The US said China was priming a trade superweapon. Then it vanished. reut.rs/4eeHIXD reut.rs/4eeHIXD

EXCLUSIVE: US sees Chinese invasion of Taiwan unlikely next year despite 2027 timeline, sources say reut.rs/3TCGkqS reut.rs/3TCGkqS

When a powerful earthquake hit Kumamoto in Japan, Tomoko Takaoka's Chihuahua 'Ku' and Chihuahua-poodle mix 'Sheri' needed a temporary home. Social media led her to an animal hospital that welcomes evacuees and their pets reut.rs/4chJdTZ

Dogs allowed! Animal hospital opens doors to Japan quake survivors and their pets reut.rs/3RGuA5M reut.rs/3RGuA5M

Ukrainian drones have helped repel Russia’s attacks for more than four years. But could they help counter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan next? Japan lead writer John Geddie reports reut.rs/3ShCRwW

The 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan saw public opinion swing dramatically against nuclear, ​and all reactors were ordered to be shut down for safety inspections and upgrades. In 2012, the government even decided to phase out nuclear energy. That decision was reversed two years later, but reactor restarts have been slow and ​many have been shut permanently. Now Tokyo's staunchly pro-nuclear leader Sanae Takaichi, buoyed by a thumping election win, is pushing to accelerate restarts and advance new nuclear technologies ⁠to wean the country off costly imported fossil fuels reut.rs/4bBG2FR

Trump's Asian allies fear Iran war will sap defences against China reut.rs/4ssJh9o reut.rs/4ssJh9o

Trump's attack on Iran is sowing fears among US allies in Asia about how the region would respond to a hole left in its defenses if Washington diverted ships and missiles it now uses to deter China reut.rs/4aX2FFD

Japanese authorities have been discreetly urging the country’s fishermen to steer clear of islands claimed by both Japan and China, to avoid escalating a diplomatic clash with Beijing reut.rs/4pYKvY4

Grappling with a rice shortage after extreme weather ravaged last year's crop, Japan is hoping new heat-resistant varieties of its staple food can help stave off future supply shocks reut.rs/3Xj4jKF