Move comes as steelmakers around the world are under pressure to cut CO2 emissions to tackle climate change. Steelmaking generates up to 11% of global carbon emissions

Kishida said Tokyo would work to ensure grain shipments to Africa amid a global shortage. He also warned of the threat to the world's rules-based order since the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Markets fell in Hong Kong and Shanghai amid the bleak economic outlook in China, but shares edged up in Australia and India

Taipower spokesperson Wu Chin-chung said no more business would be done with Russia due to its war in Ukraine. It will get coal from several other countries instead.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that from Sept 7 visitors to Japan will no longer need to undergo pre-departure Covid tests

Asian markets slid lower on Tuesday amid expectations of a further rate hike in the US, the slowdown in China, but financial stocks helped to pull India's Nifty 50 to a positive level

News that Hino will suspend shipments of small trucks, because they missed the required number of engine tests, will also affect about 19,000 of Toyota's Dyna and Toyoace trucks

"The hybrid bet is a turning point,'' said a person with direct knowledge of Toyota's plans. ``It will be a litmus test for Toyota's future and success in India.''

"We can expect more geopolitical contestation in the Asia-Pacific," he said, adding that Singapore would try its best to avoid being caught up in the "major power rivalry".

Japan is considering extending the range of its missiles from 100 kilometres to 1,000 kilometres to boost its ability to strike back against China, the Yomiuri daily said.

The Taiwanese group signed a $300m agreement with local developer Kinh Bac City to expand its facilities northeast of Hanoi, amid reports it will make the Apple Watch there

Asian stocks fell in China, Japan, South Korea and India, but rose in Australia.