China’s Pop Mart to buy back shares worth up to US$740m as collectible-toy demand cools
Decline in firm’s sales growth will be ‘difficult to reverse’ without a new product format or powerful celebrity endorsement, analyst says
· Zhu Wenqian
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Founder of China’s Evergrande jailed for life after pleading guilty to fraud
Hui Ka Yan also forfeits all his personal property and the company he set up is given hefty fines
· Amy Hawkins
Malaysia’s Anwar to visit China next month with an eye on building trade ties
The Malaysian prime minister is expected to attend digital economy expo in Hangzhou and hold talks with Premier Li Qiang, sources say
· Dewey Sim
Malaysia’s Anwar to visit China next month with an eye on building trade ties
The Malaysian prime minister is expected to attend digital economy expo in Hangzhou and hold talks with Premier Li Qiang, sources say
· Dewey Sim
North Korea fires missiles into sea as South Korea, US hold military drills
A TV screen at a Seoul railway station aired news footage of North Korea's missile launch. (AP: Ahn Young-joon)
Senior official appointed as BOK's No. 2
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Kwon Min-soo, a deputy governor at the Bank of Korea (BOK), has been appointed as the central bank's No. 2 official, the bank announced Thursday.
· Park Boram
Taiwan proposes boosting 2027 defense spending 18% to a record high
Taipei – Taiwan’s government on Thursday proposed an 18% rise in defense spending for next year, including for drones and missiles, taking it above 1 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($31.41 billion) for the first time as Taipei bolsters its military to ward off China.
· No Author
How China can turn its ‘blue cradle’ into a bridge with Southeast Asia
A jointly governed, tiered South China Sea ocean data framework would transform knowledge of a contested sea into stewardship of a shared one
· James Borton
How China can turn its ‘blue cradle’ into a bridge with Southeast Asia
A jointly governed, tiered South China Sea ocean data framework would transform knowledge of a contested sea into stewardship of a shared one
· James Borton
India and Japan agree to bolster defense ties
New Delhi – India and Japan on Thursday agreed to bolster security ties including maritime cooperation after their defense ministers met in New Delhi.
· No Author
[Key Points] Trump’s ‘57 nukes’ claim raises questions over changes to N, Korea strategy
Staff reporter at The Korea Herald’s National Desk, based in Seoul. Covers South Korea’s national security and foreign policy, with a focus on the Defense, Foreign and Unification Ministries, as well as the National Assembly.Before entering journalism, served as an Air Force officer. Experience includes providing tr…
· Hwang Joo-young
Industry minister says 'meaningful progress' achieved in talks with U.S.
The industry minister said Thursday that Seoul and Washington have made meaningful progress in talks on South Korea's strategic investment projects in the United States, with additional details to be unveiled next month.
· Yonhap
Anwar’s Taiwan remarks put Malaysia’s Beijing calculus in focus
Analysts say the comments did not change Malaysia’s one-China policy, but could reinforce perceptions of closer alignment with Beijing
· Iman Muttaqin Yusof
Anwar’s Taiwan remarks put Malaysia’s Beijing calculus in focus
Analysts say the comments did not change Malaysia’s one-China policy, but could reinforce perceptions of closer alignment with Beijing
· Iman Muttaqin Yusof
N. Korea fires barrage of short-range ballistic missiles despite Trump overture
North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, despite a recent olive branch offered by U.S. President Donald Trump who signaled a willingness to reengage with the North's leader Kim Jong-un.
· Yonhap
Paths to tighter political donations rules in Japan remain unclear
Paths to strengthen regulations on political donations from corporations and organizations in Japan remain unclear, as ruling and opposition parties are wide apart over the matter.
· No Author
Industry minister says 'meaningful progress' achieved in talks with U.S.
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- The industry minister said Thursday that Seoul and Washington have made meaningful progress in talks on South Korea's strategic investment projects in the United States, with additional details to be unveiled next month.
· Kang Yoon-seung
Tibetan protesters in New Dehli denounce China with shaved heads and prayers
Some demonstrators shaved their heads in a symbolic gesture, while others chanted slogans against Chinese President Xi Jinping and called on the United Nations to intervene. The protesters said the legislation threatened Tibetan identity, language, culture and religious traditions, and could provide a legal basis fo…
· AfricaNews
North Korea fires about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward sea, South Korea says
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· Associated Press
Seoul, Beijing agree to ‘close communication’ on Peninsula affairs: Cheong Wa Dae
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
Facial recognition technology coming into wider use in Japan
Latest news on Japan: business, politics, commentary, sports, culture, life and more
· The Japan Times
Haeco, China Aircraft Leasing Group sign MOU to build maintenance hub in Hong Kong
Two firms will set up aircraft engine maintenance centre, with initial focus on quick-turn services, hospital repair and engine asset management
· Connor Mycroft
Haeco, China Aircraft Leasing Group sign MOU to build maintenance hub in Hong Kong
Two firms will set up aircraft engine maintenance centre, with initial focus on quick-turn services, hospital repair and engine asset management
· Connor Mycroft
(3rd LD) N. Korea fires barrage of short-range ballistic missiles despite Trump overture
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS details throughout, byline) By Kim Seung-yeon
· Kim Seung-yeon
North Korea fires 10 missiles day after Trump curtails South Korea joint drills
Launches, detected by South Korea and Japan, came after US scaled back exercises with South Korea in apparent overture to Kim Jong-un
· By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press
Ex-homem mais rico da China é condenado à prisão perpétua
A Justiça da China condenou o fundador da gigante imobiliária Evergrande à prisão perpétua e multou o grupo em mais de 2 bilhões de dólares (R$ 10,3 bilhões) nesta quinta-feira (20/08) por crimes que incluem fraude, cinco anos após o colapso da empresa ter abalado a economia e os mercados financeiros do país.
· Redação DW
Why Taiwan and the South China Sea matter
Soldiers participate in the annual Han Kuang military exercises in Yilan, northeastern Taiwan, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, Pool)
· E Eduardo Castillo
USS Nimitz soldiers on but ‘glory days are over’: CCTV report
The extended service of the world’s longest-serving carrier points to flaws in the US shipbuilding industry, observers say
· Alcott Wei
USS Nimitz soldiers on but ‘glory days are over’: CCTV report
The extended service of the world’s longest-serving carrier points to flaws in the US shipbuilding industry, observers say
· Alcott Wei
Chinese ‘hardship camps’ see children chop wood, feed pigs to learn family appreciation
Camp organisers assert that their primary aim is to instil an appreciation for the challenges associated with labour and earning money
· Fran Lu
Chinese ‘hardship camps’ see children chop wood, feed pigs to learn family appreciation
Camp organisers assert that their primary aim is to instil an appreciation for the challenges associated with labour and earning money
· Fran Lu
Chinese team aims to put ‘smart’ diabetes probiotic on US shelves within 2 years | South China Morning Post
The lab-engineered probiotic, named Gift, can sense high blood sugar and automatically release the glucose-lowering hormone GLP-1.
Shein pushes back Hong Kong debut to September amid delayed investor orders: sources
The fast-fashion firm originally aimed to wrap up its IPO in August, but a delay in investor orders has forced a change of plan, sources say
· Zoe SL Chan
(2nd LD) N. Korea fires barrage of short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: S. Korean military
(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 5-6)
· Kang Yoon-seung
North Korea answers US olive branch with missile launch
South Korea detected 10 ballistic missiles hours after Pyongyang dismissed Washington’s decision to scale back joint exercises with Seoul
· Associated Press
North Korea answers US olive branch with missile launch
South Korea detected 10 ballistic missiles hours after Pyongyang dismissed Washington’s decision to scale back joint exercises with Seoul
· Associated Press
Sirens, shelters and scaled-back war games: South Korea rehearses for crisis
Residents across Seoul took part in civil defence drills as sirens sounded and police cleared roads for emergency vehicles. People were directed to metro stations and underground shelters, while evacuees at Seoul City Hall were shown how to give first aid and perform CPR. The exercise was part of Ulchi Freedom Shiel…
· AfricaNews
Japanese FM visits Saudi Arabia and Oman with maritime security in focus | The National
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi arrived in the Gulf this week for talks with Saudi Arabia and Oman, as disruption around two of the region's crucial shipping routes place maritime security and the resilience of energy flows high on the agenda.
· The National
(URGENT) N. Korea's missiles flew about 300 kilometers: S. Korean military
(2nd LD) Lee proposes dialogue with N. Korea to officially end Korean War, halt Pyongyang's nuclear program
· Kim Seung-yeon
In Seoul meeting with Wang Yi, South Korean president voices hope for closer China ties
Wang calls for accelerated second phase of negotiations in the China-South Korea two-way free trade agreement
· Alyssa Chen
In Seoul meeting with Wang Yi, South Korean president voices hope for closer China ties
Wang calls for accelerated second phase of negotiations in the China-South Korea two-way free trade agreement
· Alyssa Chen
Thailand’s rising body count reveals a nation unable to curb gun crime | South China Morning Post
Is Thailand’s crackdown on guns working?
A photo op or nuclear talks? What Trump wants from a meeting with North Korea’s dictator
Beijing: Not for the first time in his second term, Donald Trump has dangled the prospect of a revived face-to-face meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
· Lisa Visentin
Shanghai lowers second-home down payments. Will it boost the property market?
The megacity joins Beijing in further easing financial barriers for homebuyers, as authorities push to spark a durable recovery
· Emma Ma
Shanghai lowers second-home down payments. Will it boost the property market?
The megacity joins Beijing in further easing financial barriers for homebuyers, as authorities push to spark a durable recovery
· Emma Ma
S. Korea says China's stance on Korean Peninsula unchanged despite no reference to denuclearization
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- China continues to maintain its longstanding position on ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, though Beijing has stopped short of explicitly expressing its support for the denuclearization of North Korea, officials in Seoul said Thursday.
· Oh Seok-min
China condemns 'discriminatory' US tariffs on drone components after Trump turns to local sourcing
China urged the US to immediately withdraw Section 232 tariffs it imposed on imports of drones and related components, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday during a press conference.
· REUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
(LEAD) N. Korea fires barrage of short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: S. Korean military
(ATTN: UPDATES with details throughout)
· Kim Seung-yeon
Lee meets China’s top diplomat amid Trump overtures to NK
For over a decade, I’ve navigated the complexities of North Korean affairs, security, and foreign policy from both Seoul and Washington, D.C. As the National Desk Political Team Lead, I track the pulse of geopolitics, closely following developments from the Unification Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. My mornings …
· Ji Da-gyum
China accuses EU of overreach regarding JD.com deal probe
The Chinese government is raising the stakes in a dispute over JD.com's takeover bid for Germany's Ceconomy. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
· Staff Writer