Asia News

China’s export growth accelerated sharply in August, highlighting the continued strength of the country’s manufacturing sector and the growing importance of automobiles, semiconductors and other high-technology products to its external economy. Exports increased by 25% year on year in August, accelerating from the 23.9% growth recorded in July and exceeding market expectations. At the same time, imports increased by 28.2%, producing a monthly trade surplus of approximately $1

Fast-fashion giant Shein suffered a weak start to its long-awaited stock market debut on Tuesday, with its shares falling sharply after beginning trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The disappointing performance highlights growing investor concerns about the company's slowing growth, rising costs and increasingly difficult regulatory environment. Shein's shares opened at HK$48.56, the price set for its initial public offering, before falling as much as 10% to around HK$4

The Singapore Police Force Cyber Command, working in close coordination with the Royal Malaysia Police, has secured the extradition and prosecution of a 28-year-old Malaysian national accused of participating in a sophisticated cross-border money laundering operation that exploited digital banking infrastructure to move illicit funds across international borders. The case represents a major regional enforcement success against organized financial crime and highlights the incr

Century Entertainment International Holdings will remain suspended from trading after the Hong Kong Stock Exchange introduced additional requirements that the company must satisfy before its shares can be reinstated. The expanded resumption conditions include the publication of all outstanding financial results, the resolution of audit-related issues, and the completion of an independent review of the company’s internal control framework. The company’s shares have been suspen

Malaysia’s latest illegal betting crackdown shows how major sporting events continue to create immediate opportunities for unlicensed gambling networks. Police announced that 331 people had been arrested in a nationwide operation linked to World Cup betting, with local reporting putting the value of uncovered illegal transactions at approximately RM2.63 million. The operation, known as Ops Soga XI, was launched in anticipation of a surge in football-related betting activity a

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Nobitex, Iran’s largest digital asset exchange, as part of a wider action targeting Iranian crypto infrastructure accused of supporting terrorist financing, sanctions evasion and regime-linked financial activity. The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Nobitex on 2 June 2026, along with three other Iranian digital asset exchanges: Wallex, Bitpin and Ramzinex. OFAC also sanctioned several individuals connected to Nobitex, inc

Kalshi has added India to its restricted jurisdictions, marking another setback for prediction markets as governments increasingly treat event-contract platforms as gambling rather than purely financial products. The U.S.-based prediction market platform updated its member agreement on 17 June 2026 to prohibit users located in, domiciled in or organised in India from trading event contracts. The move followed action by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technolog

Europe’s relationship with China is entering a more difficult phase. What was once mainly described as a trade imbalance is now becoming a strategic supply-chain problem, with rare earths, critical minerals, industrial dependence and market access all moving to the centre of EU policy. The latest flashpoint came as EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič prepared to host Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels on 29 June 2026. The meeting came at a sensitive moment. Eu