Chinese Destroyer Circumnavigates Japan

A Chinese Navy destroyer and supply ship have completed a near circumnavigation of the Japanese archipelago before returning to the East China Sea.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the vessels sailed between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on August 31st, heading toward the East China Sea. T…[Read more]

Kuwaiti FM meets Japanese counterpart on sidelines of Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya met his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, in Kuwait to discuss bilateral ties.

Iwaya led the Japanese delegation to participate in the second Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which was held on…[Read more]

Japan and South Korea record hottest summers in history

Record temperatures come amid scientists’ warnings that climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events.

Japan and South Korea have sweated through their hottest summers since records began.

Japan’s average temperature this summer was 2.36 degrees Celsius (4.24 degrees Fah…[Read more]

Japan, U.K. Defense Ministers Issue Joint Statement on Cooperation; Nations Will Work Together to Counter China in Indo-Pacific

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey, after meeting at the Defense Ministry on Thursday, issued a joint statement pledging to expand security cooperation between their two countries.

This…[Read more]

Japan releases AI-generated Mount Fuji eruption video to encourage Tokyo residents to be prepared

Large clouds of smoke billow from Japan’s most famous mountain.

In no time, volcanic ash spreads to the heavily populated capital of Tokyo, fogging up the air and blanketing buildings and vehicles.

This is all from an AI-generated video released b…[Read more]

At Tokyo summit, India and Japan outline path forward for the coming decade

Japan and India agreed Friday to significantly ramp up cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, security and people exchanges, as the special strategic partners draw closer amid growing international concern over unilateral U.S. trade tariffs.
In a press…[Read more]

Germany tells nationals to leave Iran, fearing retaliation over sanctions

Germany has told its nationals to leave Iran and refrain from travelling there to avoid getting caught in retaliatory acts by Tehran over Germany’s role in triggering U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
Britain, France and Germany on Thursday launched a…[Read more]

Meeting between Merz and Macron: united for a strong Europe

Large parts of the German and French governments are meeting for a Franco-German Ministerial Council on economic and security policy issues today. Prior to this session, Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron had met at the French president’s summer home in Brégançon for initial talks. At t…[Read more]

UK, France and Germany move to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran

The UK, France and Germany have begun the process of restoring major UN sanctions on Iran – lifted under a 2015 deal – as tensions once again escalate over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The move will trigger a so-called snapback mechanism, which could result in the return of sanctions in…[Read more]

Germany’s Merz says Putin, Zelenskiy to meet within next two weeks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz credited U.S. President Donald Trump with persuading Russia’s President to agree to a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
This meeting, to which Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call with Trump, would take place at a yet-to-be-determined…[Read more]

Wadephul visits Japan: key partner in Asia

A meeting with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in the capital city Tokyo marked the start of Federal Minister Johann Wadephul’s inaugural visit to Japan. In view of the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip as well as the evolving relations with the USA, Wadephul highlighted the role of cooperation…[Read more]

South Korea criticises Japanese officials’ visit to Tokyo war shrine

The South Korean government expressed “deep disappointment and regret” over Japanese officials visiting a Tokyo war shrine on Friday and said future relations must be built on Japan showing remorse for past wrongs, its foreign ministry said.
Japan marked the 80th anniversary of…[Read more]

Memories of two survivors of Japanese PoW boat

The families of two men who survived the sinking of a Japanese prisoner of war ship during World War Two have told their stories to mark 80 years since VJ Day.

There were 1,800 prisoners aboard Lisbon Maru when it sank in the South China Sea on 2 October 1942, including Sgt Cyril Mace from…[Read more]

Sixth University Student Arrested in Expo Mascot Goods Theft Case

A university student in Tokyo has been arrested in connection with the theft of goods from the official store at the Expo site, bringing the total number of suspects in the case to six.

According to police, Akihiro Kono, 20, a resident of Tokyo’s Kita Ward, is accused of s…[Read more]

Passengers Evacuated From Smoking Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama was halted and partially suspended on Friday night after white smoke began pouring out from under the train’s carriage between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima.

According to police and Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai), at around 9:45 p.m., the conductor of the upbound…[Read more]

German economists disappointed by Merz government’s slow reforms, survey shows

Economists in Germany say the new government’s lack of structural reforms, particularly to curb pensions costs, poses long term problems for Germany, even though a massive spending program will boost the economy in the short run.
Germany’s anaemic economy could be…[Read more]

European leaders comment on teleconference with Trump on Ukraine

Donald Trump joined a teleconference with European leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday, two days before the U.S. leader is due to hold a summit in Alaska with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT…[Read more]

Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz marks 100 days in office

Friedrich Merz has begun curbing irregular immigration and shaping foreign policy, while cracks are appearing in his government.

Germany’s largest-circulation tabloid, Bild, has passed judgment on Chancellor Friedrich Merz : “The solitary chancellor explains his biggest mistake,” the…[Read more]

Japan’s deepening political woes cloud budget, rate hike timing

Japan’s deepening political uncertainty risks prolonging policy paralysis that could affect the drafting of next year’s budget and the timing of the central bank’s next interest rate hike, analysts say, clouding the outlook for the fragile economy.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is…[Read more]

Japan weather bureau says 60% chance of La Nina not occurring

Japan’s weather bureau said on Tuesday that there was a 60% chance that the La Nina phenomenon would not occur and normal weather patterns would continue towards the Northern Hemisphere winter.
A La Nina weather event is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the…[Read more]