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A crane loads cargo onto a ship at a port in Zhangjiagang, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
China GDP

First tariffs, now war: how Asia is facing a second year of economic shocks

Global institutions forecast slower growth in Asia-Pacific this year, as the Iran war and tariff risks combine to disrupt global trade.

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Japan

Rover and out? Japan pivots after US puts Lunar Gateway on ice

Japan

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

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South Korea

South Korea targets India, Vietnam in ‘co-prosperity’ push for trade and tech

President Lee embarks on a strategic trip to New Delhi and Hanoi, boosting economic ties and supply chains amid the Middle East chaos.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a ceremony at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Sunday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a ceremony at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Sunday. Photo: EPA/Yonhap
North Korea

North Korea launches ballistic missile as UN warns of nuclear advances

The two short-range missiles fired from the Sinpo of North Korea flew about 140 kilometres (87 miles) each towards the country’s eastern waters.

Japan

Japan, Australia finalise contracts to deliver first 3 of planned frigates

This comes as Japan is set to ease rules on defence equipment exports, which have strict limits on exporting weapons with lethal capability.

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Japan

Magnitude 5 quakes hit Japan’s Nagano prefecture

The quakes struck Omachi at 1.20pm and 2.54pm, with the nation’s weather agency warning of aftershocks over the next week or so.

Old style buildings in Nagano prefecture. Photo: SCMP
Old style buildings in Nagano prefecture. Photo: SCMP
South Korea

In hi-tech South Korea, AI shamans take place of traditional human practitioners

The technology, which combines voice recognition with a generative AI chatbot, uses a centuries-old belief system to interpret fates.

Japan

Japan warned of ‘hellish summer’ as energy fears mount

A prolonged Iran war, combined with an unusually early spell of hot weather, could leave Japan facing power shortages this summer.

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Japan

Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers

From drones for Ukraine to warships for Australia, ‘peace-loving’ Japan is fast pivoting towards arming the world.

Japanese Type 10 battle tanks operate during a military drill in Funabashi, east of Tokyo, in January. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korean police investigate mother for feeding rice cake soup to infant

The case went viral after the mother posted a photo on social media and admitted to giving her infant son some of the ‘tteokguk’ broth.

“Tteokguk”, a soupy dish made with sliced rice cake, is commonly eaten to mark the new year in South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock
“Tteokguk”, a soupy dish made with sliced rice cake, is commonly eaten to mark the new year in South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock
US, Israel war on Iran

US oil floats to top as Asia looks for Middle Eastern alternatives amid Iran war

Buyers from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand have helped push May sales to over 60 million barrels, the highest in three years.

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North Korea

Nuclear defiance: North Korea’s Kim signals he won’t be the next Iran

Kim Jong-un’s increased appearances at military drills show his confidence in Pyongyang’s nuclear deterrence, analysts say.

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South Korea

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

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A BTS fan takes a photo of the band’s poster outside the stadium before the “Arirang” World Tour concert in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9. Photo: AP
Japan

Stepfather tells Japanese police ‘there’s no doubt’ he killed missing boy

About 1,000 people were mobilised to find Yuki, who went missing on March 23. His body was found on Monday in a rural area in Kyoto.

A missing person poster for Yuki Adachi hangs on a wall in Nantan, Kyoto prefecture, on Monday. Photo: Kyodo
A missing person poster for Yuki Adachi hangs on a wall in Nantan, Kyoto prefecture, on Monday. Photo: Kyodo
Japan

Japan backs a female emperor while Takaichi pushes conservative succession plan

A new poll shows most Japanese support a woman taking the throne, even as the prime minister moves to preserve male-line succession.

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North Korea

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

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Japan

Japan to provide US$10 billion support to help Asia secure oil

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says the support will be equivalent to as much as 1.2 billion ⁠barrels of oil.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives to a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives to a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korea jails influencer Johnny Somali for kissing ‘comfort women’ statue

The 2024 incident caused strong public backlash and the video was later removed.

South Korea

South Korea’s former first couple endure a frosty courtroom reunion

The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once.

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Japan

Japan’s Narita Airport expansion revives row over forced land sales

Authorities are considering forcing the sale of land owned by holdout farmers, recalling disputes that sparked violence during the 1960s.

Runways at Narita International Airport in Japan’s Chiba prefecture in 2024. Photo: Kyodo
China energy security

Which countries are most vulnerable as US imposes Persian Gulf blockade?

Nomura says more than 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and the Philippines comes from the Middle East.

A customer at a petrol station in London on Monday. Photo: EPA
A customer at a petrol station in London on Monday. Photo: EPA
Japan

Japan jails ex-teacher for sharing voyeuristic student images

He is the first among an alleged teachers’ voyeurism ring to receive a prison sentence in a high-profile case that came to light last year.

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Japan

Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity

Critics said his comments suggested that Trump’s son-in-law should not be involved in negotiations with Iran because he is Jewish.

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South Korea

What is really behind South Korea’s diplomatic row with Israel?

Lee Jae Myung’s clash was about more than human rights, analysts say – it was about energy security and sending a message to Donald Trump.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends a National Economic Advisory Council meeting in Seoul on Thursday. Photo: Yonhap/EPA
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