China warned that recent cooperation between India and Japan regarding critical minerals should not target Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that such partnerships must not harm third-party interests or serve as a pretext for stoking regional confrontation or forming exclusive cliques.

Lufthansa anticipates a challenging second half of 2026 due to geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and sustainability pressures. Despite these headwinds, the airline group remains optimistic about growth opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, where demand for air travel continues to stay strong.

Johor caretaker chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi has urged the federal government to expedite the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone master plan. Economy Minister Akmal Nasir defended the timeline, asserting that investor confidence remains strong despite the delay in the project's official launch.

Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who fled to Taiwan after being detained by Chinese authorities in 2015, has died at age 70. Lam was a prominent symbol of resistance against Beijing’s encroachment on Hong Kong’s freedoms and had been battling advanced lung cancer.