Teach toddlers English: Japan educator campaigns for early start
TOKYO -- In an increasingly globalized society, the ability to speak English is key to unlocking educational and professional opportunities and making a mark on the international stage.
Yet few in Japan are proficient in the language, despite taking roughly a decade's worth of English classes. For Akira Murata, whose Kitami Gakuen company operates a preschool in Yokohama, the solution is clear: Start children younger, before they even enter elementary school.
"We cannot adapt to a global society if Japanese is the only tool we have to
Understanding China's conflicted nationalism
David Shambaugh is Gaston Sigur Professor of Asian Studies, Political Science & International Affairs, and Director of the China Policy Program at George Washington University. He is author of "China's Leaders: From Mao to Now."
Why is it that every time the world thinks China is becoming a constructive and cooperative international partner, Beijing lashes out and undermines its own global reputation?
Just when it seems that China is becoming a comfortable status quo power exhibiting "confident nationalism," as the late Sinologist Michel Oksenberg once described
Japan and US wrestle over Kioxia and future of chip security
TOKYO/WASHINGTON -- On Friday, former Toshiba memory unit Kioxia Holdings held an online board meeting connecting with executives in the U.S. The plan was to kick start a process toward an initial public offering and approve an application to the Tokyo Stock Exchange. That item was taken off the agenda.
The IPO was approved by the TSE in 2020 but the plan was derailed by U.S.-China trade tensions, which hurt earnings. Since then, new options have emerged, including a
Biden: Terror attack 'highly likely' in next 24-36 hours
NEW YORK -- U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday that a terrorist attack in Afghanistan was highly likely in the next day and a half and that he had given orders to prioritize force protection.
"This morning, I met with my national security team in Washington and my commanders in the field," the president said in a statement.
"The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high," he said. "Our commanders
Taliban threaten Afghan press, causing exodus of journalists
ISLAMABAD -- With the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, journalists and media workers in the country are fleeing for their lives or going into hiding. Several private media outlets have preemptively closed their operations or minimized news bulletins and removed critical talk shows, popular music and entertainment shows and foreign dramas. Those remaining are forced to disseminate pro-Taliban news to protect their lives.
Outside Kabul, away from the world's attention, the hard-line group has been using some media outlets as voices for their activities after capturing
Russia looks to fill Afghanistan power vacuum as US exits
TOKYO -- As the Taliban takes over in Afghanistan, Russia has appointed itself as a mediator in the war-torn country, underlining its position as a key stakeholder and hardly hiding its desire to expand its influence in the region to fill the power vacuum left by the retreating U.S. military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently trolled Western countries and their dismal efforts to establish a democratic government in Afghanistan.
"I think many politicians in the West are starting to come to grips [with the reality that] it
US strikes Islamic State in Afghanistan after deadly Kabul attack
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The United States launched a drone strike against an Islamic State attack "planner" in eastern Afghanistan, the military said on Friday, a day after a suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. troops and scores of Afghan civilians.
President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday that the United States would hunt down those responsible for the attack, saying he had ordered the Pentagon to come up with plans to strike at the perpetrators.
U.S. Central Command said the strike took
China rushes to improve shots as unvaccinated give cold shoulder
MANILA/SAO PAULO/DALIAN, China -- Crowds thronged to a pharmacy in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo on Sunday, eager to receive Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. Many quickly left as soon as it ran out, turning down the Chinese-developed Sinovac shots the store had in abundance.
A lack of confidence in Chinese vaccines worries officials in Beijing, which has offered shots to many Southeast Asian and South American nations as part of its diplomatic charm offensive.
Prodded by the government, Chinese vaccine makers are rushing
Death toll from Afghanistan terror attacks rises to 170
KABUL (Kyodo) -- The death toll from the latest terrorist attacks outside Kabul's international airport has risen to at least 170, U.S. media reported Friday, citing a local official.
ABC News and other media also said at least 200 people were injured in two explosions that occurred on Thursday as the airport was flooded with people wishing to leave Afghanistan amid growing concerns over security and potential human rights infringement following the recent takeover by the Taliban.
In addition to the local official'
Alibaba squeezed by crackdown as JD.com and Pinduoduo pounce
SHANGHAI -- China's crackdown on Big Tech has shifted the balance in the country's e-commerce market, with JD.com and Pinduoduo continuing to thrive while industry leader Alibaba Group Holding bears the brunt of the damage, earnings releases show.
While all three companies face the same regulatory environment, Alibaba has come under particularly heavy pressure over its business practices -- to the direct benefit of its rivals, especially JD.
JD Retail CEO Xu Lei seemed to take a jab at Alibaba in JD's
