Poor air quality has forced Indonesia and Malaysia to close thousands of schools, with hundreds of Malaysian flights also cancelled.

As stability in the Middle East is critical for Japan, which relies heavily on energy imports from the region, Abe is also expected to call for dialogue with Iran.

The US presented its new surveillance plan to allies and partner countries in a meeting aboard a British naval ship in Bahrain on Monday, a source revealed.

A survey has found that there are 3,810 war-displaced descendants in the Philippines, of whom 1,069 are still alive and considered stateless.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broached the idea of extending the country’s militaristic reach to outer space at an annual gathering of top brass in Tokyo.

Lower house legislator Hodaka Maruyama was previously expelled from a political party for broaching the subject of war in relation to another set of islands controlled by Russia.

The defence ministry has asked for a record 5.32 trillion yen (US$50.48 billion) budget, which it will use to buy more US-made interceptor missiles and stealth fighters in response to military build ups by neighbours such as China and North Korea

Wealthier parts of Asia have long relied on foreign workers, but Vietnamese man’s death highlights how vulnerable they are to exploitation and abuse.

Ever since a new law legalising casinos in Japan was enacted last year, American companies looking for opportunities beyond Las Vegas’ oversaturated strip have been circling.

Abe makes announcement at a news conference at the Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France.

There are an estimated 1,000 Filipino women who were believed to have been sexually abused by Japanese soldiers during the occupation.

Transport landing vessel is seventh US Navy ship to pass through waters this year and was the first since the White House signed of the F-16 sale.

The Philippine Space Act, signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this month, provides billions of pesos for research and development, which scientists hope will bring in big returns.

South Korea says the presumed ballistic missiles flew about 400km before landing in the sea.

Seoul dropped from second place to fourth on a list of Tokyo’s closest allies, according to a draft document.

The map was of the sort typically used for infrastructure development and disaster prevention purposes, and is detailed enough to confirm the height and shape of buildings as well as topographical features.

The convenience store chain’s cashless payment service was hacked soon after its launch last month with millions of yen stolen. Japanese police suspect links with an organised crime group based in China.

The elder statesman also urged Japan and South Korea to resolve their differences through dialogue, rather than confrontation, as disputes rage over wartime forced labour and trade restrictions.

The tally of those requiring treatment was more than triple the previous week’s and is the second-highest since records began in 2008, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Japan has refused to participate in the UN treaty, along with other countries under the US nuclear umbrella.

Liam Nikuro, with ‘a face like Justin Bieber’s, but more Asian’, is Japan’s first virtual influencer – and you’ll never catch him doing anything inauthentic, his creator says. Nikuro’s currently planning his music career.

Chinese foreign minister hails ‘important step’ after meeting Asean counterparts in Bangkok but warns other countries against ‘sowing distrust’.

The move comes as several South Korean cities said they would suspend administrative exchanges with Japan until the bilateral relationship improved.

Blaze killed 34 people after 41-year-old Shinji Aoba allegedly splashed petrol and set the three-storey studio in Kyoto’s Fushimi Ward on fire.

Premier’s ruling coalition failed to retain the two-thirds majority it needed to propose scrapping pacifist part of country’s post-war constitution. Still, the election is expected to introduce more diversity in Parliament.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner are expected to win 63 of the 124 seats up for grabs in the less powerful of the country’s two parliamentary chambers, according to exit polls.

A suspect poured a petrol-like substance around the Kyoto Animation studio, known for mega-hit stories featuring high school girls.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono acknowledged the recent strain on ties but suggested cooperation on security issues should be unaffected.

The US has discussed building a coalition to safeguard commercial shipping from Iranian threats following attacks on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz last month.

Mitsubishi is among the Japanese companies ordered to compensate South Koreans, leading to fraught bilateral relations and Tokyo’s restrictions on hi-tech exports to Seoul.