The Japan Times

Japan businesses brush off worries over China tourists

Shiina Ito has had fewer Chinese customers at her Tokyo jewellery shop since Beijing issued a travel warning in the wake of a diplomatic spat, but she said she was not concerned.

G20 summit opens in South Africa without Trump

A US-European rift over the future of Ukraine is set to overshadow a G20 summit starting in South Africa on Saturday further marked by Donald Trump's pointed absence.

US stocks creep ahead after tech-fuelled Asia rout

US markets crept ahead in early trading while European counterparts marked time Friday in response to sharp losses in Asia at the end of a week which has seen heightened fears of a bursting AI bubble.

How US sanctions on Russia's Lukoil hit Bulgaria's largest refinery

By taking over the Balkan's largest refinery from Lukoil, Bulgaria has for now avoided punishing US sanctions against the Russian oil giant, which enter into force on Friday.

Europe increasingly 'vulnerable' to shocks: ECB chief

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warned Friday the region was increasingly "vulnerable" to shocks like US tariffs and is lagging behind in areas that will drive growth such as AI.

Tech firms lead stock rout as AI bubble fears linger

Tech firms led stock losses on Friday as investors struggled to shake off fears about an AI bubble and after a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by jobs data dealt a further blow to hopes for a US interest rate cut.

World's biggest nuclear plant edges closer to restart

Japanese local authorities approved the restart of the world's biggest nuclear plant on Friday for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Frida Kahlo painting auctions for $54.6 mn, record for woman artist

A self-portrait by legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sold for $54.66 million in New York on Thursday, setting a new record for the price of a painting by a woman, the auction house Sotheby's said.

Trump plans massive expansion of offshore oil drilling

President Donald Trump's administration is planning to open up millions of square miles (kilometers) of US coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, it said Thursday, in a step that could lead to a massive expansion of fossil fuel extraction.

Stocks lose steam on AI concerns as jobs data cloud rate cut hopes

Stock markets were mixed Thursday as a rally lost momentum after US jobs data clouded hopes of further interest rate cuts and fears of an AI bubble persisted.

Italy probes Tod's executives over labour exploitation

Italian prosecutors are investigating three executives from luxury fashion label Tod's, as well as the company itself, for alleged labour exploitation, according to a court document seen Thursday by AFP.

Montpellier deny 'racism' allegations in Fowler's book

French club Montpellier on Thursday denied allegations which appeared in a book by former player Mary Fowler, insisting the "subject of racism is a serious one that cannot be exploited".

Germany says China promised 'reliable' rare earth supply

Germany's finance minister said Thursday Beijing had made a "clear" commitment on ensuring rare earth supplies, following the first visit to China by a minister from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government.

AI's blind spot: tools fail to detect their own fakes

When outraged Filipinos turned to an AI-powered chatbot to verify a viral photograph of a lawmaker embroiled in a corruption scandal, the tool failed to detect it was fabricated -- even though it had generated the image itself.

US unemployment up even as hiring beat expectations in delayed report

The US jobless rate crept up in September although hiring exceeded analyst expectations, according to a delayed employment report published Thursday after a record-long government shutdown.

US unemployment up even as hiring beats expectations in delayed report

The US jobless rate crept up in September even as hiring exceeded analyst expectations, according to a delayed employment report published Thursday after a record-long government shutdown.

Walmart earnings beat expectations as shoppers seek savings

US retail giant Walmart reported higher quarterly revenue Thursday and raised its outlook, in an expectations-beating earnings report as American households feel the squeeze from rising costs of living.

Walmart lifts outlook in quarterly results with e-commerce boost

US retail giant Walmart reported higher quarterly revenue Thursday and raised its outlook, in an expectations-beating earnings report as American households feel the squeeze from rising costs of living.

Lufthansa enters race for TAP stake against Air France-KLM

Germany's Lufthansa on Thursday expressed an interest for a stake in TAP Air Portugal, joining Air France-KLM in the race for part of the carrier which is set to be privatised.

Stocks mostly rise as Nvidia calms AI fears

Most stock markets rallied on Thursday after strong earnings from chip titan Nvidia eased fears of an AI bubble.

Stocks rally as bumber Nvidia report offsets Fed rate concern

Asian markets rallied Thursday after blowout earnings from chip powerhouse Nvidia cooled worries over an AI bubble and overshadowed a Federal Reserve report that dealt a blow to hopes for a December interest rate cut.

French scientists probe mRNA's potential to fight cancer

Inside a lab in the French city of Orleans, scientists are testing out the limits of molecules in our body called messenger RNA -- best known for being used in Covid-19 vaccines -- in the hopes of finding a breakthrough treatment for a particularly deadly cancer.

Brazil's planned railway to Amazon draws fire on margins of COP30

Indigenous protesters at UN climate talks in Brazil have zeroed in on a major grievance: A planned railway that would stretch almost the distance from London to Berlin and cut through the Amazon rainforest.

Unequal South Africa seeks to tackle inequality as its G20 'legacy'

From the scrappy metal shacks packed tightly on the banks of the thin Jukskei river, the sparkly skyline of Johannesburg's richest neighbourhood less than two miles away was another world.

Something for moi? Miss Piggy's shoes go under the hammer

Some of Jim Henson's most memorable creations go under the hammer in California next week, with the first US auction of puppets and memorabilia from the late entertainer's decades-long career.

Nvidia reports 'off the charts' demand for AI chips

Nvidia shares climbed Wednesday after it beat quarterly earnings expectations on fierce demand for its sophisticated chips that power artificial intelligence.

Swiss queasy over chlorinated chicken fears in US tariff deal

Relief has given way to anxiety in Switzerland over the concessions made to spare the small Alpine nation from US President Donald Trump's threat of a stark 39 percent tariff.

Stocks steadier before key Nvidia results as oil slides

Stocks steadied Wednesday following heavy losses as investors awaited Nvidia earnings for further clues about whether AI-fuelled valuations are justified.

Mammoth German rail project hits the buffers - again

The opening of a mammoth German rail project, which has become emblematic of the infrastructure woes plaguing Europe's biggest economy, has been delayed yet again, reports said Wednesday.

To combat climate anxiety, COP negotiator recommends meditation

To handle the stress of negotiating deals on attempts to curb catastrophic global warming, Christiana Figueres, one of the main architects of the Paris Agreement, recommends meditation.

'Fantastic': nursing home pub lifts spirits in France

On a recent Saturday in a retirement home in the northeastern French village of Kunheim, happy hour started early.

UN nuclear head renews call for Iran to allow inspections at key sites

The head of the UN nuclear agency on Wednesday renewed his call for Iran to allow inspections at key nuclear sites attacked by Israel and the United States in June.

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