Foreign visitors to Japan hit record high for March
WorldTOKYO -- The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in March rose 3.5 pct from a year earlier to 3,618,900, marking a record high for the month, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.
Ex-teacher who founded child porn sharing group gets 30 months
WorldNAGOYA -- A Japanese district court sentenced a 42-year-old former elementary school teacher in the central prefecture of Aichi to 30 months in prison on Thursday for sharing child pornography through a social media group chat he created.
Can Japan stop national stadium from becoming white elephant?
WorldTOKYO -- More than four years after the Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2021, efforts are underway to rescue the new Japan National Stadium from its potential fate of becoming a white elephant.
US government shutdown has slowed World Cup security planning, homeland security official says
WorldThe U.S. government has released all funds allocated for security at the soccer World Cup, but the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has affected planning and coordination, a department official told a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
S&P Global downgrades ASX after Australian regulator finds governance, risk failures
WorldS&P Global Ratings on Thursday lowered its issuer credit rating for the Australian Securities Exchange to "A+/A-1" from "AA-/A-1+", two weeks after a local regulator flagged governance and risk management failures at the stock exchange operator.
Brazilian payments firm Ebanx makes Southeast Asia push
WorldSAO PAULO -- Brazilian cross-border payments company Ebanx said it is expanding global operations, with a focus on Southeast Asia, strengthening its footprint outside Latin America.
Foreign investors flee Thailand as Iran conflict, energy shock dash hope for economic revival
WorldSINGAPORE - Foreign investors are selling Thai assets as an energy shock from the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran threatens to snuff out hopes for an economic revival under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and exposes the policy paralysis that is gripping Bangkok.
Geneva watch fair set to show conflict's effect on luxury sector
WorldGENEVA -- The Geneva watch fair, the watchmaking industry's biggest annual showcase, opened Tuesday with the impact of the Middle East conflict throwing up challenges for the luxury goods sector.
EU age verification app ready as Europe moves to curb children's social media access
WorldBRUSSELS - The EU's age verification app for online platforms is ready and will soon be available to use, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, as member states push ahead with plans to limit children's access to social media.
Global carbon markets hit record $79 bln revenue in 2025, ICAP says
WorldLONDON -- Global emissions trading systems (ETS) generated a record $79 billion in revenues in 2025, the International Carbon Action Partnership said on Tuesday in its annual Emissions Trading Worldwide Status Report.
