Nusantara, Indonesia’s new city built in the jungle, has an uncertain future, but both new residents and tourists love it. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/indonesia-nusantara-future/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #indonesia #jokowidodo #nusantara #prabowosubianto
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/kim-daughter-state-mausoleum/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #kimjongun #northkorea #eastasia
India’s capital recorded its worst pollution in nearly a decade this winter, sparking rare public protests and criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party over its handling of the air quality emergency. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/science-health/delhi-air-pollution-anger/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #sciencehealth #india #newdelhi #pollution #narendramodi #bjp #smog
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit starting on Sunday, signaling Beijing's intent to strengthen ties with Seoul amid strained relations with Japan over Taiwan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/politics/south-korea-china-summit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #china #chinajapanrelations #xijinping #leejaemyung #sanaetakaichi
The U.S. has urged China to halt military pressure on Taiwan — days after Japan and Western countries voiced concern over rising tensions — it's first criticism of recent large-scale military exercises around the island. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/asia-pacific/politics/us-china-miliary-exercises-taiwan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #taiwan #pla #donaldtrump #laichingte #uschinarelations #usjapanrelations #defense #usmilitary
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised his troops fighting abroad as forging an "invincible alliance" with Russia in a new year's message, state media said Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/asia-pacific/north-korea-kim-russia-letter/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #northkorea #russia #russiaukrainewar #ukraine #kimjongun
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Thursday the island is determined to defend its sovereignty and boost its defense in the face of China's increasing expansion, after Beijing held large-scale military drills. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/asia-pacific/politics/taiwan-lai-ching-te-china-military-drill/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #pla #taiwan #laichingte #us #xijinping
Beijing is courting Seoul on key regional issues just ahead of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s inaugural visit to meet China's Xi Jinping, a trip that comes as tensions simmer between Beijing, Taipei and Tokyo. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/01/asia-pacific/politics/south-korea-lee-china-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #china #southkorea #leejaemyung #chinajapanrelations #southkoreajapanrelations #taiwan #xijinping #sanaetakaichi
China will implement more proactive policies in 2026 aimed at supporting long-term expansion, Chinese President Xi Jinping says, with its economy expected to meet Beijing’s growth target of about 5% in 2025. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/asia-pacific/xi-china-macro-policies-2026/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #xijinping #china
Pakistan recorded its deadliest year of violence in a decade, with gunfights, airstrikes and suicide bombings marking much of 2025, as relations with neighboring Afghanistan deteriorated. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/asia-pacific/pakistan-violence-taliban/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #pakistan #afghanistan #taliban #refugees
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will make a state visit to China from Jan. 4 to 7 and meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the Blue House said, as it aims to keep up momentum to restore ties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/31/asia-pacific/politics/south-korea-lee-visit-china/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #china #leejaemyung #xijinping #supplychains
India has overtaken Japan as the world's fourth-biggest economy — and officials hope to pass Germany within three years, the government's end-of-year economic review calculates. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/india-economy-growth/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #india #economicindicators #gdp
A small but growing number of parents in China are rethinking the country’s rigorous education system and switching to homeschooling, despite a current ban on the practice. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/society/china-homeschool-students-youth/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #society #china #education #eastasia #children #schools
Thailand has accused Cambodia of violating a newly agreed ceasefire, reached after weeks of deadly border clashes, by flying more than 250 drones over its territory. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/politics/thai-army-cambodia-drones/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #thailand #cambodia #borderclashes #drones #asean #us #china
Khaleda Zia, who became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister in 1991 and went on to develop a bitter rivalry with Sheikh Hasina, died at 80 on Tuesday after a long illness. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/khaleda-zia-bangladesh-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #obituary #bangladesh #khaledazia #southasia #dhaka
The Chinese military on Tuesday conducted long-range live-fire drills in waters around Taiwan, part of a second day of 'major' exercises focused on blockading the island and deterring aid from Taipei’s partners. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/china-taiwan-military-exercises-missiles/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #china #pla #taiwan #donaldtrump #sanaetakaichi #xijinping #us #usmilitary #defense #missiles
A father and son accused of a mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach “acted alone” and were not part of a wider terrorist cell, police have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/crime-legal/bondi-beach-shooting-act-alone/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #australia #terrorism #massshootings #guns
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has toured a factory making new multiple rocket launchers that could target South Korea, touting their ability to "annihilate the enemy," state media has reported. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/30/asia-pacific/north-korea-rocket-launchers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #northkorea #missiles #kimjongun
With fewer than half of Filipinos estimated to have undertaken disaster drills or to own a first-aid kit, the board game Master of Disaster aims to boost lagging preparedness in a country prone to natural disasters. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/29/asia-pacific/philippines-disaster-readiness-game/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #philippines #climatechange #typhoons #disasterpreparedness #earthquakes
Beijing says Thailand and Cambodia plan to rebuild mutual trust and gradually consolidate a ceasefire after weeks of border clashes, following talks in southwestern China. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/29/asia-pacific/politics/thailand-cambodia-ceasefire-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #thailand #cambodia #china #borderclashes #wangyi #donaldtrump #anwaribrahim #asean