East Asia

North Korea has warned the United Nations about what it calls Japan's 'attempts at rearmament', voicing alarm at Japan's expanding defense posture. The statement, reported by Anadolu Agency, reflects Pyongyang's long-standing opposition to Japanese military buildup and adds to regional tensions over security policy in East Asia.

Meta has signed a deal with Australian firm Firmus to secure AI computing capacity serving Southeast Asia, Reuters reports. The partnership gives the social media company additional data centre infrastructure in the region as demand for artificial intelligence compute surges. Firmus specialises in building high-density, AI-ready data centre capacity, making it a useful partner for Meta's expansion beyond its existing facilities.

Nikkei Asia reports that the race among automakers to dominate Southeast Asia's electric vehicle market could leave ordinary drivers behind, as the rapid push for new EV models raises prices beyond what many consumers in the region can afford. The article highlights the tension between automakers' expansion plans and affordability for local buyers.

Southeast Asia is turning to small modular reactors as demand for reliable electricity surges alongside its growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Thailand is among the countries weighing the technology, with chip manufacturing requiring stable power supplies that renewable sources alone have struggled to guarantee, prompting a regional rethink on nuclear energy.

Meta has signed an agreement with Singapore-based data centre firm Firmus to secure AI computing capacity in Southeast Asia. The deal gives Meta access to additional infrastructure for training and running AI models in the fast-growing region. Few further details about the size or timeline of the arrangement are available, and there is not yet broad public reaction to the announcement.

A Southeast Asian oil field development project has passed a key environmental assessment, allowing it to advance toward a final investment decision. The clearance removes a major regulatory obstacle for the offshore project, and industry observers will now be watching for the operators to confirm investment and move the field closer to production.

A South China Morning Post report examines whether paying people to read and using gamification can reverse declining literacy rates across Southeast Asia. The piece explores incentive-based programmes that reward reading with cash, asking whether such schemes can meaningfully improve reading habits and comprehension in a region struggling with falling literacy levels.

Australia are taking on Brazil, with the fixture drawing widespread search interest across Europe, Asia, South East Asia and the United States. Outlets including Sports Illustrated have published viewing guides detailing how fans can watch the match on TV and via live stream, indicating it is being broadcast internationally. The matchup is one of the most-searched sports topics in multiple countries.

India is in talks with China to open an alternate air route after Pakistan closed its airspace, forcing Indian carriers to take longer detours on westbound international flights, sources said. The rerouting discussions come as flights to Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia face longer durations and higher fuel costs following the airspace closure.

Mirion Technologies is holding its inaugural Mirion Connect EMEA/APAC conference in Brussels, bringing together customers and partners from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The event marks the company's expansion of its regional conference format beyond North America, focusing on radiation measurement and detection technologies.

Artists including Ed Sheeran and Massive Attack are facing backlash in Southeast Asia over rows connected to Gaza, according to the South China Morning Post. The report points to growing regional anger toward Western musicians over their positions or actions related to the conflict, triggering calls for boycotts and criticism of planned or past performances in the region.

The European Union's diplomatic service is highlighting Ukraine's harvest and its importance to global food security, insisting food should never be used as a weapon. The message comes as Russian attacks on Ukrainian farmland, ports and grain infrastructure continue to disrupt exports that many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia depend on.