Australia Secures Jet Fuel from China to Keep Flying in Energy Squeeze
Australia has secured three shipments of jet fuel from China totaling 600,000 barrels, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday, doubling the national supply. The Middle East conflict and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have caused fuel prices to soar and left many Asia-Pacific nations facing a»»»
Japanese prime minister travels to meet South Korea president for second leg of hometown summits
SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi were set to hold their fourth meeting in about six months on Tuesday, underscoring their push to deepen ties between the historical Asian rivals in the face of geopolitical challenges. Lee will host Takaichi in h»»»
Russia downs drone headed for Moscow, mayor says
TOKYO: Russia has downed a drone headed for Moscow, city Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app on Tuesday. Emergency services have been deployed to the area where the drone has fallen, the post added.»»»
US crude futures fall, Brent down nearly 3%
Oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trade, extending losses after recent volatility tied to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz began to ease and tanker traffic showed tentative signs of recovery. Market data at 9:27 a.m. Tokyo time showed: WTI crude at $102.5, down $1.87 (-1.79%) Brent crud»»»
UAE travellers can now fly Business Class to Tokyo, Santorini, Salalah at lower fares
Dubai: UAE residents planning summer holidays now have a narrow booking window to secure discounted Business Class fares from Abu Dhabi to destinations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, after Etihad Airways launched a limited-time premium cabin sale covering peak summer travel dates. Get upd»»»
Oil prices dip on report of US sanctions relief for Iran during talks
Oil prices turned lower in afternoon trading Monday and stock markets advanced after an Iranian media report said U.S. officials had agreed to suspend sanctions against its crude while talks on ending the war continue. The unconfirmed Tasnim report cited an unnamed source, but analysts said traders»»»
Bus-size asteroid to skim past Earth at quarter of moon’s distance
An asteroid estimated to be about the size of one to two school buses will pass close to Earth on Monday, coming within 91,593 kilometers (56,913 miles), or roughly a quarter of the average distance between Earth and the moon, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). Astronomers at the Mount L»»»
Japan Arrests Americans over Stunt at Baby Monkey Punch's Zoo
Two American nationals were arrested in Japan after a stunt in which one entered the monkey enclosure at a zoo where a baby macaque named Punch became a global internet sensation this year, police said Monday. One of the men, who identified himself as a 24-year-old college student, was arrested Sun»»»
Japan arrests Americans over stunt at baby monkey Punch’s zoo
TOKYO: Two American nationals were arrested in Japan after a stunt in which one entered the monkey enclosure at a zoo where a baby macaque named Punch became a global Internet sensation this year, police said Monday. One of the men, who identified himself as a 24-year-old college student, was arres»»»
Asian Stocks Sink, Oil Rises on US-Iran Deadlock
Most Asian shares were lower in morning trade on Monday, extending slides in global markets, as the impasse in the Middle East drove oil prices more than two percent higher. Washington and Tehran agreed to a truce in April, but negotiations on ending the conflict have stalled and sporadic attacks i»»»
Xi, Trump agree: Iran must not get nuclear weapons — what it means for the world
During the May 14-15, 2026 state visit of US President Donald Trump to Beijing, both US and China publicly declared a unified stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It reflects mutual interest shared by the two largest powers: uniting against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and reinforcing a long-standing»»»
Oil prices up sharply as traders weighed ongoing supply disruptions, benchmark crude contracts further above the $100/barrel mark
Oil prices rose sharply on Monday (May 18) as traders weighed ongoing supply disruptions tied to tensions in the Middle East and tightening global inventories, pushing benchmark crude contracts further above the $100-per-barrel mark. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $1.22 to»»»
Xi, Trump agree: Iran must not get nuclear weapons — what it means for the Middle East and the world
During the May 14-15, 2026 state visit of US President Donald Trump to Beijing, both US and China publicly declared a unified stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It reflects mutual interest shared by the two largest powers: uniting against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and reinforcing a long-standing»»»
North Korean women’s football club arrives in South amid strained ties
INCHEON, South Korea: North Korean women’s football club Naegohyang FC arrived in South Korea on Sunday for an Asian Women’s Champions League semifinal, marking the first visit by athletes from the isolated state to the South in eight years. The delegation of 27 players and 12 staff entered the cou»»»
Japan pharmaceutical firm warns against rare diseases drug after deaths
Tokyo, Japan: A Japanese pharmaceutical firm has warned doctors against prescribing a drug for rare autoimmune diseases to new patients following the deaths of 20 people who took it. Kissei Pharmaceutical, which sells the drug Tavneos in Japan, sent a notice to healthcare professionals on Friday sa»»»
Son Heung-min to lead Republic of Korea squad at his fourth World Cup
Seoul, Republic of Korea: Son Heung-min was named in the Republic of Korea's squad for his fourth World Cup on Saturday. Captain Son will turn 34 in July and he is now playing for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, having left Tottenham Hotspur and the English Premier League a year ago. He head»»»
Oil jumps more than 4%, posting strong weekly gains
Oil futures and refined fuel benchmarks climbed on Friday and into Saturday as traders tracked tightening supply signals and widening spreads across global crude grades. Both West Texas Intermediate and Brent posted strong gains. As of 10:24 am in Tokyo on May 16, US benchmark WTI crude was up $4.2»»»
6.3-magnitude earthquake hits northern Japan
Tokyo: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Friday with no tsunami warning issued, Japan Meteorological Agency has said. The agency stated that the earthquake occurred at 8:22 PM (11:22 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. There were no immediate reports of d»»»
6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's Miyagi: JMA
Tokyo, Japan: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck off Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Friday, the country's weather agency said. No immediate injuries or damage have been reported. The temblor occurred at 8:22pm local time at a depth of 50 km, measuring lower 5 on Jap»»»
Japanese PM Takaichi to visit S. Korea's Andong next week for talks with Lee - UPI.com
President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands at an ancient temple in Nara Prefecture on Jan. 14, 2026, in this file photo. File Pool Photo by Yonhap Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit South Korea's central city of Andong next week for a two-day t»»»
Barshim family moment adds emotional spark to Qatar’s golden night at Games
Doha, Qatar: A rare family double lit up the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 as the Barshim name featured on two podiums in contrasting but equally memorable fashion. While Olympic hero Mutaz Barshim won high jump gold, his father Essa Barshim produced a stirring performance to claim silver in the men’s 5,»»»
Qatar’s gold rush continues as track and field stars, swimmers shine at GCC Games
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s track and field athletes struck five gold medals as swimmers maintained their strong momentum, with the hosts strengthening their grip on top spot on an action-packed day at the GCC Games Doha 2026 yesterday. Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim marked his return to competition by sh»»»
Energy markets mostly higher in Friday trading, led by crude gains
Energy prices were broadly higher in afternoon trading Friday (May 15, 2026), with benchmark crude oil futures posting gains as traders tracked shifting supply signals across global markets. As of 2:01 pm Friday in Tokyo, WTI was up $1.24 at $102.41, a 1.23% increase. Brent crude rose $1.24 to $106»»»
Japan PM to visit South Korean president’s hometown on May 19
SEOUL: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will make a two-day visit to South Korea from May 19 at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung, Seoul’s presidential office said Friday. The trip comes as the two US-allied democratic neighbors seek to strengthen ties while facing shared challenges f»»»
MoCI participates in Geoeconomic Summit 2026
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) participated in the Geoeconomic Summit 2026, held yesterday, in Tokyo, Japan, with the participation of a distinguished group of international officials and experts specializing in international economics and geoeconomics. The Ministry was r»»»
Second Japan-linked crude oil tanker passes through Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data shows
TOKYO: A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker managed by Japanese refining group Eneos has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data from LSEG showed on Thursday, the second instance of such a Japan-linked ship making it through. Before the US-Israeli war on Iran largely disrupted oil supp»»»
Asia markets mixed as Trump-Xi summit, AI trade dominate
Asian markets were mixed Thursday as investors weighed a high-stakes US-China summit and persistent inflation concerns, which tempered optimism fuelled by record highs on Wall Street. The cautious mood came after another tech-led rally on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hit fresh record h»»»
Japan 'robot wolves' in high demand to scare off bears
Tokyo, Japan: A Japanese company making ferocious-looking robot wolves is being swamped by orders after record numbers of fatal bear attacks on humans last year. "Monster wolf" is an animatoronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals. Ohta Seik»»»
Japan ‘robot wolves’ in high demand to scare off bears
TOKYO: A Japanese company making ferocious-looking robot wolves is being swamped by orders after record numbers of fatal bear attacks on humans last year. “Monster Wolf” is an animatoronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals. Ohta Seiki, the »»»
Airlines Cut 2 Million Seats as Fuel Crisis Disrupts Global Flight NetworksOpinions
Global airlines are sharply reducing flight schedules and available seating capacity for May as concerns grow over potential fuel shortages and ongoing instability in energy supply chains. Industry data cited by the Financial Times shows that roughly 2 million seats have been removed within a two-w»»»
As Trump heads to China, past US flubs on US policy toward Taiwan can be a warning
BEIJING: It’s a verbal tightrope American presidents have had to walk for nearly 50 years, where even small slip-ups when stating official US policy toward Taiwan and China can trigger geopolitical alarm bells. The way the US views Taiwan under the “One China” policy recognizes the Chinese position»»»
Oil prices slide: Brent and WTI slip after three days of gains, with markets reassessing demand in Asia, US stock data, growth concerns
Oil prices pulled back in Asian trade Wednesday, reversing a three-session climb as markets took stock of shifting demand cues and persistent worries about global economic growth. As of 11 am Tokyo time, both major benchmarks were softer, with traders digesting mixed signals from economic data and »»»
QA expands global network with Helsinki, Tokyo Haneda return
QNA Doha Qatar Airways announced that it will resume its flight operations to Helsinki, Finland, and to Tokyo Haneda, Japan from July 15, part of expanding its services across international markets. In its statement on Tuesday, Qatar Airways said that it will operate four weekly flights to Helsinki»»»
Saudi ambassador to Japan meets former Prime Minister in Tokyo
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Binzagr has met former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as part of efforts to strengthen strategic dialogue. Their meeting carried special significance within the framework of the Saudi-Japanese Strategic Partnership, with the two sides holding »»»
Saudi ambassador to Japan meets former Prime Minister in Tokyo
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Binzagr has met former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as part of efforts to strengthen strategic dialogue. Their meeting carried special significance within the framework of the Saudi-Japanese Strategic Partnership, with the two sides holding »»»
Qatar Airways to resume flight operations to Tokyo Haneda, Helsinki
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways announced expanding its services across international markets, and is resuming flight operations to Helsinki, Finland, and to Tokyo Haneda, Japan from July 15, 2025. Qatar Airways flights to Helsinki (HEL) As part of its commitment to furthering connectivity to Europe, Qa»»»
Qatar Airways expands global network with return to Helsinki and Tokyo Haneda
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways is expanding its services across international markets, and will be resuming flights operations to Helsinki, Finland, and to Tokyo Haneda, Japan from July 15, 2026. According to a statement by Qatar Airways, the flights to Helsinki will depart every Monday, Wednesday, Fri»»»
Japan crisp packs to go colorless due to Iran war crunch
TOKYO: Japan’s leading potato chip maker is feeling the crunch from shortages linked to the Iran war, swapping its signature orange-and-yellow packets for black and white.A household name in Japan, Calbee is known for its savoury potato chips with an array of flavours from seaweed salt to soy sauce»»»
Japan Crisp Packs to Go Colorless Due to Iran War Crunch
Japan's leading potato chip maker is feeling the crunch from shortages linked to the Iran war, swapping its signature orange-and-yellow packets for black and white. A household name in Japan, Calbee is known for its savory potato chips with an array of flavors from seaweed salt to soy sauce and but»»»
Dollar Rises on Fading Hopes of Middle East Peace Deal
The US dollar strengthened broadly on Tuesday as talks to end the war in the Middle East showed no signs of progress, pushing oil prices higher and worrying investors that interest rates may need to stay higher to tackle inflationary pressures. Investors now fear that the ceasefire that has been in»»»
Japan baseball to punish dangerous swings after umpire hit
Tokyo: Japanese baseball has adopted a rule to punish players for dangerous swings, as an umpire remains unconscious almost a month after being accidentally hit on the head by a bat. Umpire Takuto Kawakami was behind home plate during a game in Tokyo on April 16 when slugger Jose Osuna swung his ba»»»
QFZ strengthens supply chain resilience through coordinated logistics support
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the resilience of supply chains, supporting the smooth flow of goods, thus consolidating Qatar’s position as a strategic hub for logistics and global trade. As part of its ongoing efforts, QFZ, in collaboration»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Japan intend to eliminate double taxation - | 24.KG
The Parliament’s Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration reviewed the draft law «On Ratification of the Agreement between the Kyrgyz Republic and Japan on the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance,»»»
Tunisias Ambassador in Tokyo meets with UNAFEI Director
Tunis, May 11 (TAP) - Tunisia's Ambassador in Tokyo Ahmed Chafra received on Monday Yamauchi Yoshimitsu, Director of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) and Japan’s...»»»
Oil Soars as Trump Rejects Iran's Terms
Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's terms for ending the war in the Middle East, while stocks were mixed. Trump's repudiation of Iran's response to his latest peace proposal raised the likelihood of further violence and disruptions to oil supplie»»»
Nintendo to hike Switch 2 price, warns on profits
Tokyo: Japanese gaming giant Nintendo said Friday it will hike the price of its Switch 2 gaming console as component costs soar, warning that net profit would fall 27 percent this year. The Switch 2 price would rise 20 percent in Japan to 59,980 yen, by around 10 percent in the United States to $49»»»
Oil Jumps, Stocks Fall as US-Iran Clashes Spark Peace Talks Fears
Stocks sank and oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the war and reopen the crucial waterway. Markets across the world have enjoyed a strong run this week on growing optimism that the 10-week conflict -- which has sent oil prices soaring»»»
Oil Prices Drop awaiting Mideast Peace Progress
Oil prices fell and global stock markets traded mixed Thursday awaiting an update on a US plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Having plunged more than 10 percent at one point Wednesday on peace hopes, crude futures fell far less sharply Thursday, with losses of around t»»»
Hopes for reopening Hormuz Strait push world shares higher
World shares jumped on Thursday, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gaining almost 6% to a new record as investors waited to see if the U.S. and Iran will strike a deal allowing tankers to deliver crude from the Persian Gulf again. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index jumped more than 3,300 points to 63,086.00 »»»
Oil prices rise as investors weigh Middle East peace prospects
TOKYO: Oil prices rose over $1 on Thursday, rebounding from the previous day’s sharp losses, as investors weighed the prospects of a Middle East peace deal succeeding. Brent crude futures were up 78 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $102.05 a barrel at 07:00 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate gai»»»