Economy Vietnamese have edge in Japanese skills but consultant also warns of visa hurdles, rising costs A Vietnamese technical trainee, left, works with a Japanese colleague at a manufacturing plant in Tobishima, Japan. October 2025. © Kyodo HO CHI MINH CITY — Vietnam has become indispensable to Japan’s economy but faces long-term threats from artificial intelligence, […]

Technology Midsize city attracts companies with comfortable offices, low labor competition Fukuoka has been promoting the creation of state-of-the-art offices as part of a redevelopment plan. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu) FUKUOKA, Japan — The southern Japanese city of Fukuoka is evolving into an information technology hub, with players including a Vietnamese startup and a Toyota Motor […]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a weapons factory. (KCNA) SEOUL — North Korea is enjoying an unprecedented windfall by providing military support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, having received foreign currency and energy supplies in exchange for weapons and troops.

Natural rubber is made from latex, a milky white substance collected from rubber trees. Sri Trang Agro-Industry’s Chief Executive Officer Veerasith Sinchareonkul says the Thai rubber group sees steady demand from tire makers. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Lauren DeCicca and Getty Images) Trading Asia Thailand’s top group sees firm demand as customers build inventories

Exiting OPEC, UAE seeks greater flexibility and growth led by its own oil

Interview Central banks must be ‘ready to act if needed,’ Pablo Hernandez de Cos says BIS General Manager Pablo Hernandez de Cos says the Middle East conflict is expected to “drive inflation upwards and growth downwards.” (Photo by Akikazu Ishii) SETSUO OTSUKA and TAKERO MINAMI TOKYO — Central banks worldwide must be “ready to act” […]

Energy Named as UK partner, Shenzhen manufacturer hopes to replicate success in Europe EcoFlow exhibited its products over April 29 and 30 at the Solar and Storage Live expo in London. (Carla Messinger) LONDON — Chinese solar panel maker EcoFlow is expecting to sell its plug-in products in British supermarkets within months, hoping to raise […]

A Taiwan-made Hummer 2 Drone is displayed during a training session at the Loung Te Industrial Parks Service Center in Yilan, Taiwan, on Dec. 2. © Reuters TAICHUNG, Taiwan — Nascent cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on drones is budding as both face the challenge of reducing China’s supply chain dominance and cost advantages.

Welcome to Your Week in Asia. Asia’s biggest event this week is U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China and meeting with President Xi Jinping. The U.S. delegation, whose visit was delayed for weeks due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran launched in late February, is expected to include American tech and financial executives. But […]

Fisheries Japan’s massive appetite for cheap seafood cited as a factor in neighbor’s practices Squid being sun-dried at the Yobuko port, known for a seafood market and fresh squid, in Saga prefecture, Japan. (Photo by Nikkei) TOKYO — There has been a sharp decline in the volume of global squid catches, with some activists blaming […]