Asian shares mixed as hopes for US rate cuts wane; Bitcoin hits record

Asian shares showed a mixed performance today (14 August) following several days of gains fuelled by expectations of lower US interest rates, while US futures slipped. Bitcoin surged over 3%, reaching a new record above $1,23,000, according to CoinDesk. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.4% to 42,657.94 as investors booked profits after recent record […]

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Why is Taiwan’s William Lai facing ‘extraordinary’ Japanese media backlash?

By Lawrence Chungin Taipei An unprecedented wave of criticism from Japan’s major newspapers against William Lai Ching-te has sparked debate over whether Tokyo is losing trust in the popularly elected Taiwanese leader just over a year into his term. The “extraordinary” media backlash followed the failed July 26 mass recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers, which […]

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China invites descendants of US Flying Tigers who fought Japan to mark end of World War II

By Laura ZhouandFan Chen China has invited descendants of the American Flying Tigers to Beijing for the commemoration of the end of World War II, according to people familiar with the situation. A source said they include Cynthia Chennault, the daughter of Claire Lee Chennault who commanded the volunteers who helped in China’s fight against […]

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Japan Says ‘Seriously Concerned’ About Myanmar Elections Without Release of Those Detained

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan is “seriously concerned” that Myanmar’s planned elections without release of those detained could provoke “further strong backlash from the people” and “make a peaceful resolution more difficult”, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday. Japan once again strongly urges the Myanmar military to stop the violence immediately, release those detained including former […]

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Japan sees red as Interpol drops arrest request for whale activist Paul Watson

By Julian Ryall Interpol’s decision to drop a decade-old red notice against Paul Watson, the outspoken founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd, has sparked outrage in Japan, with critics accusing the international police agency of bowing to Western bias and undermining justice for alleged attacks on Japanese whalers. Interpol announced on Tuesday that it […]

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‘Japanese First’ party emerges as election force with tough immigration talk

The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Japan’s upper house election on Sunday, gaining support with warnings of a “silent invasion” of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, […]

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‘Japanese First’ party shakes up election with alarm over foreigners

An upstart party is gaining support ahead of elections in Japan by railing against a ‘silent invasion’ of immigrants, pushing the government to tackle fears about foreigners as it drags into the mainstream rhetoric once confined to the political fringe. Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal […]

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