TOKYO -- Japan has moved closer to creating a centralized national intelligence agency -- often described as its equivalent to the CIA -- after the upper house approved legislation on Wednesday, following lower house passage in April.

TOKYO/HONG KONG -- Hong Kong International Airport opened its newest terminal on Wednesday, promising passengers an efficient gateway as competition for air traffic over southern China grows increasingly fierce.

BENGALURU -- India's top asset managers are turning to a fledgling financial hub intended to rival Singapore and Hong Kong in order to tap Indian investors' growing appetite for global equities amid lackluster returns at home.

MANILA -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a four-day state visit to Tokyo that began Tuesday. While he and Takaichi are expected to deepen and accelerate their countries' security partnership, Marcos is likely to have a more difficult time pitching Philippine investment opportunities to Japanese investors and business leaders.

JAKARTA -- Indonesian law enforcement agencies are coming under increasing scrutiny over the high-profile corruption prosecutions of public officials and state-owned company executives for decisions that prosecutors have argued cost the government millions of dollars but, according to analysts, do not appear to have been motivated by criminal intent.

BANGKOK -- CP All, operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, has raised objections to a restructuring plan for its finance business pushed by its major shareholder, Charoen Pokphand Group, underscoring an internal dispute within one of the country's biggest conglomerates.

TOKYO -- How long will the Bank of Japan's pare-down of Japanese government bond purchases last? That is the question hanging over the market as long-term yields climb, with the answer possibly affecting Tokyo's stance on future BOJ rate hikes.

TOKYO -- Combined core operating profit at major Japanese life insurers rose 14% to an all-time high of 4.4 trillion yen ($27.6 billion) in fiscal 2025, beating the previous year's record, thanks to an increase in government bond yields that has boosted investment returns.

TOKYO -- IKEA Japan's product launch Tuesday highlighted furniture geared to making the most of limited space, a growing focus for home goods manufacturers as consumers opt for smaller places to live amid the rising price of housing.