Showing 1 - 10 of 265
Wild possum shelters with plush toys in Australian airport shop
AFP, Published on 19/03/2026
» SYDNEY — A wild possum joined stuffed furry friends in an Australian airport gift shop this week, surprising travellers in an adorable case of hide and squeak.
Japan mulls abolishing face-to-face immigration checks amid tourism surge
Kyodo News, Published on 09/03/2026
» The Japanese government is moving to abolish with the need for most foreign tourists to meet face-to-face with immigration officers to enter the country as it seeks to streamline entry procedures amid the inbound tourism surge.
'Artists of steel': Japanese swords forge new fanbase
AFP, Published on 11/02/2026
» MISATO, SAITAMA (JAPAN) - Sparks illuminate the soot-covered studio of Japanese swordsmith Akihira Kawasaki as his apprentice hammers red-hot steel, showcasing a millennium-old craft now enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
Japan PM Takaichi basks in election triumph
AFP, Published on 09/02/2026
» TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was savouring an election triumph on Monday, with her ruling coalition projected to have won a two-thirds majority in the powerful lower house.
US confirms sweeping visa service suspensions
Reuters and AFP, Published on 15/01/2026
» WASHINGTON - The administration of US President Donald Trump is suspending processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries including Thailand, a State Department spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday, as part of Washington’s intensifying immigration crackdown.
French museum fare hikes for non-European tourists spark outcry
AFP, Published on 13/01/2026
» PARIS — Should foreign tourists pay more for state-funded galleries than locals, or should art be accessible to all, without discrimination? France is hiking prices for non-Europeans at the Louvre this week, provoking debate about so-called "dual pricing".
Louvre Museum closed as workers strike
AFP, Published on 15/12/2025
» PARIS (FRANCE) - The Louvre Museum closed its doors to thousands of disappointed visitors on Monday as staff launched a strike to protest working conditions at the Paris landmark, two months after a shocking robbery.
US seeks to expand social media checks for visa approval
Bloomberg News, Published on 10/12/2025
» The United States is proposing that foreign visitors provide their social media history over the last five years to enter the country, including those from Australia, Germany, Japan and the UK who can now enter without a visa.
YouTube superstar MrBeast opens pop-up park in Saudi Arabia
AFP, Published on 14/11/2025
» RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) - MrBeast, the world's most followed YouTuber with over 450 million subscribers, opened a temporary amusement park in Riyadh on Thursday, the latest celebrity drawn to Saudi Arabia as it aspires to become a major entertainment hub.
Xi primed to meet Japan, Canada leaders after Trump summit
AFP, Published on 31/10/2025
» GYEONGJU — Chinese leader Xi Jinping was expected to meet Canada and Japan's new prime ministers for the first time on Friday, a day after agreeing to a trade war ceasefire with US President Donald Trump.