Asia | The Foreign Dispatch

Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev exchanging treaty documents in Cholpon-Ata.

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan formalize alliance in new bilateral treaty

Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the document during a state visit in Cholpon-Ata, giving their accumulated political trust a new legal foundation and a long-term joint agenda.

Traffic signs and the Bank of Japan headquarters in central Tokyo.

Asia

Bank of Japan opens door to early rate hike as inflation and yen risks intensify

The central bank held its policy rate at 1 percent but warned for the first time that underlying inflation could exceed target, placing the September meeting and further monetary tightening in focus.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi speaks at a media briefing in Islamabad.

Asia

Pakistan seeks U.S.-Iran return to Islamabad framework as Hormuz talks continue

Islamabad said negotiations remain active despite a fragile Gulf security environment and is pressing both parties to revive a memorandum designed to remove obstacles and sustain the pause in hostilities.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at a ceremony in Brasília.

Asia

Brazil and South Korea create working group to accelerate Mercosur trade talks

Lula and Lee Jae Myung made a South Korea-Mercosur agreement an urgent priority while adding critical minerals and Brazilian meat access to a broader diversification agenda.

Delegates attending the APEC Digital and AI meetings in Chengdu, China.

Asia

APEC adopts Chengdu framework for inclusive AI deployment across Asia-Pacific

Ministers backed practical AI use in manufacturing, agriculture and services, with new commitments on small businesses, training, cross-border data and regulatory coordination.

Aerial view of Port City Colombo and its reclaimed coastal development.

Asia

Port City Colombo reports $2.19 billion in investment commitments

Sri Lanka's reclaimed-land special economic zone has received 176 proposals and created 9,871 employment opportunities, while finalized projects account for $336.67 million of the total investment pipeline.

Industrial port cranes, containers and factory infrastructure in Indonesia.

Asia

Indonesia courts Chinese investment for supply chains, AI and industrial growth

Indonesia's investment minister said Jakarta wants Chinese companies to move beyond capital deployment and help build supply chains, technology capacity, talent and export-oriented industrial platforms inside the country.

Oil storage infrastructure and tanker facilities associated with international crude shipments.

Asia

Japan's Russian Oil Purchases Highlight a Narrow Energy Exception

Japan imported about 1.53 million barrels of Russian oil in May and June at an average price near $103 per barrel, underscoring how limited Sakhalin-linked shipments remain part of Tokyo's energy balance despite sanctions pressure.

A wide view of an airport runway and terminal infrastructure in Indonesia.

Asia

Indonesia Weighs Defense Hub Plan for Underused West Java Airport

Indonesia is considering a plan to turn Kertajati International Airport in West Java into a national defense industry hub, while restoring Bandung's Husein Sastranegara Airport as the region's main commercial gateway.

Police guard outside the venue of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, Philippines

Asia

ASEAN Talks in Manila Overshadowed by Iran War and South China Sea Tensions

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have gathered in Manila for annual talks overshadowed by the US-Iran war, with concerns that Washington's military focus on the Middle East could divert attention from China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are among the key attendees.