CNBC Daily Open: U.S. Navy faces mental health challenges as Mideast conflict drags on
Hello, this is Justina Lee writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.
· Justina Lee
Follow the story
Asia
A focused view of neutral reporting on Asia, brought together across publishers.
Explore all topics →
Neutral reports only
Newest first · UTC+11:00China dark tourism on the rise as adventurers brave simulated disasters at experience centres
The appeal of these events comes from facing a scary crisis in a safe environment, notes an expert
· Zoey Zhang
China dark tourism on the rise as adventurers brave simulated disasters at experience centres
The appeal of these events comes from facing a scary crisis in a safe environment, notes an expert
· Zoey Zhang
(2nd LD) Trump orders Pentagon to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-U.S. military exercises
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; RECASTS paras 2, 6; ADDS more details in paras 9-10, 15-16)By Song Sang-ho
· Song Sang-ho
Japan's economy shows weaker than expected 1.1% growth in second quarter
Inflation in Japan is expected to rise as more companies pass on higher costs to consumers. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
· Staff Writer
Key S. Korea-US military drills begin amid OPCON transition push
South Korea and the United States kicked off their key summertime combined exercise Monday, with Seoul seeking to use the drills to accelerate efforts to regain wartime operational command from Washington.
· Yonhap
(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Aug. 17)
Turning Yongsan Park into housing would break a national promiseBuilding 20,000 apartments in Yongsan Park could ease Seoul's housing shortage but would require breaking legal and public commitments to preserve the site as green space.
· Park Boram
Trump orders cuts to South Korea joint drills despite warnings of North’s growing battlefield experience
President says move is based on ‘very good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ but US military officials have said Ukraine war is boosting regime’s combat capabilities
· Raphael Rashid
Trump says he instructed Pentagon chief to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-US military drills
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has instructed the Pentagon chief to "substantially" reduce joint South Korea-US military exercises, noting that those exercises are not only "costly" but also send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea.
· Yonhap
Japan second-quarter GDP grows 1.1% on an annualized basis, missing expectations
Japan's economy expanded 1.1% in the second quarter on an annualized basis, missing expectations for 2% growth as softer domestic demand strong exports.
· Lim Hui Jie
Trump says US to ‘substantially reduce’ military drills with South Korea
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with close ally South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
· Al Jazeera Staff
After Hormuz, China looks to the promise – and peril – of the Arctic’s ‘ice silk road’
China has established the first scheduled transit through the northern sea route, but questions remain over the environmental and political risks
· Jonathan Yerushalmy
Japan eyes deeper defence ties with Australia, India to ease supply chain concerns
Tokyo is seeking to mitigate risks linked to potential US munitions shortages and maintain credible deterrence, analysts say
· Maria Siow
Japan eyes deeper defence ties with Australia, India to ease supply chain concerns
Tokyo is seeking to mitigate risks linked to potential US munitions shortages and maintain credible deterrence, analysts say
· Maria Siow
Key S. Korea-U.S. military drills begin amid OPCON transition push
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States kicked off their key summertime combined exercise Monday, with Seoul seeking to use the drills to accelerate efforts to regain wartime operational command (OPCON) from Washington.
· Kim Seung-yeon
In 4 years, Generation Alpha begins coming of age. What will it mean for Korea?
The first generation to grow up with AI is reshaping Korea’s traditional paths to education, work and success
· Choi Jae-hee
Trump scales back joint military drills with South Korea, calling them 'hostile'
Donald Trump says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "has been unthreatening and respectful". (AP: Susan Walsh)
Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact a sign of a realigning global order
China may view the agreement as an opportunity to expand its own diplomatic and economic influence in the Middle East and South Asia
· SCMP Editorial
Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact a sign of a realigning global order
China may view the agreement as an opportunity to expand its own diplomatic and economic influence in the Middle East and South Asia
· SCMP Editorial
Apple Trains Custom AI Model For China With Alibaba's Help
Apple has trained a custom large language model specifically for the Chinese market, utilizing technical support from Alibaba Group, according to Reuters.
· Tyler Durden
(LEAD) Trump says he instructed Pentagon chief to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-U.S. military drills
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 6-12)By Song Sang-ho
· Song Sang-ho
Trump snubs South Korea over ‘very good relationship’ with Kim
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
· RT
Trump snubs South Korea over ‘very good relationship’ with Kim
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
· RT
Trump says US scaling back military drills with South Korea
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said he was "not happy" about US participation in joint military exercises with close ally South Korea and is scaling back the drills aimed at deterring rival North Korea that start Monday.
· Agence France-Presse
Trump says he instructed Pentagon chief to 'substantially' reduce S. Korea-U.S. military drills
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has instructed the Pentagon chief to "substantially" reduce joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, noting that those exercises are not only "costly" but also send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea.
· Song Sang-ho
Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea
After South Korea declined to help denuclearise Iran, Trump said the exercises are costly and send a ‘hostile’ signal to North Korea
· Associated Press
Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea
After South Korea declined to help denuclearise Iran, Trump said the exercises are costly and send a ‘hostile’ signal to North Korea
· Associated Press
Trump says US military to reduce military exercises with South Korea, cites North Korea relations
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea in a social media post that also mentions Seoul's refusal to take part in actions against Iran.
· REUTERS
Trump orders ‘inappropriate’ U.S.-South Korean military drills scaled back
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was scaling back “costly” and “inappropriate” joint military exercises with South Korea scheduled to start Monday.
· Jesse Johnson
Trump instructs Pentagon to reduce military exercises with South Korea
See more of our coverage in your search results.
· Reuters
Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea
President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Trump says US to scale back military drills with South Korea after it stayed out of Iran war
President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.
· Bbcnews
'A new Plaza Accord?' Japan's battle against yen bears enters new phase
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seek to stabilize currency and bond markets that have outgrown unilateral action. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters, Ken Suzuki and Akira Kodaka)
· MITSURU OBE
China being investigated for funding pro-Palestine marches in UK, the Telegraph reveals
China is suspected of funding pro-Palestine marches in the UK, The Telegraph revealed exclusively last week.
· JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Japan's megabanks chase ultrawealthy as fortunes swell
Rising stock and real estate prices, along with inherited wealth, have boosted asset values and heightened competition among financial institutions. (Nikkei montage)
· Staff Writer
Beijing Wants Nvidia Out But China's AI Developers Aren't Ready
China has spent years pouring money and political capital into building a homegrown semiconductor industry. Yet when its AI companies need to train their most sophisticated models, many still turn to Nvidia, according to South China Morning Post.
· Tyler Durden
Download the South China Morning Post app for full access to SCMP Games, including the .
The PostMag Quick CrosswordMonday, 17 Augustloading
Download the South China Morning Post app for full access to SCMP Games, including Mini Sudoku.
Mini SudokuMonday, 17 Augustloading
Download the South China Morning Post app for full access to SCMP Games, including the SCMP Cryptic Crossword.
The SCMP Cryptic CrosswordMonday, 17 Augustloading
Download the South China Morning Post app for full access to SCMP Games, including Word Search.
Word SearchMonday, 17 Augustloading
US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race
WASHINGTON — The US is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the artificial intelligence race with China, warning they will be excluded from a US-led AI coalition if they also sign up for Beijing’s competing framework, according to a US official and an internal draft reviewed by Reuters.
· Reuters
Mexico bets on homegrown electric bus to curb China reliance
Development of the Mexican-made electric bus is now moving into full gear. (Photo by Tomohiro Ichihara)
· TOMOHIRO ICHIHARA
A fake website and a deluge of CVs: the Australian firm embroiled in an FBI probe into alleged Chinese espionage
Exclusive: Fake consultancy impersonating Brisbane firm online is one of 13 websites seized by the US Department of Justice
· Henry Belot
‘The kids were right’: 30 years of Pokémon, from school-wide bans to multimillion-dollar trading cards
Pokémon outlived the moral panic of its early days in Australia and its staying power has proved that simple joy can cross borders
· Patrick Marlborough
How a ‘rough’ and ‘crude’ Chinese cartoon ox went from box office zero to hero
Widely slated on its release, Nui Lai has become the summer’s most surprising smash hit despite competition from The Odyssey and Spider-Man
· Cao Jiaxuan
How a ‘rough’ and ‘crude’ Chinese cartoon ox went from box office zero to hero
Widely slated on its release, Nui Lai has become the summer’s most surprising smash hit despite competition from The Odyssey and Spider-Man
· Cao Jiaxuan
More interest in home-grown C919 lays bare demand-supply mismatch at Comac
Parts shortage and supply chain production remain a problem and may be about more than just aero engines, industrial veteran says
· Frank Chen
China-based Hengli Group main importer of sanctioned Iranian crude oil, analysts say - report
Hengli Group, a Chinese company that employs over 300,000 people and earns over $100 billion per year, is a primary importer of Iranian crude oil, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing industry analysts, shipping brokers, and the US Treasury.
· TZVI JASPER
Heavy rainfall offers drought relief, causes damage in southeastern region
CHANGWON, South Korea, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Heavy downpours provided relief from a prolonged drought while also causing localized damage in South Gyeongsang Province on Sunday, officials said.
· Yoo Jee-ho
Villa close in on Suzuki with Martinez future in doubt
Zion Suzuki has won 28 caps for Japan after making his debut in 2022
· Bbcsport