China records rise in asymptomatic coronavirus cases Mainland China reported 39 new coronavirus cases as of Sunday, up from 30 a day earlier, and the number of asymptomatic cases also surged as … Coronavirus • 06 Apr 20
Asia's factory activity plunges as virus shock deepens Factory activity contracted sharply across most of Asia in March as the coronavirus pandemic paralysed economic activity across the globe, with sharp falls in export … Business • 01 Apr 20
Japanese cherry blossoms bloom amid Covid-19 pandemic The crowds might be thinner and parties smaller, but warnings from officials over the coronavirus have done little to stop Japanese people celebrating as the … News Lens • 26 Mar 20
Olympic postponement may be 'inevitable' - Abe Postponing the Olympics over the coronavirus pandemic may become "inevitable", Japan's prime minister has conceded. Coronavirus • 23 Mar 20
Death sentence for man who killed 19 disabled people A Japanese man has been sentenced to death for killing 19 disabled people in a knife-wielding rampage in 2016 that was one of post-war Japan's … World • 16 Mar 20
Japan's economy shrinks faster than first estimated Japan's economy shrank more than initially estimated in the fourth quarter, exacerbating economic fears at a time when the impact of the coronavirus outbreak is … Business • 09 Mar 20
Virus toll reaches 197 as Italy reports 49 more deaths Italy has reported 49 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total number of fatalities there over the past two weeks to 197. Coronavirus • 06 Mar 20
WHO raises global coronavirus risk to highest level The World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment of Covid-19 to its highest level, after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and caused … Coronavirus • 29 Feb 20
Japan schools to close in bid to stem Covid-19 Angry Japanese parents joined bewildered teachers and businesses in a rush to find new ways to live and work for a month after Prime Minister … World • 28 Feb 20
Irish singer leaves ship for coronavirus quarantine Irish singer and musician Rebecca Harkin is in quarantine in Australia after being evacuated from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan earlier this … World • 22 Feb 20
Two former passengers from Japan cruise ship die Scores of new coronavirus cases, two deaths among passengers on a cruise ship in Japan, and a first death in South Korea raised fears of … World • 20 Feb 20
Irish man sets record straight on Iwo Jima photo An Irish man has been reflecting on his place in the history books on the 75th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima, after his … Ireland • 19 Feb 20
Japan suffers worst economic slump in five years Japan has suffered its worst quarterly GDP contraction in more than five years, with a tax hike and a deadly typhoon taking a toll on … Business • 17 Feb 20
Japan and UK to seek 'ambitious' post-Brexit trade deal Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his Japanese counterpart have agreed to seek an "ambitious, high standard" trade accord matching Japan's agreement with the European … Brexit • 08 Feb 20
Virus situation in Wuhan remains severe - officials The coronavirus situation in Wuhan in China is still severe and the city faces many challenges, Wuhan's vice party chief Hu Lishan said. World • 05 Feb 20
Man denies killing 19 disabled people in Japan A Japanese man accused of stabbing 19 disabled people to death has pleaded not guilty in a dramatic trial interrupted when he seemed to put … World • 08 Jan 20
Ghosn vows to clear name as he blasts 'collusion' Fugitive auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn today accused Nissan and Japanese prosecutors of plotting against him, vowing to prove his innocence at his first public appearance … Business • 08 Jan 20
Toyota to build prototype city of the future in Japan Toyota said it plans to build a prototype "city of the future" at the base of Japan's Mount Fuji, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and … Business • 07 Jan 20
Arrest warrant issued in Japan for Carlos Ghosn's wife Prosecutors in Japan have obtained an arrest warrant for Carole Ghosn, wife of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, who last month jumped bail and fled … World • 07 Jan 20
Single tuna sells for €1.6m at auction in Japan Japan's first tuna auction of the year was held this morning at a fish market in Tokyo, where a bluefin tuna was sold for 193 … World • 05 Jan 20
Ghosn used jets illegally in escape; Turkish operator Turkish private aircraft operator MNG Jet said its planes were used illegally in the escape from Japan of ex-Nissan boss, Carlos Ghosn. World • 03 Jan 20
Japan business confidence drops again - survey Confidence among Japan's biggest manufacturers has slipped for the fourth quarter in a row, a key survey showed today, reflecting lingering worries over the US-China … Business • 13 Dec 19
Australia raises concerns over AB InBev-Asahi deal Australia's competition regulator raised concerns over an $11 billion deal by Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell its local operations to Japan's Asahi, dealing a blow to … Business • 12 Dec 19
Head of Japanese aid agency killed in Afghan attack Gunmen killed six people, including the head of a Japanese aid agency, in an attack on their vehicle in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. World • 04 Dec 19
N Korea threatens Japan with 'real ballistic missile' North Korea warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man … World • 30 Nov 19