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Pete Hegseth called Japan on Sunday an «indispensable partner» in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region and announced upgrading the US military command in Japan to a new «war-fighting headquarters.» Hegseth, who is on his first Asia trip with Japan as his second stop, also stressed the need for both countries to do more to accelerate the strengthening of their military capability as the region faces China's assertive military actions and a possible Taiwan emergency. «Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,» Hegseth said at the beginning of his talks with Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo. «The US is moving fast, as you know, to reestablish deterrence in this region and around the world.» His comments come as an assurance at a time when Japan has been worried about how US engagement in the region may change under President Donald Trump's «America First» policy, Japanese defence officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. ALSO READ:'I am almost done...': Elon Musk to step down from DOGE and quit Washington DC after $1 trillion in US govt cuts

The countries' three trade ministers agreed to «closely cooperate for a comprehensive and high-level» talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement deal to promote «regional and global trade», according to a statement released after the meeting. «It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations,» said South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, referring to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The ministers met ahead of Trump's announcement on Wednesday of more tariffs in what he calls «liberation day», as he upends Washington's trading partnerships. Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo are major U.S. major trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads among themselves over issues including territorial disputes and Japan's release of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that Japan was indispensable in tackling Chinese aggression by helping Washington establish a «credible» deterrence in the region, including across the Taiwan Strait. «We share a warrior ethos that defines our forces,» Hegseth told Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani at a meeting in Tokyo. Calling Japan a «cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific», the Pentagon indicated that suggested President Donald Trump's government would, like past administrations, continue to work closely with its key Asian ally. Japan hosts around 50,000 U.S. military personnel, squadrons of fighter squadrons and Washington's only forward deployed aircraft carrier strike group along a 3,000-km (1,900-mile) archipelago that helps hem in Chinese military power. Hegseth's praise of Japan contrasts with the criticism he levelled at European allies in February, telling them they should not assume the U.S. presence there would last forever.

Freestyle Wrestling competition at the 2025 Senior Asian Wrestling Championship. According to a release from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in the 57kg category, Chirag, the 2024 U23 World Champion, faced an early exit after losing his first match to a Kyrgyz wrestler. His hopes of a repechage round were dashed when the Kyrgyz wrestler lost to a Mongolian opponent, eliminating Chirag's chances of a medal. In the 65kg category, Sujit started strong by winning his opening bout, keeping India's medal hopes alive. However, he lost to a Japanese wrestler in the next round and sustained an injury, forcing him to withdraw from the competition. Among other participants, Vishal Kaliraman (70kg), Chandermohan (79kg), and Jonty (97kg) also faced defeats in their respective bouts, ending their medal hopes. Looking ahead, five weight categories remain in the Freestyle Wrestling competition, with Udit (61kg) and Deepak Punia (92kg) expected to be strong medal contenders tomorrow.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday was one of the most powerful in the region in years. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the United States Geological Survey says it is likely that more than 10,000 people died and that economic losses could exceed the gross domestic product of Myanmar, a poor country engulfed in a bloody civil war.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. On a balmy mid-November evening in 2023, billionaire venture capitalist Peter Thiel threw a birthday party for his husband at YESS, an avant-garde Japanese restaurant located in a century-old converted bank building in Los Angeles’s Arts District. Seated next to him was his friend Sam Altman.

In Dholera, India’s first semiconductor cluster that is emerging as a hub for expat talent, the Gujarat government is aiming to recreate the “look and feel” of their home countries for this tribe of globe trotters. Termed the “Global Tent City” in keeping with Dholera’s terrain, the multi-faceted agglomeration is expected to house food streets from across nations – Taiwan, Korea, Japan, the US, as well as some European nations, a high-end mall and a hotel or guesthouse to cater to the cosmopolitan tastes of the well-travelled employees.

DP World is preparing to start ship-leasing operations in India by setting up a subsidiary in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat's GIFT City, people familiar with the matter said. The port and logistics giant may commence operations with four ships, the people said, adding that the company has secured approval from Indian authorities. «The ships could be Indian flag ships or international ships. They may buy vessels and then lease them further or rent an Indian flag ship and then sub-lease it,» one of the persons said. DP World follows others such as Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines and UAE-based Transworld Group who have started operations in IFSC. DP World's new venture in India will encompass vessel ownership, operation, chartering, and other permitted activities, the people said. To be sure, the company offers feeder services globally but does not offer a ship leasing service in India currently.

Emerging economies such as India, Brazil and Vietnam, which impose tariff on American imports higher than what the US levies on them, face a high risk of reciprocal tariffs, global ratings agency Fitch said. “Brazil, India, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey and, on a simple average tariff basis, Vietnam and Indonesia, impose notably higher tariffs on exports from the US relative to tariffs imposed by the US on imports from these countries,” it said. US President Donald Trump has threatened with his reciprocal tariffs announcement on April 2 against trading partners he says have been “ripping off” the country by imposing high levies. As per the Fitch report, the tariffs in these economies were higher, both on a simple and trade-weighted average basis. “On a simple average basis, the highest differentials are in Brazil, India and Turkey,” Fitch said.

In terms of data centre construction cost, India recorded one of the highest increases in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, rising by 5% in 2024 due to increasing land prices, power infrastructure demand, and high-spec, AI-ready facilities, said the real estate services firm. Despite this, the country remains a competitive investment destination compared with mature markets like Japan and Australia, it said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus here on Friday, official media reported. Yunus, on a four-day visit to China, took part in the country's Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan after his arrival there on Wednesday. He arrived in Beijing on Thursday and was received at the airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. Gearing up for his meeting with Xi, Yunus called on China on Thursday to reduce interest rates for Chinese loans and waive commitment fees on Chinese-funded projects. In his meeting with the Chinese Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Yunus sought Chinese support in an array of development projects, Bangladesh media reports said. He also called for a reduction of interest rates for Chinese loans from three per cent to 1-2 per cent to Bangladesh and sought a waiver of commitment fees on the Chinese-funded projects in Bangladesh. China is Bangladesh's fourth-largest lender after Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with total loans disbursed since 1975 coming to USD 7.5 billion, according to a report in the Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh.

automakers tracked losses of their Wall Street counterparts following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of trade tariffs. As of 0017 GMT, the Nikkei was down 1.5% at 37,222.21.

Lines of Credit and Concessional Financing Scheme, through a lending bank to six partner countries during January 2022-January 2025, the Parliament was informed on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha. The Ministry of External Affairs was asked the details of foreign aid, developmental assistance, and loans provided by India to other countries between January 2022 and January 2025. «Government of India has offered new loans, under the Lines of Credit (LOCs) and Concessional Financing Scheme (CFS), through a lending bank to six partner countries during January 2022-January 2025. »The total amount of loans offered to these partner countries during the above-mentioned period stands at over USD 3.73 billion. This excludes disbursements for ongoing projects under earlier LOCs," the minister said. The MEA was also asked the details of foreign aid, developmental assistance, and loans received by India from other countries between January 2022 and January 2025.

Donald Trump's steep tariffs on imported vehicles and parts, vowing retaliation as a widening trade war intensifies, as per a report. Major car exporter Germany urged a firm response from the European Union, while Japan said it «will consider all options», AFP reported. The US duties take effect starting April 3 and impact foreign-made cars and light trucks. Key automobile parts will also be hit within the month. Global stock markets plummeted with automakers like Toyota, Hyundai and Mercedes leading the plunge. In New York, shares in General Motors tumbled with Ford and Stellantis also declining. France Finance Minister Eric Lombard condemned the «hostility,» saying the only solution for the European Union is to «raise tariffs on American products in response.»

Cristiano Ronaldo has been announced as a playable character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, an upcoming and much-awaited fighting game set to be released next month. The Portuguese player announced the major surprise for his fans on X, formerly known as Twitter. In his social media post, Ronaldo revealed he will be entering as a playable character in the upcoming fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. «Big news to share with everyone today! I'm going to be a character in the new fighting game FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves! @FATALFURY_PR Let's have some fun on April 24th!,» his post read. This announcement sent shockwaves through both the gaming and football communities, as the 40-year-old legend is renowned for his athletic achievements rather than any connection to gaming. ALSO READ: US health department to cut 10,000 jobs as Robert F. Kennedy Jr announces overhaul in latest DOGE push

“I am concerned that pure politics could damage our prospects in future competitions,” admitted an executive at a leading US contractor. The fear? That Trump’s erratic foreign policy could leave allies exposed—or worse, that the US could remotely disable their aircraft if political relations soured.

Shares in companies such as Japan's Toyota and Honda and South Korea's Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp fell, wiping off some $16.5 billion in value, after Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks to take effect on April 3. On the streets of Tokyo and Seoul, and in «motor city» Gwangju, people were concerned the levies would have a far-reaching impact, speaking to the singular role the car industry has played in the post-war economic rise of the two U.S. allies. While car production helped transform Germany, Italy and France after World War Two, its influence in Asia has been even more profound. Automakers form the nucleus of vast networks of group companies that impact almost every facet of working life in the two countries. In Japan, where the industry accounts for roughly 3% of gross domestic product, it is the automakers — particularly Toyota — that set the precedent for national wage increases through annual talks between unions and management.

Ghibli-style artwork from detailed prompts. Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, is a well-known Japanese animation studio. It is recognised for its hand-drawn animation, detailed backgrounds, and emotionally engaging storytelling. Individuals across the world are sharing Ghibli renditions of famous movie moments, memes, and even artistic interpretations of breaking news. Some of the posts are going viral.

Tesla struggles with falling sales and share price and global protests against his brand for his support to US President Donald Trump, its CEO Elon Musk looks at India with hope. Long seen as a potential disruptor for India's EV, Tesla is finally entering India, opening a showroom in Mumbai to sell its imported cars and has plans to set up a manufacturing plant in Maharashtra. However, Tesla has lost years dilly-dallying on its India entry and meanwhile Indian EV makers have grown enough to make things difficult for it. Many think the company may not after all be able to disrupt the Indian market in any significant way nor reap any huge dividends. Tesla may face another big challenge in India. Its global rival BYD (Build Your Dreams), which sells cars imported from China in India, could be planning to manufacture in the country. According to unconfirmed media reports, the Chinese EV giant is planning to set up a factory in Telangana. BYD, together with Indian EV makers such as Mahindra and Tata; the JV between India's JSW and China's MG Motor; and Korean and Japanese automakers CAN make it difficult for Tesla to benefit from the Indian market in any substantial way.

According to a stock exchange notice today (27 March), Price's assistant portfolio manager, Ying Lu, will take over as portfolio manager of Fidelity Japan from 1 October 2025. Fidelity's Mike Riddell: US growth is 'not going to be 3% forever' and the case for sovereign debt Meanwhile, Price will continue to work alongside Lu until the end of the year. The two have been working closely in the last three years, with the board stating that, as a result «we do not expect any change in the approach to the investment management of the company». Price joined Fidelity's Tokyo office i...

Liam Lawson's first Formula One season with Red Bull is coming to an end on a disappointing note after just two races. New Zealand’s Lawson is facing the axe after a disappointing show in the 2025 season opening Australian Formula One at Melbourne and the Chinese GP in Shanghai. The decision by Red Bull management to replace Lawson with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has not gone down well in New Zealand as well as the current F1 world champion Max Verstappen. The latter is also the Red Bull flagbearer and Lawson's teammate on the F1 Grand Prix circuit. Verstappen is reported to be frustrated by Red Bull deciding to sack Lawson after only two races. He stated that Racing Bulls, the feeder of Red Bull where Lawson used to race before his elevation, cars are easier to drive. “That Racing Bulls car is easier to drive than ours. I notice that when I talk to Liam. Last year the difference between him and Yuki wasn't that big, I thought. Otherwise the team wouldn't have made the choice to put Liam in at Red Bull,” said the F1 world champion. New Zealand Minister for Sport Mark Mitchell jumped into the controversy backing Lawson. “I'm disappointed if he isn't racing in the Red Bull, but I'm really excited that if he's at least back in the Racing Bull, that he can go and show everyone what he's capable of," he told New Zealand media.