Qatar should quit as Hamas mediator: Israeli minister
JERUSELEM -- Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat told Nikkei that Qatar should "immediately" withdraw from its role as a mediator of cease-fire negotiations with Hamas.
Nikkei staff writer in asian news
Biden-Trump debate: Where they stand on AI, TikTok and chips
PALO ALTO, California -- President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are preparing to debate on Thursday, as they run neck-and-neck in the U.S. presidential campaign ahead of the election in November.
Yen falls past 160 per dollar for 1st time since recent intervention
TOKYO -- The yen fell past 160 against the dollar on Wednesday for the first time since April 29, the day the government and the Bank of Japan likely stepped in to support the currency, stoking expectations of another possible intervention.
MUFG to invest $195m in Thai mobile payment service under CP Group
TOKYO -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group will invest $195 million in Thai mobile payments operator Ascend Money, which is affiliated with Thai retail and telecommunications conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, eyeing cooperation in personal finance.
Myanmar military shifts arms financing to Thai banks from Singapore
BANGKOK -- Thailand has replaced Singapore as the preferred banker and leading source of military supplies purchased through the international banking system by Myanmar's military regime, after Singapore cracked down on Myanmar-related accounts at its top banks, a U.N.-sponsored investigation has found.
North Korea resumes launching balloons and missiles after Putin summit
SEOUL -- North Korea is resuming an aggressive posture, carrying out an apparent test of a ballistic missile and sending more trash-filled balloons over its border with South Korea after hosting a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
Tourism surges to Japan's No. 2 'export,' behind cars
TOKYO -- Spending by foreign visitors in Japan has quintupled over the past decade to become Japan's second-largest export category, underscoring a shift from goods to services.
Thailand to court foreign buyers amid condominium supply glut
BANGKOK -- The Thai government is considering easing land leasing regulations to allow foreigners to buy more apartments and condominiums for individual and rent land plots in the longer term, which would help absorb a supply glut at a time when domestic purchasing power is weak.