US readies tariffs on imports from 60 economies as Friday deadline nears
What's next: The current 10% Section 122 tariffs expire Friday, and proposed Section 301 duties could reach 12.5% on goods tied to forced labor concerns.
Bloomberg, CNBC +1
Subject
#China
DOJ probes Harvard aid tied to Chinese donors and foreign students
Why it matters: A finding of unlawful discrimination could jeopardize billions in federal research grants and student aid.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times +2
US weighs China sanctions over alleged AI model distillation
What's next: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to join U.S.-China AI talks in September as scrutiny of Chinese open-weight models grows.
Bloomberg, CNBC +1
US condemns China-Philippines clash at Second Thomas Shoal
Washington said one Filipino sailor was injured and warned Beijing's pattern of provocation threatens regional stability.
CNN Indonesia, Antara News +2
Indonesia to issue US$1 billion Panda Bond on July 23
China Lianhe assigned an AAA/stable rating, with Bank of China leading the first-time underwriting team.
Bloomberg, Antara News +2
Innolight stock jumps after approval for up to $8 billion Hong Kong IPO
What’s new: The deal could become Hong Kong’s biggest listing since Alibaba’s 2019 share sale and the city’s largest this year.
Bloomberg, The Business Times (Singapore)
China protests UK takeover of British Steel, cites 1986 treaty
Why it matters: London now controls a plant with 2,700 direct jobs as Beijing weighs how to defend Jingye’s investment rights.
BBC News (World), Bloomberg
US lifts TikTok ban on federal employees’ official devices
DOJ said the national security risk has eased after ByteDance was left with just a 19.9 percent stake in TikTok USDS.
Republika, Fox News
Trump declassified election files, reviving 2020 fraud claims
What's new: The documents cited China, Venezuela and noncitizen voting, but prior intelligence and studies undercut key allegations.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times +2
Trump threatened TV licenses after networks skipped live speech
Why it matters: Broadcasters have wide First Amendment protections, and the clash deepens a long-running fight over airing false election claims.
The Straits Times, The Hill +1
Trump revives 2020 China election claims in White House address
What's new: He released heavily redacted intelligence files, even as prior US assessments found China did not interfere.
The New York Times, Bloomberg
Trump declassifies China election files, revives 2020 fraud claims
What's new: The material conflicts with a 2021 US intelligence review that found no foreign actor altered any technical part of the vote.
Bloomberg, The New York Times +6
Moonshot’s Kimi K3 narrows AI gap with US rivals, hits Chinese tech stocks
Why it matters: The open-weight model was priced near Anthropic Sonnet levels, while rival Z.AI shares fell 30% in the market fallout.
US, Iran Exchange Fire in Strait of Hormuz; China Urges Reopening
Shipping through the strategic oil route was disrupted again as the US maintained its naval blockade of Iran.
Earlier: U.S. strikes 170 targets in Iran over 2 days, 14 killedSeries: United States · Iran Conflict Escalation · 32 chapters since Jul 7Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 jolts China AI stocks after benchmark gains
What's new: The 2.8 trillion-parameter model topped an AI coding leaderboard, while shares of Z.ai fell 28% and Alibaba slid 4%.
The New York Times, The Hill
Trump accuses China of seizing 220 million U.S. voter records
The allegation conflicts with a 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment that found no foreign actor altered technical aspects of the election.
Antara News, The Hill +1
US sets 4-year cap for many student visas, 240-day limit for journalists
What's next: The rule takes effect in 60 days unless Congress blocks it, and students would get just 30 days to leave after finishing.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times +1
US lets 2020 Hong Kong order expire, easing some sanctions
What's new: John Lee and Carrie Lam were removed from one US sanctions list but shifted to another tied to a separate Hong Kong law.
US cuts foreign journalist visas to 240 days, China to 90
Why it matters: The rule takes effect in 60 days, and Beijing warned it could retaliate as press groups condemned the move.
Bloomberg, PBS NewsHour +1
Xi presses global AI rules as China forms 29-nation group
What's new: The Shanghai-based body aims to coordinate AI governance as China pushes back on security-based tech curbs.
Bloomberg, The New York Times +3
China protests after Britain takes over British Steel
London plans to appoint an independent valuer in the autumn to calculate compensation for Jingye, which could be worth nothing.
Republika, Antara News
US caps foreign student visas at 4 years, journalists 240 days
Effective in September, China nationals face a 90-day limit as campuses warn enrollment and economic fallout.
Antara News, ABC News +1
Philippines condemns China Daily video portraying Filipinos as monkeys
What's new: Manila demanded the Jul. 10 post be removed, calling it racist amid wider South China Sea tensions.
Bloomberg, Tribunnews
China Investor Launches Rp1.25 Trillion Project in IKN, Korea Follows
The IKN Authority also said a South Korean investor is preparing a property project worth about Rp1.2 trillion in the same area.
Antara News, Tribunnews +1
Ex-Fed adviser gets 38 months for lying in China secrets probe
Why it matters: Prosecutors said advance Fed rate information could have aided trading in China’s roughly $1.5 trillion in US Treasurys.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times +2
Hong Kong police arrest 5 in raids on 2 independent bookstores
What's new: The suspects could face up to seven years in prison under the 2024 national security law.
BBC News (World), Bloomberg +1
Pew survey finds China favored over US in 25 of 36 countries
What's new: Views of Xi Jinping topped Donald Trump's in 22 countries, including Canada, Mexico and several major European allies.
BBC News (World), Bloomberg +5
China clears Apple iPhone AI rollout with Alibaba, Baidu
Why it matters: The approval opens Apple Intelligence in its biggest smartphone market and lifted Alibaba ADRs as much as 7.9%.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times
China's Q2 GDP slowed to 4.3% as investment slump deepened
What's next: investors are watching a late-July Politburo meeting for possible rate cuts or other stimulus to shore up demand.
China holds US seismologist for 2 years on espionage charge
What's next: The case could shadow Xi Jinping's expected US visit in September if Beijing does not move toward a trial or release.
BBC News (World), The New York Times +2
Volkswagen eyes up to 100,000 global layoffs as profits slide
An extra 50,000 jobs are still under review, after the group already agreed to cut 50,000 positions by 2030.
BBC News (World), Antara News
China expels former Politburo member Ma Xingrui in graft purge
What's new: Investigators accused Ma of fixing appointments, taking gifts and letting relatives profit through what authorities called large-scale family corruption.
Bloomberg, The New York Times +2
Typhoon Bavi hits eastern China, nearly 2 million evacuated
Zhejiang canceled more than 400 flights and dozens of train trips as officials warned of heavy rain and flooding, with no major casualty reports.
CNN Indonesia, Republika +3
China June exports jump 27%, imports surge 36% on AI demand
Why it matters: Strong chip and data-center demand is cushioning China’s weak consumer economy ahead of new US tariff risks.
Bloomberg, CNBC
Volkswagen weighs 50,000 more job cuts, lifting total to 100,000
Why it matters: The deeper cuts reflect a 20% cost gap, falling sales in China and weaker US demand hit by import tariffs.
14 countries again back 2016 South China Sea ruling
The joint statement urges compliance with the arbitration ruling and rejects unilateral acts backed by force in the region.
India, New Zealand forge strategic partnership in Auckland
What's new: The pact adds defense cooperation and naval exercises as both countries stress a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times
China lands reusable Long March-10B rocket stage at sea
Why it matters: Reusing the costly first stage could cut launch expenses and support China's planned crewed Moon missions.
China lands reusable Long March 10B booster for first time
Why it matters: Reusing boosters can sharply cut launch costs, and shares in China Spacesat and China Satellite Communications hit their 10% daily limits.
Factory fire in China's Fujian province kills at least 28
What's new: More than 200 people were evacuated from the shoe plant in Jinjiang as rescuers searched for others still missing.
Singapore tutor admitted abusing boy, 6, for 18 hours
What's next: Prosecutors sought about 9 to 10 years in jail and six strokes of the cane; sentencing is set for Aug. 21.
The Straits Times, Channel News Asia +1
IMF cuts 2026 global growth to 3% as Iran war drives oil shock
What's new: The fund now sees oil prices jumping nearly 32% this year and global inflation rising to 4.7% in 2026.
The New York Times, PBS NewsHour +1
China fires submarine missile into Pacific, jolting regional powers
Why it matters: Australia, New Zealand and Japan all protested, saying the launch added to unease over Beijing's military buildup.
The New York Times, Bloomberg +5
DeepSeek develops AI chip for inference, pressuring Nvidia shares
What's new: The project began about a year ago and could deepen China’s push to replace restricted US chip imports with domestic hardware.
Tito urges local governments to expand sharia economy via Adinata 2026
Tito said Indonesia’s halal market still lags, while China, Brasil and Australia dominate halal certification.
Singapore pushes deeper China ties on green energy, AI and ageing
Why it matters: The plan links climate, productivity and eldercare as both countries head toward “super-aged” societies by 2030.
China tests missile from nuclear submarine in Pacific
Japan, Australia and New Zealand protested the launch, while Papua New Guinea said it had been briefed by Beijing.
US, China send aid to Venezuela after twin 7.2 and 7.5 quakes
Venezuela declared a national emergency as the confirmed death toll rose to 32 and is expected to climb further.
Antara News, CNN Indonesia
3-kg CNG cylinder trial enters final phase, targeted for July
The government is testing 200-250 bar cylinders in Indonesia and China to curb LPG imports, which still total 7.47 million MT a year.
Antara News, CNBC Indonesia
Purbaya inspects China steel plant in Pulogadung over taxes
The government suspects tax payments are out of step with the business scale and has sought documents for further verification.
Republika, CNBC Indonesia
China explores Tencent AI support for Indonesia's MBG program
The technology is designed to count student attendance daily so MBG kitchens can prepare more accurate, efficient portions.
Antara News, CNBC Indonesia
8 Chinese nationals deported after illegal mall work in Surabaya
Immigration also placed the eight on a blacklist after finding three types of violations of stay and work permits.
Antara News, CNN Indonesia
China auditor flagged Bank of China over 2.37 billion yuan tax dodge
Why it matters: The report also cited improper loans at Agricultural Bank and governance failures at China Everbright Group.
Bloomberg, The Business Times (Singapore)
One-stop scholarship portal targeted for limited launch in September
The platform will pool scholarship listings from government, foreign and private sources to close information gaps.
Kremlin: Nuclear arms are the only barrier to world war
New: the New START treaty expired in February, ending U.S.-Russia limits on warheads.
The Straits Times, Tribunnews
Malaysia durian glut slashes Musang King prices up to 90%
Why it matters: Singapore prices have fallen too, but sellers say transport, rent and tax will keep them well above Malaysia's lows.
The Straits Times, CNBC Indonesia
Dettol pulls China ad after sexism, misogyny backlash
The five-minute spot ran nationwide since late May before being withdrawn June 21 after boycott calls spread on Weibo and Xiaohongshu.
Netherlands presses US to drop ASML chip curbs tied to China
Why it matters: China made up 19% of ASML's first-quarter net system sales, and the bill could widen limits to immersion DUV tools.
Alibaba sued Pentagon over blacklist tied to China military claims
What's next: A June 30 contracting ban could cut off Alibaba's US advisers and lobbyists if it stays on the 1260H list.
The New York Times, Bloomberg +2
Police seize 8.6 liters of etomidate worth Rp97.8 billion at Soetta
In three cases, four foreign couriers were arrested, while an alleged handler identified as DN was placed on the wanted list.
Antara News, CNN Indonesia
Thai baht hits 1-year low at 33.09 per US dollar ahead of BOT decision
Why it matters: Traders expect the Federal Reserve to widen its rate lead as Thailand's central bank is seen holding at 1%.
US sends 4 autonomous sea drones to Philippines amid China tensions
Why it matters: The $13 million Triton vehicles can gather data above and below the South China Sea for up to 30 days.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times
U.S. sends Typhon missile system to Kagoshima, China protests
Typhon was used in drills through July 1, will return in September, then move to a U.S. base in Japan around mid-October.
Trump orders US quantum push, targets 2028 machine and cyber shift
Why it matters: The orders set a 2030-31 goal for post-quantum encryption across key government systems as the US competes with China.
Bloomberg, The Straits Times +1
China halts dual-use exports to 10 US firms, bars 46 from procurement
Why it matters: The retaliation widens the US-China trade and security clash to rare earths and third-country transfers.
CNBC, NPR +3
China blocks 46 U.S. firms from government procurement
Suppliers including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon lose access to China government tenders, while 10 other U.S. firms face export controls.
Republika, CNBC Indonesia
Tencent tests Xiaowei AI assistant inside WeChat in China
Why it matters: WeChat and Weixin reach more than 1.4 billion monthly users, giving Tencent a huge base for AI services.
China blocks dual-use exports to 2 US rare earth companies
Why it matters: The move hits firms central to US efforts to build a non-China supply chain for defense and advanced manufacturing.
Bloomberg, The New York Times +1
Masan mine expansion in Vietnam could add 115 million tonnes of tungsten ore
Why it matters: The added resource could extend Nui Phao operations by 20 to 30 years as buyers seek supply outside China.
Indonesia ships first 28 tons of palm fronds to China
The supply from Riau, North Sumatra and Aceh involves 7 cooperatives and is expected to benefit 2,800 members economically.
Antara News, Republika
Starbucks cuts about 180 office jobs in London and Hong Kong
Why it matters: The coffee chain is shifting more control outside North America to licensees as it pushes to double its international store count.
Hegseth orders 6-month review of US forces in Europe at NATO
What's new: He tied the review to how quickly European allies assume more of the continent's defense burden.
NPR, Tribunnews +2
Afghanistan strikes militant bases in Pakistan, border tension rises
Kabul targeted sites in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a week after Pakistan strikes the Taliban said killed 13 people.
Apple plans price hikes as AI chip crunch lifts memory costs
What's new: Tim Cook said Apple may use its cash reserves to help expand memory supply, but gave no timing or size for any increases.
Indonesia targets US$1 billion Panda Bond in China market
Issuance is set to begin next week, with a goal of selling this year after approval is submitted to the PBOC.
Republika, Antara News +2
US presses ASML over fears a banned chip tool reached China
What's new: ASML denied any EUV machine or specially designed EUV parts were ever shipped to China.
Inul: Dangdut Becomes More Inclusive by Blending With Pop
Inul said mixes with hip-hop and disco are also helping dangdut gain more traction among Generation Z.
Antara News, Republika
China finds 120 million-year-old feathered dinosaur with tail fan
The Liaoning fossil combines oversized leg feathers with 16 long tail feathers, a combination not seen before.
EU weighs tariffs and new trade tools as China deficit tops €1 billion a day
What's next: EU leaders meeting June 18 in Brussels are set to map out trade talks with Beijing and supply-chain moves in critical sectors.
Singapore retook No. 1 in IMD competitiveness ranking for 2026
What’s new: It jumped to first in business efficiency, while Hong Kong rose to No. 2 and Switzerland fell to third.