If diplomatic talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un don’t produce any kind of agreement on the rogue state’s nuclear weapons program, that could bolster Washington’s appetite for military action, strategists warned. The leaders are due to hold a summit on June 12 following a tumultuous 2017 that saw both […]

A cargo plane which accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his recent visit to China has departed Pyongyang and was likely headed for Singapore on Sunday, ahead of Kim’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Kim is due to meet Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the city-state later on Sunday, Singapore’s […]

Immediate denuclearization has long been Washington’s stated goal on nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang. But now that President Donald Trump has noticeably softened his tone on that front, many are wondering whether he will still pressure North Korea’s Kim Jong Un next week. Trump confirmed the June 12 summit was back on after initially canceling the […]

Japan, which just months ago had tens of thousands of Airbnb and home-sharing properties available, has approved only about 150 before a new law kicks in next week, meant to bring order to the market and create more lodging options for foreign tourists. The private temporary lodging, or “minpaku,” law, which comes into force on […]

Small states in the eastern hemisphere are at risk of being dragged into the orbit of either China or India, a former Asian president said Friday. But Mohamed Waheed Hassan, who led the Maldives in 2012 and 2013, added that there’s an area the region’s superpowers and its smaller nations could easily work together on. […]

The Kremlin hasn’t been front and center in discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal — but given its long ties with Pyongyang, Moscow probably can’t be ignored in any potential peace deal. “Despite its relatively low public profile as a player in the North Korea negotiations, Russia’s behind-the-scenes ability to throw a wrench in the […]

If all goes to plan, U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in a tiny but wealthy corner of Southeast Asia. The White House explained why Singapore got the nod after experts floated a number of possible locations, including Switzerland, Mongolia and the demilitarized zone between […]

Stocks of entertainment companies and production houses in China are having a sorry week after authorities in China announced they were launching an investigation in the sector following allegations of tax evasion. China’s State Administration of Taxation said in a statement earlier this month that it had instructed tax authorities in Jiangsu to carry out […]

China will be closely watching President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s meeting in Singapore next Tuesday, not least because Beijing wants the ultimate deal – for U.S. troops to get out of the Korean Peninsula, said analysts. “Beijing will be advocating that the price for peace should be a full withdrawal […]

China’s Ant Financial announced Friday that it raised around $14 billion in fresh funds from investors. The company, which was spun off from Alibaba, is a major player in China’s massive financial technology landscape. It operates one of the country’s largest payments platform, Alipay. Ant Financial said it has entered into definitive agreements with domestic […]