Japan

Viral Japanese macaque Punch again at risk after visitor shines laser at him

Ichikawa Zoo in Japan said a visitor shined a laser at Punch, the viral Japanese macaque, prompting a warning and tighter security. The zoo said the monkey was not hurt, but stres…

Why Curaçao’s celebrated World Cup shirt may never be worn

Curaçao’s yellow away shirt has been widely praised ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but FIFA rules may keep it off the pitch. Because Curaçao’s group opponents do not clash with its…

Israel Will Pay the Most in the World for GTA 6

Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders opened Wednesday, revealing Israel’s prices as the highest in the world, at 319 shekels for the standard edition and 399 shekels for the special editi…

Japanese Fans Clean Up, and Two Israeli Players Draw Praise in Japan

Two Japanese sports journalists explained why Japan’s fans and players clean stadiums and dressing rooms after matches. They also praised Israeli players Neta Lavi and Dean David…

Ayase Ueda's rise from quiet schoolboy to Japan's World Cup scoring star

Ayase Ueda scored twice and set up another goal in Japan’s 4-0 win over Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old Feyenoord striker, who led the Dutch league in scoring, is n…

Sam Altman Moves Advertising Into ChatGPT

OpenAI has begun a closed ad pilot inside ChatGPT in several countries, including work with Dentsu Israel and brands such as Nice and GlassesUSA. The company is targeting free and…

Israel’s World Cup Problem Is Not Asia, It Is Its Own Football Culture

A Hebrew opinion piece argues Israel should stop blaming Asia for its World Cup absence. It says Asian football has improved greatly, and Israel’s real problem is its own lack of…

Enlight Raises $2.6 Billion to Build Major Arizona Solar and Storage Project

Enlight said it has raised $2.6 billion to build the CO Bar solar and storage complex in Arizona. The project will have 1.2 gigawatts of generation and 4 gigawatt-hours of storage…

World Cup Day 15: Curaçao Chases History, Japan Faces Sweden in a Direct Clash

Day 15 of the 2026 World Cup features decisive group matches that will send more teams into the round of 32. Curaçao can make history with its first-ever win, Japan and Sweden mee…

Five Pancake Recipes for the Weekend, from One-Pan to Japanese Souffle

The article rounds up five pancake recipes for the weekend, from a one-pan Dutch baby to a Japanese souffle pancake. It highlights vegan, chocolate, and cake-style versions, with…

Pulsenmore Soars on U.S. Telehealth Deal After Years of Share Slump

Pulsenmore surged after announcing a strategic U.S. partnership with Ouma Health, sending its Tel Aviv and Nasdaq shares sharply higher before a Thursday pullback. The deal integr…

Micron Posts Blowout Results, Fueling a Fresh Rally in AI Chip Stocks

Micron reported a major earnings beat for fiscal Q3 2026 and issued stronger-than-expected guidance, sending its shares and chip stocks higher. The company said AI-driven demand f…

Micron Sparks Wall Street Futures Rally as Asian Stocks Surge

Micron’s strong earnings lifted US futures and helped drive gains in Asia, where the Kospi led the advance. At the same time, oil fell sharply, Treasury yields dropped, and most t…

Brazil cruise past Scotland as Vinícius stars and Neymar returns

Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 to finish first in Group C and advance to the knockout stage. Vinícius Júnior scored twice, Neymar returned for his first Brazil minutes since 2023, and B…

Two Major Quakes Hit Venezuela, Raising Fears of Massive Casualties

Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, followed by 20 aftershocks and widespread damage in Caracas. The US Geological Survey warned…

Hong Kong opens a robot-run convenience store with no human staff

Hong Kong is opening a 24-hour convenience store on the Hung Hom waterfront run entirely by a humanoid robot named Xiao Gai. Developers say the pilot will test whether AI can hand…

Brazil Tops Group C, Morocco Advances After Thrilling Final Round

Brazil defeated Scotland 3-0 to finish first in World Cup 2026 Group C, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice and Matheus Cunha adding one. Morocco beat Haiti 3-2, finished second, a…

6.9 Earthquake Felt Off Japan's East Coast, No Tsunami Alert

A 6.9 earthquake was felt near Japan's east coast after a separate 7.1 quake struck Venezuela. Authorities said there is no tsunami threat in Japan.

FDA-Cleared Home Ultrasound Device Paves Plasanmor’s Entry Into the U.S. Market

Plasanmor said it signed a U.S. partnership with Ouma Health to use its FDA-cleared home ultrasound device in pregnancy care across all 50 states. The announcement sent the Israel…

Netherlands Aim to Top Group as Germany Rotates for Decisive World Cup Round

The Netherlands can clinch first place in their group by beating Tunisia, while Germany have already won their group and may rotate heavily against Ecuador. The United States face…

After 18 Months and 98 Hearings, Netanyahu Finishes Testifying in His Trial

Benjamin Netanyahu finished testifying Wednesday in his Tel Aviv District Court trial after 18 months and 98 hearings. The hearing was marked by sharp clashes between the defense…

Globrands Loses JTI Distribution Rights After 25 Years

Globrands has lost its distribution rights for JTI’s Camel and Winston cigarettes after about 25 years. The company expects a 35 million shekel hit to annual net profit, while its…

IAEA chief says inspections in Iran will happen despite Tehran dispute

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said inspections in Iran will happen, despite Tehran’s denial that it has agreed to restore access. His comments followed US Vice President JD Vance’s cla…

Five Things to Know Before the Tel Aviv Market Opens

Tel Aviv shares are set to open mixed after a volatile global selloff, with Asian markets and U.S. futures recovering. Investors are watching correction-mode local stocks, stronge…

How AI Could Reshape Dating, Without Replacing Human Connection

The article examines how AI is beginning to reshape dating, from matchmaking and chat assistance to emotionally attached companion apps. Experts say the biggest change will be in…

FedEx Slides, Alphabet Joins the Dow as Asian Markets and Oil Turn Mixed

FedEx fell after investors focused on weaker margins despite solid quarterly results. Alphabet will enter the Dow Jones Industrial Average on June 29, replacing Verizon, while Asi…

Israel's defense exports hit a record as Asia-Pacific becomes the fastest-growing market

Israel’s defense exports hit about $19.2 billion in 2025, led by fast growth in Asia-Pacific. India remains the top customer, but Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and Australia are eme…

Brian Brobbey emerges as the striker Holland has been missing

The Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1 at the 2026 World Cup, with Brian Brobbey scoring twice in 17 minutes. The 24-year-old Sunderland striker’s career path has taken him from Ajax to…

Japanese Fried Chicken Restaurant Draws Attention for 66-Year Oil Tradition

Wakatori, an award-winning fried chicken restaurant in Japan, said it has preserved a base of frying oil since 1960. The claim sparked outrage online, while food experts warned th…

Trump’s Iran Policy Has Shifted, Except on Nuclear Issues

Bloomberg says Iran is already trying to restore oil sales to Asia after the U.S. granted a 60-day sanctions waiver. A Wall Street Journal analysis says Trump has softened most of…

How to Tell Real Wagyu From Marketing in Israel

Daniel Blilati says many meats sold in Israel as “wagyu” are not authentic Japanese wagyu. He explains what real wagyu is, why imports are rare, and which cuts can deliver a simil…

Why Japan Has Become a Favorite Destination for Israelis

Japan has become one of the most attractive destinations for Israelis, driven by its cleanliness, safety, precision and advanced transport. The article highlights Tokyo, Kyoto and…

A Hidden Ginza Basement Bar Serves Espresso, Chicken Soup, and Cheap Drinks

1954 Ginza is a small basement bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district that combines attentive service, single malts, and inexpensive drinks. The writer highlights a Hokkaido gin and tonic…

OpenAI unveils GPT-5.5-Cyber, a security model built to find and fix flaws

OpenAI launched GPT-5.5-Cyber, a security-focused model it says can detect and fix vulnerabilities faster than human teams. It claimed benchmark leadership over Anthropic’s Mythos…

Asian Markets Slide as Nasdaq Futures Drop 2%

Asian markets fell sharply after a weak US technology-led session, with Nasdaq futures down about 2% and Seoul’s Kospi plunging more than 9%. SpaceX, Alphabet, and other major tec…

Mixed Trading Across Asia as Oil Rebounds on Iran and Fed Concerns

Asian markets were mostly lower Tuesday as investors watched Federal Reserve policy expectations and the easing of U.S.-Iran tensions. Brent crude rose to $78.03 after a sharp dro…

Traveling Abroad? Common Medicines That Can Trigger Customs Problems

Israeli travelers are warned that common prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause trouble at foreign borders. The article lists restricted ingredients, names countrie…

Anduril Eyes Israel Expansion and Taps Ex-Air Force Chief for Local Run

Anduril is seeking to establish a factory and broader operations in Israel, and founder Palmer Luckey wants ex-Air Force chief Amikam Norkin to lead the local unit. The company is…

Noa Kirel Says Honeymoon Health Scare Was Not Pregnancy Related

Noa Kirel said a honeymoon medical emergency in Japan was not pregnancy related and that she has recovered after treatment in Israel. She also discussed her marriage, family plans…

Mixed Asian Trading as Tokyo Hits Record High

Asian markets were mixed as Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 hit a record above 72,000 and U.S. futures fell before key inflation data. The report also highlighted drops in oil, gold, and bitco…

Markets Open Weaker as Iran Talks, Fed Policy and Oil Drive Sentiment

Global Business Bankruptcies Surge as Energy Costs and Credit Tighten

Coface says global business bankruptcies rose 12% in early 2026 and are likely to keep climbing. It points to energy shocks linked to the Iran crisis, tighter credit and higher wa…

Noa Kirel Says Daniel Peretz Has Become More Religious

Noa Kirel said her husband Daniel Peretz has become more religious, prays with tefillin daily, and the couple keeps Friday-night kiddush in England. She also discussed her recent…

Tokyo marks Israel’s Independence Day with farewell for ambassador Gilad Cohen

Israel’s 78th Independence Day reception in Tokyo doubled as a farewell for Ambassador Gilad Cohen after five years in Japan. The event drew about 300 guests, featured praise for…

Should Spain Worry? What a Flat World Cup Debut Really Means

Spain’s 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in its World Cup opener sparked panic and criticism, but the article argues that one poor start does not define a tournament. Historical data and…

Israel ends Mongolia Grand Slam with one bronze as Hershko exits in the quarterfinals

Israel ended the Mongolia Judo Grand Slam with one bronze medal, won by Yitzhak Ashpiz in under-60 kg. Raz Hershko was disqualified in the over-78 kg quarterfinals for a dangerous…

Veteran car importer says Israelis are hooked on cars

Veteran importer Tzvi Neta says Israelis remain deeply attached to cars, even during war, as Misgar Tnuah leans on Suzuki and Changan for growth. He discussed the collapse in elec…

World Cup Highlights: Germany Struggles, Japan Celebrates, Curaçao Makes History

A World Cup highlights roundup notes Germany’s hard-fought win, Japan’s celebration, and Curaçao’s historic point. It also points readers to video summaries of the Netherlands’ 5-…