70 m. ago Revealed: the secret Japanese past of North Korean leader Kim Jong

A new book published in Japan has shed fresh light on the life of Ko Yong-hui, the mother of Kim Jong-un, whose background the North Korean leader would prefer remains shrouded in secrecy. Published last month, Ko Yong-hui: The Zainichi Korean Who Became Kim Jong-un’s Mother, was written by journalist and author Yoji Gomi and draws on interviews with relatives still based in Japan, detailing how Kim Jong-un’s maternal grandfather made a precarious living as a smuggler and had to flee to North...

Politics

3 h. ago U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms

U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms  USNI News

Events

16 h. ago ‘More dangerous’ than Pogos: should Philippines ban online gambling?

At the rehabilitation centres run by Bridges of Hope, a recovery network spread across the Philippines, founder Jon Ty is used to seeing the different faces of addiction. For years, clients came seeking help for their abuse of drugs, alcohol or painkillers. Now, most come for something else. Today, seven in 10 clients treated across the network of centres are battling online gambling addiction – a trend that highlights a deepening crisis in the country, fuelled by a boom in mobile betting apps...

Politics

19 h. ago Indian dad, 55, elopes with son’s fiancée, 22, and takes off with family cash and gold.

A father of six from northern India has eloped with the fiancée of his teenage son and taken off with the family’s gold and cash. Shakeel, 55, from Uttar Pradesh, is also a grandfather of three. According to the local media outlet NDTV, he had arranged for his 15-year-old son Aman to marry Ayesha, a young woman from a nearby village. His family initially opposed the engagement for financial reasons, but Shakeel pushed ahead with the plan. The 22-year-old Ayesha was described as gentle and...

Politics

23 h. ago 5 stocks gain in Hong Kong trading debut as bull market rages on

Hong Kong’s stock exchange had its busiest day of the year for new listings on Wednesday as five mainland Chinese companies made their debuts, cementing the city’s position atop the global ranking for initial public offerings (IPO). Wuhan Dazhong Dental Medical (2651) was the biggest winner of the day when its shares jumped 20 per cent at the open to HK$24, from its IPO price of HK$20. The shares of Apple supplier Lens Technology (6613) began trading at HK$18.88, a premium of 3.8 per cent from...

Economics

23 h. ago Apple supplier Lens, 4 other stocks gain in busiest day for new listings in 2025

Hong Kong’s stock exchange had its busiest day of the year for new listings on Wednesday as five mainland Chinese companies made their trading debuts, cementing the city’s top global ranking for initial public offerings (IPOs). Semiconductor chip designer Fortior Technology was the biggest winner after its shares surged 16 per cent to HK$139.80. The Shanghai-listed company raised HK$2.26 billion (US$287.8 million) from its offering of new shares at HK$120.50 each. Apple supplier Lens Technology...

Politics

23 h. ago Exhibition marking 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism launched in Beijing

Exhibition marking 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism launched in Beijing  China Daily

Politics

23 h. ago Old but still gold? What Philippines can gain from Japan’s used warships

Japan’s unprecedented proposal to transfer six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippine Navy could greatly boost the Southeast Asian nation’s anti-submarine capabilities – but the true value of these ageing vessels remains to be seen. The Philippines has confirmed it is preparing to dispatch a team to Japan for a visual inspection of the six warships, which were set to be decommissioned, following an official invitation from Japan’s Ministry of Defence. “This planned inspection forms...

Events

25 h. ago Japan dives deep in race for rare earths, stirring a green backlash

Japan’s quest for rare earths is about to plunge to unprecedented depths in what could be the most extreme trial extraction ever attempted, accelerating a push to lessen its reliance on overseas suppliers – but at what environmental cost? The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology plans to deploy a deep-sea drilling vessel to a site around 100km (54 nautical miles) from Minamitorishima, according to a report in the Nikkei newspaper dated July 1. The remote atoll is some 1,850km...

Sport

28 h. ago German Surveillance Plane Targeted By Chinese Warship's Laser In Red Sea Points To Disturbing Pattern

German Surveillance Plane Targeted By Chinese Warship's Laser In Red Sea Points To Disturbing Pattern  The War Zone

Events

31 h. ago Germany Blames Chinese Warship for Laser Attack on Aircraft in the Middle East

Germany Blames Chinese Warship for Laser Attack on Aircraft in the Middle East  USNI News

Events

32 h. ago Germany says a Chinese warship used a laser against one of its surveillance aircraft over the Red Sea. It's pulled this dangerous move before.

Germany says a Chinese warship used a laser against one of its surveillance aircraft over the Red Sea. It's pulled this dangerous move before.  Yahoo

Events

33 h. ago In global survey, US cited more often than China as greatest ally and threat

A new survey of citizens in 25 middle- and high-income countries has found that the US is more likely than China to be seen as their most important ally – and their greatest threat. In the survey it released on Tuesday, the Pew Research Centre polled nearly 40,000 adults from the world’s six populated continents – including those in the US and the four Asian nations of India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea – between January 8 and April 26. Respondents were not given a list of countries from...

Events

34 h. ago Trump tariffs live updates: China sends new trade warning after Trump letters to Japan, South Korea, others

Trump tariffs live updates: China sends new trade warning after Trump letters to Japan, South Korea, others  Yahoo Finance

Events

35 h. ago East Asia faces fresh US tariffs, China rare earth curbs: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. 2. Rare earth dominance: why...

Politics

37 h. ago Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over travel ban on former senator

The Philippine foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian after Beijing hit the former Senate majority leader with a travel ban for his stance on the South China Sea. Francis Tolentino, a key ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, has been barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry last week. Beijing said the ban was the result of his “egregious conduct on China-related issues”. During a...

Politics

39 h. ago More uncertainty ahead for Asia as Trump shifts goalposts on tariffs again

Asia could face a prolonged period of trade uncertainty after US President Donald Trump extended the deadline for imposing higher import tariffs to August 1. Trump told trade partners on Monday that the new deadline was final, though he might grant further extensions if countries submitted acceptable proposals. He also confirmed plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea in letters posted on his social media platform, warning: “If for any reason you decide to...

Politics

39 h. ago Need a grandma? In Japan, you can rent one and help an old lady out

“Grandma rental” services have caught on in Japan, providing an alternative source of income for the country’s ageing population seeking to alleviate the cost of living pressures amid rising inflation. For 3,000 yen (US$20) per hour, clients are set up with a woman aged 60 to 94 who will help with requests ranging from teaching cooking skills to breaking up with partners on her client’s behalf, according to local news site SoraNews24. The elderly women can also babysit and mediate family...

Politics

39 h. ago Philippines summons China's ambassador after Beijing sanctions critical former senator

Philippines summons China's ambassador after Beijing sanctions critical former senator  The Independent

Politics

40 h. ago How China, Japan and South Korea can be titans of tech innovation

Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1. Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have...

Politics