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A copper shark about 3.5 metres long swims in the waterway of a waterfront park off the southeastern port city of Busan, South Korea, on Friday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
South Korea’s coastguard members aboard a boat try to guide a copper shark about 3.5 metres long towards the open sea after it was found in the waterway of a waterfront park in Busan on Friday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
South Korea

Shark in the park: viral sighting shakes up South Korea’s Busan

Nearly 20,000 visitors flocked to the North Port Waterfront Park over the weekend to see the shark, which has also spawned a flood of memes.

Japan

Over 1.6 million residents urged to evacuate as Typhoon Dujuan nears Tokyo

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South Korea

South Korea beats foreign student target, but struggles to keep them

Japan

Japan surgeon cuts healthy brain, leaving patient on ventilator

The veteran doctor ignored negative biopsy results during the 10-hour surgery at Kyoto University Hospital, leaving the tumour intact.

A doctor viewing a brain scan. Photo: Getty Images
A doctor viewing a brain scan. Photo: Getty Images
South Korea

Suspected DMZ landmine blast injures 3 South Korean soldiers

Three people were hospitalised. Hundreds of thousands of mines, if not more, are thought to be buried in the area.

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Japan

Japan asks for US$43 million to weed out cherry tree-devouring longhorn beetle

Further growth in the ‘invasive’ beetle population could make it difficult to enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the spring.

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South Korea

South Korea steps up to plug Europe’s jet fuel deficit

South Korea is the latest large source of jet fuel shipments to Europe, exporting 129,000 barrels per day, the highest since October 2022.

Planes are parked on the tarmac at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on June 6. European airlines are monitoring higher jet fuel costs and supply concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East. Photo: Reuters
Planes are parked on the tarmac at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on June 6. European airlines are monitoring higher jet fuel costs and supply concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East. Photo: Reuters
North Korea

North Korea fires 2 missiles in 3 hours amid tensions over US drills

North Korea’s ‌Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, blamed US-led military drills for worsening tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Japan

Japanese convenience stores turn to AI for novelty sweets

Lawson is launching three new food items created using AI around the theme: ‘What on earth is this? But it’s delicious’.

South Korea

South Korea justice minister nominee withdraws over Covid-19 drug trial scandal

Kim Seung-won, who has denied the allegations, says he does not want to add any burden to President Lee’s administration.

Kim Seung-won takes an oath at the start of his parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo: Yonhap / EPA
Japan

Crouching dragons: the suicide divers Japan never sent to war

Sealed in diving suits with mines attached to poles, Japan’s ‘fukuryu’ frogmen waited beneath the waves for an invasion that never came.

A photograph obtained by Japanese broadcaster CBC Television shows a diving suit used by the “fukuryu” suicide diver units in WWII. Photo: YouTube/NextTVCBC
A photograph obtained by Japanese broadcaster CBC Television shows a diving suit used by the “fukuryu” suicide diver units in WWII. Photo: YouTube/NextTVCBC
South Korea

South Korea wants free ‘AI for All’. Is society ready?

Seoul’s roll-out of free, unlimited AI is set to shake up classrooms, careers and crime – for better or worse.

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Singapore

Singapore minister Chan Chun Sing’s Mandarin diplomacy strikes China chord

Chan quoted ancient philosopher Mencius in his speech at Xiangshan Forum, winning praise on social media for his knowledge of Chinese thought.

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South Korea

‘No deployment for war’: South Korea rejects US request for Iran support

President Lee Jae Myung has drawn a firm line against sending troops or assets to the Middle East, defying pressure from Washington.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaking during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Friday. Photo: AFP
North Korea

Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war: report

The move shows how military ties have expanded beyond weapons and troops into labour and industrial production, the report says.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) meets scientists, researchers and officials from key national defence research institutions in Pyongyang on August 29. Photo: KCNA / Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) meets scientists, researchers and officials from key national defence research institutions in Pyongyang on August 29. Photo: KCNA / Reuters
Japan

Is Japan’s Okinawa finally moving on from anti-base politics?

Frustrated by economic hardship, Okinawans have rallied behind a new governor, leaving long-standing anti-base resistance in disarray.

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North Korea

North Korea at Japan’s Asian Games: sports diplomacy or propaganda stunt?

Pyongyang is sending its largest-ever delegation to Japan, signalling a calculated bid to test Tokyo and pave the way for US re-engagement.

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North Korea

Only ‘idiots’ expect North Korea to give up nuclear weapons: Kim Yo-jong

The powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un says ‘familiar silly talk’ about denuclearisation will not change the country’s status.

Kim Yo Jong attends a reception in the Great Hall of People following a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Photo: TNS
Kim Yo Jong attends a reception in the Great Hall of People following a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Photo: TNS
Japan

Why Zelensky’s Kyiv invite puts Japan PM Takaichi in a diplomatic bind

Analysts say a Ukraine trip will be an ‘excellent opportunity’ for Takaichi to show her mettle, despite concerns about chilly Russia ties.

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Banking & finance

Hong Kong rated Asia’s top financial hub for fourth straight year: report

City also ranked third overall in the Global Financial Centres Index as Asian hubs strengthened their positions in the top 10.

The Philippines

South Korean killer’s drone escape from Philippine prison foiled by test footage

Convicted killer Park Wang-yeol reportedly spent some US$74,000 on his planned drone-assisted prison break.

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A person dangles from a drone in this still from footage obtained by Korean broadcaster JTBC allegedly showing a practice run for Park Wang-yeol’s escape plot from Philippine prison. Photo: YouTube/JTBC_News
Japan

Japanese monks embrace material world to raise cash as donations shrink

Temple upkeep costs are soaring while Japan’s Buddhist population has dropped about 14 per cent in the last two decades.

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Tourists visit the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo on August 19. Photo: EPA
Tourists visit the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo on August 19. Photo: EPA
South Korea

South Korean court orders Pyongyang to pay US$32.5m for destroying border office

The lawsuit over the destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office marks the first time Seoul has sought damages directly from the North.

Japan

Japan’s Takaichi opts for stability in first reshuffle since taking over LDP

The reshuffle comes ahead of changes to Takaichi’s cabinet, in which she is likely to also retain key ministers.

Japan

Japan jails man for forcing Thai girl, 12, into sex work

He had forced the girl to provide sexual services at his private-room massage parlour in Tokyo in 2025.

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A night view near the Kabukicho area in the Shinjuku district of central Tokyo. The Tokyo District Court found Masayuki Hosono guilty of violating the child welfare law. Photo: AFP
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