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A massive downpour devastated Japan's Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo on Thursday and Friday, claiming four lives and forcing the evacuation of over 400,000 residents. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest alert level for rainfall and landslides.
South Korea recorded its highest-ever temperature of 41.4°C in Yangsan on Friday, surpassing the previous 2018 record as an unprecedented heatwave engulfs the nation for three consecutive days.
South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday that no South Korean nationals have been injured in an earthquake that struck Japan earlier this week, with diplomatic missions actively monitoring the situation.
UNESCO has designated Asuka-Fujiwara, a group of 19 ancient archaeological sites in Nara Prefecture, as Japan's 27th World Heritage site. The ruins document Japan's centralised state formation during the sixth to eighth centuries.
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has arrived in Manila to lead the Malaysian delegation at the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, where regional crises and dialogue relations will dominate discussions.
Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has called for open debate on nuclear weapons, citing deteriorating security conditions and policy shifts in Europe. The comments signal potential reconsideration of Japan's longstanding non-nuclear stance.
Japan's coast guard expelled two Chinese coast guard ships from waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands on Tuesday, marking a rare incursion that brought Chinese vessels close to Japanese fishing operations. The incident underscores escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.