The dark side of Japanese fashion made in Bangladesh

While it's not clear if any Japanese firm had interests in factories operating in the building that collapsed in Dhaka last month, it is natural to infer that there are Japanese companies in Bangladesh taking advantage of lower wages and less stringent safety regulations.

Science & Health

Scientists elated ALMA in full swing

by Atsuko Kawaguchi

Japanese astronomers are in high spirits now that the state-of-the-art ALMA radio telescope, built under a multinational project in the Andean highlands, has commenced full operations to explore deep cosmic mysteries.

Asia Pacific

Artists vie for global exposure

Having taken five Volkswagen Beetles and compressed them into spheres, artist Ichwan Noor was always going to grab attention at the inaugural Hong Kong Art Basel.

National

Politics

Hashimoto to retract sex suggestion for U.S. military

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto aims to retract his remark that U.S. servicemen in Okinawa should use the local adult entertainment industry to avoid committing sex crimes.

World

Toronto mayor: 'I do not use crack cocaine'

Breaking a week of silence, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denied Friday that he smokes crack cocaine and said he is not an addict after a video purported to show him using the drug surfaced. The mayor of Canada’s largest city did not say whether ...

Business

Economy

Japan to join TPP talks at next round in July

The 11 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership have agreed to hold the next round of free-trade talks in Kuala Lumpur from July 15 to 25, extending the meeting to include Japan as the 12th member. The United States and the 10 other member ...

Asia Pacific

Bollywood hopes Cannes will can the 'B-word'

Indian cinema is being feted in Cannes on its 100th birthday, but amid the celebrations, the “B-word” — Bollywood — remains controversial. The French film festival has rolled out the red carpet for Indian cinema this year, with events including a gala dinner and ...

Reference

Reference | FYI

Fukushima No. 1 can't keep its head above tainted water

by Reiji Yoshida

More than two years into the triple-meltdown crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, workers continue to wage a desperate battle to keep the stricken reactors cool while trying to contain the 400 tons of radioactive water produced by the process each day.