TOKYO -- Horse racing in Japan has quietly reinvented itself. During the pandemic, when much of the entertainment world shut down, thoroughbred races went ahead. By taking bets online, racing captured the attention of people stuck at home. Not only that, but these new fans are younger than their pre-COVID brethren and have more women among their ranks.
New leader of India's Tamil Nadu shows Sri Lanka's ethnic divide
BANGKOK/NEW DELHI -- Sri Lanka's political leaders from across the country's ethnic divide have revealed contrasting expectations as C. Joseph Vijay, a film star-turned-politician in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, became the state's chief minister last week, after his neophyte party won a landmark election earlier this month.
Foreign tourists get a grip on sumo beyond ringside
TOKYO -- Japan's booming overseas tourism market is fueling demand for sumo attractions, as foreign visitors unable to secure tickets to official tournaments turn to immersive experiences that offer a taste of the sport's rituals, techniques and cuisine.
Brief US-China calm masks simmering anger and distrust
TOKYO -- Japan and other U.S. allies, long wary of U.S. President Donald Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy, were uneasy as they watched his three-day visit to China, which yielded few tangible results.
Trekking the wild Himalayas on the Manaslu Circuit
KATHMANDU, Nepal -- A rugged mountain trail that climbs from deep river gorges into lush jungle, the Manaslu Circuit Trek in northern Nepal offers a glimpse of a remote corner of the country in which -- for the moment -- life still follows the ancient ways.
Cricket diplomacy is helping India and Pakistan play on a sticky wicket
Salman Rafi Sh eikh is an assistant professor of politics at the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Lahore University of Management Sciences.
Japan's SBI, Rakuten to sell crypto investment trusts developed in-house
TOKYO -- SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities plan to begin selling cryptocurrency investment trusts, while Nomura Securities and other major players are considering entering the field after the regulatory framework is established.
Japan firms on track for record profits despite Iran headwinds
TOKYO -- Listed companies in Japan expect record high profits for a sixth straight year, with semiconductor makers benefiting from demand for artificial intelligence and banks buoyed by higher interest rates.
Japan to bolster sea lane defense with Southeast Asia info-sharing plan
TOKYO -- The Japanese government will begin sharing information with Southeast Asian nations on maritime vessel monitoring, part of an effort to encourage them to adopt maritime domain awareness (MDA) services provided by Japanese companies.
China says Xi and Trump agreed to spur trade by lowering some tariffs
SHANGHAI/NEW YORK -- China on Saturday said it has agreed with the U.S. to expand agricultural trade, set up boards of trade and investment, and purchase American airplanes, but offered few details on the deals reached during the two-day summit between the countries' leaders.