Japan executes man behind pachinko parlour arson that killed 5
Sunao Takami doused the Osaka venue with petrol and set it on fire in 2009, killing four customers and one employee
· Agence France-Presse
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Japan executes man behind pachinko parlour arson that killed 5
Sunao Takami doused the Osaka venue with petrol and set it on fire in 2009, killing four customers and one employee
· Agence France-Presse
S. Korea to launch 'future fund' with 'windfall revenue' amid chip boom
South Korea will launch the "Future Fund" to promote long-term economic growth, using what the government calls "windfall revenue" from increased tax collection driven by the recent artificial intelligence boom, the budget ministry said Friday.
· Yonhap
Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organiser, former leaders guilty of inciting subversion
Court rules alliance’s push to end ‘one-party dictatorship’ violated national security law and amounted to incitement against Beijing’s leadership
· Brian Wong
Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organiser, former leaders guilty of inciting subversion
Court rules alliance’s push to end ‘one-party dictatorship’ violated national security law and amounted to incitement against Beijing’s leadership
· Brian Wong
Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organizers convicted of inciting subversion
People hold up lights during the last vigil for Tiananmen victims in Hong Kong's Victoria Park on June 4, 2020. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)
· KENJI KAWASE
S. Korea to launch 'future fund' with 'windfall revenue' amid chip boom
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will launch the "Future Fund" to promote long-term economic growth, using what the government calls "windfall revenue" from increased tax collection driven by the recent artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the budget ministry said Friday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Vietnam's 'pearl island' races to reinvent itself for APEC
Vietnam is investing more than $5 billion in airports, hotels and event venues ahead of the APEC summit in November 2027. Shown here are the convention center and performing arts center under construction on Phu Quoc Island. (Sun Group)
· MAI NGUYEN
US pushes allies, China to back Trump's economic war on Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States on Thursday warned allies and China to join President Donald Trump's new campaign to isolate the Iranian economy, vowing that Washington would "collapse this regime" in Tehran.
· Agence France-Presse
Chinese humanoid robots' biggest obstacle: humans are still (mostly) better
BEIJING — The big challenge for humanoid robots is still getting the technology to work well, according to industry leaders speaking alongside the World Robot Conference in Beijing this week.
· Evelyn Cheng
Turkish Airlines aims to add 15%-20% Asia flights, eyes China and Australia
A Turkish Airline plane flies over the Bosphorus Strait that separates the Asian continent from Europe. The national carrier flies to the most countries in the world. (Turkish Airlines)
· SINAN TAVSAN
Korea National Opera chief reports largest assets
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- Korea National Opera General Director Park Hye-jin reported 46.5 billion won (US$33.5 million) worth of assets, topping the list of 73 high-level public office holders required to declare their wealth due to changes in their status, officials said Friday.
· CHANG JAE SUN
Hyundai Motor union stages first full-day strike in 10 years
Hyundai Motor labor union launched a full-day strike Friday, bringing production to a halt across the company’s key plants in South Korea as wage negotiations remain deadlocked.
· Ahn Sung-mi
Kakao Corp. to spinoff core biz to strengthen AI capabilities
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Kakao Corp. said Friday it plans to split its major businesses, including its popular messenger service KakaoTalk, into two entities as part of efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
· Kang Jae-eun
More banks offering cashless payment services for children in Japan
More cashless payment services for children are being made available in Japan, allowing parents to check their children’s balances and spending history through an app to prevent excessive spending.
· No Author
Jailed Pakistan ex-PM Khan moved to hospital on court order — party
ISLAMABAD — Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's most popular politician, was moved to a hospital for medical tests on the orders of the Supreme Court, his political party said early Friday.
· Agence France-Presse
DPWH seeks foreign funding for P34B CDO coastal road project
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will seek foreign funding, particularly from Japan, to accelerate the completion of the proposed extension of the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Coastal Road, Secretary Vince Dizon said Friday.
· Arlie O. Calalo
(LEAD) Philip Morris to launch VEEV e-vapor product in S. Korea
(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 5th para)
· Choi Kyong-ae
Fuel prices projected to go up for 2nd consecutive week
MANILA, Philippines — Fuel prices are estimated to increase once more next week, as tensions in the Middle East continue to influence the global market, local oil industry sources said on Friday.
· Ed Paolo Salting
Western Woman Travels To India And Finds The Misery Of Cultural Enrichment
It's been a long time since the Beatles convinced an entire generation of western youth in 1968 that "enlightenment" and personal peace could be found in the third world backwaters of India's ashram retreats. As it turned out, the world famous band and the yogi scammers of that era would end up creating a trend that…
· Tyler Durden
S. Korea to monitor impact of rising bond yields around globe
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will closely monitor its government bond market amid rising long-term yields in major economies and heightened economic uncertainties, the finance minister said Friday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Photos show traditional and conventional medical care in Tibet
Gama, a physician, describes the therapy for a Tibetan man, right, in a ward of the Xizang Autonomous Region Hospital of Tibetan Medicine in Lhasa, in western China’s Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
S. Korea, U.S., Japan share information, discuss response to N.K. missile launch
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan held telephone consultations Friday to share information and discuss responses following North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
· Oh Seok-min
Yamashita shoots 62 to take 1st-round lead in Edmonton in the CPKC Women’s Open
Miyu Yamashita, back right, of Japan, walks past a mini CPKC train as she arrives at the first tee behind Hannah Green, of Australia, during the first round at the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Panama Canal to reduce shipping over El Nino-fueled drought
PANAMA CANAL — The Panama Canal will reduce shipping volumes from next month because of a drought fueled by the El Nino phenomenon, the operator of the strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans said Thursday.
· Agence France-Presse
Japan lawmakers to visit China in bid to cool row, but thaw unlikely: experts
‘China opposes the Takaichi administration’s erroneous policies but it does not reject exchanges with Japan’: academic Xu Weijun
· Orange Wang
Japan lawmakers to visit China in bid to cool row, but thaw unlikely: experts
‘China opposes the Takaichi administration’s erroneous policies but it does not reject exchanges with Japan’: academic Xu Weijun
· Orange Wang
S. Korea to impose antidumping tariffs on Thai seamless copper pipes
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance ministry said Friday it will impose antidumping tariffs on seamless copper pipes imported from Thailand after its investigation found the imports had caused damage to the domestic industry.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Philip Morris to launch VEEV e-vapor product in S. Korea
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- Philip Morris Korea Inc. said Friday it will launch a new e-vapor product in South Korea next week as it expands its smoke-free product lineup in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
· Choi Kyong-ae
Coking Coal Prices Surge 25%, Squeezing India's Steelmakers
Submitted By Charles Kennedy of OilPrice.com
· Tyler Durden
Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit
The Pacific Fleet fired Bastion missiles near the disputed Kurils, escalating territorial tensions between Moscow and Tokyo
· Kyodo
Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit
The Pacific Fleet fired Bastion missiles near the disputed Kurils, escalating territorial tensions between Moscow and Tokyo
· Kyodo
S. Korea-US combined exercise to conclude ahead of schedule after Trump order
South Korea and the United States were set to wrap up their key military exercise Friday, nearly a week ahead of its original schedule after US President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in a move widely seen as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
· Yonhap
Indonesia to scrap 50 rupiah minimum price for listed stocks
People sit near an electronic board showing the stock market index at the Indonesia Stock Exchange in Jakarta. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
El Niño set to be 'strongest in living memory', says Met Office
Indonesia experienced widespread drought caused by El Niño in 2015
· Ben Rich, Mark Poynting
S. Korea-U.S. combined exercise to conclude ahead of schedule after Trump order
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States were set to wrap up their key military exercise Friday, nearly a week ahead of its original schedule after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in a move widely seen as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
· Kim Seung-yeon
AI cuts costs for Southeast Asia-based scammers
Cambodia has cracked down heavily on scam centers. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
Exports up 56% in first 20 days of Aug. on robust chip shipments
South Korea's exports surged 56 percent from a year earlier over the first 20 days of August, customs data showed Friday, with shipments of semiconductors reaching a fresh high.
· Yonhap
Producer prices fall for 1st time in 11 months in July on declining oil prices
South Korea's producer prices fell for the first time in 11 months in July, driven by lower global crude oil prices despite a sharp rise in prices of agricultural products amid a heat wave, central bank data showed Friday.
· Yonhap
Exports up 56 pct in first 20 days of Aug.
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports surged 56 percent from a year earlier over the first 20 days of August, customs data showed Friday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
(URGENT) Seoul shares open 1.35 pct lower as U.S. bond yields climb again
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Kim Eun-jung
Japan faces ‘nightmare scenario’ as it struggles to defend ICC judge
Tokyo has to tread ‘extremely lightly’ on the issue to avoid jeopardising the US security umbrella on which it relies, analysts say
· Julian Ryall
Japan faces ‘nightmare scenario’ as it struggles to defend ICC judge
Tokyo has to tread ‘extremely lightly’ on the issue to avoid jeopardising the US security umbrella on which it relies, analysts say
· Julian Ryall
Japan's historic yen intervention has ‘turbo-charged’ the carry trade
Japan's historic effort to prop up the yen may have had an unintended consequence: giving some investors a better opportunity to double down on carry trade.
· Lee Ying Shan
Trump and Kim's renewed bromance stirs new and old threats for Australia
Published 21 August 2026 2:04pm
· Sbsaustralia
Emerging sprinter chasing Asian Games medal, nat'l record in 100m dash
JINCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean sprinter Joel Jin Nwamadi has been setting new personal-best times in the men's 100 meters at virtually every meet this season.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Japan headline inflation rate hits highest this year as energy prices bite
Japan's headline inflation rate hit its highest level this year, coming in at 1.9% for July as prices continued to climb due to energy prices.
· Lim Hui Jie
(Yonhap Interview) Wiz pitcher Allen thriving in 2nd chance in KBO: 'In a really good spot right now'
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- When pitching for the NC Dinos last year, left-hander Logan Allen put up good numbers against the KT Wiz but that did not mean the starter found them easy to handle. Though he posted a 2.70 ERA against the Wiz in five starts, his second-best mark against any opponent in the Korea Baseball …
· Yoo Jee-ho
As the space race heats up, China’s momentum is undeniable
LandSpace’s successful recovery of the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket is a milestone that underlines China’s aerospace ambitions
· SCMP Editorial