China
India may have lost its most advanced fighter in strikes against Pakistan
While it is unclear exactly how many of the 36 Rafale airframes IAF operates were part of Operation Sindoor or were lost during or after it, unverified images on social media show a mostly intact tail fin segment bearing the markings of the IAF.
From occupied hosts to strategic partners: the evolving role of Japan and South Korea in US Asia Strategy
Incidents ranging from theft and assault to more egregious acts like rape and murder have periodically reignited public anger such as in the case of the 1995 abduction and gang rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three US servicemen.
ASEAN aligns with Japan, China, and South Korea in warning against protectionist risks
Meeting on the sidelines of the recent Asian Development Bank’s annual gathering in Milan, Italy, the officials reiterated their support for a rules-based, free and fair multilateral trading system.
Looking at ramifications of China’s shifting energy usage patterns on Central Asia
Renewables are up, fossil fuels down.
COMMENT: The US doesn’t have the clout to split Hungary off from China
The US doesn't have the clout to even get countries as small as Hungary to cut their ties with China, says political commentator and bne IntelliNews columnist Arnaud Bertrand.
Europe and China eye trade partnership – but sources of friction remain
Whether the Trump administration’s renewed trade confrontation with Beijing pushes Europe into a tighter partnership with China remains to be seen, especially as Japan will be pushing to prevent Beijing and Brussels from getting too close.
Uber to pay $700mn for 85% stake in Turkey delivery unit of Alibaba’s Trendyol
Trendyol GO delivered 200mn+ orders in 2024 and generated $2bn in gross bookings.
COMMENT: Trump’s tariff drive hits emerging markets as growth and inflation forecasts slide – Oxford Economics
President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies are already casting a long shadow over emerging market economies, with analysts cutting growth forecasts and warning of prolonged investment uncertainty and policy disruption.
Post-war order teetering – rights watchdog
Eurasia “at forefront” of assault on individual freedoms.
COMMENT: Middle Corridor makes progress, but playing second fiddle to the Northern Route
The Middle Corridor linking China to Europe through the South Caucasus and Central Asia has expanded significantly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but its long-term prospects remain uncertain.
Global press freedom indicator slips – Statista
This year's World Press Freedom Index highlights the economic situation of journalists and media organizations being a major risk to press freedom.
Albanese defies ‘incumbency curse’ with a landslide re-election in Australia
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defied expectations and the so-called “incumbency curse” to secure a resounding second-term victory, with his centre-left Labor Party predicted to secure a landslide victory.
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
Australia holds the key to breaking China’s stranglehold over global critical minerals supplies
In the deepening trade conflict between Washington and Beijing, one exception has stood out: 31 critical minerals, including rare earth elements, were exempted from tariffs. The move was less a concession than an admission of depence on China.
Indonesia’s coal politics: maintaining a strategic market price despite Chinese resistance
Indonesia's recent efforts to impose a government-mandated coal benchmark price or Harga Batubara Acuan on exports face resistance from its largest buyer, China
BRICS seeks new global alignment at Rio ministerial summit
The expanded BRICS alliance has emerged as a potent diplomatic force at its foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on April 28 ahead of the July meeting.
Global military spending surges to $2.7 trillion – Statista
Global military spending hit $2.7 trillion last year, according to the latest data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Statista reports.
China and EU step up climate leadership as Trump left out of pre-COP30 talks
Leaders of more than a dozen countries, including China’s President Xi Jinping and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, gathered virtually last week for high-level climate talks ahead of the Brazilian COP30.
Japanese official warns of wider Asian security impact of Trump tariffs
Former defence minister Itsunori Onodera, speaking in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, expressed particular concern about the potential impact on Southeast Asia.
COMMENT: Embracing “Greater Central Asia” has become a strategic imperative for US
Wider region increasingly seen as arena in which major powers’ interests, such as in sourcing critical minerals, collide and converge.