The Japan Times

The Environment Ministry will mandate water utilities, primarily those run by municipalities, to conduct regular inspections for PFAS, starting in April. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/23/japan/pfas-inspections-water-suppliers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #pfas #water #environment #environmentministry

French prosecutors said they had alerted U.S. authorities to a suspicion that Elon Musk had encouraged controversy over sexualized deepfakes on X to "artificially" increase the value of his company. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/22/world/crime-legal/french-prosecutors-musk-deepfakes/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #france #elonmusk #twitter #grok

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed Republican lawmakers to enact sweeping new voting restrictions to "guarantee" victory in November's midterm elections, saying he would not sign new bills into law until they do. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/10/world/politics/trump-republicans-voting-restrictions-midterms/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #donaldtrump #republicans

Using $4 million missiles to destroy $20,000 drones shows what military planners have seen since the Ukraine war: cheap weapons can chew up resources meant for much more complex threats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/03/world/iran-missile-drones-patriots/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #iran #missiles #us #drones #middleeast

Belgium's special forces boarded and seized an oil tanker from the "shadow fleet" Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, the government said Sunday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/belgium-seizes-russian-shadow-fleet-tanker/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #belgium #russia #ukraine #russiaukrainewar #ethera #oil #sanctions

As U.S. rekindles relations with Pyongyang, what’s Japan’s role? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/03/01/japan/trump-japan-and-north-korea-relations/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #kimjongun #donaldtrump #usjapanrelations #northkoreausrelations #kidnappings

The U.S. military used kamikaze drones in its attacks on Iran over the weekend — the first time the world’s most powerful military employed the weapons in combat — in a message to allies like Japan and rivals like China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/us-iran-kamikaze-drones/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #us #iran #usmilitary #middleeast #defense #china #sdf #drones

Pakistani police clashed with protesters who breached the outer wall of the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, leaving nine people dead. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/asia-pacific/us-consulate-pakistan-protests-iran/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #us #iran #iraq #pakistan #alikhamenei #usmilitary #israel

The ability of the U.S., Israel and Gulf Arab states to weather Iran’s retaliatory strikes will depend on how many missile interceptors they have — and stocks are low. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/iranian-missiles-us-interceptors/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #us #iran #israel #middleeast #missiles #defense

A widening Middle East conflict looks set to create the most significant disruption for gas markets since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended global trade four years ago. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/01/economy/iran-disruption-gas-markets/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #iran #us #middleeast #gas #globaleconomy #fossilfuels

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung highlighted the importance of cooperation with Japan and stopped short of criticizing Tokyo or mentioning thorny history issues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/japan/politics/south-korea-lee-jae-myung-japan-ties/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #southkoreajapanrelations #leejaemyung #china #northkorea #southkorea #history #wwii

Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested a 50-year-old man in Osaka Prefecture on Saturday following the deaths of a couple in an apartment. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/japan/crime-legal/osaka-couple-killed/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #japanesepolice #osaka

Trump’s sweeping war aims against Iran amount to a high risk gamble whose success depends on regime collapse but whose consequences could destabilize the region if it fails. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/03/01/world/trumps-ambitions-for-iran/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #donaldtrump #iran #bahrain #dubai #saudiarabia #unitedarabemirates #alikhamenei #middleeast #irgc

Iran's complicated theocratic system makes it difficult to know what happens next. Here's how the system was meant to operate, how a leader could be chosen and how recent attacks may change the equation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/politics/iran-theocratic-system-explainer/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #iran #alikhamenei #middleeast #us

Even as U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys to Iran talks were preparing to fly to Geneva to meet their Iranian counterparts for more discussions, the calculus was shifting toward conflict. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/politics/how-trump-decided-iran-attack/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #donaldtrump #iran #middleeast #alikhamenei #israel #usmilitary

Space One on Sunday canceled its third launch attempt, hampering its bid to become the first Japanese private company to put satellites into orbit with a domestically developed rocket. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/japan/science-health/space-one-kairos-rocket-launch-canceled/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #spaceone #kairos #rockets #satellites

Ethiopia's Tadese Takele successfully defended his Tokyo Marathon title on Sunday, edging Kenya's Geoffrey Toroitich in a sprint finish to cross the line in 2:03:37. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/03/01/more-sports/2026-tokyo-marathon/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #moresports #tokyomarathon #tokyo

A young company from Fukushima Prefecture, which was battered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent nuclear accident, is working to put drones into practical use in logistics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/01/companies/fukushima-drone-logistics/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #fukushima #311 #drones #tech #startups #delivery

Delegates from around 20 countries will hold three days of "informal" talks in Japan aimed at salvaging efforts towards a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/japan/plastic-pollution-treaty-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #plastic #pollution #environment #environmentministry

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Australia reached the quarterfinals for its best-ever showing. This time, it's looking to do more — while avoiding self-inflicted wounds. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/03/01/baseball/australia-wbc-new-chance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #australia #worldbaseballclassic #davenilsson

The main store of Meitetsu Department Store, a landmark at Nagoya Station in central Japan for over 71 years, closed permanently. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/03/01/companies/meitetsu-nagoya-store-closure/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #meitetsudepartmentstore #departmentstores #nagoya #rail

The government and ruling parties remain adamant in passing the draft fiscal 2026 budget by the end of the current year through March, as deliberations continue in the House of Representatives Budget Committee. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/japan/politics/sanae-takaichi-fiscal-2026-budget/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #diet #budgets #ldp #cra

With his white beard, clerical robes and black turban, Ali Khamenei defined Iran’s position in the Middle East as a staunch enemy of Israel and an uncompromising obstacle to U.S. attempts to influence the region. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/politics/iran-khamenei-profile/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #iran #alikhamenei #middleeast #us #israel #donaldtrump

A chaotic encounter between Cuban security forces and a boatful of men who had set out from Florida could have lit a fuse. Instead, calmer heads are prevailing, for now. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/01/world/politics/us-cuba-boat-incident/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #cuba #donaldtrump

The city of Osaka received 21 gold bars from an anonymous donor in November with the instructions: Fix your water pipes. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/27/japan/society/osaka-gold-bars-waterworks-repair/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #osaka #water #cities #osakawaterworksbureau

The incumbent mayor of a Hokkaido village who supports a survey for selecting a nuclear waste disposal site secured reelection on Sunday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/24/japan/politics/hokkaido-kamoenai-mayor-reelection/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #hokkaido #kamoenai #nuclearwaste #nuclearenergy

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure a nervous Europe, saying Washington wanted to recharge the transatlantic alliance so a strong Europe could help the U.S. on its mission of global "renewal." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/15/world/politics/rubio-munich-security-conference-speech-europe/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #munich #germany #russia #ukraine #russiaukrainewar #europe #nato #us #donaldtrump #marcorubio

Japan’s ​Ren Nikaido took silver in the men's large hill on Saturday to earn his third medal of the Milano Cortina Olympics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/olympics/2026/02/15/nikaido-ski-jumping-silver/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #olympics #teamjapan #rennikaido #ryoyukobayashi

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen held his nerve to win the men's Alpine skiing giant slalom in Bormio on Saturday for South America's first-ever gold in the Winter Olympics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/olympics/2026/02/14/brazil-first-winter-gold/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #olympics #lucaspinheirobraathen #brazil #2026milanocortinaolympics

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stressed the importance of the rules-based global order at a high-profile defense conference Friday, as concerns over Chinese military moves rise. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/japan/politics/shinjiro-koizumi-munich-china/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #defense #defenseministry #germany #munich #china #pla #europe #indopacific #shinjirokoizumi #sdf

China's foreign minister told his French and German counterparts that Beijing was not to blame for Europe's economic and security problems as he pushed for more cooperation at a summit in Munich. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/asia-pacific/politics/china-wang-yi-europe/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #eu #europe #china #wangyi #us #uschinarelations

One house, one woman and just a single actor on stage embodying a story of multitudes in the latest adaptation of Kawakami’s work. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2026/02/14/stage/mieko-kawakami-wisteria-theater-play/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #stage #miekokawakami #takahirofujita #izumiaoyagi #theater

A U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria leaves thorny questions unresolved, as Kurds seek to retain some authority despite a much weakened hand following the rapid advance of central government forces. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/politics/ceasefire-deal-syria-analysis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #syria #middleeast #kurds

After soaring to global attention with its hugely popular TikTok app, Chinese tech giant ByteDance is now positioning itself as a major player in the fast-evolving AI arena. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/14/tech/bytedance-ai-focus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #bytedance #ai #tech #tiktok #china

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani could be eyeing up a new item for his trophy case as he heads into the 2026 Major League Baseball season fully healthy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/02/14/baseball/mlb/shohei-ohtani-cy-young-award/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #baseball #mlb #losangelesdodgers #shoheiohtani

Japan released a Chinese fishing boat captain Friday night, local media reported, one day after the fisheries agency seized the boat, saying the captain had refused to comply with an order to stop for an inspection. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/japan/japan-china-fisherman-released/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #china #fishing #chinajapanrelations

OpenAI has partnered with two defense technology companies that the Pentagon has selected to compete to develop voice-controlled, drone swarming software for the U.S. military. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/14/tech/openai-us-drone-swarm-trial/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tech #openai #ai #drones #usmilitary #defense #tech

For the first time since the Cold War's end, European capitals are discussing how to develop their own nuclear deterrent, sources familiar with the matter say, citing conversations between militaries and governments. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/politics/europenuclear-weapons-us/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #europe #nuclearweapons #eu #us #usmilitary #france #germany #nato #russia #ukraine #russiaukrainewar #uk #defense

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he planned to visit Venezuela and reiterated satisfaction with its interim leader, as his administration authorized five major oil companies to operate in the country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/politics/us-waives-venezuela-oil-sanctions/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #donaldtrump #venezuela #oil

Aging families of missing persons believed to have been abducted by North Korea but not designated as such by the Japanese government are seeking broader support. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/japan/possible-north-korea-abductees-families/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #northkorea #abductees

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is aiming to pass the government's initial budget for fiscal 2026 before the current fiscal year ends next month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/japan/politics/takaichi-budget-pass-before-fiscal-2026/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #budgets #ldp #cra #diet

European leaders called Friday for a reset in relations with the United States as they met at a top security conference where U.S. President Donald Trump's potshots at traditional transatlantic ties loomed large. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/politics/europe-us-reset-munich-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #nato #europe #eu #russiaukrainewar #russia #ukraine #germany #france #uk #emmanuelmacron #volodymyrzelenskyy #keirstarmer #friedrichmerz #munich

This week’s major climate news played out on a split screen with the United States and China signaling different paths for the future. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/asia-pacific/trump-climate-rules-china-emissions/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #us #donaldtrump #china #emissions #climatechange #electricvehicles

The United States withdrew an updated list of Chinese firms allegedly aiding Beijing's military shortly after it was posted on Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/us-withdraws-china-military-list/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #china #us #tech #xijinping #donaldtrump #chipmakers #uschinarelations

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expects the Bank of Japan to raise its policy interest rate in the near future, but not this spring, Etsuro Honda, an economic adviser to the Japanese leader, said in a recent interview. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/14/economy/takaichi-boj-rate-hike/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #boj #sanaetakaichi #interestrates #kazuoueda #inflation #yen #currencies

The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weekslong operations against Iran if ordered, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/14/world/us-military-preparing-iran-operations/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #iran #nuclearweapons #middleeast #donaldtrump #usmilitary #defense