I spoke with Anthony Kuhn yesterday on N Korea's latest putrid provocation of floating feces-covered trash into S Korea. tinyurl.com/wj6ubvsb

AP cites Kyodo report, saying Japanese carmaker Toyota set to end massive Olympic sponsorship deal, because sponsorship money is “not used effectively to support athletes and promote sports.”
So what is it used for? 🤔
apnews.com/article/toyota…

Might Xi prod Putin to settle with Ukraine?

They met specially in Zhongnanhai for 'an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis'

I'm not optimistic, but Xi did tell Putin for the first time (AFAIK) China wants 'an early 早日 political settlement of the Ukraine issue' 1/

US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel visits Yonaguni Island, ~70 mi. off Taiwan coast.
Okinawa Prefectural Gov. Denny Tamaki calls Emanuel's landing at civilian airport in military plane in non-emergency, despite Okinawa's request not to, 'extremely regrettable.'
asahi.com/ajw/articles/1…

Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/0…

A sign of improving ties between China and N. Korea, a new bridge over the Yalu River is set to open on Oct. 1st, News1 reports.
Construction began in 2011, but completion has been delayed by bilateral tensions and COVID-19, the report says.
news1.kr/articles/54017… via @뉴스1

First official Chinese confirmation of mediation attempts between Hamas terrorists and Fatah in Beijing over the weekend, which were done at China's invitation.

Full translation:
1/6

ASEAN now beats China as destinations for OECD investment in manufacturing. fdiintelligence.com/content/data-t…

Plaintiffs, lawyers and activists in front of S. Korea's Constitutional Court, where public hearings for Asia's first climate litigation case began Tuesday.
Plaintiffs argue that the S. Korean govt.'s failure to adequately tackle climate change violates their human rights.

US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (center, right) visits the joint security area at the DMZ between the two Koreas, with US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera (center, left). N. Korean soldiers can be seen watching from the Panmun Pavilion behind them.

As tensions in the South China Sea heated up, I headed out to Thitu Island, in the Spratlys, on one of the most interesting reporting trips I've ever done.

I had one question: what is it like to live on a tiny, contested island?
npr.org/2024/04/11/124…

In this election year, the growing gender divide is one of the biggest political stories in S. Korea, with serious demographic implications.
NPR's Seoul Producer Se Eun Gong breaks it down for you in this State of the World podcast!
open.spotify.com/episode/4Rc33V…

Asahi/Okinawa Times survey: 21 of 46 Japanese prefectural governors polled think Okinawa's burden of hosting 70% of US military bases should be lightened. But none of them would accept the relocation of bases to their prefectures. #notinmy都道府県 .
asahi.com/ajw/articles/1…

Wow, I am so thrilled and honored that Wuhan is NPR's Book of the Day:

npr.org/2024/04/03/119…