Japan's leadership race
Japan PM candidates eye ties with friendly nations as China rises
Koizumi says he will pursue talks with China, North Korea if he becomes PM
Taiwan tensions
China condemns German navy's transit of Taiwan Strait
People's Liberation Army says passage of two ships is "public hyping"
Retail
Japanese premium jeans maker lures global fans with deep indigo
Momotaro Jeans seeks to more than double sales over 3 years
Datawatch
Renewable energy wasted worldwide due to lack of power grids
Power equal to 480 nuclear reactors unused in U.S. and Europe
Hong Kong security law
Hong Kong hosts flurry of forums, cozying up to non-Western partners
U.S.-led democracies conspicuously absent as city woos mainland, ASEAN, Middle East
Economy
China industrial output grows at slowest pace in five months
Data for August also shows retail sales and investment losing momentum
Media & Entertainment
Deaf K-Pop trio Big Ocean breaks boundaries in music
Using AI and sign language, group brings fresh take to entertainment scene
Politics
Malaysia prepares heavier 'sugar tax' in bid to combat diabetes
Government to propose new levy on sweetened drinks in 2025 budget
Business deals
Nippon Steel bid for U.S. Steel faces Sept. 23 review deadline, sources say
National security panel could grant request by companies to extend review another 90 days
Travel & Leisure
Mt. Fuji peak-day climbers drop 17% with overtourism measures
Popular trail sees 27% fall on busiest summer day after introducing $14 toll
Books
Author Hessler charts extraordinary scenes in China's COVID-19 debacle
Virus forces pivot in five-year plan to focus on generational change
Currencies
Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian currencies gain as dollar weakens
Southeast Asia enjoys growth; political fears sink Turkish lira, Mexican peso
Retail
Struggling Chinese supermarket borrows from tiny rival's playbook
Yonghui upgrades stores to replicate pioneer Pangdonglai's success
US-China tensions
U.S. to start steep China tariff hikes on EVs, solar cells, on Sept. 27
Industry group warns of potential for disrupting chip-related supply chains
Education
59% of Japan's private universities miss quotas for new enrollment
Government eyes reforms as falling birth rate hits small and rural schools most
Automobiles
GM pivots to Hyundai from Honda in shifting EV landscape
U.S. and South Korean partners aim to bring down costs to compete with Chinese rivals
North Korea tensions
North Korea provides first peek inside nuclear weapons facility
Kim Jong Un signals what is seen as warning to U.S. ahead of November vote
Business deals
Alibaba fintech arm Ant Group buys Chinese health platform HaoDF
Telemedicine grows in China as hospitals are sparse in some areas
Semiconductors
Tokyo Electron looks to tap India's chip potential early on: CEO
Chip tool maker sees global semiconductor market reaching $5tn by 2050
Retail
China's Shein and Temu face end to tariff-free imports into U.S.
White House to propose rules to limit 'loophole' for small shipments
Retail
Japan's Seven & i now a 'core business,' with tighter investment rules
But addition to security list seen having little impact on Couche-Tard's buyout offer
International relations
China and Maldives sign financial cooperation agreement
Countries to establish framework to support local currency settlement
Economy
China raises retirement age as workforce shrinks
Government strives to avert pension crisis by extending contribution years
China debt crunch
China slaps PwC with 6-month suspension over Evergrande audit
Accounting firm fined total of $62m, says it is 'disappointed' in mainland arm
Adani Group
India's Adani Group eyed in Swiss money-laundering case
Conglomerate blasts reports about case as 'preposterous, irrational and absurd'