Akihito Muranaka

Akihito Muranaka is a Senior Correspondent at The Eastern Herald covering geopolitics, international security and investigative affairs across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, with reporting in English and Japanese.

Archive satellite view of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh

Debris Injures Two in Southern Saudi Arabia After Houthi Missile Interceptions

Saudi Arabia's coalition said it downed a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and 10 more fired toward the south on Sunday. Civil Defence said debris from two intercepted missiles injured two

October 25, 2026

by Akihito Muranaka

A coral reef with a pale blue lagoon surrounded by deep blue sea and scattered clouds, photographed from space

Manila Summons China’s Envoy; Beijing Faults Philippine Politicians

Manila summoned China's ambassador on Monday over his remark that Beijing could "easily win" if it used force, and China's Foreign Ministry answered the same day by urging the Philippines to rein in "those politicians." The account seen does not

October 19, 2026

by Akihito Muranaka

Cutterhead of the China Railway 1662 shield tunneling machine standing in a Zhengzhou factory hall

China Curbs Tunnel Boring Machine Exports, Leaves “Disputes” Undefined

China's Commerce Ministry will require licenses for tunnel boring machine exports to countries it regards as

Night view from orbit of the Gulf of Thailand, with Bangkok's lights at the head of the bay and green dots of fishing boats on the dark water

Cambodia Says Thailand Agreed Sea Trust Measures; Only One Is Named

Cambodia says it and Thailand agreed confidence-building measures at the second Hague conciliation session, but names

Türkiye's industry and technology minister signs the Artemis Accords at a table with US and Turkish flags beneath a Moon image and the words Artemis Accords

Uzbekistan Signs the Artemis Accords With Rubio in Samarkand, Saidov Says

Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov says he signed the Artemis Accords with Marco Rubio in Samarkand, making Uzbekistan the 77th signatory. NASA's own page still listed San Marino as the 76th when TEH

October 19, 2026

Government and Politics·News

A US Marine stands beside an NMESIS anti-ship missile launcher on a wet road under low cloud at Bellows, Hawaii

Keen Sword Opens Near Taiwan as Yonaguni Is Told to Clear Roads

Japan and the United States opened Keen Sword on Monday, with US Marine launchers due on Yonaguni, 110 km from Taiwan, and residents asked to stay off the roads. TASS and Defense

October 18, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Taiwan Coast Guard officer in an orange uniform photographs a distant China Coast Guard vessel labelled 3303 from the bridge of the patrol ship Taichung

Taiwan Says 16 Chinese Ships Struck at Once but Names Only Six

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration says China ran four simultaneous operations on Sunday, from a fishing boat off Kaohsiung to two cutters circling Dongsha. Its release counts 16 vessels but describes only six,

October 18, 2026

Government and Politics·News

A technician in a corridor between server racks inside an Amazon Web Services data center in eastern Oregon

Iran’s Speaker Warns Gulf Funds: No Money for AI Firms ‘Aiding Invasions’

Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, announced a "Persian Gulf Data Authority" and told Gulf funds and firms to give no finance, equity, land or energy to AI or data companies "aiding

October 18, 2026

Artificial Intelligence·Conflicts, Military and War·News

The Chinese national flag on a flagpole among trees at the Chinese embassy in Japan

China’s Embassy in Japan Condemns Yasukuni Shrine Offerings and Visits

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Japan condemned Japan's latest moves at Yasukuni Shrine, calling it a symbol of militarism, Xinhua reported. The statement as reported names none of the leaders,

October 18, 2026

Government and Politics·News

A tan Boeing AH-6i light attack helicopter in flight over desert hills

Two Saudi Officers Die in Najran Crash the Coalition Blames on Malfunction

Two Saudi National Guard officers died when an AH-6i helicopter crashed in Najran, which the coalition attributes to a technical malfunction. The Houthis had claimed on Saturday to have downed a Saudi

October 18, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev shaking hands in front of Chinese and Uzbek flags

Li Qiang Pledges Railway Work in Uzbekistan, but Only Tashkent Gives Figures

Chinese Premier Li Qiang promised high-quality work on a shared railway and more trade on his first day in Uzbekistan. Only the Uzbek presidency's readout gave figures, citing nearly $60 billion in

October 17, 2026

Government and Politics·News

Aerial view of dozens of fishing boats with red flags speeding in a wedge formation past a long bridge as they leave a Chinese port

China and South Korea Run First Joint Yellow Sea Patrol Since April 2022

A China Coast Guard vessel and a South Korean fisheries ship spent ten days documenting and boarding fishing boats in the Yellow Sea, but Beijing's account gives no tally. The statement is

October 17, 2026

Government and Politics·News

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in front of Croatian and EU flags in Zagreb

Croatia’s President Backs China on EU Trade Row, Beijing’s Account Says

On the day EU leaders told Brussels to build new trade defences against Chinese competition, Wang Yi was in Zagreb. Beijing says Croatia's president shares its view of the dispute, but the

October 17, 2026

Government and Politics·News

Liquid-cooled server board with CPU and DCU chips submerged in coolant at the World AI Conference in Shanghai

China Orders AI Export Registration, Spares Chatbot Access

Chinese firms must now register AI technology exports with the Commerce Ministry, including deals already under way. Chatbot access, APIs and open-source releases fall outside the draft rule, but its thresholds are

October 16, 2026

Artificial Intelligence·News·Technology

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Akihito Muranaka

Debris Injures Two in Southern Saudi Arabia After Houthi Missile Interceptions

Manila Summons China’s Envoy; Beijing Faults Philippine Politicians

China Curbs Tunnel Boring Machine Exports, Leaves “Disputes” Undefined

Cambodia Says Thailand Agreed Sea Trust Measures; Only One Is Named

Uzbekistan Signs the Artemis Accords With Rubio in Samarkand, Saidov Says

Keen Sword Opens Near Taiwan as Yonaguni Is Told to Clear Roads

Taiwan Says 16 Chinese Ships Struck at Once but Names Only Six

Iran’s Speaker Warns Gulf Funds: No Money for AI Firms ‘Aiding Invasions’

China’s Embassy in Japan Condemns Yasukuni Shrine Offerings and Visits

Two Saudi Officers Die in Najran Crash the Coalition Blames on Malfunction

Li Qiang Pledges Railway Work in Uzbekistan, but Only Tashkent Gives Figures

China and South Korea Run First Joint Yellow Sea Patrol Since April 2022

Croatia’s President Backs China on EU Trade Row, Beijing’s Account Says

China Orders AI Export Registration, Spares Chatbot Access

Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

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