Why South Korea wants to rebuild a DMZ railway despite Kim’s cold shoulder
With Washington and Pyongyang talking over its head, Seoul is rebooting a border railway to keep its lonely diplomacy on track
· Agence France-Presse
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Weekend showers offer little relief as late-summer heat persists
Showers swept through Seoul and other parts of central Korea on Saturday, with more scattered rain possible through the evening as hot and humid conditions persist across the country.
· Choi Ji-won
Components crunch: China’s carmakers face rising costs to keep intelligence edge
Smart vehicle makers scramble for key parts PCBs and MLCCs as AI demand soaks up supply, leaving margins under siege
· Daniel Ren
Components crunch: China’s carmakers face rising costs to keep intelligence edge
Smart vehicle makers scramble for key parts PCBs and MLCCs as AI demand soaks up supply, leaving margins under siege
· Daniel Ren
China’s new moon mission could unlock secret of lunar ice: Why that matters
China is set to launch its Chang’e-7 unmanned, robotic space mission, possibly as early as Monday morning, to look for ice water in the permanently shadowed craters of the moon’s south pole.
· Sarah Shamim
Today in Korean history
1911 -- The Japanese colonial government, which ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910 until 1945, announces a new public education system in Korea that prohibits the use of Korean language at schools.
· Oh Seok-min
Japan’s crown prince honours settlers who built Paraguay ties
Crown Prince Fumihito thanked Paraguay’s 10,000-strong Japanese community as the nations marked 90 years since settlers arrived
· Kyodo
Japan’s crown prince honours settlers who built Paraguay ties
Crown Prince Fumihito thanked Paraguay’s 10,000-strong Japanese community as the nations marked 90 years since settlers arrived
· Kyodo
Oil importer China won’t aid Trump economic warfare against Iran
Keep independent journalism alive
· Stephen Prager
South Korea to send first container ship through Arctic route
BUSAN -- South Korea was set Saturday to send its first trial container through the Arctic, as the Middle East war rattles global shipping, while environmental groups warned the route could accelerate polar ice melt.
· Yonhap
China banned ivory, but Vietnamese gangs keep the trade alive
A 1.2-tonne seizure reveals how transnational syndicates bypass bans to move poached tusks from Africa to Asia
· Aidan Jones
China banned ivory, but Vietnamese gangs keep the trade alive
A 1.2-tonne seizure reveals how transnational syndicates bypass bans to move poached tusks from Africa to Asia
· Aidan Jones
Chinese durian lovers rejoice as new rail routes bring supply surge and lower prices
Improved cold-chain transport links are making durians cheaper in the world’s biggest market for the pungent tropical fruit
· Sylvia Ma
Chinese durian lovers rejoice as new rail routes bring supply surge and lower prices
Improved cold-chain transport links are making durians cheaper in the world’s biggest market for the pungent tropical fruit
· Sylvia Ma
Japan's Kubota to boost exports from India, seeks price edge in Europe, US
Escorts Kubota, an India-Japan farm equipment joint venture, began setting up a new plant in Uttar Pradesh, India, with a manufacturing capacity of up to 60,000 tractors and 15,000 construction equipment units annually on completion of phase 1. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
· KIRAN SHARMA
Takaichi takes flak for ‘weak’ responses to U.S. and Russia
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration is under fire for what critics say are weak responses to U.S. sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, and to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed island.
· No Author
Japan axes Netflix collaboration after outcry over dating show
The Justice Ministry said Friday it will cancel a collaboration with a controversial Netflix dating show featuring ex-juvenile delinquents, following backlash against what some called the glorification of crimes.
· No Author
Why Chinese foreign minister’s trip to South Korea ‘dealt a low blow’ to Seoul
Despite both sides claiming relations had ‘fully recovered’, Seoul did not win Beijing’s support for its latest peace initiative
· Shi Jiangtao
Why Chinese foreign minister’s trip to South Korea ‘dealt a low blow’ to Seoul
Despite both sides claiming relations had ‘fully recovered’, Seoul did not win Beijing’s support for its latest peace initiative
· Shi Jiangtao
China eyes bid to host 2028 U.N. climate talks
Washington – China is mulling a bid to host U.N. climate talks in 2028, two sources familiar with the matter said Friday, as it seeks to burnish its reputation as a leader in the fight against global warming.
· No Author
Democrats step up offensive over Trump's reduction of drills with S. Korea, push for summitry with Kim
WASHINGTON -- Democratic lawmakers stepped up their offensive against US President Donald Trump on Friday, after he ordered the scaling back of military exercises with South Korea while pushing for renewed summitry with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year.
· Yonhap
U.S. approves potential sale to S. Korea of AIM-9X air-to-air missiles
WASHINGTON -- The US government has authorized a potential sale to South Korea of AIM-9X air-to-air missiles and related equipment, the State Department said Friday, noting that the proposed sale will help enhance the Asian ally's air defense capabilities.
· Yonhap
Expert: S. Korea, U.S. need to address fallout from Trump's exercise reduction for 'productive' engagement with Kim
WASHINGTON -- An expert on Friday called on South Korea and the United States to address the "political fallout" of US President Donald Trump's decision to scale back their military exercises, noting that the "unnecessary crisis" between the allies has created a roadblock to a coordinated approach toward Pyongyang.
· Yonhap
N. Korea denounces Japan's record defense budget as 'war preparation'
North Korea on Saturday condemned Japan's plan to set a record-high defense budget for next year, calling it a move to prepare for a "war of aggression" and threatening to "counterattack thoroughly" with united strength.
· Yonhap
Yamashita opens 5-stroke lead in CPKC Women’s Open as players fight off mosquitos
Miyu Yamashita, of Japan, hits her tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round at the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open golf tournament in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Who bears environmental cost of push for rare earths beyond China?
Wastewater from a rare-earth refining facility in China's Inner Mongolia is discharged into a nearby lake. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
Young Chinese women dye armpit hair as fashion statement and expression of bodily autonomy
Cultural scholars note the irony, suggesting that China’s modern ‘armpit-hair shame’ is actually an imported Western phenomenon
· Zoey Zhang
Young Chinese women dye armpit hair for fashion and bodily autonomy
Cultural scholars note the irony, suggesting that China’s modern ‘armpit-hair shame’ is actually an imported Western phenomenon
· Zoey Zhang
Race against time: will an ageing population derail Vietnam’s economic boom? | South China Morning Post
The country targets high-income status by 2045, but faces a demographic hurdle, with over-65s expected to outnumber children.
N. Korea denounces Japan's record defense budget as 'war preparation'
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Saturday condemned Japan's plan to set a record-high defense budget for next year, calling it a move to prepare for a "war of aggression" and threatening to "counterattack thoroughly" with united strength.
· Oh Seok-min
Like Trump, China’s first emperor survived various assassination attempts
Would-be assassins came close to ending Ying Zheng’s life on at least four occasions, including one whose weapon was a musical instrument
· Wee Kek Koon
Like Trump, China’s first emperor survived various assassination attempts
Would-be assassins came close to ending Ying Zheng’s life on at least four occasions, including one whose weapon was a musical instrument
· Wee Kek Koon
This Liberal MP took a journey from northern China — heading somewhere few Australians dare visit
Published 22 August 2026 11:54am
· Sbsaustralia
Jakarta puts its own spin on Japan's listening bars
Bar Kotak, in South Jakarta, is one of several venues in and around the Indonesian capital drawing on Japanese bar culture to create intimate spaces for conversation and connection. (Courtesy of Bar Kotak)
· MARCEL THEE
Tesla retira casi 3 millones de vehículos en China por riesgos de seguridad en manijas de puertas
ARCHIVO – Varias personas trabajan en la línea de producción del Tesla Model Y en la planta de ensamblaje Tesla Gigafactory durante un recorrido organizado para los medios, en Shanghái, China, el martes 14 de abril de 2026. (AP Foto/Andy Wong, Archivo)
· Chan Ho Him
Tesla recalls nearly 3m vehicles in China over door handle safety risks
Recall comes after Chinese authorities said it would ban hidden car door handles commonly seen on Tesla models
· Associated Press in Hong Kong
Japan executes man convicted of killing five in pachinko fire
Five people died in the pachinko parlour fire in Osaka in 2009. (AP: Kyodo News)
China automakers' EV rush culminates in 'Crazy Thursday'
Even BYD, China's leading EV maker, is struggling with the sheer number of competing models. (Photo by Shizuka Tanabe)
· Staff Writer
China comedian investigation show cancellation censorship
One of China’s best-known comedians is under investigation and several of his shows have been canceled after he changed the lyrics of a revolutionary song during a performance.
· Fu Ting
Tesla recalls nearly 3M vehicles in China over door handle safety risks
HONG KONG — Tesla and other Chinese carmakers are making a major recall of more than 4 million vehicles over safety concerns mostly related to their door handles, according to Chinese authorities on Friday.
· Associated Press
As natural disasters rage, does China’s ‘top-down’ climate model provide a way forward?
As Beijing enacts a state-led approach to climate adaptation, Washington leans on the private sector and Brussels tries to chart a middle way
· Xiaofei Xu
As natural disasters rage, does China’s ‘top-down’ climate model provide a way forward?
As Beijing enacts a state-led approach to climate adaptation, Washington leans on the private sector and Brussels tries to chart a middle way
· Xiaofei Xu
World-first virus therapy for esophageal cancer debuts in Japan
A researcher at Oncolys BioPharma works at the company's laboratory. (Oncolys BioPharma)
· Staff Writer
Japan's Tokuyama to make key chip material in Vietnam, Malaysia
Tokuyama's new plant in southern Vietnam will add capacity and expand production beyond the company's Japanese factory. (Tokuyama)
· Staff Writer
The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do
While Washington says it is monitoring certain countries, including Japan, for foreign exchange interventions, it also coordinated with Tokyo to prop up the yen
· Alex Lo
The US is telling its trading partners – do as I say, not as I do
While Washington says it is monitoring certain countries, including Japan, for foreign exchange interventions, it also coordinated with Tokyo to prop up the yen
· Alex Lo
Japan to crack down on deceptive 'dark pattern' websites
In Japan, 37.5% report encountering 'dark patterns' on online shopping sites in recent months. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
· Staff Writer
Japan faces $63bn fiscal shortfall for food tax cut, defense buildup
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pushed for an expansionary fiscal stance, but her government has not clarified where some of the funding will come from. (Photo by Ken Suzuki)
· Staff Writer
Anne Hathaway shows off shortest hair in over a decade on the cover of Vogue China
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· Melissa Minton