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OpenAI comes to Asia
The ChatGPT creator opens first Asian office in Tokyo.
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Fujifilm ups biotech plant investment
The cost of investment in North Carolina plant is $1.2 billion. -
UAE exports 31.3m barrels of crude oil to Japan in February
Tokyo, Japan--The UAE exported 44.1 percent, namely 31.3 million barrels, of Japan's crude oil needs in February 2024, according to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy in Tokyo. The agency, part of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that the amount of crude that Japan imported... -
Japan to restart funding to UN Palestinian refugee agency
Tokyo, Japan--Japan is preparing to resume funding to the UN's crisis-hit Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, the government said. Once the sixth-largest contributor to the agency, Japan joined more than a dozen countries in pausing funding after Israel claimed that 12 of UNRWA's 13,000... -
Yen plunges to 34-year low, mixed results for equity markets
Hong Kong, China - The yen plunged Wednesday to a 34-year low against the dollar after a top Bank of Japan official indicated it would press ahead with a loose monetary policy, even after this month hiking interest rates for the first time since the global financial crisis. The fall raised... -
Nissan to shrink EV production costs
The automaker will slash production costs by 30 percent. -
Finland to resume funding to UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Australia, Canada and Sweden, which were among those states, announced earlier this month they were resuming aid. Ten percent of the Finnish funding will be allocated to risk management, the minister said. -
Asian stocks rise on US gains ahead of key China policy meeting
Hong Kong, China - Asian markets mostly rose Monday following US gains and ahead of a Chinese legislative session where Beijing's annual growth target and other key policies will be announced. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index surpassed the 40,000 mark for the first time, with analysts predicting it could advance even... -
G7 vows ‘significant’ new sanctions if Iran sends missiles to Russia
Washington, US - G7 countries warned Iran on Friday that they will impose "significant" new sanctions if Tehran transfers ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine. "We reiterate our call on third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine or... -
Eyes on Bank of Japan as unions announce big wage hikes
Tokyo, Japan -- Japan's largest trade union said Friday it had secured the highest wage hikes since 1991 in preliminary data that stokes speculation the central bank will finally shift away from its outlier ultra-loose monetary policy. The Rengo union said that in spring wage talks so far, its members had... -
Japan’s Riken Yamamoto wins Pritzker prize for architecture
New York, United States -- Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto was awarded the Pritzker prize for architecture on Tuesday, the organizers said in a statement, praising his "reassuring style." Highlights of Yamamoto's work include Nagoya Zokei University in Japan completed in 2022, THE CIRCLE at Zurich Airport in Switzerland finished in 2020... -
Asian markets mostly down as China sets 5 percent growth goal
Hong Kong, China - Asian markets largely fell on Tuesday after China set an ambitious five percent annual growth target and Wall Street shares dropped ahead of the release of key US economic indicators. Tokyo finished flat, a day after Japan's benchmark Nikkei index hit a record high, closing above 40,000... -
Food dispatch app Uber Eats launches robot deliveries in Tokyo
Uber Eats' boxy robots have square headlights for eyes and three wheels on each side to navigate kerbs as they calculate routes on their own, using sensors to avoid pedestrians and other obstacles.Like self-driving delivery services launched by the company in North America, the Tokyo robots will be limited in... -
UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash
The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over accusations that some employees were involved in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. Philippe Lazzarini warned in a letter to the General Assembly's president that his agency is at a... -
Meta chief discusses AI risks with Japan PM during Asia tour
The 39-year-old mixed business with pleasure while in Japan, going skiing with his family and learning about sword-making from a master craftsman. Zuckerberg arrived in Seoul on a private flight on Tuesday night for the second leg of his Asia trip and is expected to meet South Korean President Yoon... -
Japan’s Moon craft SLIM revives after lunar night
TOKYO, JAPAN – Japan's Moon lander has produced another surprise by waking up after the two-week lunar night, the country's space agency said on Monday. The unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down last month at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way. As... -
Chip giant TSMC shifts to Japan
The company produces half the world's chips. -
WTO reforms essential to meet global challenges
“Japan and the UAE will deepen their cooperation beyond traditional areas such as energy and the economy to include a wide range of fields like climate change, education, science and technology, outer space, and defense, under the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative’. Such cooperation could expand in the field of international... -
Asian markets up, Tokyo hits record as US tech earnings jump
Hong Kong, China - Asian markets rose on Thursday, with Tokyo's benchmark index posting a record high after greater-than-expected earnings from US chip giant Nvidia. Highly anticipated earnings results from Nvidia beat expectations late Wednesday, with the firm reporting a quarterly profit of $12.3 billion on record-high revenue driven by demand... -
Saudi holdings of US Treasuries surge to $131.9b in December 2023
ABU DHABI, UAE - Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries reached US$131.9 billion in December 2023, up $3.8 billion month-on-month, new data released by the US Treasury showed. The Kingdom maintained 16th place among the largest holders of US treasury securities for the month. Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries were distributed among long-term bonds worth... -
Asian markets rally after Wall Street highs, oil prices slide
"The weakness of yesterday's US retail sales release have given market doves a new lease of life and allowed them to refocus on the likelihood of an early Fed rate cut," Rabobank analyst Jane Foley told AFP. -
Toyota’s Daihatsu resumes domestic production
It will make the Probox van and Mazda-branded Familia van. -
Nissan profit drops to US$195m
Its sales in China slumped 35% from April to December. -
Toyota expects to book profit of US$30bn
Its third-quarter net profit jumped to US$7 billion. -
QatarEnergy, Mitsui ink pact
The agreement provide for a rise in condensate volumes. -
Japanese lander disabled again but could restart after two weeks
Tokyo, Japan - After a brief awakening, Japan's Moon lander is out of action again but will resume its mission if it survives the two-week lunar night, the space agency said Thursday. The unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down last month at a wonky angle that left its... -
China edges out Japan as world’s top vehicle exporter
In recent years, China's auto sector has grown remarkably largely because of massive investments in electric cars, an area where Japanese firms have been more cautious. The JAMA figures showed that Japan shipped 4.42 million vehicles in 2023, compared with 4.91 million exported by China, as reported by China's automobile... -
Iran ‘following dreams’ in trying to win first Asian Cup since 1976
Doha, Qatar - Iran are "following our dreams" in trying to win the Asian Cup for the first time in 48 years, winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh said on the eve of Wednesday's last-16 clash with Syria. Three-time champions Iran face Syria in Qatar with a quarter-final against Bahrain or pre-tournament favorites Japan... -
Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 models due to testing irregularities
Tokyo, Japan - Toyota said Monday it was suspending shipments of 10 models that use engines linked with testing irregularities at an affiliate company. The affiliate, Toyota Industries, did not conduct proper horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models, the parent group said. The automaker said the... -
Coach Mancini lays out Saudi’s plan at Asian Cup
Doha, Qatar - Roberto Mancini said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia fear no team at the Asian Cup and will not try to duck out of a potential last-16 clash with South Korea. The Saudis have already qualified for the knockout rounds after two wins in Qatar and will top Group... -
Zee’s shares fall after merger fails
Disagreement over who would lead the new entity led to merger's failure. -
Masdar, 3 firms sign agreement
They will establish e-methane supply chain from UAE-Japan. -
Coach Mancini warns Saudi against taking Kyrgyzstan lightly
Doha, Qatar - Roberto Mancini warned Saudi Arabia against falling victim to the kind of Asian Cup shock suffered by favorites Japan when his side face Kyrgyzstan on Sunday. Saudi Arabia fought back to beat Oman 2-1 in stoppage time in their opening match in Qatar and can seal their place... -
Iraq upsets Japan to sail into knockouts of Asian Cup
Doha, Qatar - Aymen Hussein scored two first-half headers as Iraq stunned Asian Cup favorites Japan 2-1 on Friday to reach the knockout rounds. It was Japan's first Asian Cup group-stage defeat in 26 matches and set them on a potential collision course with South Korea in the last 16 in... -
Dubai World Trade Centre to host Japan trade exhibition next week
Dubai, UAE--The first edition of the Japan Kyoto Trade Exhibition 2024 is all set to kick off this Monday, 22nd January, at Dubai World Trade Centre. The three-day exhibition, jointly hosted by the governments of Kyoto, Japan, and the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai (DET), is expected to... -
Japan literary laureate admits using ChatGPT for her novel
TOKYO, JAPAN - The winner of Japan's most prestigious literary award has acknowledged that about "five percent" of her futuristic novel was penned by ChatGPT, saying generative AI had helped unlock her potential. Since the 2022 launch of ChatGPT, an easy-to-use AI chatbot that can deliver an essay upon request within... -
Son set to light up Asian Cup as Qatar takes center stage again
The 24 teams spanning Australia to Palestine will battle for regional glory over the next four weeks, culminating in the final at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on February 10. -
Tokyo’s Nikkei climbs to its highest level since Mar 1990
Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo stocks closed higher on Tuesday on the back of gains in US tech stocks, pushing the Nikkei index to a 33-year high. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.16 percent, or 385.76 points, to end at 33,763.18, while the broader Topix index added 0.82 percent, or 19.55... -
Private US lunar lander mission imperiled by technical snag
Washington, United States -- An historic private mission to land on the Moon was facing potential failure Monday due to technical problems, in a blow to America's hopes of placing its first robot on the lunar surface in five decades. Fixed to the top of United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan... -
Honda to set up EV plant in Canada
The plant is estimated to cost Honda US$14 billion. -
UAE announces its participation in Nasa’s Lunar Gateway Station
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE has announced its participation in developing a module on Nasa’s Lunar Gateway Station alongside the USA, Japan, Canada and the European Union, in addition to sending the first Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit as part of the project. During the event held at Qasr... -
Japan quake death toll jumps to 161, 103 missing
According to authorities in the central Ishikawa region hit by the 7.5-magnitude quake, the number of people unaccounted for fell to 103 from 195. The shock waves toppled buildings, sparked a major fire and triggered tsunami waves over a metre high. Thousands of rescuers have been drafted in from all... -
Japan earthquake death toll jumps to 92, missing 242
Battling aftershocks and roads littered with gaping holes and blocked by frequent landslides, thousands of rescuers from all over Japan are trying to reach hundreds of people in stranded communities in the Ishikawa region. Two elderly women were pulled from the rubble, but hopes of finding other survivors are fading... -
Japan quake toll rises to 62 as weather hampers rescuers
The 7.5-magnitude quake on January 1 that rattled Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves more than a meter high, sparked a major fire and tore apart roads. The Noto Peninsula of the prefecture was most severely hit, with several hundred buildings ravaged by fire and... -
Race against time after deadly Japan quake
The 7.5-magnitude quake, which hit Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu, triggered tsunami waves more than a meter high, toppled buildings, caused a major fire and tore apart roads. As daylight broke, the scale of the destruction on the Noto Peninsula emerged with buildings still on fire, houses... -
Japan quake triggers tsunami waves, residents told to run
A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Japan's weather agency reported a succession of 21 quakes of 4.0 magnitude or stronger hitting the nation's central region in just over 90 minutes. Tsunami waves as high as 1.2 meters (four... -
Toyota’s Daihatsu suspends all domestic production
The company said it had been manipulating safety tests since at least 1989, affecting 64 models, including some sold under the Toyota brand which also are being suspended. In April it said it had been falsifying crash test results for four of its models, involving a total of 88,000 vehicles... -
Japan’s Nippon to acquire US Steel
Nippon Steel will also assume the US firm's debt. -
Asian countries score high in keenly watched PISA education survey
Paris, France - Asian countries dominated the top spots in a keenly watched survey of education capabilities published Tuesday, while levels in Europe slipped at a record pace -- and not just because of Covid. However, the report also showed that students in top performing countries were not necessarily happier. The... -
G7 calls on Houthis to stop threats to shipping
On November 19, Huthis seized Israeli-linked cargo vessel the Galaxy Leader and its 25 international crew at the entrance to the Red Sea. On Sunday, two ballistic missiles were launched from an area controlled by Huthi rebels in Yemen, landing around 10 nautical miles from US destroyer the USS Mason,... -
Saudi, Turkey, Egypt among 16 nations viewing climate change as top concern
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Around 80% of consumers surveyed across 16 countries now view climate change as the world’s No. 1 challenge, a recent research conducted by GSMA Intelligence with support from Huawei, revealed. The countries include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Pakistan,...