7 h. ago Asean leaders renew call to revive stalled peace plan for Myanmar

Southeast Asian leaders have renewed calls to revive a stalled peace plan for Myanmar while urging calm in the South China Sea and backing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza – reflecting the Asean bloc’s cautious efforts to address some of the region’s most pressing security and humanitarian challenges. Their positions were outlined in a sweeping 160-point joint communique issued at the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur,...

Politics

7 h. ago Fulfil ‘wish list’ for peace before holding election, Asean urges Myanmar junta

Southeast Asian leaders have called on the Myanmar junta to refrain from holding elections until it satisfies a “wish list” for peace by the country’s stakeholders, as the Asean bloc wraps up a meeting of foreign ministers. In closing remarks on Friday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations outlined three wishes from parties, including Myanmar’s government in exile and warring factions, amid renewed calls to revive a stalled peace plan. “We are saying that [the election] is not a priority...

Politics

9 h. ago China National Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan Kicks Off

China National Pavilion Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan Kicks Off  Yahoo Finance

Politics

10 h. ago Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?

Remarks by a US senator labelling Singapore as a key place for “fighting against” major rival China have offered a revealing glimpse into how some American politicians view the city state, amid Washington’s regional power struggle with Beijing. The comments came to light after clips of a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday showed an exasperated Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth admonishing Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump’s ambassador nominee to Singapore. “You want to be ambassador...

Politics

10 h. ago China Out, India In? Bharat May Slither In Japan’s Garment Market As Beijing's Dominance Declines: AEPC

China Out, India In? Bharat May Slither In Japan’s Garment Market As Beijing's Dominance Declines: AEPC  Times Now

Politics

10 h. ago China Out, India In? Bharat May Slither In Japan’s $91.86 Billion Garment Market As Beijing's Dominance Declin

China Out, India In? Bharat May Slither In Japan’s $91.86 Billion Garment Market As Beijing's Dominance Declin  Times Now

Economics

11 h. ago US may cut dependence on China rare earths by 2028, CEO says – but at what cost?

The United States is scrambling to reduce its dependence on rare earths from China, with the Pentagon splashing out US$400 million on Thursday to become the largest shareholder in American miner MP Materials. While some say the move will help wean the US off the Chinese supply, a senior American industry executive has warned that a variety of hurdles face US and European mining efforts – from securing the necessary midstream technology to obtaining government permits for what can be a highly...

Economics

11 h. ago ‘Pattern emerging’: is China intentionally provoking Japan with close fly

Tokyo has expressed “serious concerns” to Beijing after a Chinese fighter jet came close to a Japanese aircraft operating in international airspace over the East China Sea on two occasions this week, with analysts suggesting that a pattern is emerging of China being increasingly willing to challenge Japan at sea and in the air. According to Japan’s Defence Ministry, a Chinese JH-7 fighter-bomber flew within 70 metres of an Air Self-Defence Force YS-11EB electronic surveillance aircraft on...

Politics

12 h. ago Japan lodges protest with China over 'unusual' air encounters, warns against accidental collisions

Japan lodges protest with China over 'unusual' air encounters, warns against accidental collisions  Anadolu Ajansı

Events

13 h. ago Japan, China take step towards resuming Japanese beef exports to China

Japan, China take step towards resuming Japanese beef exports to China  Reuters

Events

13 h. ago Hong Kong condemns US for extending ‘national emergency’ status for city

The Hong Kong government has condemned the US for extending the city’s “national emergency” status for a year, calling the action an override of the rule of law. “[The US] has arbitrarily interfered in China’s internal affairs through the further extension of the so-called ‘national emergency with respect to Hong Kong’, which is indeed barbaric and unreasonable,” a government spokesman said. United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a one-year extension of the “national...

Politics

14 h. ago US career diplomat Julie Eadeh tipped to be next consul general in Hong Kong

An American official who met opposition activists in Hong Kong during the 2019 anti-government protests is understood to be the top candidate to be the next US consul general in the city. Julie Eadeh, a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service and now the US consul general in Istanbul, is expected to take over the position from Gregory May, according to a source familiar with the matter. A second source said Eadeh’s “name” had been “presented to the relevant Chinese authorities”. “Now she...

Politics

14 h. ago Asean accuses Israel of ‘openly committing genocide’, demands end to Gaza war

Southeast Asian leaders on Friday called on the United States and others to bring a swift end to the Gaza war, accusing Israel of “openly committing genocide” in its assaults on the Palestinian enclave with little consequence. More than 56,000 people, mostly women and children, have reportedly been killed so far under aerial bombings and ground assaults by Israel in its nearly two-year war against Hamas, which has levelled much of Gaza and displaced millions. The war was triggered by a deadly...

Politics

15 h. ago Trump’s new tariffs, cannon barrel sparks Hong Kong bomb scare: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Apparently impatient Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or...

Politics

16 h. ago Balancing Risk and Resilience: The 2025 AmCham China White Paper

Balancing Risk and Resilience: The 2025 AmCham China White Paper  American Chamber of Commerce in China

Events

16 h. ago Asia week ahead: Key data on China, Japan, South Korea, while Indonesia seen leaving rates unchanged

Asia week ahead: Key data on China, Japan, South Korea, while Indonesia seen leaving rates unchanged  ING Think

Politics

18 h. ago 2 Americans rescued from Japan’s Mount Fuji prompt more calls for tougher rules

Two Americans have had to be rescued from Japan’s Mount Fuji in separate incidents before the official climbing season began on Thursday, prompting renewed calls for tougher penalties on rule-breaking hikers who endanger themselves and drain local resources. The deployment of Shizuoka prefecture’s mountain rescue teams twice in two days to rescue the pair has again triggered criticism of people who insist on trying to ascend the 3,776-metre peak outside the season without adequate preparation...

Events

19 h. ago Japan hotel offers mini beds for toys, appealing to travellers with plush fellows

A hotel in Japan is offering mini beds and pyjamas for stuffed toys to attract travellers with furry companions. Growing numbers of young people in the country are no longer travelling alone. Instead, they are hitting the road with carefully dressed plush toys. Some place them in backpacks with transparent windows, while others carry them in their arms. Many social media users have shared their travel adventures with plush toys, most of them young people or fans of popular cartoon...

Politics

21 h. ago China’s 100K TPS blockchain, Japan’s Minna Bank eyes Solana: Asia Express

China’s 100K TPS blockchain, Japan’s Minna Bank eyes Solana: Asia Express  Cointelegraph

Politics

23 h. ago Brazil plans retaliation to Trump tariffs as analysts warn of growing China ties

Brazil scrambled to craft a measured but strong response to US President Donald Trump’s surprise tariff hike on Thursday in hopes of shielding key industries, while analysts predicted the tariffs would drive the country closer to China. Trump sent a letter to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday confirming that Brazilian exports would face 50 per cent duty starting August 1. He claimed the measure would punish what he called “unfair trade barriers” and political “persecution” of...

Events