TOKYO -- As the COVID-19 pandemic casts its shadow over everything from shopping to attending concerts and trade exhibitions, attempts to recreate these experiences in a virtual world have been gathering steam.

Hikky, a Japanese startup that organizes virtual events, recently drew over 60 corporate exhibitors to a trade fair held virtually. Companies including NTT Docomo, Yamaha Motor and rail operator JR East took the chance to show off products and services to would-be customers joining remotely.

Visitors accessed the two-week Virtual Market event

FUKUI, Japan (Kyodo) -- A nuclear reactor in central Japan's Fukui Prefecture was halted on Saturday, just four months after its restart as it could not meet a deadline set by regulators to implement anti-terrorism measures.

The suspension of Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Mihama No. 3 unit came ahead of the deadline on Monday for such measures to be completed. After undergoing safety checks, the utility aims to make the necessary changes to its facilities around September next year and restart operations in mid

SHANGHAI -- Xu Jiayin built China Evergrande Group into one of China's largest property developers in less than 25 years. Holding more than 70% of the company, the founder has had full command of its operations. But his colossus is now mired in debt of about 2 trillion yuan ($312 billion) and this week appeared to be days away from being officially declared in default.

Born to a poor family in Henan Province, Xu took advantage of China's reform and opening-

NUR-SULTAN -- Cargo transiting through Kazakhstan is expected to double in volume by 2025 from 2010, said Deputy Minister of National Economy Alibek Kuantyrov in a recent interview with Nikkei Asia in the capital of Nur-Sultan, pointing to the country as a "very important link" between Europe and Asia.

Kuantyrov emphasized the importance of building an "efficient transportation infrastructure" to the economic development of landlocked Kazakhstan, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union this

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -- China has passed an education law that seeks to cut the "twin pressures" of homework and off-site tutoring in core subjects, the official Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

Beijing has exercised a more assertive paternal hand this year, from tacking the addiction of youngsters to online games, deemed a form of "spiritual opium", to clamping down on "blind" worship of internet celebrities.

China's parliament said on Monday it would consider legislation to punish parents if their young

TOKYO -- Japan's foreign minister called for the U.S. to support stability in the Indo-Pacific region by joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), following China's recent move to join the trade pact.

"It's important for the U.S. to be engaged in creating regional economic order, including by returning to [the negotiating table for] the TPP," Toshimitsu Motegi said in a video message shown on Saturday at the Mount Fuji

JAKARTA -- Already a sweltering place to live with an average high of 31 C, Indonesia is set to get even hotter as global temperatures rise. The World Bank warns thermometer readings will climb by up to 0.3 C each decade, gradually turning up the heat on one of the world's biggest populations.

An obvious solution is more air conditioners. But the conundrum is that while they cool people down, the carbon-emitting devices also stoke global warming, which increases demand for air conditioning and piles

MUMBAI -- The war of attrition brought by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries to the Indian telecommunications market looks set to reach a new intensity, threatening rivals' ability to fund investments in 5G networks and other infrastructure.

"It is my promise that JioPhone Next will be among the most affordable smartphones not just in India, but globally," Ambani said in June, touting the device the group's telecom arm Reliance Jio Infocomm is developing in collaboration with Google.

JioPhone Next's launch has been delayed

TOKYO -- As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, the fact that there is discussion in Japan to significantly boost defense spending is "healthy" and a "very good idea," veterans of the U.S. foreign policy and defense community said in a virtual event Friday.

Speaking at the 18th symposium co-hosted by Nikkei and the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said that "it's a very good idea to double