Today
China’s copper glut soars in sign of stuttering economy
Copper inventories in Shanghai warehouses have reached their highest levels since 2020, as manufacturers rein in demand.
- Updated
- Harry Dempsey and Wenjie Ding
Kim vows ‘full support’ for Putin’s war
The Russian president arrived for his first visit to the DPRK in 24 years, amid warnings of more arms transfers to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
- Kim Tong-Hyung
Yesterday
Putin vows trade, security with North Korea
The Russian president pledged his unwavering support in a letter published by North Korean state media on Tuesday ahead of his planned visit to the country.
- Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith
Premier Li Qiang’s visit has Malaysia wanting more from China pivot
The absence of President Xi Jinping, who sent his number two in his place, has dejected some in the government, according to Malaysian officials and observers.
- Kathrin Hille and Mercedes Ruehl
This Month
Chinese vessel and Philippine supply ship collide
Beijing said a Philippine supply ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that’s part of territory claimed by several nations.
- Simina Mistreanu and Jim Gomez
China output growth slows, but consumers provide bright spot
Retail sales, a key metric of consumer spending, rose in May, but industrial production lagged, in mixed data for the world’s second-largest economy.
- Jessica Sier
China’s broken housing market and a generation ‘lying flat’
While wallets were open at last weekend’s national Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese consumers are still not spending enough to get the economy out of its housing hole.
- Jessica Sier
China’s mild inflation fails to quell fears over weak demand
May inflation figures point to a mixed picture for the economy as domestic consumption picks up slightly.
- Zhu Lin
- Analysis
- Legal industry
Australian judges looking isolated on HK’s top court
Some Australian judges don’t share their British peers’ doubts about judicial independence in Hong Kong since the mainland’s tough national security laws.
- Updated
- Primrose Riordan
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
Modi faces skills shortage in India superpower vision
Narendra Modi, sworn-in as prime minister on Sunday, must adopt a paradigm shift in development to lift millions out of poverty and accelerate India’s growth.
- Updated
- Rojan Joshi
The banks holding the most money in Singapore’s $3.4b laundering scandal
The last of those arrested for their involvement in Singapore’s biggest laundering case have pleaded guilty, paving the way for the next steps in the scandal.
- Low De Wei and Bernadette Toh
Poll toll: election shocks stun investors from India to Mexico
After surprises in elections around the world, nervous traders are looking to the UK and US where pre-vote polling has also been unpredictable.
- Ezra Fieser
A win for democracy as Modi’s BJP is taken down a peg
The surprising result should put to bed claims that India’s democracy is under threat, says former high commissioner Barry O’Farrell.
- Emma Connors
Scared of resigning? An agency can take care of that
Quitting agencies are springing up across Japan as workers say some companies try to bully employees into staying.
- Jessica Sier
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Modi’s reform wave falls short of majority
To reach the growth levels of China in its industrialising heyday, he will need to bring his new coalition partners along on a new wave of reform.
- The AFR View
US, Australia: China ‘aggressively recruiting’ our fighter pilots
The Five Eyes security intelligence partners have accused the People’s Liberation Army of using Western military talent to train its aviators.
- Updated
- Julian E. Barnes and Helene Cooper
- Analysis
- World elections
Modi must bow to India’s new kingmakers to retain power
Narendra Modi will need to compromise as he starts his third term as prime minister after failing to secure an outright majority at India’s general election.
- Updated
- Krutika Pathi
- Analysis
- China’s Great Slowdown
Why won’t Xi Jinping fix China’s dreadful economy?
Explanations for Beijing’s refusal to work on deep-seated problems include denial, ignorance and ideology.
- Scott Kennedy
Modi’s shock narrow win puts strong growth plan at risk
India’s election result is a stunning disappointment for the prime minister, who had pledged more business-friendly reforms to keep the economy growing.
- Updated
- Ruchi Bhatia, Anup Roy and Preeti Soni
- Opinion
- India
Modi has just learned that hype can only carry you so far
Much of India looks very different from 2014 and the pre-Modi era. But much of it looks the same, and even populists have to deliver.
- Mihir Sharma