Yokohama recognizes partnerships for LGBT couples
The city of Yokohama near Tokyo began issuing certificates recognizing the partnerships of sexual minority and common-law couples on Monday.
East Asia
Hong Kong voters deliver landslide victory for pro-democracy campaigners
Hong Kong’s voters have delivered an unprecedented landslide for pro-democracy candidates in local elections, in a powerful show of solidarity with the city’s protest movement and rebuke to the government over its handling of the crisis.
Fukushima to be reborn as $2.7bn wind and solar power hub
A plan is under way to develop 11 solar power plants and 10 wind power plants in the prefecture, on farmlands that cannot be cultivated anymore and mountainous areas from where population outflows continue.
Microsoft Japan’s 4-day workweek experiment sees productivity jump 40%
The tech giant recorded an almost 40% jump in productivity levels after cutting its work hours as part of a wider project to promote healthier work-life balance.
Samsung team up with Bulb for world’s first home energy control service
SmartThings Energy Control’ helps people with smart meters monitor their energy use in (almost) real-time from the convenience of their smartphone or tablet.
Environmental pollution in China is now declining
For decades pollution in China has paralleled economic growth. But this connection has weakened in recent years, according to a new international research study.
Envision joins RE100 and makes most ambitious climate target of any member from mainland China
Shanghai-based energy technology manufacturer Envision has joined the global RE100 initiative committing to be powered by 100% electricity by 2025.
China’s solar power is now cheaper than grid electricity, scientists reveal
Scientists found that all of the 344 cities they looked at could have cheaper electricity powered by solar energy, according to the study published in the journal Nature Energy.
Japan records lowest suicide rate since statistics were first kept in 1978
2018 marks the ninth consecutive with a year-on-year decrease in suicides in Japan and the first time in 37 years for the total to fall below 21,000.
Beijing breathes cleanest air on record
Beijing reported the lowest level of air pollutants in the first half this year since the city started recording related data 35 years ago.