014, she became the first transgender person to appear on the c»»»

TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japan will strengthen its defenses in the southwestern part of the country amid China's alleged attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo by force, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Tuesday. "It is important to clearly demonstrate Japan's resolve that attempts»»»

NASHVILLE: Japan captain Wataru Endo is in a race to be fit for their World Cup opener against the Netherlands on Sunday, leaving coach Hajjime Moriyasu “praying” he makes it. The Liverpool midfielder is struggling with a foot injury and was not involved in any full training sessions at Japan’s pre»»»

The escalating crisis in the Middle East and severe disruptions to energy transportation through the Strait of Hormuz have once again demonstrated how vulnerable the global oil and gas market remains to instability in a single strategically important region. The risks have been particularly acute f»»»

Zapopan, Mexico: South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has some making up to do after missing the birth of his first child because he is preparing for his fourth World Cup. The 35-year-old stopper is hoping to add to his 86 caps when South Korea face the Czech Republic on Thursday's opening day of t»»»

Bucharest has ranked 247th out of 251 cities worldwide in the 2026 edition of the Happy City Index, placing the Romanian capital among the lowest-performing urban centers evaluated by the annual global study. The ranking, developed by the Institute for Quality of Life, assesses cities based on fact»»»

Tokyo: A bear roaming the streets of a Japanese city for three days forced the closure of nearly 100 schools Monday, as dozens of hunters and officials searched for the animal. The city government of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, closed all 94 public primary and junior high schools in the area after »»»

Tokyo: A bear roaming the streets of a Japanese city for three days forced the closure of nearly 100 schools Monday, as dozens of hunters and officials searched for the animal. The city government of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, closed all 94 public primary and junior high schools in the area after »»»

The Japanese city of Utsunomiya has suspended all 94 of the primary and middle schools that it operates on Monday after its first-ever bear sighting, a municipal official said. According to Reuters, the city of half-a-million residents about 100 km (60 miles) north of Tokyo said the bear was first »»»

China has launched a ‘special maritime law enforcement operation’ east of Taiwan in response to the announcement of maritime border talks in the area by Japan and the Philippines. China – which views the self-ruled island as its own sovereign territory – protested the negotiations, saying they infr»»»

China's President Xi Jinping hailed an "invincible friendship" with Pyongyang as he arrived in North Korea Monday, his first trip abroad this year after hosting back-to-back summits in Beijing. China, Washington's chief geopolitical rival, has been North Korea's main trading partner by far for deca»»»

Oil prices rose sharply in Asian trading Monday, with benchmark crude contracts nearing multi-month highs as investors weighed supply risks, OPEC+ production policy and expectations for stronger energy demand later this year. As of 11:02 am (June 8, 2026) in Tokyo, US benchmark West Texas Intermedi»»»

RIYADH: Egypt’s economy grew 5.2 percent ‌in ‌the period between ‌July and March of the financial year ‌2025-26, according ‌to the ‌Planning Ministry. The ‌financial year ‌in Egypt ends June 30. Egypt’s struggling economy has been boosted in recent years by major real estate investments and an $8 ‌»»»

TOKYO: Yasunari Morino, Japan’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in an article for the Kasumigaseki Foreign Service Association noted that Japan and Saudi Arabia continue to strengthen their bilateral relationship. Morino highlighted that both countries use the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030 ini»»»

Tokyo: Heavy rain lashed southern Kyushu in southwestern Japan on Sunday, sharply increasing the risk of disasters, the country's weather agency said. Linear rainbands had developed in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures through late Sunday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, advisi»»»

Taiwan's coast guard said Sunday it has deployed vessels "to respond appropriately" to a Chinese operation in waters east of the island democracy, which it said "violates international law". It comes after Chinese state media reported Saturday that the "law enforcement operation" was in response to»»»

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s coast guard said Sunday it has deployed vessels “to respond appropriately” to a Chinese operation in waters east of the island democracy, which it said “violates international law.” It comes after Chinese state media reported Saturday that the “law enforcement operation” was in res»»»

Tokyo, Japan: The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a body of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has recommended the inscription of the ancient capital city of Asuka-Fujiwara in Japan on the organization's World Heritage List. The rec»»»