CHINA

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad begins on Thursday his first official trip to China in almost two decades, where he will ask a longtime ally for financial support to help rebuild his devastated country.

A senior Pentagon official said the U.S. relationship with India was not just necessary, but also "essential" in achieving Washington's strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

The sacking of a top diplomat and mysterious disappearance of a defence minister have raised fresh questions around President Xi Jinping's increasingly opaque decision-making, experts say.

Foreign business confidence in China has reached its lowest in years, US and European enterprise lobbies warned Tuesday, as slowing growth and geopolitical tensions hit investment prospects.

China is targeting top British officials to access secrets, the government in London said on Thursday, as it responded to criticisms about its policies towards the Asian superpower.

The Maldives stands at a geopolitical crossroads ahead of its presidential runoff vote with the frontrunner, a former construction minister, set on demolishing India's influence and building stronger ties with China.

India has completed 295 border infrastructure projects, worth nearly $965 million, since 2021. However, New Delhi still has a long way to go to match China's military muscle.

Putin lauded India for its "Make in India" initiative, which is part of New Delhi's efforts to galvanize the country's domestic manufacturing capabilities and increase export competitiveness.

The rapid depreciation of the Chinese currency sounds like a paradox. China is still a significant exporter of manufacturing goods with a trade surplus, creating a strong demand for its currency.

The U.S., India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union announced a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

China's central bank said on Monday it would crack down on speculation that distorts the value of the yuan as the country's currency sees persistent volatility.

Biden will become the latest in an unbroken line of US presidents since Bill Clinton in 2000 to visit the Southeast Asian former foe. The underlying goal will be much the same as during Biden's time at the G20 summit in New Delhi this week -- to shore up support against China's growing influence.

Today, Bangladesh is capitalizing on its remarkable growth story as it vies for a better seat among other nations. But it is also turning into a site for a power contest in the region.

Apple's shares tumbled 3.6% Wednesday after reports of China banning iPhones at central government offices surfaced. It marked the biggest daily decline in a month after rising to 46% this year.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command said naval vessels from both sides cruised through the waters lying west of Palawan island in what became the first bilateral sail activity carried out by Manila and Washington.

The G20 summit, which will take place on Sept. 9-10 in New Delhi, was seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to meet after their last encounter on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia.

Premier Li Qiang might make the trip to New Delhi instead of the Chinese president, according to officials from India and China.

The U.S. military is in talks with the Philippines about building a civilian port on its remote northernmost islands that face Taiwan.

The State Department informed Congress on Tuesday of the $80 million package, which is small compared with recent sales to Taiwan but marks the first assistance to Taipei under the Foreign Military Financing program, which generally involves grants or loans to sovereign countries.

The so-called "standard map" of China, released Monday, includes the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin plateau--a disputed region controlled by Beijing, but claimed by India--as Chinese territory.

The United States wants to work with China to ensure a more "predictable" environment for American businesses in Shanghai, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told officials in the economic hub on Wednesday.