- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
Japan confirms executive convicted, freed by Myanmar
A Japanese supermarket executive behind bars in Myanmar since June has been convicted over high rice prices but released, Tokyo confirmed on Tuesday.
State media blame the El Nino weather phenomenon and market hoarders for soaring rice prices in Myanmar, but analysts say civil unrest and economic turmoil since the 2021 military coup are the main factors.
Hiroshi Kasamatsu, director of Aeon Orange, which runs several supermarkets in commercial hub Yangon, was detained in late June following an investigation by junta authorities into rice mills and supermarkets.
On Monday junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said Kasamatsu had "been released," without giving details if he had been convicted of any crime or if he would be deported.
Japan's foreign ministry said he had been "convicted and sentenced to one year in prison... for violation of the law on daily necessities and services".
"We are aware that he has been released and that there are no particular problems with his health," the ministry said in a statement emailed to AFP.
It was unclear if Kasamatsu was still in Myanmar or returning to Japan.
Japanese retail giant Aeon also confirmed his release but declined to comment further.
Kasamatsu and three Myanmar nationals were detained on suspicion of breaching the reference price under the Essential Supplies And Services Law and "selling rice at higher price with the aim to make economic chaos", the junta said at the time.
The three Myanmar nationals detained with Kasamatsu worked for local retail companies. The junta spokesman did not say whether they had also been released.
Since the military seized power, the junta authorities have introduced more requirements for export and import licenses, and tightened regulations on fuel imports.
A US dollar on the open market fetches more than double the central bank's fixed rate, adding to pressure on businesses.
hla-rma-nf-stu/fox
A.Santos--PC