US: In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth has spent more than a decade portraying Thor, the god of thunder who wears a flowing blond mane. Hemsworth reminisced about his love for the part in an Instagram video retrospective, and his Marvel teammates applauded him for bringing humor and complexity to the character. “I have adored every single time I’ve …

JAKARTA: Investigators are looking into potential irregularities in the procurement of Bombardier and ATR planes, Indonesia‘s attorney general said on Monday (June 27), in agreements the state auditor said resulted in US$600 million losses. From 2005 to 2014, Emirsyah Satar served as the flag-CEO, carrier’s and he was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2020 for bribery and money …

TAIPEI: The economy ministry announced on Monday that Taiwan will hike power costs by an average of 8.4% on July 1 (Friday), in response to rising global energy prices, including a 15% rise for major industrial customers. However, following a review of power pricing, the ministry stated that costs will not rise for 97 percent of homes. The government has …

BEIJING: Since the weekend, heavy rains have pounded more than ten cities in Shandong Province, flooding streets, delaying traffic, and reigniting requests for better drainage in built-up regions where concrete and asphalt retain water. A video posted to the social networking site Weibo showed automobiles in the northeastern province of China trapped in waist-deep water as the weather bureau issued …

NEW YORK: Abortion coverage will be provided by a number of significant US corporations, with a few also criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn government protection for abortions. However, this is a contentious topic that requires businesses to navigate a complex political landscape while also risking legal repercussions. This verdict by the Supreme Court of the United States puts …

YOKOHAMA: As the sweltering summer heat continues to hammer Tokyo, the Japanese government issued a warning on Sunday (June 26) that electric power supplies in the Tokyo area would be stretched on Monday. According to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry projections, excess production capacity in Tokyo and eight adjacent prefectures in eastern Japan would drop as low as 3.7 …

KABUL: An Afghan health ministry official said on Sunday (June 26) that thousands of people affected by the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan need clean water and food and are at risk of disease, days after a UN body warned of a cholera outbreak in the region. As many as 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 were injured, and 10,000 homes …

COLOMBO: The government of Sri Lanka declared on Sunday (Jun 26) that it was sending ministers to Russia and Qatar to look for low-cost oil, a day after declaring that the country had run out of petroleum. As a precautionary measure, the administration has prolonged the two-week shutdown of non-essential public institutions until further notice in order to conserve fuel. …

YAMAGATA: Increasing the amount of rice in his cattle feed is a way for Japanese farmer Kiyoharu Hirao to save money as the cost of imported maize used in animal feed continues to rise. Concerns over the quality of his prized wagyu beef and anger at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which once maintained an almost unbreakable grip on …

TOKYO: Asian stocks rose on Monday, after Wall Street’s strong bounce at the close of last week, as oil prices fell, easing concerns about inflation and the Federal Reserve’s fast tightening. With interest rates expected to rise and a possible recession looming, investors kept a close eye on the yields on Treasuries and the dollar, which stayed at its lowest …