Japan
Strong quake shakes central Japan near Mt Fuji
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said no abnormalities had been detected at nuclear facilities, including Chubu Electric Power's Hamaoka nuclear power plant.
Japan hit by M6.9 earthquake
Northern Japan has faced constant seismic activity recently. A magnitude 6.3 quake hit the Tohoku region in May, while a magnitude 7.7 event struck the area in April.
COMMENT: Iran war shows why Asia must quit fossil fuels
Across Asia, governments are now accelerating approvals for renewable projects and grid modernisation schemes. Battery storage investments are making headlines almost daily.
Toyota launches EV sport utility vehicle bZ4X in Kenya, following South Africa and Morocco rollouts
Toyota has launched the fully electric bZ4X in Kenya, extending its gradual rollout of battery electric vehicles across Africa after earlier introductions in Morocco in April and South Africa last month.
Foreign visitor arrivals to Japan down by 3.6% in May
Tourism from China fell for a sixth straight month, dropping 60.4% year on year to 313,000. The decline followed remarks last November by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Japan’s potential involvement in a Taiwan-related contingency
Bank of Japan lifts rates 25 basis points to 31-year high
The move had been widely anticipated and followed rate increases by the European Central Bank and Indonesia’s central bank last week after the conflict fuelled higher prices and economic disruption worldwide.
Asia welcomes Iran-US breakthrough, but caution remains
The tentative peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been greeted with a mixture of relief and caution across much of East and Southeast Asia, a region that has borne more than its fair share of the economic fallout of late.
UK, Japan seal $24bn investment and tech partnership
More than 10 trade agreements were signed in total. These included an offshore wind farm project.
Taiwan curbs advanced AI chip trade with China
The policy shift highlights Taiwan's delicate geopolitical position, where the necessity to secure its vital semiconductor monopoly and appease Western partners must be balanced against the commercial realities of its massive cross-strait trade.
Inside the growing speculation around Kim Jong Un’s daughter as heir apparent
According to various intelligence sources, Kim Ju-ae is understood to be the daughter of Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju, although North Korea has never formally confirmed her full biographical details.
Japan’s NTT launches $500mn fund to expand IOWN communications network worldwide
IOWN, or Innovative Optical and Wireless Network, is designed to enable large-volume data communications with low latency and lower power consumption.
Philippines quake leaves at least 15 dead and 129 injured
Several countries across the region, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, issued tsunami warnings following the quake, although most have since been lifted.
M7.8 Philippines earthquake triggers tsunami warning across Asia
The tremor struck at 7:37 am at a depth of 33 km, with its epicentre located 32 km south of Maasim.
South China Sea tensions drive a quiet realignment against Beijing
The Philippines is not alone as other countries bordering the South China Sea are also starting to push back. Surprisingly given shared Communist ideals is Vietnam, which has become one of the region's most active challengers of Chinese claims.
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Iran seeks Japanese help in rebuilding war-damaged oil sector
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asked Japan to participate in reconstructing infrastructure damaged in recent US-Israeli attacks, including refineries, in exchange for efforts to restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Asia’s EV race speeds up as China’s champions challenge Tesla
As of mid-2026, China remains the centre of gravity in the EV world.
The magnet wars and how China still holds the keys to electric mobility
While Western carmakers rush to roll out new electric models, their production lines remain tethered to an extraction and refining network dominated by a single superpower - China.
Hegseth praises US-China stability but warns over Beijing’s military build-up
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said relations between Washington and Beijing are “better than they have been in many years” under President Donald Trump, but warned of China’s rapid military expansion.
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Russian oil tanker arrives in Japan as Middle East supply concerns grow
A tanker carrying Russian oil has arrived at Japan's Kiire port as Japanese firms step up purchases on a government request, Russian media reports.
China’s economic growth leaves Japan in the dust.
Thirty years ago in its heyday Japan’s economy was bigger than the whole of Asia combined. Today it is the size of just three Chinese coastal regions.