Japan is considering withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial whaling next year, government sources said on Thursday. The move would spark criticism from Australia and other anti-whaling nations over whale conservations.
A group of “visiting deity” folk rituals were added on Thursday to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. In the festivals, people in rural communities wearing masks or costumes visit homes to drive away evil spirits at the end of the year or when seasons change.
Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn was arrested on Monday on suspicion of falsifying securities reports. The automaker said an internal investigation found that he had understated his compensation and misused company assets for many years.
China’s state-run news agency on Wednesday unveiled the world’s first artificial intelligence news anchors to deliver the news 24 hours a day. The robots are designed to simulate the voice, facial expressions, and gestures of real-life broadcasters.
The Democratic Party took control of the House of Representatives while the Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate in US midterm elections on Tuesday, which were seen as the first referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency since he was elected in 2016.
Freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who was released after being held captive in Syria for more than three years, returned to Japan on Thursday. Speaking to the media aboard a flight, he described the years in captivity as “hell”.
