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Japan's humble 'onigiri' rice balls get image upgrade
Japan's humble 'onigiri' rice balls get image upgrade
Economy
by  AFP

Wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with delicious fillings, "onigiri" rice balls are shaking off their reputation as a cheap and uninspiring snack in Japan -- and enticing hungry converts abroad. Kawarada wants to open dozens of onigiri restaurants abroad and thinks the snack could one day dethrone sushi as Japan's best-known culinary export.

Asian markets mostly up, tracking Wall Street gains
Asian markets mostly up, tracking Wall Street gains
Economy
by  AFP

Most Asian markets rose Thursday, tracking a rebound in Europe and New York and following positive remarks from a senior Federal Reserve official that inflation was headed in the right direction. In Tokyo, official data released Thursday showed Germany overtook Japan last year as the world's third-biggest economy, primarily because of a sharp fall in the yen.

Germany overtakes Japan as third-biggest economy
Germany overtakes Japan as third-biggest economy
Economy
by  AFP

Once forecast to become the world's biggest economy, Japan slipped below Germany last year to fourth place, official data showed Thursday, although India is projected to leapfrog both later this decade. - Soul-searching - During its boom years of the 1970s and '80s some projected that Japan would become the world's biggest economy.

What is behind the US economy's surprising strength?
What is behind the US economy's surprising strength?
Economy
by  AFP

The US has seen GDP growth blow past predictions, hiring numbers surge unexpectedly and consumers still spending even as interest rates climbed -- deftly averting a dreaded recession in 2023. - 'Value of talent' - Low unemployment, wage growth and hiring have underpinned consumers' willingness to spend.

Argentina's annual inflation soars above 250% in January
Argentina's annual inflation soars above 250% in January
Economy
by  AFP

Argentina's monthly inflation slowed slightly in January, but the prices of key goods and services rose 254 percent year-on-year, the statistics agency said Wednesday. Monthly inflation stood at 20.6 percent in January, the INDEC statistics agency said, down from the 25.5 percent figure for December.