Aluminum, plastics prices surge
Soaring aluminum and plastics prices are pushing up costs for auto parts makers in Japan. The increase is attributed to global demand and supply chain disruptions....
Japan exports destroyers to Philippines
Japan is moving towards exporting surplus destroyers to the Philippines, deepening military cooperation between the two countries. The transfer aims for early completion....
Honda cancels EV plant in Canada
Japanese automaker Honda has decided to shelve plans for an $11 billion electric vehicle (EV) plant in Canada, citing waning demand for EVs in the region....
Rice farmers in India, Vietnam and Thailand face fertilizer shortage
Rice farmers in India, Vietnam and Thailand are preparing for a potential shortage of fertilizers. The shortage is due to global supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic....
Toyota to use hydrogen-powered trucks for US auto shipments
Japanese automaker Toyota plans to use hydrogen-powered trucks for its US auto shipments. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation....
Japan's Mirumi plush robots aim for global market with cute designs
Mirumi, a Japanese company that produces plush toys, aims to expand its business globally. The company is known for its cute and endearing robot designs....
China’s AI ecosystem diverges from US as DeepSeek launches Ascend‑optimized V4 model
The launch of DeepSeek’s V4 AI models, tuned for Huawei’s Ascend chips, highlights the growing split between China’s self‑reliant AI strategy and the United States’ open‑ecosystem approach. The event on April 24 undersco...
Hong Kong Legislative Council issues written warning to lawmaker Judy Chan for driving against traffic
The Legislative Council’s Supervisory Committee issued a formal warning to New People’s Party lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui after CCTV footage showed her driving on the wrong side of the road in Wan Chai on Jan 23. The warnin...
Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit to testify in Tai Po fire safety probe
Officials from the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit will appear before a judge‑led panel on Wednesday to answer questions about their handling of safety concerns linked to the deadly Tai Po blaze. The probe foc...
South Korean appellate judge who sentenced former first lady Kim Keon‑hee found dead
Shin Jong‑oh, the appellate judge who overturned a not‑guilty verdict and imposed a four‑year prison term on former first lady Kim Keon‑hee, was discovered with severe injuries in a flower bed near Seoul High Court and p...
Mountaineering expert warns May can give false sense of safety after Hong Kong hiker dies in Japan
Two Hong Kong men became stranded in Japan’s Northern Alps in May; one later died while the other was rescued. Veteran climber Chung Kin‑man cautioned that milder low‑land weather in May can create a false sense of safet...
Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa Missing for Six Months Amid Arrest Rumors
Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former police chief under Duterte and now senator, has been absent from Senate duties for six months. Reports suggest he may face arrest linked to the drug war, sparking criticism from human‑righ...
Chinese Chipmakers Allocate Record Share of Revenue to R&D, Outpacing US Peers
First‑quarter 2026 filings show Chinese chip firms Moore Threads and MetaX spent 50% and 45% of revenue on R&D respectively, surpassing US counterparts’ ratios. The data reflects Beijing’s push for tech self‑reliance ami...
North Korea Showcases New Jindallae Smartphone at Trade Fair, Raises Surveillance Concerns
At a recent trade fair, North Korea unveiled its latest Jindallae smartphone, featuring a colourful design and claimed domestic production. Observers doubt the product’s quality given Pyongyang’s ageing manufacturing bas...
CICA Proposed as Asian Alternative to NATO for Middle East Security Amid US‑Israel Conflict
A South China Morning Post analysis proposes the Asian Cooperation Initiative (CICA) as a regional security framework that could serve as an alternative to NATO in the Middle East. The idea emerges as the US‑Israel war w...
Pro‑Kremlin Japanese Lawmaker Muneo Suzuki Seeks Russia‑Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting
Japanese Diet member Muneo Suzuki, known for his pro‑Kremlin stance, announced that Russia is arranging a meeting between Japanese and Russian foreign ministers in July. Suzuki hopes to reset bilateral ties, but analysts...
Domestic Political Forces Drive Japan’s Move Toward Remilitarisation Under PM Takaichi
Analysis highlights that Japan’s shift toward a more assertive defence policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is driven by domestic political dynamics, including pressure from nationalist lawmakers and public opinion...
Aung San Suu Kyi's Son Demands France's Help in Locating Mother
The son of Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi has asked France to help him locate his mother, who was transferred to house arrest by the military junta. The son claims he has still not heard from his mother....
Two killed, three injured in shootings at shopping centre in Texas
A shooting incident occurred at a shopping center in Texas, resulting in two fatalities and three injuries. The suspect was later apprehended by police....
US Army Fires Typhon Missile for First Time in Philippines
The US Army fired a Tomahawk missile from its Typhon Mid-Range Capability launcher system in the Philippines during military exercises. The move has drawn a rebuke from China, which views the system as a threat....