South Korea
Starbucks Korea closes nationwide after Tank Day scandal
Protesters picketed outside retail locations, and outlets suffered a significant drop in retail turnover following widespread calls for a consumer boycott.
After 4,400 days in power, India's Modi faces his toughest test yet
On June 10 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the longest serving constitutionally elected prime minister of India.
South Korea ICT exports hit record high on AI chip demand
South Korea’s exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products reached a record monthly high in May, driven by strong demand for semiconductors and other products linked to the artificial intelligence ecosystem.
Former South Korean president sentenced to 30 years over North Korea drone case
The court found that Yoon ordered the operation in October 2024 with the aim of provoking Pyongyang and using the resulting tensions as a pretext for his declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.
Inside the growing speculation around Kim Jong Un’s daughter as heir apparent
According to various intelligence sources, Kim Ju-ae is understood to be the daughter of Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju, although North Korea has never formally confirmed her full biographical details.
Japan’s NTT launches $500mn fund to expand IOWN communications network worldwide
IOWN, or Innovative Optical and Wireless Network, is designed to enable large-volume data communications with low latency and lower power consumption.
Technip Energies wins €1bn Coral Norte FLNG contract in Mozambique in partnership with JGC, Samsung
Technip Energies (EPA: TE) has secured a contract worth more than $1.15bn for the Coral Norte floating LNG project offshore Mozambique, a major step in the development of one of Africa's largest gas provinces.
South Korea election victory marred by ongoing ballot crisis
An unprecedented administrative failure by election authorities left thousands of voters without ballots, triggering violent street demonstrations and allegations of systematic electoral fraud.
Asia’s EV race speeds up as China’s champions challenge Tesla
As of mid-2026, China remains the centre of gravity in the EV world.
Malaysia enforces under-16 social media ban
Moving to curb digital harms, the federal government, on June 1, officially began enforcing a blanket prohibition barring children under the age of 16 from creating or operating independent social media accounts.
Seoul shares hit record high as tech rally extends
South Korean equities opened at a fresh record high on June 1, as strong demand for technology stocks outweighed uncertainty surrounding negotiations between the US and Iran over a peace agreement.
The magnet wars and how China still holds the keys to electric mobility
While Western carmakers rush to roll out new electric models, their production lines remain tethered to an extraction and refining network dominated by a single superpower - China.
Asia’s coal comeback complicates energy transition across region
Taiwan has struggled to secure LNG supplies through May and finalised contracts covering roughly half of June demand, but additional procurement costs are expected to reach into the billions of US dollars to complete.
South Korea builds nuclear-solar supergrid to prevent blackouts
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is building a multi-tiered power network to secure national electricity supplies, the Gyeongbuk-based utility has announced.
South Korea’s Posco International to build US-based rare earth plant
Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly invest $200mn to build a rare earth separation and refining plant in the US with annual production capacity of 6,000 tonnes.
The geopolitical chokehold on Taiwan's polymer lifeline
For Taiwan, the sudden evaporation of naphtha and crude oil is not just a market fluctuation but a national security threat that will force an involuntary and painful "detoxification" from its plastic addiction.
The baby bust: how a global demographic crisis crept up on everyone
Just a decade ago, the dominant demographic narrative was of "dying Russia" — a population hollowed out by the chaos that followed the Soviet collapse, shrinking through a combination of low birth rates, high mortality and mass emigration.
Fuel prices cast a dark shadow over Asia travel season
There will be no real winners in traditional tourism this summer – only airlines, tourist destinations and central banks left counting the cost.
Trump backing of Chinese EVs threatens Hyundai
South Korea leading automotive player Hyundai Motor Group is facing a serious threat to its US market share after President Donald Trump repeatedly called for Chinese investment.