China, after a surprising five-set victory over the United States, has advanced to the Women's Volleyball Nations League semi-finals in Macau. They are set to face Turkey on Saturday, a team that has consistently defeated them in recent major tournaments, including the 2023 VNL final and the Paris Olympics quarter-finals.
China and Asean foreign ministers released a joint statement in Manila, addressing the ongoing energy crisis and the Middle East conflict, calling for a ceasefire and peaceful resolution, and welcoming US-Iran negotiations.
Southeast Asian governments face renewed energy shocks and trade disruptions due to revived US-Iran hostilities, prompting ASEAN foreign ministers to express grave concern and urge an immediate cessation of fighting.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Manila, offering China's support for Brazil's sovereignty, security, and development interests. In return, Wang requested Brazil's support for China's "core interests," including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, following new US tariffs on Brazilian goods.
China achieved a stunning upset victory over top-seeded USA in a five-set thriller at the Women's Volleyball Nations League Finals in Macau, advancing to the last four for the first time since 2023 amidst a roaring home crowd.
A UN report reveals Southeast Asia's scam industry has evolved into an interconnected criminal economy, with losses estimated at $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in 2025. It details transnational networks, forced labor from 80 countries, crypto laundering, and the use of advanced tech like AI and satellite internet, urging international cooperation.
China's durian imports increased by 47% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching 1.07 million tonnes, as Southeast Asian exporters, particularly Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, offloaded a fruit glut that led to a price drop.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rebuffed a threat from eight US lawmakers to suspend military training funds unless Kuala Lumpur reverses its long-standing restrictions on Israeli nationals, asserting Malaysia's sovereign right.
Italy and Brazil secured their spots in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals semi-finals in Macau, with Italy beating the Netherlands 3-0 and Brazil overcoming Japan 3-1. Ana Cristina was key for Brazil, scoring 30 points. Turkey, Canada, China, and the USA will compete for the remaining semi-final places.
After China's 2023 crackdown on online scams in Southeast Asia, criminal syndicates shifted their primary targets from Chinese nationals to Americans, leading to significant financial losses for US victims and creating a global "whack-a-mole" challenge.
U.S. prosecutors seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency linked to international romance and investment scams that defrauded thousands in the U.S. and Canada. The Justice Department's Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025, recovered the funds.
Top Chinese and American diplomats, Wang Yi and Daniel Kritenbrink, met in the Philippines to discuss President Xi Jinping's planned US trip and the South China Sea dispute. Wang described the meeting as "pragmatic, positive and constructive," urging "strategic stability" and "peaceful coexistence" despite acknowledged differences.
South Korea and ASEAN reaffirmed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Manila, introducing new cooperation initiatives in AI, cultural industries, and maritime safety, while discussing FTA upgrades and supply chain resilience.
British woman Isabel Rose, 26, was sentenced to six years in Hong Kong for blackmail and perverting justice after reporting she was raped by a British banker. The judge deemed her allegation "completely fabricated," a claim Rose denies, maintaining her innocence throughout the two-year legal process.
Russia and ASEAN foreign ministers met in Manila, reaffirming shared approaches to international issues and discussing enhanced cooperation in areas like food and energy security, digitalization, and high technologies, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of their relations.
Japan is developing a project to map alternative shipping routes around Malaysian states, providing data on depths and hazards, to avoid the Strait of Malacca due to rising geopolitical tensions. This initiative aims to secure Japan's crucial trade, especially energy imports from Gulf states, following US attacks on Iran.
South Korea and ASEAN are set to strengthen cooperation, implement their strategic partnership, and address the Middle East conflict's impact on trade and energy security during a foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. Discussions will also cover FTA upgrades, digital economy, and Korean Peninsula stability.
China Merchants Securities, a leading Chinese brokerage, ceased market making for the mainland's only South Korea-focused ETF and five other QDII products. This move, described as commercial, aligns with Beijing's efforts to stabilize capital markets amidst significant volatility in South Korea's KOSPI index.
The global semiconductor market shows the US leading in advanced AI chips, China dominating legacy integrated circuits, and East Asia controlling memory chips. China is also closing the gap in CPUs, intensifying competition and highlighting shifting regional specializations in the industry.
Hong Kong maintained its 17th spot in QS's Best Student Cities list for 2027, but high living costs, East Asia's steepest tuition fees, and limited accommodation continue to deter international applicants. The city ranked sixth for university strength.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the ASEAN summit in Southeast Asia, reaffirming U.S. support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with China and global threats from Middle East conflicts and Myanmar's civil war, impacting energy supplies and regional stability.
The U.S. condemned China's "dangerous and aggressive" actions against Philippine navy personnel in the South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard officer reportedly injured a Filipino sailor. The incident occurred at Second Thomas Shoal ahead of U.S. and Chinese foreign ministers' meetings in Manila.
A new UNODC report reveals online scams, primarily investment fraud, cost victims an estimated US$88.3 billion to US$114.1 billion last year, a significant increase from 2023. Authorities in an unspecified region are reportedly cracking down on this illicit industry under pressure from the United States, Britain, and China.
A study in 'Defence Industry Conversion in China' highlights Yunnan province's role as an "irreplaceable gateway" to Indochinese resources. It proposes Yunnan as a land-based lifeline for critical mineral supply, mitigating China's reliance on the Strait of Malacca and enhancing supply-chain resilience.
