KAWASAKI, Apr 08 (News On Japan) –
A scaffold collapsed throughout crane dismantling work at a manufacturing unit in Kawasaki on April seventh, inflicting 5 staff to fall, leaving three useless and one lacking as authorities proceed search efforts.
According to Kanagawa Prefectural Police, the accident occurred on the JFE Steel East Japan Works in Kawasaki, the place a crane used for unloading cargo from ships was being dismantled when a counterweight weighing roughly 500 tons, connected to the tip of the crane, fell, inflicting a scaffold at a peak of round 40 meters to break down.
Five male staff of their teenagers to 40s fell within the incident, with 4 rescued and transported to hospital, the place three had been later confirmed useless.
Police imagine the remaining lacking employee might have fallen into the ocean and are persevering with search operations from round 7 a.m. on April eighth alongside emergency responders.
Further investigation has revealed that the 5 staff had been doubtless positioned on high of the crane’s counterweight on the time of the accident, which measured roughly 9 meters in size and 6 meters in diameter.
Authorities mentioned the employees had been utilizing heavy equipment to chop into the counterweight when it abruptly fell, triggering the collapse.
The victims have been recognized as Kenshiro Chiba, 19, and Waku Koike, 29, each from Chiba City, amongst three deceased staff.
Police are additionally contemplating the opportunity of skilled negligence leading to dying or harm as they proceed to research the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Algomatic Co., Ltd. have secured second prize on the GENIAC-PRIZE competitors for his or her revolutionary mission aimed toward formalizing tacit information in manufacturing by AI evaluation.
Their joint proposal focuses on the usage of AI to research and examine movies of professional and novice staff performing Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding. This methodology is essential for numerous MHI merchandise, together with vitality crops and rockets, however presents challenges in ability switch as a consequence of its complexity.
The mission entails capturing video footage of welding carried out by each skilled and fewer skilled welders. An AI agent then analyzes these movies to determine and illustrate the variations in ability ranges, specializing in embodied information. By choosing the optimum evaluation modules, the mission goals to transform tacit abilities into express information, facilitating technical analysis and suggestions for novice welders.
This initiative addresses a longstanding challenge within the manufacturing trade, the place the communication and standardization of tacit information have been problematic. By elucidating the variations in ability ranges, the mission is anticipated to boost the effectivity of ability switch and enhance productiveness inside the sector.
MHI’s technique, beneath its Innovative Total Optimization (ITO) company framework, emphasizes lowering lead instances and enhancing productiveness by total optimization. The firm plans to additional develop this know-how to contribute to ability switch and productiveness enhancements in manufacturing.
The GENIAC-PRIZE, organized by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), goals to speed up the appliance of generative AI throughout numerous themes, together with manufacturing, buyer help, and threat mitigation. The competitors awarded roughly 800 million yen throughout 42 initiatives from over 200 entries.
An attendee inspects a Huawei Mate XT tri-fold smartphone at MWC Barcelona 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, March 3, 2026. /VCG
Apple’s much-anticipated entry into the foldable telephone market is shrouded in confusion.
Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday that the corporate’s first foldable iPhone is hitting engineering snags that might delay mass manufacturing by months. Multiple sources instructed the publication that the engineering improvement section has confirmed extra advanced than Apple anticipated.
But Chinese media shops cited provide chain sources saying the undertaking was “moving forward normally” and the product would launch within the second half of 2026, including that Apple’s long-time meeting associate Foxconn has already begun trial manufacturing.
An more and more crowded market
While Apple grapples with its first foldable telephone, almost each main smartphone maker has already introduced a number of generations of foldables to market. The expertise that Apple continues to be testing has been obtainable from opponents for years.
Samsung, the pioneer of recent foldable telephones, launched its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 and now gives its Seventh-gen lineup.
An in depth view of a Samsung telephone throughout the Para Snowboard medal ceremony on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Cortina Para Snowboard Park in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, March 8, 2026. /VCG
Huawei, regardless of dealing with US sanctions which have restricted its entry to the most effective chip-making and Western markets, has launched a number of generations of the Mate X collection and the Pocket line. The firm additionally pioneered with tri-fold gadgets that open into a bigger display screen format, whereas inventing the “wide folding” type, whose show expands right into a 16-to-10 ratio that’s good for each video and productiveness.
Other Chinese producers have joined the race. Xiaomi gives the Mix Fold collection, Oppo has the Find N line, Vivo sells the X Fold and Honor produces the Magic V. ZTE’s Nubia has launched an inexpensive foldable referred to as the Nubia Flip.
Why foldables stay area of interest
Despite the rising variety of choices, foldable telephones nonetheless symbolize a tiny slice of the general smartphone market. IDC, a market analysis agency, estimates that international shipments reached roughly 20.6 million models in 2025 – lower than 2% of the greater than 1 billion smartphones bought worldwide.
The causes for this restricted adoption come right down to persistent trade-offs that producers have struggled to beat.
A Motorola Razr Fold smartphone at a preview forward of the MWC Barcelona 2026 tech present in Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2026. /VCG
The crease that types the place the display screen bends stays seen and, for a lot of customers, unavoidable. The folding mechanism itself is fragile. What’s worse, the restore prices for display screen replacements will be staggeringly excessive. Battery life additionally suffers from the big display screen. Price is one other barrier. Foldable telephones sometimes price 1.5 to 2 occasions as a lot as their flagship non-foldable counterparts, with some fashions retailing for the equal of $1,800 or extra.
Apple’s monitor report of taking rising applied sciences and making them accessible to mass audiences has fueled expectations that it might do the identical for foldables. But the conflicting studies counsel that even Apple, with its large provide chain leverage and engineering sources, is discovering the expertise tougher to grasp than anticipated. If the corporate can not resolve the engineering challenges by early May, delays might push the launch properly into late 2026 and even 2027.
The Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) has introduced the creation of a brand new entity, Japan Professional Golf Tour Co., Ltd. (J-Tour), to deal with tour operations and improve enterprise growth. This strategic transfer, efficient from March 17, 2026, seeks to enhance the worth and sustainability of Japan’s males’s skilled golf excursions.
Under the brand new organizational construction, J-Tour will collaborate carefully with the Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko Group (NSSK), leveraging its experience in funding and administration to bolster the excursions. The JGTO will give attention to participant and competitors administration, whereas J-Tour will oversee tour operations, planning, enterprise growth, and commercialization.
This division of roles is designed to boost operational effectivity and agility, enabling JGTO to focus on aggressive and regulatory features whereas J-Tour drives progress and innovation. J-Tour’s company construction seeks to unlock the total potential of Japan’s males’s skilled golf amidst a dynamic market atmosphere.
The new technique facilities round maximizing fan engagement by on-site experiences and digital channels. J-Tour plans to boost media content material manufacturing, develop a centralized media platform, and assist gamers with improved welfare packages, masking participation prices and profession growth.
Yutaka Morohoshi, Chairman of JGTO, emphasised the significance of the brand new framework in enhancing competitors high quality and participant growth. Jun Tsusaka, CEO of NSSK, acknowledged their dedication to constructing a sustainable financial ecosystem for Japan’s skilled golf to compete globally by strong governance and strategic involvement.
New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Asian stock markets spiked on Wednesday morning after the news of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Oil costs fell sharply following the de-escalation of army tensions within the Middle East and the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 led the rally with a 5.28 per cent surge, up by 2,822.44 factors, whereas South Korea’s KOSPI rose 5.61 per cent or by 308.11 factors. India’s GIFT NIFTY additionally climbed over 3 per cent to succeed in the 23,841.00 stage.
Other regional indices, together with the Hang Seng and Taiwan Weighted, noticed features of three.04 per cent or 763.47 factors and three.72 per cent or 1234.69 factors, respectively.
The ceasefire triggered an enormous sell-off within the power sector. Brent Crude plummeted 13.04 per cent to commerce at USD 95.02 per barrel at 7:24 am IST, whereas US Crude Oil dropped 13.76 per cent to USD 97.41 on the identical time.
On the opposite hand, Gold surged by 100.45 factors or 2.13 per cent.
In what’s going to convey reduction to the world, the Iranian aspect has accepted US President Donald Trump’s peace overture and agreed to protected passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 2 weeks, in addition to a pause in army operations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic’s response on X and mentioned Iran would stop its army operations if it was not attacked.
‘On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I specific gratitude and appreciation for my expensive brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for his or her tireless efforts to finish the struggle within the area. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and contemplating the request by the U.S. for negotiations based mostly on its 15-point proposal in addition to announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the overall framework of Iran’s 10-point proposal as a foundation for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council: If assaults towards Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will stop their defensive operations. For a interval of two weeks, protected passage by way of the Strait of Hormuz shall be attainable through coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,’ Araghchi wrote.
The two-week pause is more likely to result in additional complete negotiations between the US and Iran and a attainable peace summit in Islamabad.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the ‘bombing and assault’ marketing campaign on Iran, saying a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.
In a submit on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that the ten-point proposal will function floor to barter for a everlasting deal, whereas reiterating that the US has achieved most of its army goals. (ANI)
Taipei [Taiwan], April 8 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of two sorties of Chinese navy plane, 9 naval vessels, and an official ship working round its territorial waters as of 6am (native time) on Wednesday.
Both the sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southeastern half ADIZ.
In a publish on X, the MND mentioned, ‘2 sorties of PLA plane, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship working round Taiwan detected up till 6 a.m. (UTC+8) right now. 2 out of two sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southeastern half ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the scenario and responded.’
Earlier on Tuesday, a sortie of Chinese plane, eight naval vessels and an official ship was detected close to Taiwan.
In a publish on X, the MND mentioned, ‘1 sorties of PLA plane, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship working round Taiwan detected up till 6 a.m. (UTC+8) right now. 1 out of 1 sorties entered Taiwan’s southwestern half ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the scenario and responded.’
China’s declare over Taiwan is a fancy subject rooted in historic, political, and authorized arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable a part of China, a viewpoint embedded in nationwide coverage and upheld by home legal guidelines and worldwide statements.
Taiwan, nonetheless, maintains a definite id, functioning independently with its personal authorities, navy, and financial system. Taiwan’s standing stays a major level of worldwide debate, testing the ideas of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in worldwide regulation, as per the United Service Institution of India.
China’s declare to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty’s annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating Ming loyalist Koxinga.
However, Taiwan remained a peripheral area below restricted Qing management. The key shift got here in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese management, however the sovereignty switch was not formalised.
In 1949, the Chinese Civil War resulted within the institution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, whereas the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan, asserting its declare to manipulate all of China. This led to twin sovereignty claims: the PRC over the mainland and the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan has operated as a de facto impartial state however has prevented declaring formal independence to stop navy battle with the PRC, United Service Institution of India. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Indian benchmark indices opened with important positive aspects on Wednesday as world investor sentiment improved following the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. BSE Sensex stood at 77,230.04 factors, marking a rise of two,613.46 factors or 3.50 per cent at 9:15 am. Simultaneously, NSE Nifty 50 stood at 23,855.15 factors, up by 731.50 factors or 3.16 per cent.
A key set off for the rally was the sharp correction in crude oil costs, with Brent crude falling to round USD 94-95 per barrel after surging above USD 115 earlier.
Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, a SEBI-registered on-line buying and selling and wealth tech agency, attributes this upward trajectory to the easing of worldwide tensions.
‘Indian fairness markets are poised to open greater, supported by an enchancment in world sentiment following a marked easing in geopolitical tensions. A short lived two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has helped restore threat urge for food throughout world markets, decreasing the speedy uncertainty that had weighed on equities,’ Ponmudi R stated.
The ceasefire, introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, comes forward of a beforehand indicated strike deadline. The settlement particularly hyperlinks to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Sectorally, the rally was broad-based, led by rate-sensitive and cyclical sectors. The Nifty Realty index jumped over 5 p.c, whereas auto, PSU banks and personal banks surged 3-4 p.c every.
Among the highest gainers in Nifty, InterGlobe Aviation open up 9 p.c, Larsen & Toubro up over 7 p.c, whereas Shriram Finance, Adani Ports and Adani Enterprises gained between 5-6 p.c. Financial shares too noticed robust restoration, with Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv opening up over 4-5 p.c, whereas Asian Paints and UltraTech Cement too posted constructive positive aspects.
Asian stock markets too spiked on Wednesday morning after the news of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Oil costs fell sharply following the de-escalation of army tensions within the Middle East and the promised reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 led the rally with a 5.28 per cent surge, up by 2,822.44 factors, whereas South Korea’s KOSPI rose 5.61 per cent or by 308.11 factors.
Other regional indices, together with the Hang Seng and Taiwan Weighted, noticed positive aspects of three.04 per cent or 763.47 factors and three.72 per cent or 1234.69 factors, respectively.
The ceasefire triggered a large sell-off within the power sector. Brent Crude plummeted 13.04 per cent to commerce at USD 95.02 per barrel at 7:24 am IST, whereas US Crude Oil dropped 13.76 per cent to USD 97.41 on the similar time.
On the opposite hand, Gold surged by 100.45 factors or 2.13 per cent.
‘Global markets have responded positively. Asian equities are buying and selling greater, whereas a pointy pullback in crude oil prices–now under the $100 mark and trending towards the $91-96 range–offers a significant tailwind for India. Lower oil costs assist ease inflationary pressures, help the present account, and enhance the broader macro outlook,’ Ponmudi stated.
Technical indicators for the Nifty 50 present indicators of restoration after a latest correction. While the index opens at greater ranges, Ponmudi famous that Nifty 50 is at present buying and selling across the 23,100-23,150 zone, indicating an preliminary restoration after the latest correction. Immediate resistance is positioned within the 23,300-23,400 vary, and a sustained breakout above this zone can push the index in direction of 23,700-24,000 ranges.
‘On the draw back, 23,000 now acts as speedy help, whereas the stronger demand zone stays at 22,700-22,600. Momentum indicators are exhibiting early indicators of enchancment, though MACD continues to stay in unfavourable territory, suggesting that power remains to be constructing. Overall, the bias stays mildly constructive, however affirmation of a stronger uptrend will depend upon a decisive breakout above the resistance zone. Holding above 23,000 is essential to maintain the restoration,’ Ponmudi defined. (ANI)
TOKYO (TR) – A non-profit group (NPO) working within the Kabukicho red-light district paints a dire image for younger prostitutes: Some are as younger as 12 and prostituting themselves for as little as 5,000 yen.
“There are many girls who are in dangerous situations,” says Aoi Shimizu, the consultant director of Japan Refuge. “Recently, what’s been noticeable are the ‘buyers’ who are foreign tourists. They use violence against the girls standing there.”
The shift towards international vacationers is a calculated response to intensifying crackdowns by Tokyo Metropolitan Police, which arrested over 100 people within the space final 12 months for violations of the Anti-Prostitution Law.
Japan Refuge, which was based 24 years in the past, offers locations for younger females to remain and conducts nighttime patrols within the district — however it’s a state of affairs that’s solely getting worse, reviews News Post Seven (Apr. 6).
Aoi Shimizu of Japan Refuge
Language barrier
Operating primarily round Okubo Park in Kabukicho, these girls and runaway women are more and more soliciting international males in a observe referred to as tachinbo (or standing, which successfully refers to a streetwalker).
By concentrating on foreigners, the streetwalkers reduce the chance of by chance soliciting plainclothes cops. Furthermore, the language barrier makes vacationers simpler to handle, lowering the chance of issues or police involvement.
Okubo Park, which can be identified to vacationers, turned extensively identified a couple of years in the past when YouTubers raided the park and filmed movies. This was once the place to go when individuals talked about streetwalkers in Kabukicho, however issues are altering.
“Actually, the main street where these girls are currently standing is the love hotel district,” says the Japan Refuge director. “The ones in Okubo Park are the so-called ‘veterans,’ who have been there since the problem started becoming more noticeable about three years ago. The new girls are mostly working in the hotel district.”
Over 100 girl and women had been cited for prostitution in Kabukicho in ’25 (X)
Crushing money owed
Driven by crushing money owed to host golf equipment, the necessity to survive after fleeing abusive houses, the desperation of those women has pushed road costs right down to all-time low. While typical charges beforehand hovered increased, some at the moment are promoting their our bodies for a mere 5,000 yen.
“The going rate around [Okubo Park] is 15,000 yen,” Shimizu says. “But sometimes it goes down. I think that’s because new girls are driving the prices down. They’re negotiating for 10,000 yen, or even cheaper, 5,000 yen. The girls around here are basically doing it for 15,000 yen, so they get angry when they can’t get paid anymore. Sometimes they even start looking for the culprit, like, ‘Someone’s lowering the price!’”
Shimizu additionally has connections with younger individuals dubbed “Toyoko Kids,” a reputation that refers back to the Toho Cinemas complicated within the coronary heart of Kabukicho. In this space, many younger delinquents and runaways congregate.
In current years, there have been numerous circumstances of youths dying from drug overdoses or getting concerned in so-called “underground jobs.”
“At first glance, it might seem like the number of young people has decreased, but during the day, many plainclothes police officers apprehend them, so they often hide indoors or in internet cafes,” the NPO director says. “If they are adults, some rent houses nearby, such as in Okubo, and minors sometimes stay at their homes.”
Without any cash, these minors typically keep in teams at love motels.
“They only go out during cleaning time, hide from the police, and then come back when it’s time to check in,” says Shimizu. “They often stay for multiple nights. They sometimes book for a week at a time and share rooms.”
Aoi Shimizu (X)
Illegal medicine
Young individuals even have easy accessibility to unlawful medicine, together with MDMA, or Ecstasy.
“Even on this workplace, individuals casually say issues like, ‘I did some drugs yesterday,’” says Shimizu. “My role is to provide care after something happens, but above all, I want to prevent it from happening in the first place.”
She goes on to say that there are a lot of quasi-gangsters roaming the streets, which makes matters worse.
“Since the main yakuza have stopped cracking down on the area, a lot of quasi-gangsters are on the loose,” Shimizu says. “It seems like there are more unsavory adults around. The kids who gather here often don’t have cash and have a tendency to leap at any probability of fast money. That’s why they’re simply taken benefit of.”
Shimizu is aware of of about 5 children who’re at present members of a fraud ring in Cambodia.
“I know one girl personally,” she says. “Strictly speaking, she’s not Toyoko, but she was addicted to hosts. A mutual acquaintance of ours came to tell me an said she is still alive. So it seems she hasn’t been caught yet.”
According to Shimizu, these children have a distorted sense of cash.
“They’ll even go overseas to get their hands on some quick cash,” she says. “It seems like they often get involved through word of mouth. They get told about ‘jobs’ through their connections rather than searching online. They easily get caught up in crime.”
Despite the heightened police presence and “purification operations” geared toward cleansing up Kabukicho’s streets, the underlying poverty and exploitation fueling the disaster stay unresolved, leaving town’s most susceptible to be preyed upon.
Given this, Shimizu sounds a robust warning: “The public safety situation is worse than it used to be.”
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Cody Ponce will endure surgical procedure for a proper anterior cruciate ligament harm and certain shall be misplaced for the rest of the common season, supervisor John Schneider revealed Tuesday.
The Blue Jays additionally recalled left-hander Patrick Corbin from Single-A Dunedin and infielder Tyler Fitzgerald from Triple-A Buffalo, whereas outfielder Addison Barger was positioned on the 10-day injured record, retroactive to April 6, with a left ankle sprain.
Left-hander Josh Fleming, who was added to the roster Monday and made his Blue Jays debut, was designated for project.
Schneider additionally introduced that catcher Alejandro Kirk is predicted to overlook six weeks following surgical procedure for a damaged left thumb. The surgical procedure reportedly included the insertion of a screw into Kirk’s thumb.
Ponce, 31, was making his first big-league look since 2021 final week when he injured his knee whereas making an attempt to discipline a grounder within the third inning of a recreation in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.
Ponce is 1-7 with a 5.77 ERA in 21 profession MLB appearances (six begins) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2020-21) and Blue Jays. He spent the previous 4 seasons pitching in Japan and Korea.
Corbin, 36, is 110-142 with a 4.51 ERA in 13 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2012-18), Washington Nationals (2019-24) and Texas Rangers (2025). He is in his first season within the Toronto group.
Fitzgerald, 28, was acquired in a commerce with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. In 178 video games with the Giants over the previous three seasons, he batted .252 with 21 dwelling runs and 53 RBIs.
Barger, 26, had only one hit in 19 at-bats this season. In three seasons with the Blue Jays, he’s a profession .224 hitter with 28 dwelling runs and 104 RBIs.
TOKYO (TR) – Prosecutors have introduced the non-prosecution of a member of a legal syndicate and eight others for allegedly focusing on aged folks within the sale of used residences at unreasonably excessive costs, studies Nippon News Network (Apr. 7).
The 9 males, together with Kanichi Ishii, who can be a senior member of a company affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai, approached a girl in her 70s in 2023.
They then falsely led her to consider that an condominium that they had acquired for 3 million yen was price 22 million yen.
The Tachikawa department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has determined to not indict the 9, who had been accused of fraud.
The department acknowledged that “after careful consideration of the nature of the fraud case and the content of the collected evidence, we decided not to indict them.”
