Japan’s oldest English-language daily, published by The Japan Times, Ltd.
The US-backed Board of Peace has scaled back its Gaza reconstruction plan to a small pilot camp near Rafah and authorised limited international stabilisation personnel. Hamas has dissolved its Gaza governing body but has not agreed to disarm. Israel has refused major troop withdrawals, continued strikes and delayed legal agreements needed for larger deployments; large-scale rebuilding is unlikely before Israel's October election.
Eisenkot has surged in polls as his Yashar party leads Likud in some surveys for the October 27 election, with calls for stronger security and universal service forming the core of his platform. Netanyahu faces a shifting coalition dynamic as security concerns and politics collide.
The Department of Homeland Security has finalised a rule replacing "duration-of-status" with fixed admission periods: most student and exchange visas will be capped at four years and foreign journalist visas at 240 days (90 days for mainland Chinese). The rule takes effect 60 days after Federal Register publication, allows extensions, and is entering congressional review.
Beijing-based Moonshot AI has released Kimi K3, a 2.8‑trillion‑parameter open‑weight model that has outperformed leading U.S. systems on blind coding benchmarks, is priced substantially below comparable U.S. offerings, and is scheduled to publish its model weights on July 27 so developers can download, modify and self‑host the model.
Prime minister has announced an 850 million VAT cut on household electricity bills from October, funded by scrapping the Digital ID programme. The move is part of a broader plan to ease the cost of living, with ministers pledging to pass savings through to consumers as cabinet reshuffles unfold.
The India Meteorological Department has recorded rainfall beating long-period averages in about a third of Indian states as monsoon activity remains dense, with satellite imagery showing widespread cloud cover across the nation. The pattern comes after a period of variability, including an unusually dry June.
Leyva has been named chief executive officer of 7-Eleven Inc. and will start Aug. 1, overseeing store-network expansion and growth of the company’s overseas business. TSMC and other AI-linked firms are seen as catalysts for sustained growth in the sector, though fulfillment challenges remain.
Investors are piling into AI-focused exchange-traded funds, including leveraged products that amplify daily moves. The wave comes as traditional mutual funds see outflows and ETFs capture more capital, while bond exposure faces debate amid volatility and new regulatory considerations.
The US has finalised a 30‑year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia and has submitted it to Congress for review. The pact will allow US firms to help build Saudi nuclear power, could permit domestic uranium enrichment after a joint study, and has drawn warnings that it will increase proliferation risks and regional tensions.
A string of developments around testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has sparked a national conversation. The US military is considering testing service members’ testosterone levels and expanding access to TRT where clinically appropriate, while lawmakers and experts weigh safety, ethics and performance implications. Reports from AP News, CNBC, CNBC and other outlets indicate a widening trend in how TRT is discussed and regulated.
Venezuela has informed the UN of its irrevocable decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing a demonstrated geographical bias favoring Africa and Latin America. The move comes as the ICC faces ongoing probes into crimes against humanity and as pressures from the United States intensify against the court.
Wildfires in south-west France and central Spain have forced hundreds of thousands to flee homes and holiday spots. France has mobilised the army and requested EU support as authorities declare a national emergency in Spain. Evacuations hit Cap Ferret, Bordeaux, and Madrid areas; fires remain volatile with continued heat and wind.
Ukraine has escalated drone strikes targeting Russian logistics, hitting Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, and Yekaterinburg. The attacks disrupt operations, kill workers, and threaten Russia’s commercial supply chains as Kyiv seeks to pressure Moscow amid ongoing fighting.
Zimbabwean pensioners and widows say NSSA payouts are far too low to cover basic living costs. A High Court case seeks a constitutional review and a guaranteed link between contributions and benefits, arguing pension filings are a protected property right.
The Harz charcoal burners are keeping a traditional method alive, producing pure beech charcoal in earthen kilns. The family-run operation produces about 40 tons a year, runs a small museum and a restaurant, and hopes the craft will be passed to the next generation.
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva is defending sovereignty as talks with the US fray over election interference fears. Milei’s rhetoric and Bolsonaros’ campaign moves intensify regional tensions ahead of Brazil’s October vote. Diplomatic spats include visa revocations and downgrades, amid a broader regional shift toward conservative leadership.
Sales of Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human have surged in the UK, as Penguin Classics publishes a UK edition of Schoolgirl, a collection of stories in translation. Editors argue the author’s bleak, self-loathing voice resonates with a younger generation, even as his work remains unflinching in its existential despair.
Malaysia has announced a plan to repatriate up to 5,000 people to Myanmar and identified thousands of Myanmar nationals in detention; Myanmar's foreign ministry has reiterated it will work with Bangladesh to verify and receive former Rakhine residents once security stabilises. Rights groups warn returns will put Rohingya at risk amid renewed violence, trafficking and rising hostility in host countries.
Iran has secured a $60-70 million deal to purchase 300-400 MANPADS, including QW-12 and FN-16 missiles, via Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment. Deliveries are planned by air from China with potential overland routes through Pakistan, signaling deepening ties with China amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
Australia’s under‑16 social-media ban shows limited early success. A regulator’s three‑month follow‑up finds most youths retain or recreate accounts; age-checks remain weak and offline activity has shifted little. Governments may tighten enforcement and penalties.
Meteorological agencies and the UN have reported a very strong El Niño that has continued to intensify in August 2026. Forecasts show record-warm Pacific sea-surface temperatures, rising global heat and an elevated risk of droughts, floods and food insecurity that will push tens of millions more people into acute hunger this year and next.
A coordinated U.S.-Japan intervention in late July has only temporarily strengthened the yen. The currency has given back roughly half the gains from the operation and is trading near ¥159–¥160 to the dollar as of mid-August. Analysts say the yield gap between U.S. and Japanese debt and Japan's domestic policy mix are keeping downward pressure on the yen.
The Kumamoto earthquake has left at least 13 dead and thousands displaced. Rescue teams face sweltering heat and power cuts as evacuation centers struggle to keep residents cool and hydrated. Authorities confirm ongoing aftershocks and intensified relief efforts as water and fuel shortages complicate response.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Lilly and Novo Nordisk have surpassed forecasts in Q2, widening the gap in the obesity-drug space. Lilly leads in the US with about 61% share; Novo raises full-year outlook but faces questions about Wegovy's growth and its pipeline. Investors are watching whether Novo can sustain momentum as competition intensifies.
Three female lions die at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo amid a record heatwave. Ten lions have fallen ill since mid-July, and staff are treating several others while air-conditioned enclosures and cooling measures are being deployed.
Developers are updating Beast of Reincarnation, a post-apocalyptic action RPG, with new features and accessibility options after hands-on previews. The game evolves from early demos to a more expansive, player-friendly experience across multiple mythological settings.
The United States is nearing depletion of long-range missiles, with ATACMS and PrSM stocks reportedly nearly exhausted. Officials warn this could constrain deterrence and affect future military options, even as production ramps up. White House and defense voices insist the arsenal remains formidable.
Prashant Kishor has achieved a breakthrough win in Bankipur, Bihar, challenging the BJP in what had been a BJP stronghold. The by-election follows student protests over exam leaks, with Kishor framing the result as a demand for education, jobs, and reduced migration. The outcome signals a potential shift in Bihar and national politics driven by youth concerns.
Taiwan’s Han Kuang exercises are extending to 10 days, testing 24-hour defense operations, urban resilience, and new US-inspired tactics. Civilians are mobilized, internet slowdowns simulate disruption, and reservists are being expanded to strengthen civil defense amid heightened tensions with China.
Beijing has announced a broad package of countermeasures in response to recent U.S. moves, including sanctions on American entities, tighter export controls on drones and dual-use tech, and case-by-case reviews of certain exports. The measures come ahead of high-level talks and are aimed at pressuring the United States while keeping room for de-escalation.
Google has reorganised its AI leadership: Demis Hassabis has stepped back from day-to-day running of DeepMind to become its chair and Alphabet chief scientist, and Koray Kavukcuoglu has been promoted to senior vice-president to run Google DeepMind. Several senior engineers, including Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat, have left to launch a new startup; Alphabet shares have fallen.
Several ATP stars have withdrawn or stumbled through early rounds in Montreal, reshaping the Masters 1000 field. Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic have skipped key events to safeguard their health, while others face injuries and upsets ahead of Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.
Since early August the Houthi movement has carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on Yemeni government positions, the Red Sea port of Mocha and Saudi infrastructure, including a claimed strike on Aramco’s Jazan refinery. Yemeni government forces have responded with coordinated artillery, drone and air operations, and the UN has warned the country faces a return to large‑scale war.
A series of historical accounts recount the first use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, underscoring lasting global fears, arms races, and the human cost reflected in witness testimonies and later reflections.
Federal judges have blocked key parts of President Trump’s attempts to centralise voter-roll control and to curtail birthright citizenship, and lawyers have asked courts to treat his new August orders as violations of earlier injunctions. Separately, the Fifth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling and restored Texas’s 2021 election restrictions.
Iran, Oman, and the United States are negotiating a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls while broader nuclear talks resume. Washington has suggested the risk of renewed strikes is being met with renewed diplomacy, and regional states are urging restraint as attacks in the Gulf intensify.
Firms with the smallest free-float market caps on the Tokyo Stock Exchange are being phased out of the Topix benchmark over two years starting in October, potentially triggering a scramble among smaller firms as passive funds redirect about $1 trillion. The overhaul tackles investor concerns about illiquid, micro-cap stocks inflating index replication costs.
The US has imposed a 15% tariff and set minimum import prices on polysilicon and related products, effective in December, to protect domestic chip and solar supply chains. The order includes anti-stockpiling powers and directs incentives for new US polysilicon production. China has criticised the move and warned it will protect its firms.
A New Mexico judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into an abatement fund and to change product features for young users, adding to a $375 million jury award from March and bringing Meta’s total liability in the case to $942 million. The bulk of the new fund — $420 million — is allocated for youth mental-health treatment; other measures include limits on notifications and enhanced age-assurance steps.
Survivors and officials mark the Nagasaki and Hiroshima anniversaries while Japan debates its nuclear policy. Leaders reaffirm non-nuclear principles while signals of policy shifts surface amid regional tension and calls for a clear stance.
Albanese has faced renewed calls for apology over comments about crown melons gifted by Japan’s Sanae Takaichi. The remarks have prompted international commentary, with Tokyo weighing in on cultural significance and a Japanese envoy urging focus on joint security work. The controversy has resurfaced as both nations push defense and economic collaboration.
Global gold-backed ETFs have drawn $3 billion in July, ending two months of outflows as Western investment demand shows tentative signs of recovery. Europe led inflows, North America posted modest gains, and Asian funds boosted holdings, while prices rebound from earlier lows but remain below January highs.
Unitree Robotics has priced its Shanghai Star Market IPO at 150.80-150.8 yuan per share, raising about $900 million and valuing the company around $9 billion. Demand from retail investors was exceptionally strong, underscoring appetite for humanoid robotics while questions linger on commercial viability and scale.
An underground market is emerging for rooms that claim to leak details on officials under scrutiny in China. Operators charge entry fees and offer cryptic clues, with others moving members to new rooms to avoid monitoring. The development follows a broader assessment of leadership changes and tensions in China’s industrial sector.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup (Etorofu) in the disputed Kuril Islands, watched Pacific Fleet drills and toured local facilities. Japan has summoned the Russian ambassador and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi have called the visit unacceptable, saying the islands are Japan’s territory under history and international law.
New York City is moving to open five government-run grocery stores by 2029 to address food affordability. The plan, inspired by Atlanta’s Azalea Fresh Market, uses subsidies to lower core-food prices and seeks experienced grocers to operate the stores. The initiative follows a broader debate over food deserts and market-based solutions.
The Chicago Bears have moved their stadium development focus to Hammond, Indiana. Due diligence is underway on the Lost Marsh and Wolf Lake sites, with Illinois talks ongoing but limited. The team says it will remain the Chicago Bears regardless of location, as a timeline for a decision remains uncertain amid state funding and legislative hurdles.
President Donald Trump has said he will "pretty soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory after defeating Iran, and has touted a US naval blockade. Iran has rejected the claim, saying the strait "will only be closed and opened under Iran's command" and has refused to resume talks while the waterway remains blocked. Mediators continue quiet contact.
Japan’s leaders face renewed regional scrutiny as Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visit on the 81st anniversary sparks protests from China and South Korea, while Tokyo stresses a peaceful, postwar path.