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Japan's annual defense white paper warns that a situation similar to the conflict in Ukraine could arise in East Asia, citing a deteriorating security environment in the Indo-Pacific. The report also emphasizes integrating drones and AI to develop asymmetric capabilities against China, drawing lessons from Ukraine's conflict.
President Lee Jae Myung defended a legal revision that abolishes prosecutors' direct investigative authority, calling it the start of judicial normalization. The Cabinet approved the bill, which the National Assembly had passed, despite opposition calls for a veto. Lee also addressed potential unintended consequences and ordered protections for workers in extreme heat.
A coalition of 25 US states, mostly led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration's latest tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners. The states argue the tariffs exceed presidential authority and are a pretext to reimpose levies struck down by the Supreme Court, while the White House insists the measures are legal.
Wildfires around Spokane, Washington, have displaced about 65,000 people and destroyed hundreds of structures, with officials reporting no injuries so far. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest fire, while experts link increasing wildfire intensity to human-caused climate change.
Two women died in an explosion at an Aeon shopping centre in Kumamoto, Japan, after their employer instructed them to re-enter the building to secure cash. The company, Habita, has apologised to the families, with one victim identified as 22-year-old Kurumi Otake.
The US Department of Defense has signed multiyear agreements with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to sharply increase production of Patriot and THAAD interceptor missiles, responding to depleted stockpiles amid conflicts with Iran and support to Ukraine. The deals, valued at over $58 billion for Lockheed and $3 billion for Northrop, aim to triple Patriot and quadruple THAAD output, though production increases are expected by 2027-2028.
The US and Japan have jointly intervened to support the yen, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly planning to purchase $5-10 billion in yen. This rare move, the first yen-buying intervention since 1998, follows the currency's fall to a 40-year low and involves complex motivations from both sides.
The South Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar on Monday and Tuesday, as foreign investors remained net sellers of local stocks. The won closed at 1,429.8 won per dollar on Monday and 1,432.5 won on Tuesday, while the KOSPI fell 5.12% on Monday before rebounding 1.62% on Tuesday.
Japan and the United States conducted a rare coordinated yen-buying intervention to halt the yen's slide to 40-year lows, with officials vowing further action if needed. The intervention, the first joint move since 2011, follows comments by President Trump that the US was helping Japan as a sign of friendship.
The US and Japan have confirmed a rare coordinated intervention to halt the yen's slide after it fell to a 40-year low against the dollar. The move, the first since 2011, briefly lifted the yen to a three-month high. Officials from both countries signalled willingness to intervene again if needed.
South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since modern records began, with 42.5°C in Yangsan, as a severe heatwave leads to deaths, emergency alerts, and disruption. The climate crisis and El Niño are cited as contributing factors by weather authorities and scientists.
South Korean golfer Ryu Hae-ran finished tied for sixth at the AIG Women's Open, missing her chance to become the third player in LPGA history to win three consecutive majors in one year. Despite weekend struggles, Ryu emphasized the positives of winning two majors and the experience of contending for a historic feat.
Australia's fuel excise cut ends on August 3, adding 16 cents per litre to wholesale prices. With global oil prices climbing to about US$90 a barrel, motorists can expect unleaded to reach about $2.20 a litre and diesel $2.60, according to RACQ economist Ian Jeffreys.
Ryu Hae-ran lost the lead in the third round of the AIG Women's Open but remains within striking distance of leader Yealimi Noh. The South Korean is attempting to become the first player since Park In-bee in 2013 to win three consecutive LPGA majors.
Hamas has agreed to a US-led peace plan that includes staged disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, announced by President Trump. International reactions are mixed: the US and some Israeli officials express support, but Israel has not officially endorsed the deal, and doubts persist about implementation.
Eleven countries, including the US, South Korea and Japan, issued a joint alert warning that North Korean IT workers, using stolen identities and AI, generate revenue for Pyongyang's weapons programmes. North Korea rejected the alert as 'false information' and accused the US of militarizing cyberspace.
Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting on countering sanctions that Western measures are part of an attempt to inflict a 'strategic defeat' on Russia, but such attempts are doomed to failure. He also said the Russian economy remains 'alive, functioning, and developing' despite the restrictions.
North Korea's state media, KCNA, has criticized the US Forces Japan (USFJ) for expanding its command structure, calling the move a 'sinister' plan for 'an all-out war in the Asia Pacific region.' The criticism follows the USFJ commander's comments about increasing personnel and preparing for a potential regional crisis.
The South Korean won strengthened to a nine-month high against the U.S. dollar, with analysts and officials pointing to possible coordinated intervention by Seoul and Tokyo and a surge in foreign purchases of local stocks. The yen also hit a multi-year high.
Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of renowned Nepali climber Nirmal Purja and several others after an avalanche on Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the deaths of the 10-member team, with recovery efforts ongoing.