Japan to raise foreigners' residency-linked fees up to 30 times
WorldTOKYO -- Japan's cabinet on Tuesday adopted a bill to raise the ceiling on fees for foreigners' applications related to residence status by up to 30-fold and create a prearrival electronic travel authorization system.
Japan aims to eliminate areas lacking transportation
WorldTOKYO -- The Japanese government adopted at a cabinet meeting Tuesday a bill designed to eliminate areas underserved by transportation services such as buses and taxis.
Lego bets on Pokemon, interactive bricks as conflict threatens higher costs
WorldCOPENHAGEN -- Lego is bracing for higher energy and raw material costs as oil and gas prices rise amid conflict in the Middle East, its chief executive said, as the Danish toymaker looks to spur growth with interactive "smart bricks" and Pokemon tie-ups.
No sign of sabotage in Finland-Sweden power outage, operator says
WorldCOPENHAGEN - An undersea power cable linking Finland and Sweden suffered an unexpected outage on Tuesday due to a technical fault, but there were no indications of sabotage, operators Fingrid and Svenska kraftnat said on Tuesday.
Search called off after Indonesia landfill collapse kills 7
WorldIndonesian rescuers have called off the search for victims of a landslide at the country's largest open landfill after pulling seven bodies out from under debris, an official said Tuesday.
European freight truck makers brace for wave of low-cost Chinese rivals
WorldANTWERP/SODERTALJE, Sweden - Chinese electric freight trucks are rolling into Europe at pace this year, following the trail blazed by Chinese EVs and threatening to upend the market with better technology and lower prices.
Former Fukushima worker devotes life to abandoned pets
WorldNot far from the Fukushima nuclear disaster site, former plant worker Toru Akama tends to dozens of pets abandoned after the catastrophe 15 years ago, work he sees as part of his quest for redemption.
IEA called for emergency oil stock release at G7 meeting, Japan says
WorldTOKYO - The International Energy Agency (IEA) called for a coordinated release of emergency oil reserves during an online meeting with Group of Seven finance ministers on Monday, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama told a briefing.
How much oil do G7 countries hold in emergency reserves?
WorldPARIS -- The Group of Seven countries are considering releasing emergency oil stocks to address the Middle Eastern supply crisis, the International Energy Agency said on Monday, as oil prices surged to as high as almost $120 per barrel.
Mitsubishi chemical cuts ethylene production
WorldTOKYO -- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. has reduced output of ethylene, a material for plastics and other industrial products, to avoid a production halt due to possible supply shortages of raw materials from the Middle East, company officials said on Monday.
