World's 1st autonomous passenger ship to start service in Japan
WorldOKAYAMA -- Japan's Nippon Foundation said Wednesday that a regular passenger ferry using autonomous navigation technology will begin commercial operations by the end of next March at the earliest.
Japan to mandate steps against customer abuse in October 2026
WorldTOKYO -- Japan's labor ministry has decided to enforce on October 1, 2026, a revised law obliging companies to prepare measures against customers' harassment of their employees through abusive behavior.
Japan eyes raising departure tax to 3,000 yen
WorldTOKYO -- The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering increasing the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen starting in fiscal 2026, informed sources said Wednesday.
Thailand and Cambodia keep fighting across contested border ahead of expected Trump calls
WorldBANGKOK/PHNOM PENH -- Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered its fourth day on Thursday as both sides waited for a promised telephone call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he believes he can again end the conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations.
Seattle World Cup organizers say Pride events will go ahead outside Egypt-Iran match
WorldWorld Cup organizers in Seattle on Wednesday said their Pride events would go ahead as planned outside a June match in the city between Egypt and Iran despite objections from sports officials in the two countries where homosexuality is criminalized.
Earliest evidence of humans making fire discovered in UK
WorldPARIS, France -- Excited scientists announced Wednesday they have discovered evidence in the UK of humans deliberately making fire 400,000 years ago, dramatically pushing back the timeline for when our ancient relatives are known to have mastered this crucial skill.
Trial of Chinese crime gangs in Italian fashion stalls amid sabotage fears
WorldPRATO, Italy - A landmark trial in Italy of Chinese crime gangs has suffered so many mishaps - from the disappearance of documents to the resignation of interpreters - that a senior prosecutor suspects it's being sabotaged to protect the criminals' grip on Europe's fashion industry.
Japanese ivory trade attracts fresh global scrutiny
WorldAt his store in Tokyo's ritzy Ginza district, Hajime Sasaki displays a disparate array of wares, from chopsticks to Buddha statues -- including many made of ivory.
US plans to order foreign tourists to disclose social media histories
WorldWASHINGTON -- The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to order visa-exempt foreign tourists to disclose their social media histories from the last five years before entering the country, according to an official notice.
How Japan’s railway innovation went global - The shared future of Asia and Japan
WorldA four-legged, dog-like robot moves nimbly around and inside railcars on the production line. Equipped with high-sensitivity sensors, this “digital watchdog” inspects railcar surfaces for irregularities and defects, taking over duties previously performed by human workers. The scene unfolds at Hitachi Rail’s railcar manufacturing facility in Maryland, on the East Coast of the United States, which began full-scale operations on September 8.
