Thailand orders bureaucrats to use stairs and work from home in energy saving drive
WorldThai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered civil servants to conserve energy amid an energy squeeze brought on by the conflict in the Middle East, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday, with measures including suspending overseas trips and using stairs instead of elevators.
South Korea finds faulty approvals at airport where Jeju Air plane crashed
WorldSEOUL -- South Korea's transport ministry cut construction costs and approved improper airport safety structures for more than two decades, the state auditor said in a report on aviation safety management after a Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people.
Rupee slips, lags most Asian peers in conjunction with local stocks
WorldMUMBAI - The Indian rupee and stocks were regional laggards on Wednesday, with hedging and foreign portfolio flows weighing on the currency even as a retreat in oil prices eased investor nerves about the ongoing Iran conflict.
Seoul to toughen security for massive BTS comeback concert
WorldSEOUL -- A free comeback concert for boy band BTS in central Seoul next week is expected to draw up to 260,000 people, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Wednesday, making it one of the largest public gatherings in the area since the 2002 World Cup.
Meta to charge advertisers a fee to offset Europe's digital taxes
WorldMeta Platforms will charge advertisers a location fee ranging from 2% to 5% to cover digital service taxes imposed by some countries, the U.S. tech giant said in a post on its website, following in the footsteps of Alphabet's Google and Amazon.
At least 6 people die in bus fire in Switzerland, local police say
WorldGENEVA -- At least six people died in a bus fire on Tuesday in a small town in western Switzerland, prompting the police to launch a criminal investigation.
Punch the Japanese snow monkey captures hearts while kin face culls
WorldAZUMINO, Japan -- Punch the baby snow monkey and his stuffed orangutan have captured hearts around the world, spawned memes and even won over the White House with their charm.
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.
