The Japan Times - ThingsToKnow

'French Banksy' and Daft Punk star turn Paris bridge into Alpine cave

Tourists and Parisians goggled at the sight of the French capital's oldest bridge transformed into a giant "cave" on Thursday, a spectacular new public work by the street artist JR.

Late queen pushed for son Andrew to be UK trade envoy: official papers

Britain's late queen Elizabeth II pushed for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be given a high-profile job as a trade envoy, a senior official said in a 2000 document released by the government on Thursday.

Vets bid to save Kosovo's stray dogs from cull through sterilisation

Panting puppies lie exhausted, wedged between the plastic bags and cartons spilling down a hillside in northern Kosovo, while other dogs snuffle around the dump hunting for edible morsels.

Commander-in-beef: Bangladesh's 'Donald Trump' buffalo wins fans

Crowds in Bangladesh are flocking to snap photographs with an unlikely social media star -- an albino buffalo with flowing blond hair nicknamed "Donald Trump" due to be sacrificed within days.

'Their story is our story': Pigeons and humans, 3,500 years together

They have been our meat and our messengers, a source of fertiliser and a religious symbol: while pigeons are now mostly reviled as dirty city pests, they long played an important role in human society.

Anew Climate Expands Carbon Market Capabilities in Singapore

HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / May 21, 2026 / Anew Climate today announced the expansion of its carbon market capabilities in Singapore, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)'s Carbon Project Development Grant, marking a strategic step in the company's continued growth across global carbon markets.

Japan to sell eels bred in captivity in 'world first'

Eels bred in captivity will be sold in Japanese shops for the first time, in a move that could ease eventually pressure on the endangered fish, officials said Wednesday.

Humpback whales make record swims between Australia and Brazil

A pair of humpback whales swam record-breaking journeys between the eastern shores of Australia and breeding grounds in Brazil, research published on Wednesday found.

Sky bridges, citizen science protect endangered Malaysia monkeys

A graceful black monkey edges across a swaying red rope bridge strung over a busy residential road in Malaysia's Penang, watched by local conservationists who carefully record her movements.

Help wanted: Australian conservation group seeks new koala rescue dog

An Australian animal welfare group is seeking a heroic dog with an appetite for adventure for a full-time position as a koala rescuer.

Taiwan author wins International Booker for 'slyly sophisticated' novel

Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King won the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for "Taiwan Travelogue", a playful postcolonial novel with a culinary bent.

France encourages women to report rape in probes of star Bruel

The French government spokeswoman on Tuesday encouraged women to speak out about sexual violence, "even decades later", as she addressed mounting allegations of rape and assault targeting popular singer and actor Patrick Bruel.

Argentine researchers collect rodents for hantavirus tests

Argentine scientists on Tuesday began collecting rodents in the woods around Ushuaia to search for carriers of hantavirus in the area from which the virus-stricken MV Hondius set sail.

King Charles III bangs drum for Irish music, eyes hip-hop lesson

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined in with traditional Irish musicians Tuesday when they beat bodhrans, a type of drum and the monarch requested a hip-hop lesson, on a visit to Belfast.

King Charles III makes unannounced visit to N. Ireland

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday arrived in Northern Ireland on an unannounced visit, Buckingham Palace said.

Dogs allowed on new Brigitte Bardot beach in glitzy Cannes

Dogs will be allowed on one of the normally tightly controlled beaches in Cannes that was renamed Monday after late film legend-turned-animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot.

'Mesmeric' movie on secret lives of Nigeria's rich wows Cannes

A wonky mosaic in the shape of Nigeria plays a subtly telling role in Arie and Chuko Esiri's Cannes Film Festival break-out hit "Clarissa".

Japan arrests Americans over stunt at baby monkey Punch's zoo

Two American nationals were arrested in Japan after a stunt in which one entered the monkey enclosure at a zoo where a baby macaque named Punch became a global internet sensation this year, police said Monday.

White House mass prayer event seeks to reclaim US Christian roots

President Donald Trump and top cabinet officials addressed thousands of Americans at a mass prayer rally in Washington on Sunday -- an event critics saw as an overt display of Christian nationalism undermining the separation of church and state.

Bulgaria's Eurovision winner flies home to rapturous welcome

Hundreds of ecstatic fans waving Bulgarian flags turned out at Sofia airport Sunday to give a triumphant welcome home to Dara, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, after her surprise victory.

'Peaky Blinders' creator says he has licence to reinvent James Bond

"Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight, who is writing the next "Bond" movie, has strongly hinted that the ageing British spy is about to get really shaken and stirred.

Vienna abuzz for Eurovision final

Thousands of glammed-up fans were excitedly queueing Saturday ahead of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, where a fiery Finnish duo and an acclaimed Australian star are the favourites to win the glittering crown.

'Dance all night': Harry Styles kicks off World Tour in Amsterdam

Rhinestones bejewelling her eyes and star-shaped clips in her hair, 23-year-old Mathea Ndawula was all set on Saturday for the first show of pop superstar Harry Styles' new world tour.

Hollywood star Julianne Moore warns women are being pushed back

"The Hours" star Julianne Moore bemoaned the drop in leading roles for women in Hollywood on Saturday, saying women were being squeezed out everywhere.

Fiery Finns, Australian star favourites at boycotted Eurovision final

A fiery Finnish violinist-singer duo and an acclaimed Australian star are the favourites to win Saturday's Eurovision grand final, with the contest hit by an unprecedented boycott over Israel's participation.

Haaland to play marauding Viking in new animated film

In an inspired piece of casting, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is to voice a fierce Viking warrior in a new animated film.

'Parasite' director Bong says making animated film to 'surpass' Miyazaki

South Korean maestro Bong Joon-ho -- who won three Oscars and the Palme d'Or at Cannes for "Parasite" -- is making his first animated film.

Cheers and tears as African refugee rap film 'Congo Boy' charms Cannes

The premiere of "Congo Boy" on Friday was like no other the Cannes Film Festival has ever seen, with director Rafiki Fariala -- who also wrote its catchy soundtrack -- breaking into song to introduce his cast and crew.

Eurovision gears up for boycotted final, with fiery Finns favourites

A fiery Finnish violinist-singer duo followed by an Australian star are the favourites to win Saturday's Eurovision grand final, with the contest hit by an unprecedented boycott over Israel's participation.

Cheer and tears as African refugee rap film 'Congo Boy' charms Cannes