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Just 17% of Japan citizens hold passport, data shows
Just 17% of Japan citizens hold passport, data shows
by  AFP

Only around one in six Japanese citizens hold valid passports, fresh data has shown, with the number of residents travelling abroad slowly recovering but still below pre-pandemic levels. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, about a quarter of Japanese people owned valid passports.

Most Asian markets rise as traders pick over week of headlines
Most Asian markets rise as traders pick over week of headlines
by  AFP

Asian markets mostly rose Friday after a negative day on Wall Street as investors weigh the economic outlook in light of Donald Trump's tariffs drive and geopolitical machinations. Disappointing earnings from retail titan Walmart sparked worries about US consumer activity and the impact on the world's top economy, and weighed on Wall Street with all three main indexes ending in negative territory.

Japan's core inflation rate hits 3.2% in January
Japan's core inflation rate hits 3.2% in January
by  AFP

Japanese inflation accelerated in January, further pressuring households as prices excluding fresh food rose 3.2 percent on-year, government data showed Friday. Overall, inflation including volatile fresh food prices was up 4.0 percent on-year, speeding up from 3.6 percent in December and 2.9 percent in November.

Spotify adds more AI-generated audiobooks
Spotify adds more AI-generated audiobooks
by  AFP

Spotify on Thursday began accepting audiobooks narrated by digital voices created by artificial intelligence software firm ElevenLabs, pitching it as a cost-effective option for authors. "We're excited to begin accepting audiobooks from ElevenLabs, an AI software company that provides easy-to-use, high-quality voice narration technology," Spotify said in a blog post Thursday.

Netflix says to spend $1 billion producing content in Mexico
Netflix says to spend $1 billion producing content in Mexico
by  AFP

Netflix said Thursday that it would spend $1 billion over four years producing films and series in Mexico, in a boost to the government's efforts to attract investment in the face of US tariff threats. It's why all of our series and all of our films that we make in Mexico, we make in partnership with local production companies.

Unfair? Figures belie Trump's claims on EU trade balance
Unfair? Figures belie Trump's claims on EU trade balance
by  AFP

President Donald Trump repeatedly claims that US-EU trade ties are unfair and that Europe is abusing the United States as justification for threatening tariffs. - US services surplus When Trump criticises the European Union's trade surplus with the United States, he is only referring to trade in goods.

EU trade chief says tariff reciprocity 'must work for both' bloc and US
EU trade chief says tariff reciprocity 'must work for both' bloc and US
by  AFP

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Thursday that reciprocity in tariffs should apply to both the bloc and Washington, after talks with his counterparts in US President Donald Trump's administration. During Sefcovic's three-day Washington visit for talks with US officials and business leaders, he pushed back against Trump's claim of unfairness in US-EU trade ties.

Walmart sales rise but shares tumble on forecast
Walmart sales rise but shares tumble on forecast
by  AFP

Walmart reported solid fourth-quarter results Thursday behind higher US sales, but shares tumbled after its quarterly and annual projections missed estimates. Shares of the retail behemoth fell around eight percent in pre-market trading after the company projected annual profits of between $2.50 and $2.60 a share in fiscal 2026, below the $2.77 expected by analysts.