Kumamoto Castle reopens 2 weeks after massive quake
KUMAMOTO – Kumamoto Castle in reopened to the public Thursday, about two weeks after a powerful earthquake struck the prefecture.
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Newest first · UTC+11:00TSMC and Sony team up, China's AI stocks swing
Hello everyone, it's Cissy from Hong Kong, your #techAsia host this week. It's been seriously hot here recently. On Sunday, the temperature downtown hit 36.9 C, making it the hottest day Hong Kong has recorded since 1884. The heat was partly blamed on Typhoon Dolphin trapping warm air over the city. But honestly, I …
· Staff Writer
Japan's crown prince says he believes in gender equality for royal duties
Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko attend a news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, ahead of their visit to Paraguay. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)
· Mari Yamaguchi
Beijing bar serves customers drinks and access to AI models | South China Morning Post
Offer of free access to AI tools has been embraced by developers, start-up founders and investors.
Putin visits Pacific island chain claimed by Japan
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, visits the Secondary School named after the Hero of Russia Eduard Norpolov in Kurilsk on the Iturup Island, the largest of the Kuril Islands of Russia’s fareast, on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
China’s marriages fell 7.5% in the first half of 2026. What does it spell for the economy?
Fewer weddings, rising divorces and plunging birth rates risk exacerbating the fallout from a rapidly ageing population
· Sherry Wang
China’s marriage rate is still declining. What does it spell for the economy?
Fewer weddings, rising divorces and plunging birth rates risk exacerbating the fallout from a rapidly ageing population
· Sherry Wang
S. Korea to host economic ministerial meeting with Africa in Sept.
SEJONG, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will host an economic ministerial meeting with African nations next month under its vision to expand cooperation in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector with the emerging continent, the finance ministry said Thursday.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Jones turns to geese to inspire Japan
Eddie Jones previously coached Japan from from 2012 to 2015
· Bbcsport
'International Law Is No Match for Cannons': Independence activist's calligraphy returns to Korea
A calligraphic work by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, written after Japanese authorities rejected his plea for a trial under international law, has been returned to Korea from Japan, the Korea Heritage Service said Thursday.
· Hwang Dong-hee
S. Korea's top Catholic leader offers condolences to Colombia quake victims
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top Catholic leader on Thursday expressed condolences to victims of a deadly earthquake in Colombia and said he would pray alongside the faithful of the Korean church for all those affected by the disaster.
· Shim Sun-ah
AI surge helps dual-listed mainland China stocks hit 1-year high premium over Hong Kong
Yuan-traded shares have hit a 23% premium over their H-share equivalents, the highest in almost 12 months
· Zhang Shidong
AI surge helps dual-listed mainland China stocks hit 1-year high premium over Hong Kong
Yuan-traded shares have hit a 23% premium over their H-share equivalents, the highest in almost 12 months
· Zhang Shidong
Data center boom fuels calls for tighter regulation in Korea
Seoul could soon join a growing number of major cities seeking tighter controls on new data centers as concerns mount over their heavy use of electricity and water.
· Lim Jae-seong
Police bust Thailand-based phishing ring involving nude-photo extortion
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Police said Thursday they have busted a Thailand-based voice phishing ring that allegedly swindled 6.7 billion won (US$4.73 million) from 68 victims in South Korea last year.
· Yoo Cheong-mo
Korea flags 36 penny stocks under tougher delisting rules
36 Kospi and Kosdaq firms receive new warnings as authorities spur market cleanup
· Choi Yeon-jae
Chinese yeast factory boosts cancer drug production speed 1,000 times
Turning point for team came from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including working across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering
· Zhang Tong
Chinese yeast factory boosts cancer drug production speed 1,000 times
Turning point for team came from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including working across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering
· Zhang Tong
S. Korea completes development of its first small satellite constellation
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has completed the development of the country's first small satellite constellation set to be topped on the Nuri rocket in October, and held a pre-shipment review on Thursday, the space agency said.
· Kang Jae-eun
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Fiji meet in Seoul for talks on energy cooperation, mutual ties
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Foreign ministers of South Korea and Fiji held talks in Seoul on Thursday, seeking ways to strengthen bilateral ties and discussing energy supply chains and other areas of mutual interest, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
· Woo Jae-yeon
N. Korea considering expanding troop deployment to Russia: report
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
Nationwide rain forecast for long weekend to bring relief to drought-hit south
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Rain is forecast across South Korea over the upcoming three-day weekend, the national weather agency said Thursday, likely bringing relief to southern regions suffering from a severe drought.
· Chae Yun-hwan
Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun
Chinese parents traditionally view summer as a time for academic advancement, leaving many children dreading the break
· Fran Lu
Chinese ‘pre-made children’ term reflects trend of parents prioritising study over summer fun
Chinese parents traditionally view summer as a time for academic advancement, leaving many children dreading the break
· Fran Lu
ASEAN chief urges deeper Korea ties on energy, digital transition
Since 2017, I have covered South Korea’s political and economic landscape as a reporter, with a focus on foreign affairs, inter-Korean relations and security.As a foreign affairs reporter, I closely follow developments from the Ministry of Unification, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, tracking shifts i…
· Jung Min-kyung
China’s late premier Zhu Rongji remembered as the chief engineer of economic transformation | South China Morning Post
Zhu had a major role in reshaping China’s economy, first as vice-premier and then as premier.
Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan
The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo
· Agence France-Presse
Russia’s Putin makes first visit to Kuril Islands claimed by Japan
The Russian president inspected the Pacific fleet on his first trip to the disputed archipelago, drawing a protest from Tokyo
· Agence France-Presse
Nearly 3 years on, Korea again delays Google, Apple app payment ruling
South Korea’s media regulator has delayed a final decision on sanctions against Google and Apple over in-app payment practices it says violated Korean law, nearly three years after the penalties were first proposed.
· Jie Ye-eun
Taiwan says it was hit by ‘abnormal’ AI-assisted cyber-attack
Taiwan’s statement comes a day after reports that suspected China-linked hackers had carried out a first-of-a-kind breach
· Guardian staff with agencies
China’s YMTC breaks into global top three flash-memory suppliers for first time
The chipmaker captured 14 per cent of global bit shipments, but still ranks fifth by revenue due to heavier exposure to lower-value products
· Howard Liu
China’s YMTC breaks into global top 3 flash-memory suppliers for first time
The chipmaker captured 14 per cent of global bit shipments, but still ranks fifth by revenue due to heavier exposure to lower-value products
· Howard Liu
Today in Korean history
1961 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Gabon.
· Choi Kyong-ae
YouTuber sparks controversy for filming at mixed-gender hot spring in Japan
A Korean YouTuber has touched off controversy after filming at a mixed-gender outdoor hot spring in Japan despite the facility's no-filming policy.
· Yoon Min-sik
Millions witness Europe’s first solar eclipse in 27 years | South China Morning Post
The eclipse travelled through parts of Greenland and Iceland, before arcing across the Atlantic Ocean towards northern Spain.
Japan protests against Putin visit to disputed islands
Russian state media said it was Putin's first visit to the Kuril islands
· Bbcnews
US-China rivalry takes flight over scramble for contracts at Ethiopia’s Bishoftu airport
State-owned Chinese companies are leading the way in the bidding war, but Washington is pushing the claims of firms such as Boeing and GE
· Jevans Nyabiage
US-China rivalry takes flight over scramble for contracts at Ethiopia’s Bishoftu airport
State-owned Chinese companies are leading the way in the bidding war, but Washington is pushing the claims of firms such as Boeing and GE
· Jevans Nyabiage
South Korea’s Kospi has staged a stunning comeback. How long will the bull market last?
South Korea's Kospi has staged a reversal from its latest rout, returning to bull-market territory as investors pile back into the country's semiconductor giants that dominate the index.
· Lee Ying Shan
China’s ‘brain chip’ drive accelerates with slew of state-backed initiatives
China is throwing the power of the state behind efforts to overtake Elon Musk in a vital frontier technology: brain-computer interfaces
· Julie Zhang
China’s ‘brain chip’ drive accelerates with slew of state-backed initiatives
China is throwing the power of the state behind efforts to overtake Elon Musk in a vital frontier technology: brain-computer interfaces
· Julie Zhang
Asian shares mostly rise after AI leads rally on Wall Street
A person walks in front of an electronic stock chart board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
· Yuri Kageyama
S. Korea vows to start building 230,000 houses in 5 years amid housing affordability crisis
South Korea on Thursday unveiled plans to begin construction of 230,000 houses in the Greater Seoul area within five years to address the housing affordability crisis.
· Son Ji-hyoung
China steadies yuan as exporters feel currency squeeze
Some Chinese exporters have issued profit warnings due to foreign exchange losses, reflecting a decline in the value of their dollar-denominated assets in their yuan-denominated financial statements. © Reuters
· Staff Writer
TWS tops Billboard Japan Hot 100 with 2nd single
TWS claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard Japan’s Hot 100 with “Soda Soda,” according to the latest chart published Wednesday.
· Hwang You-mee
Taiwan holds anti-blockade naval drill during war games as China steps up maritime pressure
Taiwan's armed forces carried out an anti-blockade drill during annual war games, using the navy and coast guard to simulate escorting a merchant ship, the Defense Ministry said Thursday, as China steps up its maritime pressure.
· Yonhap
China Dominates The Humanoid Robot Race. Can Trump Close The Gap?
It should surprise no one that new data from Smart Analytics Global, cited by Bloomberg, shows that Chinese humanoid robot makers accounted for a staggering 97% of global shipments in the first half of 2026.
· Tyler Durden
Auto exports set new record, rising 7 pct in July
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports rose 7 percent in July from a year earlier to a new record high, driven by strong demand for environment-friendly models, data showed Thursday.
· Choi Kyong-ae
N. Korea's Wed. rebuke marks its 1st official stance on Seoul's nuclear submarine push: official
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's criticism Wednesday of Seoul's push for nuclear-powered submarines marked Pyongyang's first official response to the matter, a South Korean unification ministry official said Thursday.
· Woo Jae-yeon
North Korea doubles down on Its alliance with Russia, for now
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· Daniel Sneider