50 stories
North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song began a three-day trip to China this week, as Beijing offered rare praise for its socialist neighbour's economic achievements. The visit coincides with celebrations marking 65 years since the signing of the two countries' only formal defence pact.
Australia's embassy in Washington has formally objected to a Trump administration proposal to impose a 12.5% tariff on Australian imports, tied to allegations of forced labor in supply chains. Canberra says it has seen no evidence to support the claims underpinning the proposed tariff. The dispute reopens a trade fight that had appeared to be cooling in recent months.
The Philippines' lawyer in its landmark South China Sea arbitration case says China's continued maritime activity is steadily diluting the practical impact of the 2016 tribunal ruling that favored Manila. The award, issued by an international arbitral panel, rejected the bulk of China's expansive claims in the disputed waters. Nearly a decade later, the lawyer says enforcement gaps have let Beijing continue asserting its presence largely unchecked.
New data shows a sharp decline in the number of ships — many carrying oil and gas — passing through the Hormuz Strait following attacks earlier this week. Shipping companies using the US-backed route are reassessing their exposure amid heightened risk.
More than 20,000 people gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a rapturous welcome at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heaped praise on Australia's Indian diaspora during the joint appearance.
The Asian Development Bank forecast the region's economy will expand 4.9% in 2026, an improved outlook from earlier projections. The bank cautioned, however, that trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty continue to pose persistent headwinds to growth.
New Zealand's manufacturing sector is showing signs of recovery, while rising truck traffic points to strengthening economic activity. The data offered cautious optimism to businesses. Economists are assessing whether the rebound will last.
Australia and India have signed an agreement on uranium exports and deepened their defence cooperation. The pact provides a source for India's energy needs while strengthening strategic ties between the two countries. The move comes as regional partnerships are being reshaped.
Taiwan's exports rose nearly 50% in the first half of the year, reflecting strong demand for artificial-intelligence technologies. Semiconductors and advanced tech products drove the growth. The government is stressing its goal of turning the island into an AI manufacturing hub.
Volkswagen, Germany's largest carmaker, risks a serious clash with its workforce over cost-cutting plans, its powerful union has warned. The union cautioned against possible job losses. The company faces competitive pressure in the shift to electric vehicles.
Cuba's government has detailed business reforms that will allow private companies to receive foreign investment. The steps aim to revive an economy struggling with a shortage of foreign currency. Officials hope the rules will attract fresh capital to the private sector.
Chile's exports reached $60 billion in the first half of the year, with copper earning more than any other category of goods. Strong metal prices supported the country's trade revenues. Lithium also stood out as a growing source of income.
Consumer price inflation in China weakened in June while producer price inflation rose to a near four-year high. Investors increasingly view this two-speed picture of robust exports and tepid domestic demand as a defining long-term feature of the Chinese economy.
Tough talks over the European Union's next long-term budget, Ukraine's push for EU accession and soaring fertiliser costs have again placed European farmers in the political spotlight. The bloc is debating how to keep supporting farmers as it shifts its focus toward defence and global trade.
Guyana Power and Light has signed a cooperation agreement with Global South Utilities, a power investor based in the United Arab Emirates. The deal marks the Gulf company's first entry into South America and covers power generation, renewable energy and smart-grid systems.
Australian farmers are appealing a federal ban on the sale of Moringa oleifera as a food. The regulatory body had determined there was insufficient evidence to prove the plant's safety.
Brazil's airlines posted a combined net profit of 4.3 billion reais ($830 million) in 2025, according to regulator Anac. Domestic traffic passed 100 million for the first time, reaching 101 million passengers.
Kiwi Crunch, New Zealand's second-largest apple grower and exporter, has entered voluntary administration. The Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association said it did not know how many people would be affected but was concerned about potential job losses. The move creates uncertainty in a key regional agricultural sector.
According to the head of the Worldsteel association, Southeast Asia faces the risk of a supply glut driven by rapidly rising production capacity. Speaking to Nikkei Asia, the official warned that new investment in the region could outpace demand. A capacity glut could pressure prices and trade balances.
South Africa's clothing industry is going through a difficult period amid import pressure and workplace inspections. According to GroundUp, factory raids in KwaZulu-Natal and court cases have exposed problems in the sector. The report says the key question is what workable solutions exist to protect manufacturers.
According to an FGV study, Airbnb activity moved about R$34 billion ($6.7 billion) through São Paulo state's economy in 2025. That is the largest footprint of any Brazilian state and roughly 30% of the R$113 billion the platform moved nationwide. The study says the activity supported more than 208,000 jobs.
The United States accounted for just 9.4% of Brazil's exports in the first half of 2026, the lowest share since the data series began in 1997. That is down from 12.1% a year earlier, before the first round of tariffs took effect. The figures point to Brazil's trade shifting further toward China.
The International Monetary Fund has sharply downgraded its economic growth forecasts for Cambodia, according to Nikkei Asia. The revision reflects trade pressures on the export-reliant economy and softening demand conditions.
Azul, Brazil's largest airline by cities served, is upgrading its U.S. listing from NYSE American to the main New York Stock Exchange, with trading under the ticker AZUL expected to begin on July 9. The move follows the carrier's exit from bankruptcy protection.
Unionised workers at mining giant BHP's operations in Port Hedland will down tools for eight hours on July 16. The action follows a stalling of negotiations with the company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed three new agreements with Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands to share his country's battlefield-tested drone expertise. Kyiv is seeking to deepen defence cooperation with NATO allies amid continued Russian missile attacks.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro asked the United States to postpone a 25% tariff it is weighing on Brazilian goods until after the October elections. He made the request at a public hearing before the US Trade Representative in Washington.
Prices at the global dairy auction posted their largest drop in two years. The decline matters for New Zealand's dairy-export-dependent economy, according to RNZ. Analysts say shifts in the balance of supply and demand weighed on prices.
India is climbing global manufacturing rankings as it benefits from the China+1 trend, in which companies diversify supply chains away from China. According to an industry body's report, the country has gained momentum in attracting manufacturing investment. Experts say infrastructure and cost advantages are supporting the shift.
A Chinese automaker has opened a vehicle assembly plant in Minna, in Nigeria's Niger State. Officials said they expect the investment to support local jobs and industrial capacity, according to Premium Times. The plant is seen as an example of rising foreign industrial investment in the country.
Uruguay urged the European Union to ratify the Mercosur trade agreement, warning that delay could leave the region more exposed to China's influence. The long-negotiated deal has faced resistance within the EU over farming concerns, according to Euronews. EU institutions are continuing the approval process.
Fishing crews in Sierra Leone say large Chinese ships are illegally hoovering up fish stocks. The fishermen say their livelihoods are under threat. The claims revive debate over fishing regulation and enforcement in the region's waters.
The European Parliament gave final approval to a revised regulation granting air passengers free cabin luggage and updating delay-compensation rules. The decision followed roughly a decade of talks with EU countries. Airlines argue the rules will lift ticket prices, while passenger groups say rights have been upheld.
The British Royal Navy's patrol vessel HMS Medway docked on Sunday morning at Punta Arenas, in Chile's Magallanes region, on its first visit to the port. The stop, for resupply, is due to last until Wednesday, July 8.
Uruguay's left-leaning President Yamandu Orsi congratulated Peru's right-leaning president-elect, Keiko Fujimori, by phone on her runoff victory, in a contact that bridged the ideological divide across the region. The call was released by the Office of Peru's President-Elect. Peru's handover is set for July 28.
South Korean defence firm Hanwha has lost a bid to build Canada's new submarine fleet. The contract was seen as a major deal in the sector. The company's shares came under pressure after the decision.
Some African nations are turning down aid money offered by the Trump administration. According to the BBC, the administration sees the aid as more transactional. But some say it is not a fair trade.
NATO leaders are preparing to announce tens of billions of dollars in defence deals in Ankara on Tuesday. European allies are seeking to boost military spending amid concerns over Russia. The deals will be unveiled ahead of a summit with US President Trump.
Analysis suggests an EU-style tariff could be advantageous for New Zealand businesses. The proposed three-euro levy is intended to level the playing field with low-cost global manufacturers such as Temu.
Bangladesh is strengthening ties with China even as it mends relations with India, which had turned frosty under the interim government. Dhaka is seeking to balance its foreign policy between two major regional powers.
French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Damascus on Monday evening. He became the first EU leader to visit Syria since the sudden fall of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant turned president.
Toyota said it will invest $3.6 billion to move production of its Tacoma midsize pickup from Mexico to its San Antonio campus in Texas. The move comes amid US pressure on carmakers to build domestically and follows tariff threats on imported vehicles. Toyota said it will expand capacity at the Texas plant.
China has warned Australia not to harm its interests in the Pacific after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a landmark military alliance with Fiji. The deal is being watched closely for its impact on the regional balance of power. Beijing's response points to intensifying competition in the Pacific.
Ghana is set to receive around 2,000 looted artefacts from the Netherlands and Germany, in what stands as one of the largest cultural restitution efforts involving the country to date. The pledge is part of a growing European push to return colonial-era objects. It follows similar returns to other African nations.
Moldova, an economically fragile country caught up in Russia's hybrid war, is keen to make rapid progress toward EU membership. With the opening of the first chapter of accession negotiations, the EU launched a €1.9 billion investment plan. The plan, conditional on domestic reforms, aims to draw in businesses.
Colombia's president-elect De la Espriella spoke with Israel's President Herzog and agreed to move ahead with restoring full diplomatic relations. Current President Gustavo Petro severed ties in May 2024 over Israel's war in Gaza. The incoming administration is reversing that stance.
China's second-quarter economic growth is expected to slow on weak domestic demand, according to a Nikkei survey. Reluctant consumer spending and property-sector pressures are among the main factors. The results are raising expectations of possible policy support steps.
British broadcaster ITV has agreed to sell its media and entertainment arm to Comcast-owned Sky for £1.6bn. The deal marks a significant reshaping of the UK media landscape. It raises questions about content and programming for viewers.
Brazil is trying to reposition its equatorial Alcantara spaceport in the global commercial launch market. The site's near-equator location offers fuel savings for rocket operators. The country is seeking a share of the growing space economy.
British budget airline EasyJet said it has reached an agreement in principle over a takeover bid from investment firm Castlelake. The offer is reported to value the carrier at several billion dollars. Completion of the deal remains subject to conditions.