Taiwan's President William Lai took part in an emergency evacuation drill as part of military exercises preparing the island for a potential Chinese invasion. The overnight drill tested how quickly senior officials could be moved to safety during a crisis. The exercise came amid continuing tension across the Taiwan Strait.
China's exports grew 23.9% year-on-year in July, comfortably beating analyst forecasts. Semiconductor shipments nearly doubled, with the surge driven largely by robust global demand for high-tech goods. The data suggests China's trade sector remains resilient despite ongoing tensions with the United States.
A record-breaking heatwave gripping much of Asia is straining power grids and raising health risks for vulnerable populations. In countries such as South Korea, residents have been forced to alter daily routines to cope with the extended heat.
Washington has imposed a 15% tariff on imported polysilicon, a critical raw material used in solar panels and semiconductor production. The move is the latest in a series of US trade measures aimed at countering China's dominance of the sector.
Gold prices posted their biggest one-day jump in six months as progress on a Strait of Hormuz deal between Iran and Oman lowered expectations of further interest-rate hikes. Bullion rose 1% to $4,347.90 an ounce on the morning of August 6.
Chinese state media honoured two coast guard personnel who died in a vessel collision in the South China Sea last year, marking the first official confirmation that the incident resulted in fatalities. The collision occurred during the pursuit of a Philippine vessel.
Myanmar's military leader made his first official visit to Thailand since seizing power in a coup, in what analysts described as an attempt to gain political legitimacy and break out of international isolation. He remains barred from Western countries and has been accused of crimes against humanity. Fighting between Myanmar's military and armed resistance groups has spilled over the long border into Thailand, which hosts millions of refugees.
Japan's defence ministry said three Chinese naval vessels, including missile destroyers and a support ship, were tracked moving southwest through the Korea Strait as part of a joint patrol coordinated with Russian ships. Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force vessels shadowed the movement. Analysts said the exercise shows growing ambition in China-Russia military cooperation near Japan.
Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, 78, plans to return to the country despite being sentenced to death, the BBC reports. She was convicted of crimes against humanity over a deadly crackdown on the 2024 uprising that ousted her from power. Hasina has been living in exile in India since fleeing Dhaka.
An Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank off the coast of Yemen after being struck by a projectile, India's ministry of external affairs said. All 14 crew members on board were safely rescued, adding to a string of attacks on shipping in the region.