China
Taiwan ambassador reaffirms Guatemala partnership amid China's regional expansion
Taiwan's Ambassador to Guatemala has reaffirmed the nations' "transparent, sustainable, and mutually beneficial" relationship in an interview with bne IntelliNews following Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo's visit to Taiwan on June 5.
Where startups are born, global firms grow and capital flows - Asia in 2025
From 2017 to 2023, private equity and venture capital assets under management in Asia surged by an astonishing 130%, significantly outpacing growth in Western markets.
Trump pressure pushes BYD out of Mexico
China’s electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has shelved plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Mexico, citing geopolitical volatility and the current trade stance of the United States under President Donald Trump.
Ecuador to receive $1bn in energy investments from China and Spain
Ecuador has secured $1bn in energy sector investments from Spain and China through 2026, marking an early success from President Daniel Noboa's recent diplomatic tour.
Global banking’s new powerhouse: Asia
Asia's level of digital banking infrastructure has enabled it to challenge and even surpass traditional Western players such as Citi and HSBC in key regional markets.
ASIA BLOG: Southeast Asia should pivot away from Trump’s America and steer in the direction of Europe
Trump's confrontational approach to China, while superficially aligned with concerns within ASEAN, is neither strategic nor consultative. It is built more on spectacle than substance, more on division than dialogue.
Short-term forecast for global offshore wind downgraded, says industry report
The Global Wind Energy Council has downgraded its short-term forecast by 24% for 2025-2029 compared with its prediction last year.
ETF investment trends in Asia in 2025
While ETF markets in Asia have historically lagged behind those in North America and Europe in terms of depth and diversity, 2025 is witnessing a decisive maturing of the regional ETF ecosystem.
COMMENT: Critical minerals pose new test for global energy security
As the world’s energy system transforms at unprecedented speed, so too must our understanding of energy security. While governments continue to focus on securing supplies of traditional fuels, new critical mineral vulnerabilities are emerging.
COMMENT: Iran new rail link to China played a role in provoking the 12-day war
Iran launched its first-ever direct railway connection to China in May, its first rail link to Asia that does not rely on transshipment through seaports or Russia, significantly improving its national security by avoiding the seaborne exports.
Tosyali dethrones Eregli to become largest Turkish steelmaker
Company owner Fuat Tosyali became a favourite businessman of president Erdogan. Projects he’s involved in include making Turkey’s “native and national” Altay battle tank.
East Asia’s regional embrace of nuclear power sees Taiwan sitting alone in the corner
In a baffling turn, Taiwan, long a technological and economic powerhouse, has allowed populist politics to sideline science and logic.
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Putin to skip Rio BRICS summit over ICC warrant as Xi signals no-show
Brazil's hosting of next month's BRICS summit is being overshadowed by the likely absence of two of the bloc's most powerful leaders, threatening to dent the gathering's geopolitical significance.
East Asia’s petrochemical industry: stuck between tradition and transition
As the global economy begins its gradual but determined pivot towards decarbonisation and renewable energy, East Asia's petrochemical giants now find themselves straddling two competing imperatives – legacy industries and a low-carbon future.
Asia’s fruit boom: how the continent is feeding the world’s sweet tooth
Asian growers are now tapping into global markets more aggressively than ever before.
How President Trump clinched a ceasefire between Israel and Iran
Following twelve days of intense warfare between Iran and Israel, a ceasefire has been reached through direct US intervention and diplomatic support from other countries.
COMMENT: The long road to a BRICS-led world order hits familiar obstacles
Brazil's upcoming BRICS summit exposes the bloc's growing pains as 21 members wrestle with deep divisions. The group's ambitious challenge to US financial dominance hits reality as internal disagreements threaten its push for global clout.
A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would cripple the global semiconductor supply chain - and the planet
Diplomacy, deterrence, and international cooperation are the only viable path forward. The alternative is not just a local war - it is a global tech blackout.
Farmers powerless to prevent five of the six staple crop yields from plummeting – New Scientist
Efforts by farmers to adapt to rising temperatures will not be enough to prevent severe losses in global staple crop production due to climate change, according to a new study published in New Scientist on June 18.
“Project 816”: China also has secret underground nuclear weapons facilities
China also maintains underground nuclear weapons facilities, similar to those found in Iran, according to defence analysts and intelligence agencies. The most famous is “project 816”, and other secret sites are thought to be working still.