SHOCKING: 39 | Mind Blowing Facts

Russia test-fires missiles off disputed islands days after Putin’s visit angered Japan

Putin’s visit to the island, the first by a Russian president, prompted a tit-for-tat summoning of ambassadors in both nations

The Independent UK · Aug 21

Weather tracker: Extreme rain deluges Japan and South Korea

Downpours break records and cause transport chaos, evacuations and deaths, as people get trapped inside vehicles

The Guardian - UK · Aug 21

In the 1920s, America turned to Japanese oysters as its native industry declined; their descendants now support a Pacific Northwest shellfish industry worth over $270 million

The oyster industry along the US Pacific coast was on the brink of disaster due to a combination of overharvesting and pollution. In the 1920s, to combat this issue, Japanese Pacific oysters were introduced as a more resilient alternative. This change sparked a transformation in oyster farming, leading to a…

The Times of India · Aug 21

Indonesia eyes uninhabited island for 1st nuclear power plant

JAKARTA — Coal-dependent Indonesia is reviving decades-old plans to build nuclear power plants that were put on hold following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, as it seeks to meet its decarbonisation targets.

Bangkok Post · Aug 21

Global Market: Nikkei slips as rising oil prices, bond yields weigh on Japanese stocks

Japan’s Nikkei fell on Friday and was headed for its steepest weekly decline in more than a month as rising oil prices, higher bond yields and uncertainty over the Middle East conflict weighed on investor sentiment. The Nikkei was set for a 4% weekly loss, while the Topix was headed…

The Economic Times · Aug 21

What Sanae Takaichi’s popularity among women says about gender equality in Japan

Politicians don’t often find themselves on packages of cookies. Nor do their bags tend to go viral, sparking a fashion craze.

The Conversation · Aug 21

Express train kills 4 workers carrying out weed-control work on tracks in Japan

Four workers carrying out weed-control work on a railway track in Japan were killed after they were struck by an express train as it entered Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo.

The Times of India · Aug 21

Global Market Today: Asian stocks follow Wall Street lower, dollar slips

Asian bonds and equities faced a downturn, reflecting the declines witnessed on Wall Street. An uptick in US Treasury yields dampened investor enthusiasm surrounding debt repurchases. Meanwhile, the yen held steady, suggesting that inflation trends could lead to a rate increase by the Bank of Japan. Bitcoin soared past seventy…

The Economic Times · Aug 21

Japan installed a 1.1 MW turbine beneath the Naru Strait, using predictable tidal currents to generate clean electricity for the Goto Islands

Japan has successfully installed a 1.1 MW tidal turbine in the Naru Strait, harnessing energy from reliable tidal currents instead of variable sources like wind or solar. The AR1100 turbine evolved from an earlier pilot project and started generating electricity in June 2025. Its consistent energy production is a vital…

The Times of India · Aug 20

Why is the Trump administration causing turmoil in the bond markets?

As yields are dragged higher in the UK, Europe and Japan, the impact for consumers and businesses will be far-reaching

The Guardian - UK · Aug 20