China
CK Hutchison delays $23bn ports deal as US-China tensions grow over Panama sale
CK Hutchison’s $22.8bn ports sale faces delays, with the BlackRock-led consortium talks likely to extend past the July 27 deadline, as the deal draws scrutiny over Panama assets amid rising US-China tensions.
EXPLAINER: The high stakes behind the Zangezur Corridor
Proposed corridor linking Azerbaijan’s main territory with its Nakhchivan exclave across Armenia could slash transit times from Asia to Europe along the Middle Corridor but faces fierce opposition from Yerevan.
South Koreans face tighter homeownership rules as foreign buyers gain ground
Buying a home in South Korea is becoming increasingly impossible for many local residents, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, as the government continues to tighten financial regulations aimed at cooling the housing market.
ASIA BLOG: If the Thailand-Cambodia conflict escalates, Vietnam won’t stand idle – nor will the US and China
The current flare-up between Thailand and Cambodia feels different from previous disputes. What initially appeared to be a limited skirmish over disputed borderland and nationalist rhetoric now carries the faint, unmistakable whiff of escalation.
Driverless cargo trucks introduced on Kazakhstan-China border
“Smart Customs” project includes electronic goods declaration system, continuous unmanned freight movement and automated navigation.
Multimodal China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail and road freight route goes into operation
Corridor connects Wuhan in central China to Tashkent. With realisation of the “CKU” railroad years away, operators will hope for brisk business.
COMMENT: China won’t loosen its grip on critical mineral exports
By retaining firm control over its critical mineral exports, China continues to prioritise strategic leverage and industrial competitiveness over trade liberalisation, according to analysis by Leah Fahy, assistant economist at Capital Economics.
ICJ declares healthy environment is a human right in landmark climate ruling
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a historic advisory opinion recognising a clean and sustainable environment as a human right, declaring that states which fail to curb emissions may be in violation of international law.
Brazil braces for $32bn economic hit from Trump tariff threat
Brazil faces potential losses of up to BRL175bn ($31.7bn) over the next decade if the US follows through on plans to impose 50% import tariffs on Brazilian goods.
Earth overshoot day is already long past – Statista
July 24 marks this year's Earth Overshoot Day, the day that humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds the resources Earth can regenerate within that year, Statista reports. That day has already long passed.
Zambia inks deal for construction of a $1bn crude oil refinery
Refinery and cassava cultivation and processing deals Zambia's IDC signed with Chinese corporations amount to over $2bn.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.
World has less than three years to avert worst climate impacts, scientists warn
A new global climate report warns that the world is on the brink of irreversible damage. The findings come amid sluggish international action ahead of COP30.
Minth to invest nearly €2bn in new automotive plants across Serbia
Serbia is emerging as a manufacturing base for global automotive and EV producers thanks to its improving macroeconomic conditions and pro-investment policies.
COMMENT: Can BRICS deliver beyond the rhetoric? experts weigh in
BRICS has evolved from an emerging economies club into a coalition Trump sees as threatening enough to warrant tariffs. Experts reveal tensions between China's dominance and multipolar goals, with institutional gaps but growing Global South support.
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Brazil’s Lula pushes for BRICS-led subsea cable network
Brazilian President Lula da Silva is backing a feasibility study for a new subsea cable system connecting BRICS nations, aimed at reducing dependency on existing routes concentrated in the Global North.
Turkey blocks e-SIM providers
Legal basis for the move unknown, says cyber law expert.
Fitch upgrades Trump’s effective tariff rate to 19.4%
President Donald Trump’s evolving trade policy is set to sharply increase the United States’ effective tariff rate (ETR), with Fitch Ratings warning of substantial rises as new duties take effect on August 1.
Geopolitics is weighing on FDI, capital chasing certainty over scale – study
The world is living through turbulent times, but investors are still chasing returns which has affected the flows of international foreign direct investment.
ASEAN in 2025: still relevant, but only just
Founded on August 8 1967, in Bangkok, ASEAN has long prided itself on unity in diversity, guided by the principles of non-interference and consensus-based decision-making.