JAKARTA -- Indonesia's top Islamic body has told Muslims in the country to steer clear of cryptocurrencies as they are not permissible under Islamic law.
Philippines slams Beijing for blocking ships in South China Sea
MANILA -- The Philippines on Thursday condemned Beijing over an incident two days earlier in which the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons to block Manila's vessels in the disputed South China Sea.
Coronavirus latest: South Korea reports record new cases
Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Cumulative global cases have reached 254,910,151 according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 5,122,686.
For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination progress around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.
Look, passengers: No hands! Japan's bullet train goes driverless
TOKYO/NIIGATA, Japan -- After reaching a speed of 110 kph, the bullet train gradually decelerated, missing the targeted resting point by less than 9 inches. During the entire trip, the operator kept his hands on his lap, without touching a single lever.
U.S. retailers suffer shortages before holiday season
TOKYO/NEW YORK -- A shipping mess at major U.S. ports is looming over the year-end shopping season, casting a shadow over a possible pickup in consumption as the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.
Thai lawmakers vote down citizens' bill to abolish Senate
BANGKOK -- Thailand's lawmakers voted down a constitutional amendment bill proposed by 135,000 civilians to abolish the Senate on Wednesday, a move that could add fuel to Thailand's pro-democracy protests, which have been regaining momentum once again.
Nissan switches to off-the-shelf chips amid global shortage
TOKYO -- Nissan Motor is redesigning its cars to use more generic chips, a move that companies in other industries are also making, potentially heralding a major shift in Japan's manufacturing sector.
Indonesia taps Harvard-educated general as top military officer
JAKARTA -- Indonesia's new military commander, Gen. Andika Perkasa, took office on Wednesday as the Southeast Asian nation looks to bolster cooperation with the U.S. to better defend its remote islands amid a rise in Chinese maritime activity.
Coronavirus latest: Japan raises daily entry cap to 5,000 travelers
Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Cumulative global cases have reached 254,444,468 according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 5,116,058.
For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination progress around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.
Kishida and Duterte discuss holding 2+2 security talks
TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spoke by phone Wednesday and agreed to advance discussions toward launching a "two-plus-two" meeting of their foreign and defense ministers.