ASIA

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If you ever book a flight to Japan's Oita Prefecture and see "Hello Kitty" listed as your destination, don't panic—you're absolutely on track. In a bold and adorable tourism move, Oita Airport has officially transformed into Oita Hello Kitty Airport for a six-month rebranding blitz, running through October 13. This isn't just another PR stunt—it's a full-on kawaii invasion. From the moment you land, Hello Kitty is there to greet you on the boarding bridge, and she'll follow you through baggage claim, posters in tow, dragging her suitcase and riding a cartoon plane.

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South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3 after its constitutional court removed Yoon Suk Yeol from the presidency. Yoon was impeached in December for declaring martial law, and the court upheld the impeachment on April 4, triggering a snap election within 60 days.

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During a visit to Vietnam, China's President Xi Jinping urged the country to resist "unilateral bullying" and uphold free trade, in an apparent criticism of the United States. The call comes as Xi embarks on a "charm offensive" across Southeast Asia, with planned stops in Malaysia and Cambodia. Vietnam had been facing US tariffs of up to 46% before the Trump administration issued a 90-day pause last week.

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Despite increasing trade tensions with the United States, China's exports soared 12.4 percent year-on-year last month, surpassing market expectations, the government announced Monday. The export figure more than doubled analysts' projections, though imports fell 4.3 percent during the same period, according to the General Administration of Customs.

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North Korea has held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, welcoming about 200 foreign runners. The marathon, which began in 1981, traditionally celebrated the April birthday of founding leader Kim Il Sung.