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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepares to welcome Central Asian leaders at the leaders-level ‘Central Asia plus Japan’ summit in Tokyo on December 20 last year. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan pledges US$3 million for Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea water decline

Under the initiative for the world’s largest inland water body, Japan hopes to promote cooperation among littoral states on water resource management.

China travel

Currency advantages, K-beauty fuel Chinese shopping trips, spending in Korea

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Japan

Bear spray surge in Japan sparks safety concerns after accidental discharge

Japan

Japan’s disaster plans fail to keep pace with tourist boom

Japan regularly drills its schoolchildren for earthquakes evacuations, but foreign visitors are another matter entirely.

Tourists throng a shopping street in the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo on June 22. Photo: Kyodo
Tourists throng a shopping street in the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo on June 22. Photo: Kyodo
Japan

Why Japan’s Takaichi is eyeing an ‘easy win’ in India as domestic support drops

The prime minister is looking to make India an ‘important part’ of Japan’s security transition while boosting economic ties, analysts say.

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Indonesia

Ex-Indonesian president backs son’s party for 2029 election

Joko Widodo wants to boost the appeal of the Indonesian Solidarity Party and signal his continuous relevance, analysts say.

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South Korea

Robots to the rescue as South Korea battles severe labour crunch

South Korea’s current population of 51.8 million is expected to shrink by almost a third to 36.2 million by 2072.

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People sit inside an unstaffed cafe where a robot arm prepares coffee in Seoul on June 19. Photo: Reuters
People sit inside an unstaffed cafe where a robot arm prepares coffee in Seoul on June 19. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan’s detention system under scrutiny after ruling on abuse of restraints

A court order to compensate the family of a detainee shows reforms to immigration centres are urgently needed, observers say.

Japan

Tsunami from Japan megaquake could destroy 2 million cars: survey

The government says the probability of a Nankai Trough megaquake occurring within the next 30 years stands at 60 to 90 per cent or higher.

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South Korea

Why North Korean POWs in Ukraine are making Seoul walk a diplomatic tightrope

Ukraine wants weapons in exchange for the soldiers, but analysts say South Korea fears provoking Russia and Pyongyang.

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Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (left) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Japan

‘My dream is broken’: foreign business owners in Japan lament new visa rules

Japan’s business manager visa holders surged to 46,000 by mid-2025 – up 70 per cent from 2020. About half were Chinese nationals.

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Budhathoki Samjhana checks receipts at Chitwan Rhino Restaurant and Bar in Tokyo’s Okubo-Shin area on June 12. Photo: AFP
Budhathoki Samjhana checks receipts at Chitwan Rhino Restaurant and Bar in Tokyo’s Okubo-Shin area on June 12. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korea ‘fake news’ law triggers free speech, censorship fears

The scope extends beyond social media to malicious reviews and defamatory posts on online communities, delivery apps and shopping platforms.

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Asean

East Timor targets closer Asean-Greater Bay Area ties to spur economic growth

Asean’s newest member says cooperation between the two regions should be based on a commitment to inclusive growth and trust.

Japan

Japan’s family firms turn to M&A when heirs are not so apparent

A 2025 survey found that nearly two-thirds of business owners’ children did not plan to take over, often because they wanted different jobs.

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Ksshokichi chefs prepare a Kobe beef meal. Photo: Kisshokichi
Japan

Japan aims to catch up on drone warfare by tapping Ukraine’s experience

Analysts say Japan wants to accelerate production of drones to protect its territory given its shortage of military manpower.

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Japanese Self-Defence Force’s SOTEN drones fly during a drill with US Marines in Yufu, Oita prefecture, Japan, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Japanese Self-Defence Force’s SOTEN drones fly during a drill with US Marines in Yufu, Oita prefecture, Japan, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

‘A decisive moment’: South Korea unveils US$518b AI chip plan to counter China

The goal faces potential hurdles, however, including workers’ reluctance to relocate away from Seoul and dispersed supply chains.

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South Korea

South Korea unveils US$576 billion megaprojects to dominate AI, chip market

This move is ⁠Lee’s boldest yet to align the nation’s tech ambitions with ‌his pledge to narrow regional disparities and revive economies.

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Japan

Meet AIko: Japan’s AI police chief taking on a US$2 billion scam epidemic

Japan has a new police chief. Her name is AIko, she lives on YouTube and she’s coming for scammers.

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A screengrab of a social media video shows Osaka prefecture’s new virtual AI police chief “AIko”. Photo: YouTube/OsakaPrefecturalPolice
A screengrab of a social media video shows Osaka prefecture’s new virtual AI police chief “AIko”. Photo: YouTube/OsakaPrefecturalPolice
South Korea

South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon-hee gets 7 years in jail for bribery

Kim was found guilty of accepting ‘high-value precious metals’ in exchange for favours in personnel appointments.

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Japan

2 storms barrelling towards Japan spark over 100 flight cancellations

Mekkhala and Higos threaten Japan with floods, triggering evacuations and factory shutdowns.

South Korea

North Korea’s border build-up opens a Seoul-UN Command rift

South Korea views its the North’s border fortifications as an armistice violation. The UN body disagrees.

North Korean soldiers move along a fence line near Yujeong-dong village in North Korea, as seen from the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Incheon in 2024. Photo: The Korea Times
Japan

Laser aimed at Punch the monkey in Japan prompts zoo’s ‘unacceptable’ warning

A zoo official says pointing a laser at any animal could cause considerable stress and even blindness.

Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, with the orangutan plushie he received after being abandoned by his mother. Photo: Kyodo
Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, with the orangutan plushie he received after being abandoned by his mother. Photo: Kyodo
South Korea

As US wavers, ex-minister says Japan and South Korea ‘only have each other’

Former Japanese defence minister Taro Kono said Tokyo and Seoul ‘need to step up our own effort for stability in the region’.

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China travel

China-Japan flights to decline 57% in summer travel peak as tensions linger

Of Japan’s top five inbound tourism markets so far this year, mainland China is the only one where travellers require a visa.

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China exports

China’s new front in rare earth export violations: rewarding tip-offs

The announcement follows the arrest of two Japanese nationals over alleged smuggling and comes as Beijing tightens oversight of critical minerals.

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Blocks with symbols and atomic numbers of rare earth elements, in this illustration taken on January 21. Photo: Reuters
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