Japan Cops Get Tough on Subway Gropers

It jumps ahead of Tokyo in new rankings

(NEWSER) - A stronger Swiss franc has given residents of Zurich, Switzerland, a distinction they might rather do without: It's now the most expensive city in the world in which to live, according to an Economist survey. It knocked Tokyo out of the top spot:

1. Zurich
2. Tokyo
3. Geneva (tie)
4. Osaka (tie)
5. Oslo
6. Paris
7. Sydney
8. Melbourne
9. Singapore
10. Frankfurt

Rising yen, falling international demand, led to 2.3% contraction

(NEWSER) - Economists were expecting the Japanese economy to contract in the last quarter of 2011, but not this badly, reports the BBC . Japan's gross domestic product shrunk 2.3% in the last three months of the year, much worse than the 1.4% economists were predicting, due to the yen rising 7% against the US dollar since April, the effects of last March's earthquake and tsunami, and the general worldwide economic slowdown. More»

Akihito has suffered from variety of health problems in recent years

(AP) - Japanese Emperor Akihito will have heart bypass surgery later this month, his palace said today after the 78-year-old monarch was hospitalized for tests over the weekend. Akihito returned to the palace today after the tests and has scheduled the surgery for Feb. 18, the Imperial Household Agency said. More»

But doesn't intend to reopen bases

(NEWSER) - The US military is seeking more access to the Philippines, sources tell Reuters , though not, they hasten to add, new full-blown bases there. The Philippines voted to remove gigantic US naval and air bases 20 years ago, but the country remains a US ally, and the US is hoping for more access to its ports and airfields to refuel warships and planes. "It's access, not bases," one official clarified. And the desire seems to be mutual. More»

Fukushima report warned that all of Tokyo might need to be evacuated

(NEWSER) - Japanese officials were told that last year's nuclear disaster could have required the evacuation of tens of millions—but they didn't mention it, worried that the information might cause a panic. A 15-page report, given to the prime minister two weeks after the earthquake, was obtained by the AP and Japanese media. It says that meltdowns could cause vast amounts of radiation and necessitate the evacuation of homes within at least a 105-mile radius of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. More»