Japan news

  • Thailand News

    Newly crowned Miss Japan dethroned over affair scandal

    The glitz and glamour of Miss Japan turned into a whirlwind of controversy as the newly crowned beauty queen relinquished her throne amidst scandalous revelations. The recently crowned beauty queen, 26 year old naturalised Japanese citizen Karolina Shiino, clinched the prestigious Miss Japan title just a fortnight ago. Now she has abdicated her crown following a scandal linking her to…

  • World News

    Japan facing rise in ‘Long Covid’ cases

    Japan is seeing a number of people report having so-called ‘Long Covid’ symptoms, including fatigue, coughing and memory memory loss. Tokyo’s metropolitan government found that of the 2,039 people reporting Long Covid symptoms, 97% only had mild symptoms when they were infected with the coronavirus between January and April. 74% had no underlying disease, and more than 70% were aged…

  • World News

    Japan government says masks not needed outside if you don’t talk too much

    Japan’s government is saying it’s not necessary for people to wear masks outside, as long as they aren’t talking to others a lot. On Friday, Health Labor and Welfare Minister Shigeyuki Goto, said that even indoors, masks aren’t necessary if people are not talking a lot, and they can properly socially distance. The recent change to the Japanese government’s position…

  • Bangkok News

    New Japanese food export platform launched in Bangkok

    Following Japanese PM Fumio Kishida’s visit to Thailand, Japan has launched a new platform in Bangkok. The platform, called Japan Food Export Platform, is meant to help boost exports of Japanese farm products and foodstuffs. At a meeting yesterday, Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said that talks between the countries are “a good opportunity” to strengthen their agricultural…

  • World News

    Japan’s PM says entry restrictions to ease by next month

    Japan’s PM announced yesterday that in June, visitors can enter the country “as smoothly as other G-7 nations”. Apart from China, Japan is the last Asian country that still hasn’t opened its border to foreign tourists. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has only been letting in foreigners who are either studying abroad, foreign dignitaries, or people…

  • World News

    HRW urges Japan’s PM to raise human rights issues on Thailand trip

    For the first time in 9 years, Japan’s Prime Minister plans to visit Thailand. Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida plans to visit Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on May 1-2 (Sunday to Monday) next week. Now, Human Rights Watch is calling on Fumio to raise concerns with Prayut about freedom of expression and assembly. This is part of a larger call that…

  • World News

    Asia News Today | A Malaysian Boeing 737 ‘dives’ in a terrifying mid-air incident

    Another mid-air incident in Asia after a Malaysia Airlines flight from KL to Sabah on Borneo dipped its nose and dropped suddenly, allegedly flying erratically before turning back to Sabah. The incident happened on Sunday but has only come to light after passengers posted their stories on social media. The airline says that Flight MH2664 from KLIA turned back due…

  • World News

    Asia News Today | South Korea Committed To Re-opening Plans

    China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is urging the Philippine government to steer clear of external “disturbances” to its China policy and work to prevent tension arising from their South China Sea dispute The issue of China’s claims over the island’s in the South China Sea has become one of the issues in the run-up to the Philippine presidential election next…

  • World News

    Asia News Today | Japanese yen drops to a seven year low

    Nearly 9,000 soldiers from the Philippines and US are participating in the largest-ever joint military drills as the two longtime allies do some high-level sabre-rattling amid fresh tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Filipino and American soldiers will take part in the 12 day military exercises across the main Filipino island of Luzon. Philippine military chief welcomed soldiers from…

  • World News

    Asia News Today | Both black boxes now found on China plane & lockdown in Shanghai

    The latest from the crash site of the Boeing 737 in southern China, more threats from the Burmese Junta, one of the largest cities in the world heads into a Covid lockdown and vanishing glaciers in Indonesia, yes Indonesia.   Recovery crews at the site of the China Eastern Boeing 737 that crashed last Monday, have found the second black…

  • World News

    Japan earthquake kills 4, injures almost 100

    A 7.4 earthquake hit the northeast coast of Japan late last night, killing at least four and injuring almost 100. About 36,400 houses had no electricity this morning, although an electricity firm said most houses are expected to have electricity again later today. Japan issued a tsunami warning, but canceled it early this morning. Parts of Tokyo also lost power…

  • Thailand video news

    Asia News Today | China locks down 17 million, earthquake in Indonesia

    Families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea are calling on an early meeting of leaders from the two countries to retrieve their relatives. They are pushing on the Japanese government to approach North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to swiftly resolve the issue of abductions… this comes from the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea.The association…

  • World News

    Foreigners wanting to study in Japan likely can by end of May

    After about 150,000 foreign students have been kept from studying in Japan, they will likely be allowed to finally enter the country by the end of May. A Japanese government spokesman said yesterday that in March, a new priority entry program will start before the new school year. The spokesman said it’s unclear how many of the 150,000 students who…

  • Thailand video news

    Asia News Today | Malaysia refuses to add sanctions on Russia & Stranded Russians in Thailand

    South Korea, heading to the polls tomorrow for the election of the next president, has reported a new record daily high of 342,446 COVID-19 infections… no that’s not a typo. The country also reported an additional 158 Covid-related deaths. As the country goes through the final day of electioneering for, what’s been a toxic and nasty campaign, more than a…

  • Thailand video news

    Asia News Today | Japan to ease border controls & Fears of Cambodian surveillance

    A new internet gateway in Cambodia, set to be launched today, is being delayed, apparently due to issues related to Covid 19 in the country. When enacted, all Internet traffic in Cambodia will be routed through the government-run National Internet Gateway, allowing authorities to monitor online activity, intercept and censor digital communications, and collect users’ personal data. But the Telecommunications…

  • Thailand video news

    Asia News Today | Daily news from around Asia in 10 minutes

    US prosecutors have accused a former Goldman Sachs banker of taking 35 million USD in kickbacks on the first day of a trial over the multibillion-dollar looting of the infamous 1MDB Malaysian government fund.Roger Ng, Goldman’s former head of investment banking in Malaysia, stands charged with conspiring to launder money. The trial is renewing scrutiny of Goldman Sachs’s role in…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand Top Stories | Marriage Equality push, Thai telcos merge, PM stays put | November 25

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is fending off rumours of his standing down for a second time in less than 5 days. A new telco company is being formed through the merger of True Corporation and DTAC. LGBTQ advocacy groups are continuing their campaign for marriage equality in Thailand but have turned their attention to the opposition Pheu Thai Party. 22…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand Top Stories | Suvarnabhumi prepared to accommodate visitors from 63 countries | November 2

    Natty gives us a quick update on the national Covid-19 situation as well as the top headlines in Thailand and around the region: Thailand Pass workaround for API error, Bangkok hospital director summoned for allegedly smuggling Favipiravir, Suvarnabhumi prepared to accommodate visitors from 63 countries, National Water Command says floods are receding overall, Japan’s Kishida defies expectations as ruling LDP…