Japan's GDP fell at an annualised rate of 1 percent in the first three months of this year as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus hampered consumer spending. Rising commodity prices also weighed on businesses in the world's third-largest economy. Plus, as unemployment remains stable in France at 7.3 percent, a steelworks factory in the northern city of Dunkirk is offering a cash bonus to employees to encourage them to recruit family members.

Japan was one of the last countries in the world to keep its borders shut to foreign tourists because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but that is slowly changing. The government is cautiously taking steps to revive tourism. But in a crucial election year and with the border restrictions popular among voters, it's a tricky balancing act for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. We speak to Professor Seijiro Takeshita from the University of Shizuoka.

A decade of currency stability has come to an end with the rising cost of necessities and dear luxuries. But the central bank seems to be determined to keep its weak yen policy.

Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot on Friday while campaigning for a parliamentary election, with public broadcaster NHK saying a man armed with an apparently homemade gun opened fired at him from behind.

Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died in hospital after being shot during a campaign speech. Authorities have arrested a male suspect.

The former prime minister has died from his injuries after a shooting at the age of 67. Shinzo Abe resigned from the top post in 2020, but his legacy has had a lasting impact on everyday Japanese life and politics.

Japan has among the strictest laws on guns anywhere in the world, yet a former member of the military was still able to make a rudimentary weapon and get close enough to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to kill him.

Mourners flocked to the site where Japan's former prime minister was shot. Shinzo Abe's body has been moved to Tokyo from Nara, where he was attacked while giving a speech.

The ruling coalition secured a majority in the upper house, three days after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during an election campaign event.

A solemn funeral for slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held in Tokyo as hundreds gathered to pay their respects.

The Quad Leaders' meeting came at the end of Joe Biden's first trip to Asia as President. The rivalry with China still defines US policy in the region and Biden made it a point to visit two of the US's oldest security allies in the region, Japan and South Korea.

Japan's Defense Ministry has said Russia's invasion of Ukraine could encourage China to act against Taiwan. Meanwhile, South Korea will ramp up military drills with the US.