The Japan Times

Featured

World Cup fans get taste of American life -- at the mall

Waving flags and dancing to booming Latin music, the Ecuador football fans were living the World Cup fever. "Let's get this party started!" an announcer declared.

Movie theaters are allies for streamers like us, Apple exec says

Tech giant Apple views movie theaters as allies in its fight to carve out a space for its platform in the competitive streaming sector, a top company executive told AFP.

Last news

French GDP slips 0.1% in first quarter, raising spectre of recession

French GDP shrank 0.1 percent in the first quarter, official data showed Friday, a downward revision from previous estimates that analysts warn could herald a recession for the eurozone's second-biggest economy.

Japan population sees record five-year drop: census

Japan's population dropped by a record 2.5 percent in the span of five years, census data showed Friday, as the world's fourth-largest economy struggles to overcome demographic woes.

Asia stocks surge, oil falls on hopes of US-Iran truce deal

Asian stock markets surged and oil prices receded on Friday, boosted by optimism that the United States and Iran will reach a deal to end their war that has hobbled global energy supplies.

Canadian who sold poison for suicides to plead guilty

The man accused of helping dozens of people worldwide commit suicide by selling them poison is set to appear in a Canadian court on Friday, where he is expected to plead guilty to 14 crimes.

Oil, stocks mixed as US-Iran deal awaits Trump approval

Oil prices diverged and global stock markets were mixed Thursday as a ceasefire extension deal between United States and Iranian negotiators awaited the green light from President Donald Trump.

AI giant Anthropic reaches near-trillion dollar valuation

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it had raised $65 billion in a new funding round that values the Claude maker at $965 billion, more than its archrival OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.

Mistral says would not interfere if its AI is used by defence customers

French AI startup Mistral would not weigh in on choices about how its technology is used by defence customers, its chief executive told AFP Thursday, laying out a clear position in an ethical debate stirring up the sector.

Oil advances, stocks drift on fresh US-Iran strikes

Oil prices rose slightly and global stock markets drifted Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged new strikes despite their purported ceasefire, rekindling uncertainty about an end to the Middle East war.

Top EU economies vow to speed up financial integration

The EU's six biggest economies vowed Thursday to set aside differences and speed up integration of their financial markets as the bloc seeks to catch up with the United States and China.

UK risks a 'lost generation' of jobless young people

Britain risks creating a "lost generation" as the number of young people out of work and education surges, a government-commissioned review warned Thursday.

Oil climbs, stocks drop on fresh US-Iran strikes

Oil prices bounced higher and stock markets fell Thursday after the United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes, upending hopes of an end to the Middle East war.

Online horror phenomenon turns movie blockbuster with 'Backrooms'

Originating as a creepy shared story told online by ordinary internet users, the "Backrooms" universe erupts into American cinemas on Friday with a film directed by star YouTuber Kane Parsons.

Oil rises and Asia stocks slide after new US strikes on Iran

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East war.

US strikes Iran, drawing retaliatory attack on American base

The United States struck southern Iran on Thursday, drawing retaliation from Tehran against a US military base, in the most serious clashes since an April ceasefire began.

Oil prices bounce higher after new US strikes on Iran

Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks mostly fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East war.

Iran says war unlikely as Trump warns he may 'finish the job'

Oil prices tumbled Wednesday on hopes of a US-Iran peace deal, even as President Donald Trump warned he may have to "finish the job" and Tehran said its forces were still "lying in wait with full magazines."

Meta launches paid subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp

Meta on Wednesday launched paid subscription plans for its flagship apps, marking a major push by the tech giant to diversify beyond its longtime reliance on advertising revenue.

AI chiefs walk back job apocalypse warnings

The most prominent figures in artificial intelligence are stepping back from dire predictions about mass unemployment, as the industry faces growing public hostility over AI's promised transformation of the workplace.

Value of chip giant SK hynix joins Micron to top $1 tn

The market value of South Korean memory chipmaker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday, fueled by frenzied global demand for the computing hardware that powers artificial intelligence tools -- a surge that also carried US-based Micron across the threshold.

Germany warns on trade imbalance as economy minister visits China

Germany's economy minister began a visit to China on Wednesday with Berlin saying it wanted to boost cooperation with a key partner while also warning of worsening trade imbalances.

Asia stocks see tech gains as investors weigh US-Iran deal

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by soaring tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States and Iran will reach a peace deal.

Frugal and more online: smarter spenders rewrite luxury's China dream

When Beijinger Jacqueline Li first heard one of her favourite luxury department stores in the city was closing, she was shocked -- until she considered how Chinese spending habits have changed in recent years.

Nvidia to boost spending in Taiwan to $150 bn a year

Nvidia will increase investment in Taiwan to $150 billion a year, the US chip giant's boss said Wednesday, describing the export-driven island as the "epicentre of the AI revolution".

Value of South Korean chip giant SK hynix tops $1 tn

The market value of South Korean memory chip maker SK hynix soared past $1 trillion on Wednesday thanks to frenzied global demand for the computing hardware that powers artificial intelligence tools.

Asia stocks mixed over hopes of US-Iran deal, tech gains

Asian equities were mixed on Wednesday with gains driven by tech stocks and guarded optimism the United States and Iran will reach a peace deal.

'My job is going': UK workers squeezed out by AI

When a client asked her a year ago to design a glossary to train an artificial intelligence system, translator Jessica Spengler realised she was going to train her own replacement.

Samsung workers approve bonus deal after big AI profits

Samsung Electronics union members on Wednesday approved a deal with management securing massive annual bonuses, averting a major strike as the South Korean chip giant's profits soar due to booming demand for artificial intelligence tools.

Low cost glasses help India's poor see a better future

As soon as he put on his glasses, Indian vegetable seller Tofan Jena knew daily life would never be the same.

'I'm still lost': Los Angeles airport baffles travellers ahead of World Cup

An exhausted TJ James has just stepped off an 18-hour flight at Los Angeles international airport where he is getting a taste of the chaos that awaits tens of thousands of people expected for the World Cup, which starts on June 11.

Canadian who supplied poison for suicides to plead guilty

A Canadian man accused of shipping poison to people contemplating suicide around the globe is expected to plead guilty to several counts on Friday, ending a case that has shocked the public.

New strikes threaten ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon

Tehran on Tuesday accused Washington of breaching their ceasefire and warned it was ready to retaliate after overnight US strikes, while Israeli bombardment in Lebanon left dozens dead, threatening an increasingly fragile truce there.

Oil back at $100 as US strikes douse Iran war hopes

Oil prices rebounded back to $100 on Tuesday while stock markets were mixed and the dollar firmed after US military strikes on Iran deflated hopes of an imminent deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Japan Times - Economy (English)