JAPAN

The Bank of Japan stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy Friday, though officials face increasing pressure to turn more hawkish as the yen weakens and after fresh data showed inflation remained stubbornly high.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday he was willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking a diplomatic path as tensions soar over Pyongyang's weapons programs.

The mission is called the "moon sniper" because it aims at landing within 100 meters (roughly 330 feet) of its target on the lunar surface. If successful, this could be a game-changer because it is far less than the conventional range of several kilometers.

Toyota said Tuesday it halted operations at 12 of its 14 factories in Japan due to a system glitch, but that it did not appear to be a cyberattack. The news sent Toyota's stocks into the red, trading 0.64 percent lower at 2,421.0 yen.

Japan's shot for the moon comes after India's Chandrayaan-3 mission saw a successful soft landing on the moon last week.

"Now is the time to show courage and make the decision to break free from dependence on nuclear deterrence. As long as states are dependent on nuclear deterrence, we cannot realize a world without nuclear weapons," said Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki.

Should Japan proceed with this initiative, it will align with the U.S. military's ongoing exploration of incorporating standoff attack capabilities into its existing transport aircraft repertoire.

Co-hosts Australia have to beat Canada on Monday or risk an unthinkable exit from the Women's World Cup in the first round, while former champions Japan take on Spain with top spot in their group on the line.

New Delhi has big ambitions in chip manufacturing and hopes to attract big players in the sector to set up shops in India to boost the country's own manufacturing capabilities, but the country's present share in the global semiconductor supply chain is negligible.

England squeezed past Haiti 1-0 as they began their Women's World Cup title bid in unconvincing fashion on Saturday, but holders the United States and former champions Japan were far more comfortable.

"While its absolute score has in fact risen over the last decade, the U.S. has been steadily overtaken by rivals such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore," said Greg Lindsay, leading global strategist and urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech's Jacobs Institute.

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un lashed out against the U.S. for condemning their country's latest nuclear missile test.

China and Russia are set to mark a new era of enhanced cooperation as the two countries are scheduled to conduct joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan.

North Korea is close to perfecting its strongest nuclear weapon yet, as analysts believe the Hwasong-18 nuclear missile is capable of reaching the U.S.

"Through our series of studies, we have found that augmenting the body has a significant impact on the mind," said Masahiko Inami, a professor at the University of Tokyo who is leading the team of researchers.

"I am considering it very carefully. I think Japan could be a very attractive market for Circle," Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said in an interview.

Suganuma is often referred to as a "hidden village" as it has no tourist accommodations.

A nonprofit organization is leading the race to build underground bunkers in Japan as the country faces nuclear threats from neighboring countries.

Singapore surpassed Japan, which had the most powerful passport till February 2023, with the most visa-free/visa-on-arrival score at 194 out of 227 global destinations.

U.S., Greek and Japanese equities have lead the way to a recent rebound in global markets.

The coast guard of the United States, Japan and the Philippines will hold trilateral maritime exercise in the South China Sea this week, the first such manoeuvres between them as a time of growing concern about China's moves in the region.