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Tag: Japan

  • Chinese military to stage drills around Taiwan to warn ‘external forces’ after Japan tensions

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    The Chinese military said Monday said it was dispatching air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around Taiwan to warn against what it called separatist and “external interference” forces.The drills came after Beijing expressed anger at a statement by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, that its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that the world’s second-biggest economy says must come under its rule.Video above: President Trump announces tariff reduction and trade agreements with ChinaBut the Chinese military did not mention Japan in its statement on Monday morning.Taiwan, an island off the southeastern coast of China, separated from the mainland in 1949 amid Civil War. It has operated since then with its own government, though the mainland’s government claims it as sovereign territory.

    The Chinese military said Monday said it was dispatching air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around Taiwan to warn against what it called separatist and “external interference” forces.

    The drills came after Beijing expressed anger at a statement by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, that its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that the world’s second-biggest economy says must come under its rule.

    Video above: President Trump announces tariff reduction and trade agreements with China

    But the Chinese military did not mention Japan in its statement on Monday morning.

    Taiwan, an island off the southeastern coast of China, separated from the mainland in 1949 amid Civil War. It has operated since then with its own government, though the mainland’s government claims it as sovereign territory.

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  • Russia Opposes Taiwan Independence in Any Form, FM Lavrov Says

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    Dec 28 (Reuters) – ‌Russia ​opposes ‌Taiwan’s independence in ​any ‍form and considers ​the ​island ⁠an inseparable part of China, Russia’s Foreign ‌Minister Sergei Lavrov ​said in ‌remarks ‍published on ⁠Sunday.

    In an interview with Russia’s TASS state ​news agency, Lavrov also urged Japan to “think carefully” about what he described as a course towards ​militarisation”.

    (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; ​Editing by William Mallard)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • Japan’s Cabinet OKs record defense budget that aims to deter China

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    Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.The draft budget for fiscal 2026, beginning April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.“It is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country’s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.“It does not change our path as a peace-loving nation,” he said.The increase comes as Japan faces elevated tension from China. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her country’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.Takaichi’s government, under U.S. pressure for a military increase, pledged to achieve the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned. Japan also plans to revise its ongoing security and defense policy by December 2026 to further strengthen its military.Missiles and drones will add to southwestern island defenseJapan has been bolstering its offensive capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from a distance, a major break from its post-World War II principle limiting the use of force to its own self-defense.The current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country’s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japan’s Self-Defense Force under its security alliance with the U.S.The new budget plan allocates more than 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) to bolster Japan’s “standoff” missile capability. It includes a 177 billion yen ($1.13 billion) purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).The first batch of the Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan accelerates its missile buildup in the region.The government believes unmanned weapons are essential, in part due to Japan’s aging and declining population and its struggles with an understaffed military.To defend the coasts, Japan will spend 100 billion yen ($640 million) to deploy “massive” unmanned air, sea-surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defense under a system called SHIELD planned for March 2028, defense ministry officials said.For speedier deployment, Japan initially plans to rely mainly on imports, possibly from Turkey or Israel.Tension with China growsThe budget announcement comes as Japan’s row with China escalates following Takaichi’s remark in November that the Japanese military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.The disagreement escalated this month when Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan prompted Tokyo to protest when Chinese aircraft locked their radar on Japanese aircraft, which is considered possible preparation for firing missiles.The Defense Ministry, already alarmed by China’s rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other necessities for Japan to deal with China’s Pacific activity.Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in June, almost simultaneously operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time, fueling Tokyo’s concern about Beijing’s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Takaichi government has “noticeably accelerated its pace of military buildup and expansion” since taking office.”Japan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction,” Lin said.Japan plans joint development of frigates and jetsJapan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry by participating in joint development with friendly nations and promoting foreign sales after drastically easing arms export restrictions in recent years.For 2026, Japan plans to spend more than 160 billion yen ($1 billion) to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans for research and development of artificial intelligence-operated drones designed to fly with the jet.In a major boost to the country’s defense industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to upgrade the Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.Japan’s budget allocates nearly 10 billion yen ($64 million) to support industry base and arms sales.Meeting targets but future funding uncertainThe budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of a 122.3 trillion yen ($784 billion) national budget bill.The five-year defense buildup program would bring Japan’s annual spending to around 10 trillion yen ($64 billion), making it the world’s third-largest spender after the U.S. and China. Japan will clear the 2% target by March as promised, the Finance Ministry said.Takaichi’s government plans to fund its growing military spending by raising corporate and tobacco taxes and recently adopted a plan for an income tax increase beginning in 2027. Prospects for future growth at a higher percentage of GDP are unclear.

    Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defense budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.

    The draft budget for fiscal 2026, beginning April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan’s ongoing five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.

    “It is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country’s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.

    “It does not change our path as a peace-loving nation,” he said.

    The increase comes as Japan faces elevated tension from China. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her country’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

    Takaichi’s government, under U.S. pressure for a military increase, pledged to achieve the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned. Japan also plans to revise its ongoing security and defense policy by December 2026 to further strengthen its military.

    Missiles and drones will add to southwestern island defense

    Japan has been bolstering its offensive capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from a distance, a major break from its post-World War II principle limiting the use of force to its own self-defense.

    The current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country’s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japan’s Self-Defense Force under its security alliance with the U.S.

    The new budget plan allocates more than 970 billion yen ($6.2 billion) to bolster Japan’s “standoff” missile capability. It includes a 177 billion yen ($1.13 billion) purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

    The first batch of the Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan accelerates its missile buildup in the region.

    The government believes unmanned weapons are essential, in part due to Japan’s aging and declining population and its struggles with an understaffed military.

    To defend the coasts, Japan will spend 100 billion yen ($640 million) to deploy “massive” unmanned air, sea-surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defense under a system called SHIELD planned for March 2028, defense ministry officials said.

    For speedier deployment, Japan initially plans to rely mainly on imports, possibly from Turkey or Israel.

    Tension with China grows

    The budget announcement comes as Japan’s row with China escalates following Takaichi’s remark in November that the Japanese military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.

    The disagreement escalated this month when Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan prompted Tokyo to protest when Chinese aircraft locked their radar on Japanese aircraft, which is considered possible preparation for firing missiles.

    The Defense Ministry, already alarmed by China’s rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other necessities for Japan to deal with China’s Pacific activity.

    Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in June, almost simultaneously operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time, fueling Tokyo’s concern about Beijing’s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.

    In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Takaichi government has “noticeably accelerated its pace of military buildup and expansion” since taking office.

    “Japan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction,” Lin said.

    Japan plans joint development of frigates and jets

    Japan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry by participating in joint development with friendly nations and promoting foreign sales after drastically easing arms export restrictions in recent years.

    For 2026, Japan plans to spend more than 160 billion yen ($1 billion) to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans for research and development of artificial intelligence-operated drones designed to fly with the jet.

    In a major boost to the country’s defense industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to upgrade the Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.

    Japan’s budget allocates nearly 10 billion yen ($64 million) to support industry base and arms sales.

    Meeting targets but future funding uncertain

    The budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of a 122.3 trillion yen ($784 billion) national budget bill.

    The five-year defense buildup program would bring Japan’s annual spending to around 10 trillion yen ($64 billion), making it the world’s third-largest spender after the U.S. and China. Japan will clear the 2% target by March as promised, the Finance Ministry said.

    Takaichi’s government plans to fund its growing military spending by raising corporate and tobacco taxes and recently adopted a plan for an income tax increase beginning in 2027. Prospects for future growth at a higher percentage of GDP are unclear.

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  • Stabbing, liquid toss attack in Japan tire factory injures 15

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    A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tire factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. There was no immediate explanation of his motive.

    Eight people were taken to hospitals after being stabbed by the man with a knife at the Yokohama Rubber Company in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department.

    The department told The Associated Press five of the people stabbed were in serious condition but other details weren’t available.

    Seven others were injured by the liquid thrown at them during the attack and brought to hospitals, the fire department said.  

    Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory.

    French news agency AFP reports that The Asahi Shimbun daily newspaper quoted investigative sources as saying that the man had ties to the factory. He was wearing what appeared to be a gas mask, the paper and other media said. Asahi also said he was apparently armed with what it described as a survival knife.

    Violent crime is relatively rare in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the world’s toughest gun laws.

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  • Japan Cancels H3 Rocket Launch Due to ‘Facility Trouble’

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    TOKYO, ‌Dec ​17 (Reuters) – ‌Japan’s space ​agency ‍cancelled ​on ​Wednesday its ⁠planned H3 rocket ‌launch carrying the ​Michibiki ‌No.5 ‍satellite system due ⁠to “facility trouble”, ​the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.

    (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and ​Kaori Kaneko; Editing by ​Muralikumar Anantharaman)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • Taiwan Says Its Military Can Respond Rapidly to Any Sudden Chinese Attack

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    TAIPEI, Dec 16 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s military can respond rapidly ‌to ​any sudden Chinese attack with ‌all units able to operate under a decentralised mode of command ​without awaiting orders from above, Taipei’s defence ministry said in a report to lawmakers.

    Democratically-governed Taiwan, which ‍Beijing views as its own territory, ​has repeatedly warned that China could try to suddenly shift its regular drills into ​active combat ⁠mode to catch Taiwan and its international supporters off guard.

    China’s military operates around Taiwan on an almost daily basis, in what Taipei says is part of a “grey zone” harassment and pressure campaign that stops short of actual combat but is designed to wear out ‌Taiwan’s armed forces by putting them constantly on alert.

    The defence ministry said in its ​report ‌that the frequency and scale ‍of China’s ⁠military activities have increased year by year, including their regular “joint combat readiness patrols”.

    The military has a standard operating practice on how to raise its combat alert level in case Chinese exercises move “from drill to war”, the ministry added.

    “If the enemy suddenly launches an attack, all units are to implement ‘distributed control’ without waiting for orders and, under a ‘decentralised’ mode of command, carry out their combat ​missions,” it said, without giving details.

    Defence Minister Wellington Koo is scheduled to take questions from lawmakers on the report on Wednesday.

    China has also been practicing how to attack Taiwan, and sending its warships further and further out into the Pacific and down towards Australia and New Zealand, the ministry added.

    “The Chinese communists have never renounced the use of force to annex Taiwan and continue to intensify joint training across services, shifting from purely military drills to routine, multi-service, real-combat-oriented exercises.”

    Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide ​their future.

    On Monday, China’s defence ministry said Taiwan President Lai Ching-te was “hyping up” the threat from China and “peddling war anxiety”.

    “We hope that the broad mass of Taiwan compatriots will clearly recognise the extreme danger and harmfulness of the Lai authorities’ ​frantic ‘preparing for war to seek independence’,” the ministry said in a statement.

    (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – December 2025

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  • 6.7 magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan’s coast, prompts local tsunami advisory

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    A 6.7 magnitude earthquake occurred Friday afternoon local time off the northern coast of Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The earthquake comes after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the same region earlier this week. 

    The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake was centered about 70 miles northeast of Hachinohe in the Aomori prefecture. It occurred at a depth of about 6.65 miles, the USGS said.

    The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for portions of Japan’s Pacific coast.

    No tsunami alerts were issued for the West Coast of the U.S. or Hawaii.  

    Monday’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Aomori caused at least 34 injuries and damaged roads and buildings. It also triggered a tsunami of up to 28 inches in some Pacific coast communities. 

    It prompted Japan on Tuesday to issue a megaquake advisory. The government estimated that an offshore megaquake could cause a tsunami of up to 98 feet and kill nearly 200,000 people.

    Officials on Tuesday said the advisory was not a prediction, and the probability of a magnitude 8 or larger quake was only about 1%. But there was hope the advisory would serve as a wake-up call for a quake that could have the devastation of the 2011 disaster that killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed a nuclear plant.

    Monday’s quake temporarily increased potential risks in the regions of Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast. That’s where the Pacific Plate beneath Japan forms the two trenches — the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench — that have caused many large quakes in the past.

    Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory, not a tsunami warning.  

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  • Why The Samurai of the Red Carnation Will Surprise You

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    Book Overview: The Samurai of the Red Carnation

    Content Warnings: violence, war, fire, heartbreak, betrayal

    Summary: An irresistibly winning romantic historical adventure, set in medieval Japan and tinged with fantasy, revolving around the art of waka poetry.

    Matsuo is expected to be a samurai, like his father before him. But as he is training in the art of war, he realises he was destined for a different art altogether. Turning his back on his future as a warrior of the sword, he decides instead to do battle with words, as a poet.

    Thus begins a story of intrigue and adventure, passion and betrayal. Matsuo’s quest to find his true self, and his true love, takes him across medieval Japan, through bloody battlefields and burning cities. But his ultimate test will be the uta awase – a tournament where Japan’s greatest poets engage in fierce verbal combat for the honour of victory, and where Matsuo will find himself fighting for his life.

    The Samurai of the Red Carnation is both a thrilling, swashbuckling adventure and a sensitive meditation on love and poetry. Denis Thériault, is known for his award-winning novel, The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman, which also made extensive use of original poetry in Japanese styles and which won the author the Japan-Canada Book Prize.

    Image Source: Courtesy of Penguin Random House

    Imagine training with a sword and realizing your true weapon is a poem. Denis Thériault’s novel mixes swashbuckling adventure with tender romance in a lyrical way. It’s like watching a grand samurai film with a poetry score. From its vivid medieval Japan scenes to an epic poetry duel, the story feels fresh and full of wonder. For those of you who crave both adrenaline and artistry, this tale delivers something truly new!

    The Samurai of the Red Carnation follows Matsuo, born into a samurai family but secretly a poet. Instead of wielding a sword, he picks up a pen. Bending tradition, the biggest battles in his life shift from war to words; Matsuo must fight for his life with verses instead of blades. His journey begins with one bold choice: abandon his destiny as a warrior. That kind of passion, choosing art over duty, makes Matsuo surprisingly relatable.

    A Samurai By Name, A Poet By Nature

    From the start, Matsuo is torn between duty and desire. He trains as a warrior, but a secret longing for poetry calls. When he walks away from his armor, he shows courage of a different sort: the courage to follow his true self. He learns waka, a classical form of Japanese verse, from a wild Zen master on his journey. This mischievous teacher, more rogue monk than sensei, turns Matsuo’s world upside down with riddles and verses. Thériault lets us feel Matsuo’s dreams and doubts. Even when Matsuo stumbles, he remains a hero you root for!

    An Ancient Japan Painted In Words

    The setting is a major draw. Thériault, long fascinated by Japan, paints Heian-era Kyoto and beyond with vivid detail. You can almost smell incense in a shrine and feel the heat of a burning city. In fact, the novel opens on a night when Kyoto is ablaze, hinting at intrigue to come. Peace and turmoil live side by side: in one chapter Matsuo meditates in a garden; in the next he hides from samurai on a mountainside path. You sense an era where beauty and danger collide… where courtly grace meets clan rivalries on the horizon.

    Battles Of Wit And Wordplay

    Forget sword duels; the book’s fiercest fights are poetry contests called uta-awase. Picture a medieval rap battle: poets duel with clever verses and sharp insults. A panel of nobles listens as if lives depend on each line (because they often do). Losing can mean ruin. Thériault treats these word duels like life-or-death matches. Between the quips and metaphors, you really feel the tension. Fans of wordplay will relish it. Every so often, even a single line can feel as sharp as a blade!

    Forbidden Love And Family Loyalties

    Of course there’s romance. Matsuo falls for a princess’s attendant, a poised young woman with a secret smile, who is already promised to a powerful general. Their situation feels like star-crossed fate: an ache anyone who’s loved from afar will recognize. Even with war swirling around them, their quiet connection blooms. This romance brings real heat and heartbreak. Family expectations and battle pressures add drama! Each choice tests Matsuo’s loyalty and honor. Yet hope flickers through it all, and each setback strengthens his resolve while keeping the story moving.

    Mystery, Myth, And A Touch Of Fantasy

    The novel isn’t just historical… it hints at something mystical! Heian Japan was said to be “haunted by spirits of Nature,” and Thériault weaves in that sense of the uncanny. The story opens with a mysterious figure watching Kyoto burn, casting a strange shadow over Matsuo’s path. Other moments feel dreamlike: a shrine that murmurs secrets, or a poem that reads like a prophecy. The line between reality and myth blurs in small, eerie ways! These touches give the journey a magical sheen.

    Thériault’s Poetic Legacy

    Denis Thériault’s earlier hit The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman also mixed Japanese verse into its tale; it even won the Japan–Canada Book Prize. Fans of that quirky, lyrical style will find plenty here! Thériault’s prose often reads like poetry itself: carefully chosen, rhythmic, and full of gentle humor. Even the action scenes have an elegance, as if choreographed. The English version keeps that charm, making the verses and jokes land smoothly. All in all, it feels like a novel as carefully crafted as a poem.

    For anyone who wonders if the pen is mightier than the sword, Matsuo’s world might have the answer!

    What are your thoughts on The Samurai of the Red Carnation? You can get a copy here if you don’t have one already! Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on TwitterInstagram, or Facebook!

    Want more book reviews? Check out our library!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DENIS THERIAULT:
    WEBSITE

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  • Japan’s rising sushi star

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    Watch CBS News



    Sushi Meino is one of the hardest reservations to get in Tokyo right now. While less than 6% of Japanese sushi restaurants are owned by women, Chef Mei Kogo and her team are changing the game.

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  • Airlines adopt software fix for Airbus A320 after plane has sudden altitude drop

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    Airlines around the world canceled and delayed flights heading into the weekend to fix software on a widely used commercial aircraft after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the altitude of a JetBlue plane last month.

    Airbus said Friday that an examination of the JetBlue incident revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls on the A320 family of aircraft.

    The FAA joined the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in requiring airlines to address the issue with a new software update. More than 500 U.S.-registered aircraft will be impacted.

    The EU safety agency said it may cause “short-term disruption” to flight schedules. The problem was introduced by a software update to the plane’s onboard computers, according to the agency.

    In Japan, All Nippon Airways, which operates more than 30 planes, canceled 65 domestic flights for Saturday. Additional cancellations on Sunday were possible, it said.

    The software change comes as U.S. passengers were beginning to head home from the Thanksgiving holiday, which is the busiest travel time in the country.

    American Airlines has about 480 planes from the A320 family, of which 209 are affected. The fix should take about two hours for many aircraft and updates should be completed for the overwhelming majority on Friday, the airline said. A handful will be finished Saturday.

    American expected some delays but it said it was focused on limiting cancellations. It said safety would be its overriding priority.

    Air India said via the social platform X that its engineers were working on the fix and completed the reset on more 40% of aircraft that need it. There were no cancellations, it said.

    Delta said it expected the issue to affect less than 50 of its A321neo aircraft. United said six planes in its fleet are affected and it expects minor disruptions to a few flights. Hawaiian Airlines said it was unaffected.

    Mike Stengel, a partner with the aerospace industry management consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory, said the fix could be addressed between flights or on overnight plane checks.

    “Definitely not ideal for this to be happening on a very ubiquitous aircraft on a busy holiday weekend,” Stengel said from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Although again the silver lining being that it only should take a few hours to update the software.”

    At least 15 JetBlue passengers were injured and taken to the hospital after the Oct. 30 incident on board the flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey. The plane was diverted to Tampa, Florida.

    Airbus, which is registered in the Netherlands but has its main headquarters in France, is one of the world’s biggest airplane manufacturers, alongside Boeing.

    The A320 is the primary competitor to Boeing’s 737, Stengel said. Airbus updated its engine in the mid-2010s, and planes in this category are called A320neo, he said.

    The A320 is the world’s bestselling single-aisle aircraft family, according to Airbus’ website.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Jennifer Kelleher in Honolulu contributed.

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  • ‘Redefining what ice cream can be’: Upcoming Hyattsville shop wants to put city on the culinary map – WTOP News

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    Unlike the commonplace flavors of vanilla and chocolate, Snow Crane — a new ice cream shop set to open in Hyattsville, Maryland — plans to take your taste buds on a trip.

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    Japan-influenced ice cream chef wants to put Hyattsville on the culinary map

    Unlike the commonplace flavors of vanilla and chocolate and longstanding toppings like rainbow sprinkles, Snow Crane — a new ice cream shop set to open in the spring in Hyattsville, Maryland — plans to take your taste buds on a trip.

    Founder Takeshi Nishikawa, who grew up in central Japan, concocts unique flavors using ingredients like kinako, or roasted soybean flour, and kuromitsu, a syrup made of unrefined black sugar.

    One flavor he’ll be featuring is a Japanese Mont Blanc-inspired ice cream that is processed through a noodle press in the same way the French pastry is.

    Nishikawa said each flavor tells a story, and the one he wants customers to understand when they try his ice cream is that the world is much more vast than we often think about.

    “I try to wrap Central Japan around my concept and really present it so every piece that I’m handling at least has some kind of a story,” he told WTOP.

    Nishikawa, 38, moved to the United States in the early 2000s, just two days before his middle school graduation.

    Both of his parents worked full time, so he and his sister grew up spending a lot of time with their grandmother. It was in her kitchen that Nishikawa said he found the passion for cooking.

    “I would just stand next to her and stir the pot,” he said. “That’s probably the earliest (memory) of cooking that I can remember.”

    Hyattsville as the next frontier

    When he was 18, Nishikawa trained at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, where he built the technical foundation for what would later become a successful career.

    Just over a decade later, he would work in Michelin-starred kitchens; as the executive chef of New Heights in Woodley Park; and later as the culinary director of Rose’s Group, which owns Rose’s Luxury and Little Pearl in Capitol Hill. 

    He made the decision to jump “full speed into Snow Crane” in January — a move he called daunting yet exciting.

    “For me, it’s all about learning and growth … what is the next stage?” he said.

    A kinako, or roasted soybean flour, flavored sundae with crunchy wafers and a gold chrysanthemum tuile on top.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Okinawan sweet potato-flavored ice cream with shredded and dried ube on top.
    Okinawan sweet potato-flavored ice cream with shredded and dried ube on top.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Genmaicha, green tea and puffed brown rice-flavored ice cream with gold leaf.
    Genmaicha, green tea and puffed brown rice-flavored ice cream with gold leaf.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Matcha ice cream sundae.
    Matcha ice cream sundae.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Japanese Mont Blanc-flavored ice cream is pushed through a noodle press.
    Japanese Mont Blanc-flavored ice cream is pushed through a noodle press.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Snow Crane founder Takeshi Nishikawa
    Snow Crane founder Takeshi Nishikawa pours liquid nitrogen into a pumpkin at the Pumpkin Boulevard event in October.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Snow Crane founder Takeshi Nishikawa
    Snow Crane founder Takeshi Nishikawa hosted an event at Logan Circle’s Rice Market.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Snow Crane exterior
    The Snow Crane shop will open in March 2026 at 5334-9 Baltimore Ave in Hyattsville, Maryland.
    (Courtesy Snow Crane)

    Courtesy Snow Crane

    Hyattsville, where Snow Crane is set to open in the spring, was an inconspicuous choice as the location of his first business venture, but Nishikawa swears the communal feeling and rapid growth of other nearby small businesses will draw customers in.

    “There’s a lot of vibrant small business … that are on fire,” he said. “We’re in the next front. And I do see Hyattsville or Prince George’s County becoming a next front as the Metro line extends, as all these food scenes are coming up.”

    He noted Vigilante Coffee, Franklins, Manifest Bread and 2fifty as businesses in the area that are “actually putting up incredible product, but happen to be small businesses.”

    “I think we’re just one catalyst short of becoming the next food destination, because D.C. is becoming really saturated,” he added.

    Redefining ice cream

    Now a father of two, Nishikawa has a dream that Snow Crane will be as much a household name as Ben & Jerry’s.

    “I’m not trying to turn this into a mom-and-pop small business,” he said. “The long-term goal for me is … supporting artists, be able to tell the story of Central Japan and who I am, as the chef. I do plan to expand more.”

    “The intention is to really turn Snow Crane into what people think of when they think of frozen dessert,” he said. “I think we are really redefining what ice cream is and can be.”

    The ice cream shop will open in March 2026 at 5334-9 Baltimore Ave.

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  • Nintendo’s secret to becoming a design powerhouse? Developers who have stayed at the company for decades | Fortune

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    Nintendo is home to some of the most beloved characters in the video game industry—Mario, Pikachu, Kirby, and many others. But inside the company itself is another cast of beloved characters—the army of developers that has stuck with Nintendo for most of their careers. 

    “It’s almost impossible for any developer who is now of working age to have grown up without at least some influence from Nintendo,” says Keza MacDonald, author of the forthcoming book Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play, based off years of reporting on the company as a games journalist. “It is still, to this day, making games differently from everyone else.”

    Indeed Nintendo has largely sidestepped the graphics arms race that has bedeviled both its hardware and software competitors, instead focusing on what Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi affectionately termed “withered technology”: Using well-established technology and focusing on making something fun instead. That strategy has also allowed Nintendo to avoid the high costs and constant retraining that are hamstringing its  competitors. 

    Courtesy of Penguin Random House

    The Japanese game developer embraced “the principle of finding a playful way to design things that aren’t necessarily at the cutting-edge,” explains MacDonald, who currently writes about gaming for The Guardian. “That’s been a part of Nintendo’s philosophy since before it was even making video games.”

    The Japanese company has what MacDonald deems a “slightly conservative” approach, ensuring that it maintains healthy profit margins and builds up large reserves of cash. “Nintendo always operates with an understanding that its next product might not be a hit,” she says. 

    Nintendo released the Switch 2, its latest video game console, earlier this year. While a few commentators griped that Nintendo’s latest version was just more powerful (and more expensive) than the last, gamers seem to have flocked to the new device. The company now expects to sell 19 million Switch 2 units by March 2026, the end of its fiscal year. The company reported 1.1 trillion Japanese yen ($7 billion) in revenue between March and September, more than double what it generated the same period a year ago. It also earned 199 billion yen ($1.3 billion) in profit, an 83% jump. Shares are up 46% for 2025 so far.

    Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a company making playing cards and eventually moved to making toys in the 1960s. It shifted to video games in the 1970s, and had its first hit with Donkey Kong, developed by Shigeru Miyamoto, who eventually designed beloved franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. 

    The game industry is known for its churn: Studios expand and contract according to changing demand. Around 10% of developers reported being laid off last year, and over 40% said they felt the effects of layoffs, according to a survey from the Game Developers Conference. “What that does is it robs companies of not just the knowledge, but also the security that helps people do their best work,” MacDonald says. 

    Nintendo, on the other hand, has sidestepped this boom and bust cycle. The company revealed earlier this year that its Japan-based employees had an average tenure of 15 years.

    “The people who first made Nintendo’s hits are still working at the company,” MacDonald says. “For the last 50 years, these people have been passing down knowledge and training up a new generation of Nintendo creatives.” 

    She adds that the company also rejects hierarchy when it comes to design. “It’s not like the oldest guy gets to decide what’s a good idea and what isn’t. Everyone puts ideas in.”

    Not all of Nintendo’s experiments work. Take the company’s Wii U console, released in 2012. Unlike its predecessor, the wildly successful Wii, the Wii U was a flop, selling barely 14 million units. Yet Nintendo took some of the design lessons from this failure and put them towards the Nintendo Switch—which, at 154 million units sold, is close to being the top-selling console of all time. 

    That’s just one of the things that MacDonald thinks that other companies—and not just those in the gaming industry—can learn from Nintendo. 

    “A failed idea is often a step towards the next hit you’re going to have.”

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    Nicholas Gordon

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  • Map shows how DC compares to world’s new largest city

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    The U.S. capital is tiny compared to many of the world’s largest cities, a new report on urbanization around the globe shows.

    Tokyo has lost its status as the world’s largest city, with another sprawling Asian capital, the Indonesian metropolis of Jakarta, knocking it off the top spot, according to a report from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

    This milestone marks the first time in decades that the Japanese capital has not been the most populous center on Earth, highlighting rapid urban growth in Asia and a changing landscape of megacities worldwide.

    According to the U.N. report, nine of the 10 most populous cities in the world are in Asia.

    Jakarta, with 41.9 million residents, is the largest. Dhaka, Bangladesh, follows with almost 36.5 million people. The Japanese capital, Tokyo, has fallen from the top spot to third, with 33.4 million people. The Indian capital, New Delhi, is fourth with just over 30.2 million people. 

    Urban U.S. 

    For the U.S., these findings offer important insights into future urbanization trends, infrastructure challenges and global economic shifts.

    As the rate of population growth in Asian cities outpaces that in the U.S., cities in the United States and the rest of the Americas are falling down the ranking of the world’s largest.

    The figures are also a reminder of just how small Washington, D.C., is in comparison with Asian metropolises. 

    The U.N. measures population within an urbanized area, often beyond a city’s administrative limits. It puts the population of Washington, D.C., at 3.27 million.

    The U.S. Census Bureau, basing its calculation on a smaller city area excluding urban sprawl, says there are just over 702,000 people in the capital.

    The biggest U.S. city is New York with 13.9 million people in 2025, according to the U.N. data, making it the 22nd biggest city in the world—down from 15th place in 2000. 

    Los Angeles has a population of 12.7 million, according to the U.N. calculations, making it the world’s 27th largest city—down from 17th in 2000.

    Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the biggest city in the Americas with a population of 18.9 million in 2025, making it the world’s 13th biggest city—down from 10th in 2000, according to the U.N. data.

    Mexico City is the second-biggest city in the Americas with 17.7 million people in 2025, making it the world’s 15th biggest city—down from the 8th largest in 2000, according to the U.N. data. 

    Buenos Aires, Argentina, ranks third in the Americas for population and 21st in the world with 14.2 million people, one spot ahead of New York. Its position is down from 16th in 2000.

    Chicago is the U.S.’s third-biggest city with 2.723 million people, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2024. Then comes Houston (2.39 million), Phoenix (1.67 million), Philadelphia (1.57 million), San Antonio (1.52 million), San Diego (1.4 million), Dallas (1.32 million) and Jacksonville (1 million).

    The other mega cities in the world’s top 10, according to U.N. data, are China’s Shanghai (29.5 million) and Guangzhou (27.5 million); Cairo, Egypt’s capital and the only non-Asian city in the top 10, with 25.5 million; the Philippine capital, Manila (24.7 million); India’s Kolkata (22.5 million); and the South Korean capital, Seoul (22.4 million).

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  • Japan Plans Extra Bond Issuance That May Fuel Fiscal Fears

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    TOKYO—Japan’s finance ministry plans to boost government bond issuance by $75 billion to fund an economic stimulus package, potentially stoking concerns about the nation’s fiscal health.

    Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet on Friday approved a draft supplementary budget for the fiscal year ending March 2026 that is worth 18.303 trillion yen, or about $117.10 billion. The government now plans to issue an additional 11.696 trillion yen of bonds, including increases in issuance of two- and five-year notes.

    Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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    Megumi Fujikawa

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  • China’s Top Paper Urges US to Rein in Japan Over Taiwan

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    BEIJING (Reuters) -China urged the U.S. on Thursday to rein in Japan and prevent any “actions to revive militarism” in an editorial published by the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, as a war of words with Tokyo grows over the Japanese prime minister’s remarks on Taiwan.

    The timing of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, followed by Trump’s call with Japan’s Sanae Takaichi the next day, prompted analysts to speculate that Beijing had asked Washington to step in to ease hostilities.

    The diplomatic furor erupted after Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo.

    “China and the United States share a common responsibility to jointly safeguard the post-war international order and oppose any attempts or actions to revive militarism,” the article said, highlighting how the two countries shared a common enemy during World War Two, Japan.

    “The communication between the Chinese and U.S. leaders has significant practical implications,” the editorial added, asserting that Takaichi’s comments have “raised concern and vigilance in the international community regarding Japan’s dangerous strategic moves.” 

    The commentary was published under the pen name “Zhong Sheng”, meaning “Voice of China”, which is often used to give the paper’s view on foreign policy issues.

    Trump told Takaichi to avoid further escalation with China during their call, two Japanese government sources told Reuters.

    Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, did not address whether Xi had asked Trump to intervene when asked during a regular news conference on Wednesday.

    People’s Daily said Trump had told Xi that the U.S. understood the importance of Taiwan to China. Trump made no mention of the democratically-governed island that Beijing regards as part of its territory in his Truth Social post following their conversation.

    Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Sunday that plans to deploy a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit at a military base on Yonaguni, an island about 110 km (68 miles) off Taiwan’s east coast were “steadily moving forward,” drawing sharp criticism from Beijing. 

    “China and the U.S. fought side by side against fascism and militarism, and should now work together to safeguard the victory of World War Two,” People’s Daily said.     

    (Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

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    Reuters

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  • Trump Urged Japan PM to Avoid Escalation in China Dispute, Sources Say

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    By Tamiyuki Kihara and Yukiko Toyoda

    TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to avoid further escalation in a dispute with China during a call this week, two Japanese government sources with knowledge of the matter said.

    Takaichi triggered the biggest diplomatic bust-up with Beijing in years when she told parliament earlier this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japanese military action.

    Trump’s call with Takaichi on November 25 followed a call between Trump and Xi Jinping, in which the Chinese leader said Taiwan’s “return to China” is a key part of Beijing’s vision for the world order, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

    China claims democratically ruled Taiwan and has not ruled out using force to take control of it. The island’s government rejects Beijing’s claim and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

    Trump’s call for Takaichi to lower the volume in the dispute was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

    “The United States’ relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally,” the White House said in a statement in response to Reuters’ questions.

    Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office referred questions to its earlier official readout of the call which said that the two leaders discussed U.S.-China relations, without elaborating.

    (Reporting by Tamiyuki Kihara and Yukiko Toyoda; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Lincoln Feast)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – Nov. 2025

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  • Exclusive | Trump, After Call With China’s Xi, Told Tokyo to Lower the Volume on Taiwan

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    Chinese leader Xi Jinping was angry, and President Trump was listening.

    Days after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi outraged China by suggesting a Chinese attack on Taiwan could mobilize a Tokyo military response, Xi spent half of an hourlong phone call with Trump, people briefed on the matter said, hammering home China’s historic claim to the democratic self-governing island as well as Washington and Beijing’s joint responsibility to manage the world order.

    Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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  • Japan Emerges as Potential Bitcoin Demand Giant After Rule Changes

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    Although Japan only has 20k–40k active BTC addresses daily, its huge household wealth could flow in via ETFs and regulated funds.

    Japan has officially finalized amendments to its crypto regulatory framework that have the potential to increase global Bitcoin demand.

    The reforms aim to clarify custodial liability, stimulate institutional participation, and position the country as a safe haven for digital assets.

    Reform Could Boost Bitcoin Demand

    According to crypto research and education institution XWIN Research Japan, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) has completed its 2025 Working Group on crypto-asset reform, outlining a redesign of the country’s rules. Central to this effort is the transition from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, which will provide stronger investor safeguarding.

    Notably, the country’s on-chain activity remains limited, with only 20,000 to 40,000 unique active Bitcoin addresses each day compared with a global range of 450,000 to 800,000. This means that it only contributes a small share to global on-chain demand.

    However, the report noted that this view is incomplete because Japan holds one of the largest pools of household wealth in the world, which, if allowed to participate through ETFs, regulated funds, or other institutional products, could see the country become a big source for new demand.

    “With increased credibility and easier access for large asset managers, Japan may ultimately exert measurable upward pressure on Bitcoin’s long-term supply-demand dynamics,” wrote the market watchers.

    Japan Tightens Crypto Rules

    The Asian economic powerhouse’s new regulatory approach focuses on protecting investors, recognizing that crypto has become a mainstream investment even as fraud, unregistered platforms, and information gaps continue to grow.

    The changes will introduce new measures, including clear disclosures, rules against unfair trading, explanations of issuer risks, stronger security, and closer supervision of business conduct. The FSA plans to take more action against unregistered overseas services and is considering creating a separate category for decentralized exchanges.

    You may also like:

    It is also preparing rules that would require local digital asset exchanges to keep liability reserves to safeguard users from hacks and other operational problems, according to Nikkei. The agency will submit the amendments to parliament in 2026 and is also expected to classify cryptocurrencies as securities under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

    If approved, crypto platforms would face bans on insider trading, stricter custody audits, and wider disclosure requirements, bringing crypto rules closer to those applied to traditional financial firms.

    These reforms are Japan’s first major step toward creating a transparent, secure, and institution-friendly crypto market. The announcement also comes weeks after reports that the FSA is considering allowing banks to hold and trade digital assets like Bitcoin.

    CryptoQuant predicts that the steps being taken could put positive pressure on Bitcoin’s long-term supply and demand.

    SPECIAL OFFER (Exclusive)

    SECRET PARTNERSHIP BONUS for CryptoPotato readers: Use this link to register and unlock $1,500 in exclusive BingX Exchange rewards (limited time offer).

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  • The world has a new largest city

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    Tokyo has lost its status as the world’s largest city, with another sprawling Asian metropolis, Indonesia’s vast capital, knocking it off the top spot. 

    Why It Matters

    This milestone marks the first time in decades that the Japanese capital has not been the most populous center on Earth, highlighting rapid urban growth in Asia and a changing landscape of megacities worldwide. 

    For the U.S., these findings offer important insights into future urbanization trends, infrastructure challenges, and global economic shifts.

    What To Know

    The United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report signals a significant change in global urban dynamics: Jakarta, Indonesia with 42 million residents, has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city. 

    Dhaka, Bangladesh, follows close behind with almost 40 million, while Tokyo’s population stands at 33 million, putting it in third place. 

    Cairo remains the only non-Asian city among the top 10. 

    According to the report, released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, urbanization has reshaped the global population landscape. 

    Cities now house 45 percent of the world’s 8.2 billion people, up from just 20 percent in 1950. 

    The study found a quadrupling in the number of megacities—urban areas with 10 million or more inhabitants—from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with 19 of those in Asia.

    The report points to significant growth for cities like Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Hajipur (India), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), all projected to surpass the 10 million threshold by 2050, when the number of megacities worldwide is expected to reach 37.

    While megacities draw most of the attention, small and medium-sized cities—defined as those with under 1 million residents—continue to outnumber and outpace megacities in population and growth, especially in Africa and Asia. 

    Of the 12,000 cities analyzed, 96 percent have fewer than 1 million inhabitants.

    What People Are Saying

    United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua said: “Urbanization is a defining force of our time. When managed inclusively and strategically, it can unlock transformative pathways for climate action, economic growth, and social equity.” He added, “To achieve balanced territorial development, countries must adopt integrated national policies that align housing, land use, mobility, and public services across urban and rural areas.”

    What Happens Next

    Globally, the number of cities is projected to exceed 15,000 by 2050, with most having populations below 250,000. 

    While rural communities continue to shrink except in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, small and medium-sized cities are expected to drive the next wave of global urbanization, spurring both opportunities and challenges in infrastructure, housing, and climate adaptation.

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  • China Warns It Will ‘Crush’ Foreign Efforts to Interfere Over Taiwan

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    BEIJING (Reuters) -China warned on Wednesday it would “crush” any foreign attempts to interfere over Taiwan, after Japan announced plans to deploy missiles on an island near democratically-governed Taiwan.

    “We have a firm will, strong determination and a strong ability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Peng Qingen, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press conference, in a response to a question on the planned deployment.

    “We will crush all foreign interference.”

    Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it. The island’s government rejects Beijing’s claim of sovereignty and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

    “Japan’s deployment of offensive weapons in areas adjacent to China’s Taiwan region is extremely dangerous, deliberately creating regional tensions and provoking military confrontation,” Peng said.

    (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)

    Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters.

    Photos You Should See – Nov. 2025

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