16+ min ago (139+ words) TOKYO -- Asahi Mutual Life Insurance will purchase Vietnam's MVI Life Insurance for nearly 30 billion yen ($192 million), Nikkei has learned, as midsi Japan insurer Asahi Life to buy Vietnam counterpart in $190m deal Midsize Japanese financial companies step up overseas acquisitions TOKYO -- Asahi Mutual Life Insurance will purchase Vietnam's MVI Life Insurance for nearly 30 billion yen ($192 million), Nikkei has learned, as midsize Japanese financial companies increasingly look abroad for acquisitions. Japanese insurer Tokio Marine to buy US-based Agrihedge for $970m Japan's Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance invests $1.44bn in Barings Manulife Japan CEO: Country's 'most acute challenge' is wealth accumulation Blackstone seeks more tie-ups with Japan life insurers, credit head says KKR acquires Japanese insurance distributor Hoken Minaoshi Hompo Spy-grade AI built to analyze US intel takes on Japan life insurance Latest on Business deals...

45+ min ago (158+ words) TOKYO -- The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government essentially held steady in the latest Nikkei/TV Tokyo survey, risi Japan PM Takaichi's approval rating stays roughly flat at 75% Support for ruling LDP climbs to 41% in latest Nikkei poll TOKYO -- The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government essentially held steady in the latest Nikkei/TV Tokyo survey, rising 1 percentage point on the month to 75% and remaining in the 70s for the second straight month since Takaichi took office in October. Japan cabinet proposes $117bn extra budget, clouding outlook for surplus Japan says it will reach 2% defense spending early -- but there's a catch Northern Japan reactor set to restart as governor signals approval Japanese regional airports, Chinese airlines face Taiwan feud fallout Japan PM set to gain firmer footing with renewed lower house majority Latest on Japan's new…...

3+ hour, 31+ min ago (150+ words) JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 400 with a similar number still missi Death toll after tropical cyclones hit Indonesia's Sumatra rises to 442 Authorities warn toll likely to rise as impact of flooding across Southeast Asia grows JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 400 with a similar number still missing and 290,000 people evacuated as the impact of extreme weather across Southeast Asia over the past week continues to grow. Southeast Asia flooding death toll rises to almost 600 Death toll from floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra rises to 248 49 dead as Indonesia intensifies search for flood and landslide victims Thailand to airlift critical patients as southern floods kill 33 Severe floods displace thousands in Thailand and Malaysia Latest on Natural…...

6+ hour ago (150+ words) JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 400 with a similar number still missi Death toll after tropical cyclones hit Indonesia's Sumatra rises to 435 Authorities warn toll likely to rise as impact of flooding across Southeast Asia grows JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 400 with a similar number still missing and 290,000 people evacuated as the impact of extreme weather across Southeast Asia over the past week continues to grow. Southeast Asia flooding death toll rises to almost 600 Death toll from floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra rises to 248 49 dead as Indonesia intensifies search for flood and landslide victims Thailand to airlift critical patients as southern floods kill 33 Severe floods displace thousands in Thailand and Malaysia Latest on Natural…...

7+ hour, 41+ min ago (153+ words) MANILA -- Angry Filipinos demonstrated in Metro Manila on Sunday to demand greater accountability for the theft of billions of dollars earmarked for f Thousands of Filipinos protest over flood corruption scandal Demonstrators demand authorities move more decisively against those who allegedly stole billions of dollars MANILA -- Angry Filipinos demonstrated in Metro Manila on Sunday to demand greater accountability for the theft of billions of dollars earmarked for flood prevention infrastructure but in much smaller numbers than at previous similar protests. Philippine ombudsman files first flood control graft scandal case Philippine conglomerates cash in on huge gaps in public health care Over 300,000 protest in Philippines: 'We hope Marcos listens to our anger' Philippines evacuates 100,000 people as Fung-wong turns into super typhoon Philippines' corruption crisis sends peso to all-time low Malaysia's Sabah vote highlights major political realignment, analysts say Japan cabinet proposes…...

8+ hour, 53+ min ago (189+ words) ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan is expected to lose a billion dollars annually now that it has closed its border with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which has respo Pakistan's trade war with Afghanistan boomerangs on its economy Taliban turns to Iran and India after border clashes shut key routes ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan is expected to lose a billion dollars annually now that it has closed its border with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which has responded by shifting trade toward Iran and India, a chain of events that picked up pace when Islamabad reacted to repeated insurgent attacks with airstrikes across the border. Pakistan-Afghanistan clash looms after militant attacks in Islamabad Pakistan constitution change boosts army chief's hold on power Pakistan's Murree Brewery exports beer for the first time in half a century Pakistanis call for emergency as population growth fuels poverty Frustration grows among Pakistan's salaried class over…...

10+ hour, 15+ min ago (154+ words) KUALA LUMPUR -- The dominance of local parties in Sabah's legislative elections on Saturday signalled that Malaysian politics is realigning toward sta Malaysia's Sabah vote highlights major political realignment, analysts say Dominance of local parties in legislative election shows growth of groups championing decentralized power KUALA LUMPUR -- The dominance of local parties in Sabah's legislative elections on Saturday signalled that Malaysian politics is realigning toward state-based groups and decentralized power while leaving a mixed picture for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, analysts said. Southeast Asia flooding death toll rises to almost 600 Malaysian PM Anwar faces critical test in Sabah state election Malaysia anti-graft agency to probe allegations against PM's ex-aide Malaysia, Myanmar hit by fraud spike as AI-driven incidents rise Malaysia's planned U-16 social media ban draws surveillance concerns Malaysia auto sales lead in Southeast Asia for second consecutive quarter Japan cabinet proposes…...

10+ hour, 51+ min ago (373+ words) Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events Welcome to Your Week in Asia. This week, two influential world leaders are set to visit Asian countries. French President Emmanuel Macron is making a state visit to China from Wednesday, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in India on Thursday. Although the specifics of their potential bilateral agreements are not yet known, some of the outcomes could set the tone for global politics in 2026. And people in South Korea may feel that time flies as this Wednesday marks exactly one year since former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, which plunged the country -- as well as businesspersons and diplomats in the region -- into chaos. Get the best of our coverage of Asia and much more by following us on X, where our handle is @NikkeiAsia. We are…...

11+ hour, 30+ min ago (174+ words) HONG KONG -- Crypto-oriented companies in Hong Kong that had aspired to replicate the rise of "digital asset treasuries" in the U.S. are instead empha From poker to Pokemon, Hong Kong crypto stockpilers rebrand Bear market, city regulators weigh on companies that hoped to be next big 'DAT' HONG KONG -- Crypto-oriented companies in Hong Kong that had aspired to replicate the rise of "digital asset treasuries" in the U.S. are instead emphasizing other lines of business, from online poker to Pokemon trading cards, as the DAT model begins to crack. Hong Kong stablecoin law opens door to yuan-backed token Eric Trump talks up crypto ambitions as family empire eyes Asia Hong Kong accelerates crypto hub buildup as U.S. competition looms Singapore touts Bitcoin futures, avoids Hong Kong's crypto ETFs China accuses US of carrying out $13bn bitcoin hack Chinese fraud mastermind jailed in UK for…...

14+ hour, 39+ min ago (145+ words) JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 300 with a similar number still missi Over 300 killed in Indonesia after rare tropical cyclones strike Sumatra Authorities warn toll likely to rise as impact of flooding across Southeast Asia grows JAKARTA -- The death toll from heavy storms across three Indonesian provinces on Sumatra has jumped to more than 300 with a similar number still missing as the impact of extreme weather across Southeast Asia over the past week continues to grow. Southeast Asia flooding death toll rises to almost 600 Death toll from floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra rises to 248 49 dead as Indonesia intensifies search for flood and landslide victims Thailand to airlift critical patients as southern floods kill 33 Severe floods displace thousands in Thailand and Malaysia Latest on Natural disasters...