South Korea's decision to enter the race for the 2031 Asian Cup hosting rights looks set to reignite a bidding battle between the eastern powerhouse and influential Gulf states as the nation seeks to organise the tournament for the first time since 1960.

The country's political crisis obscures the fact that South Korea's foreign policy is about to change drastically, writes Ian Bremmer.

The number of babies born in Japan fell to a record low of 720,988 in 2024 for a ninth consecutive year of decline, the health ministry said on Thursday, underscoring the rapid ageing and dwindling of the population.

Japan's population has dwindled for 15 consecutive years, as fewer people marry and have children. About 30 percent of Japanese are now 65 or older, compounding the demographic challenge and dragging on Asia's second-largest economy as it pulls itself out of a decades-long slump.

The bereaved family of another plaintiff in South Korean wartime labor cases involving Japanese companies is said to have accepted a payout under the South Korean government's settlement plan.

While Japan is the most famous destination for admiring cherry blossoms, South Korea is fast emerging as an alternative in the region.

Japan witnessed a record low of 720,988 births in 2024, highlighting an aging and shrinking population. Despite initiatives by former PM Fumio Kishida, births continued to decline. Meanwhile, South Korea saw a fertility rate rise.