Asia

Malaysia is exploring new overland export routes to China to reduce logistics costs and clear a record domestic durian glut, though industry players remain divided over potential impacts on fruit quality.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, President Xi Jinping urged international cooperation, stating AI should not be dominated by one country and must remain under human control to ensure global security.

Chinese start-up Moonshot has launched Kimi K3, a 2.8 trillion-parameter open-weight AI model. This powerful system rivals top US models, highlighting China's rapid progress in closing the global AI development gap.

Australia’s push to become an AI hub is straining its construction sector. Rising demand for data centers competes with housing projects for skilled labor, threatening national targets amid severe workforce shortages.

Thailand’s cabinet has halved the visa-free stay to 30 days for 59 countries, citing security concerns. The policy grants new privileges to six nations, including India, replacing previous visa-on-arrival requirements.

The Ma Xingrui corruption case highlights risks in China’s government-business ties. As the economy shifts from property to AI, China must reform resource allocation to prevent new forms of systemic rent-seeking.

China has detained American seismologist Youlin Chen for nearly two years on espionage charges. The US government designated him wrongfully detained, citing his research on North Korean nuclear tests as the cause.

Malaysia’s apex court has acquitted former minister Syed Saddiq of corruption charges, clearing his path for a personal wedding and a potential political comeback. However, analysts remain skeptical about his ability to revive his struggling party, MUDA, amid a challenging political landscape.

Bangkok bar fire victims died from cyanide and carbon monoxide poisoning. Police suspect an overloaded electrical system and a bolted emergency exit caused the tragedy, with charges pending against the owner.

Powerful Typhoon Bavi is approaching Japan’s southwestern islands, triggering high alerts for violent winds and heavy rain. Taiwan has also initiated emergency preparations, including evacuations and flight cancellations, as the storm moves toward the region, with landfall expected in eastern China.

Taiwan’s premium chocolate industry has gained global acclaim for its artisanal quality. However, the sector now faces significant growth challenges as climate change, including rising temperatures and extreme weather, threatens the stability of local cacao harvests and production.

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.