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Japan Today
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Asia boosts weapons buys, military research as security outlook darkens
FILE PHOTO: A mock model of the FFM "Upgraded Mogami" class is displayed during the Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo By Greg Torode and Jun Yuan Yong Spending on weapons and research is spiking among some Asian countries as they respond to a darkening security outlook by broadening their outside industrial partnerships while trying to boost their own defense industries, a new study has found. The annual Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment released on Wednesday by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said outside industrial help remains vital even as regional nations ultimately aim for self-reliance. "Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, coupled with worsening U.S.-China strategic competition and deterioration of the Asia-Pacific security landscape, may lead to a rising tide of defense-industrial partnerships," it read. "Competitive security dynamics over simmering flashpoints ... feed into the need to develop military capabilities to address them." Spending on defense procurement and research and development rose $2.7 billion between 2022 and 2024, it showed, to reach $10.5 billion among Southeast Asia's key nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The spike comes even as the nations spent an average of 1.5% of GDP on defense in 2024, a figure that has kept relatively constant over the last decade. The study, released ahead of this weekend's annual Shangri-La Dialogue defense meeting in Singapore, said Asia-Pacific nations still rely on imports for most key weapons and equipment. Such items range from submarines and combat aircraft to drones, missiles and advanced electronics for surveillance and intelligence gathering. The informal Singapore gathering of global defense and military officials is expected to be dominated by uncertainties stemming from the protracted Ukraine conflict, Trump administration security policies and regional tension over Taiwan and the disputed busy waterway of the South China Sea. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are increasingly active and making inroads, the study said, though European companies have a prominent and expanding regional presence, via technology transfer, joint ventures and licenced assembly deals. The UAE now operates a diversified network of collaborators, such as China's NORINCO weapons giant and rival India's Hindustan Aeronautics. Joint development operations are not always easy, the study said, offering lessons from India's two-decade collaboration with Russia to produce the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missile. While the feared weapon is fielded by India, exports have been hampered by lack of a clear strategy, with deliveries to its first third-party customer, the Philippines, starting only in 2024, the study added. Closer Russia-China ties could further complicate the weapon's development, particularly if Moscow chooses to prioritize ties with Beijing to develop a hypersonic version of the missile. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Japan Today
21-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan flexes defense ambitions at arms show
A mock model of an upgraded Type-12 SSM is displayed during the Defence Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon By Tim Kelly Japan opened one of its largest-ever arms shows on Wednesday in a display that Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said marked the pacifist nation's deepening push for overseas defense cooperation and weapons exports. The DSEI Japan exhibition near Tokyo showcased Japanese missiles, warships and research into lasers and electromagnetic railguns. The event, double the size of the 2023 show, drew 471 firms from 33 countries, including 169 from Japan — twice as many as two years ago, according to organizer Clarion Defense & Security. "I sincerely hope that this exhibition will provide a new opportunity for cooperation and exchange between national delegations and companies, help sustain defense industry development, drive innovation and promote peace and stability," Nakatani said during a speech at the event. Japan has been gradually stepping back from the pacifism that was the cornerstone of decades of defense planning after the country's defeat in World War Two. It lifted a military export ban in 2014, and is taking its first steps into global defense cooperation encouraged by the United States and European partners eager to share development costs and tap Japan's industrial base. "Strength comes from expanding and elevating the alliance's capabilities and capacity, which means leveraging our respective skills and our specialties in co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment," U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said as he opened the DSEI U.S. pavilion. Amid threats from China, North Korea and Russia, Japanese firms have become more willing to seek out military business. "Our foundation goes back over 70 years with industry here. That's with the big and large heavy industry players, which makes sense, but we're seeing that now at multiple tier levels, tier one, tier two companies, even startups," said William Blair, the regional chief in Asia and India for Lockheed Martin, which supplies F-35 stealth fighters, air defense radars and other equipment to Japan. Japan's partnerships in Europe include the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) jet fighter project with Britain and Italy. "With today's increasingly uncertain security environment, I believe we must respond not just domestically, but with a broader international perspective," said Katsuyuki Nabeta, a general manager at the defense and space unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), which is leading the Japanese portion of that advanced fighter project. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our technologies and reach a wider audience, he added at the company booth next to a model of the Mogami warship it wants to sell to Australia. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Asian markets swing as China-US trade euphoria fades
Workers walk past a stock quotation board showing Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon HONG KONG: Asian stocks fluctuated Wednesday (May 14), with investors struggling to track a strong day on Wall Street as euphoria over the China-US trade detente petered out. But while the days of breathtaking volatility seen through April appear to be over for now, analysts warned that more work was needed for Washington to reach tariff deals with countries and instill a sense of stability. Data showing US inflation unexpectedly slowed last month provided some cheer, though observers pointed out that the real impact of Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tolls will not likely be felt until May's readings. The US president on Tuesday played up a deal with Beijing. "We have the confines of a very, very strong deal with China. But the most exciting part of the deal... that's the opening up of China to US business," he told Fox News. His remarks were made aboard Air Force One as he headed off on his Gulf tour, with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday pledging US$600 billion worth of US investments in a range of sectors from defence to artificial intelligence. The agreements -- including a huge chip deal for Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices -- would boost US jobs, and the stock market is "gonna go a lot higher", Trump said, citing an "explosion of investment and jobs". The tech-rich Nasdaq rallied with the S&P 500, which broke back into positive territory for the year, helped slightly by the inflation data. But Asia struggled to extend the rally. Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta and Taipei rose more than one per cent but Wellington and Manila were flat, while Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney and Singapore fell. Oil, which had enjoyed a four-day rally on demand optimism and Trump's warnings to Iran over a nuclear deal, also edged down. Analysts said that while the China deal was welcome, investors were now bracing for the next developments in the US president's trade standoff with the world as countries look to strike deals with the White House to avert stiff tariffs. "Remember it's an armistice not a peace treaty -- and the tariffs are still at these levels worse than we had before," Neil Wilson at Saxo Markets said. "Let's be honest, the market knows this script by heart: Trump escalates. Markets tumble. Back-channels open. China blinks. A deal gets made. Risk rallies," added Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "The fog has lifted -- for now. Whether this cycle brings more sustainable upside or just sets up the next tantrum remains to be seen," he said. Still, the dialling down of tensions with China saw JPMorgan Chase predict the US economy would grow this year, reversing its earlier forecast for a contraction caused by the tariffs. Investors are also awaiting the release of earnings from Chinese tech titans Alibaba and Tencent, which could provide an idea about how the market heavyweights are coping with the trade upheaval and uncertainty in the world's number two economy. - AFP
The Star
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Japanese 'salarymen' inspire with cheerleading acrobatics
Members of Cheer Re-Man's, an all-male cheer-leading team of active businessmen, perform at "Cheer Up Japan" in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon TOKYO (Reuters) -It's a cold, wet morning and frigid air is seeping through the open doors of a college gymnasium in Tokyo. But that doesn't seem to worry Soichiro Kakimoto and 30 other young businessmen as they gear up for their weekend routine: cheerleading. "Smile when times are tough!" shouts a tall man with an eager smile. The others -- all dressed in dark suits and ties --pump their fists and jam to the upbeat music that fills the space. Their chants echo through the gymnasium. "Yes you can! You can definitely do it! Go, Japan! Go Japan!" The young men are all about spreading cheer through their eye-popping acrobatic performances, volunteering their weekends at shopping malls and other venues to entertain crowds. Calling themselves "Cheer Re-Man's" -- a mash-up of "cheerleading" and "salaryman" -- the group, formed in 2023, is made up of alumni from the elite Waseda University's male cheerleading squad. Their day-jobs range from real estate sales to marketing, and they balance their professional lives with their passion for cheerleading. For practice, the squad often borrows half the gym from a female college cheerleading team in exchange for biscuits. From Monday to Friday, Kakimoto is the quintessential Japanese salaryman, commuting in crowded trains, working late and going out drinking with colleagues, wearing the stretchy navy Uniqlo suit that doubles as his cheerleading uniform. "On weekdays, I use my brain and on weekends, I use my body. Even if one isn't well, the other might be, and that's contributing to my overall mental health," said the 23-year-old, who works at a software development company. "If we, Japanese salarymen, can do what we're passionate about, then everyone else can keep chasing their dreams too." The unusual sight of Japanese corporate warriors being launched 7 metres (23 feet) into the air in synchronised routines won them an online commercial spot to advertise the stretchy Uniqlo suits they wear for their performances. The group also competed in "Britain's Got Talent", where they came third in their semi-final. On a recent weekend, the suited men performed in front of a huge crowd at a shopping mall with gravity-defying stunts, human towers and infectious energy. Yasuko Yamaki, a 61-year-old housewife who learned about the group three months ago through social media, was there to see the spectacle. "In Japan, we're all going through a lot. Watching these salarymen putting in so much without giving up makes me cry," she said. "It's so inspirational." (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura;Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Kate Mayberry)
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch the 2025 Italian Open: Second Round schedule, how to watch and more
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. Italy's Jannik Sinner will make his return to tennis after a three-month suspension at this week's Italian Open. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo) Now through May 18, some of the best tennis players in the world are meeting at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy for the 2025 Italian Open. This tournament marks Jannik Sinner's highly anticipated return to the court after a three-month suspension handed to him after two positive doping tests in 2024; the men's world No. 1 played most recently at the Australian Open in January where he added another championship title to his name. Sinner's first match of the Open will be this Saturday, May 10 against Mariano Navone. Italian Open returning champion and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev is also competing this year, along with top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, but don't expect to see Novak Djokovic on the clay, he's skipping the Italian Open in order to focus on the French Open in June. So far, one seeded player has already been defeated in an upset; No. 14 seed Grigor Dimitrov was defeated earlier this week in the men's draw by Italy's Francesco Passaro. Advertisement Iga Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka in last year's Italian Open final, and both women will be back this year, along with Americans Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys. Several top-seeded WTA players have already departed the tournament due to injury, including Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova. Some of the most anticipated women's matches of this weekend include Swiatek vs. American Danielle Collins, and an all-American match between Madison Keyes and Peyton Stearns, both on Saturday. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Italian Open this year. How to watch the Italian Open: Dates: May 6 - 18, 2025 Location: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy Advertisement Channel: Tennis Channel Streaming: Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Tennis Channel app, and more When is the Italian Open? The Italian Open runs from May 6-19 in Rome, Italy. What channel is the 2025 Italian Open on? In the U.S., you can tune into the 2025 Italian Open on the Tennis Channel. Where to watch the Italian Open without cable: You can find the Tennis Channel on streaming platforms like Fubo and DirecTV. You can also get a standalone subscription to Tennis Channel's streaming platform which combines access to its 24/7 cable broadcasts as well as its streaming library, giving fans thousands of hours of live and on-demand tennis, interviews, analysis and more. Watch Tennis Channel Tennis Channel The Tennis Channel's streaming service merges the content from the flagship 24-hour cable network with extensive live and on-demand multicourt coverage, offering tennis fans unparalleled access to the sport. Subscribers can sign up through the Tennis Channel app or website ( and choose between a $109.99 annual package or a $9.99 monthly option. The all-in-one service provides the most live tennis coverage anywhere, with more than 100 tournaments and thousands of matches from both the men's and women's tours, including the 2025 Italian Open. $9.99/month at Tennis Channel 2025 Italian Open schedule: For a complete breakdown of men and women's first round pairings and draws, you can check out the ATP website for the men's first round pairings and the WTA website for the women's. Advertisement All times Eastern 2025 Italian Open - Women's schedule Second round: May 8, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Second round, May 9: 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Third round, May 10, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Third round, May 11, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Round of 16, May 12, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Quarterfinals , May 13, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Quarterfinals, May 14, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Semifinals , May 15: 7 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Final, May 17: 6 a.m. 2025 Italian Open - Men's schedule: Second round, May 8, 5 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Third round, May 11, 5 a.m. (morning session) and 1 p.m.(evening session) Third round, May 12, 5 a.m. (morning session) and 1 p.m.(evening session) Round of 16, May 13, 5 a.m. (morning session) and 1 p.m.(evening session) Quarterfinals, May 14, 5 a.m. (morning session) and 1 p.m.(evening session) Semifinals, May 16, 7:30 a.m (morning session) and 1 p.m (evening session) Final, May 18, 6 a.m. Who is playing in the Italian Open 2025? The big headline of the Italian Open is the return of Italy's Jannik Sinner, the men's world No. 1, who was suspended from play for three months. A list of the men's and women's top seeds who will appear at the tournament are below: ATP Top Seeds: 1. Jannik Sinner 2. Alexander Zverev 3. Carlos Alcaraz 4. Taylor Fritz 5. Jack Draper 6. Casper Ruud 7. Alex de Minaur 8. Lorenzo Musetti 9. Holger Rune 10. Daniil Medvedev 11. Tommy Paul 12. Ben Shelton 13. Arthur Fils 14. Grigor Dimitrov Advertisement 15. Frances Tiafoe 16. Andrey Rublev 17. Francisco Cerundolo 18. Stefanos Tsisipas 19. Tomas Machac 20. Jakub Mensik 21. Ugo Humbert 22. Sebastian Korda 23. Karen Khachanov 24. Alexei Popyrin 25. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 26. Felix Auger-Aliasseime 27. Denis Shapovalov 28. Brandon Nakashima 29. Matteo Berrettini 30. Mubert Kurkacz 31. Alex Michelsen 32. Sebastian Baez WTA Top Seeds: 1. Aryna Sabalenka 2. Iga Swiatek 3. Jessica Pegula 4. Coco Gauff 5. Madison Keys 6. Jasmine Paolini 7. Mirra Andreeva 8. Zheng Qinwen 9. Paula Badosa 10. Emma Navarro 11. Elena Rybakina 12. Karolina Muchova 13. Diana Shnaider 14. Daria Kasatkina Advertisement 15. Amanda Anisimova 16. Elina Svitolina 17. Jelena Ostapenko 18. Beatriz Haddad Maia 19. Liudmila Samsonova 20. Donna Vekic 21. Ekaterina Alexandrova 22. Clara Tauson 23. Yulia Putinseva 24. Leylah Fernandez 25. Elise Mertens 26. Magdalena Frech 27. Ons Jabeur 28. Anna Kalinskaya 29. Danielle Collins 30. Linda Noskova 31. Sofia Kenin 32. Magda Linette Other places to watch Tennis Channel:
