Indian firms' profit growth hits 3-year high despite war shock Inventory stockpiling, tax cuts help companies achieve surprise increase India's battery materials bet races ahead of lithium cell making plans India's push on ethanol-blended fuel questioned by scientists and analysts Hong Kong bourse posts record first-half earnings on IPO, trading boom HKEX shrugs off macro and geopolitical risks as it remains gateway to China Singapore expands elite visa program to lure top fund managers City-state announces initiatives to strengthen position as regional wealth hub Indonesia's 'ambitious' growth target faces business reality check Executives warn policy uncertainty, fiscal risks threaten president's economic goals Unitree shares soar in humanoid maker's landmark Shanghai IPO Robot developer leads China's charge in increasingly competitive sector From theme parks to airports, Japan tackles brutal summer heat Changes at leisure, travel and sports hotspots help tourists, workers and athletes South Korea cuts short joint military exercises after Trump intervention Annual drills to end Friday; Hanwha wins breakthrough contract for US Army cannons Iran war energy crisis sparks Philippine solar boom Businesses report installations jumping several hundred percent over last six months Japan bond yields spike on Takaichi budget fears, worries over US view Benchmark JGB yield rises toward 3% as markets brace for next phase of fiscal planning China's LandSpace lands rocket booster; joins SpaceX with reusable tech Companies are racing to turn space exploration into a commercially viable business Thailand hosts Myanmar military chief, deepening bilateral ties Ye Win Oo's visit reinforces his position as No. 2 in the regime, analysts say Japan chip startup targets AI boom as industry focus turns to materials University of Tokyo spinout expands production as customer projects advance Bluefin tuna quota increase agreed on as population recovers Japan, US, South Korea and others to lower limit for smaller fish for conservation Japan rice glut sends prices tumbling 40%, below production cost Anticipated bumper crop in Niigata seen swelling already high inventories US sanctions ICC's Japanese President Tomoko Akane

Trump administration also targets international court's senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye Japan reports increase in rental car accidents involving foreigners Most visitors hail from countries that drive on the opposite side of the road Australian ambassador to Japan floats Indo-Pacific network to counter China Shearer sees middle-power group with India, South Korea complementing US security ties Japanese insurers court foreign investors to replace cross-shareholdings Capital Group takes 9% stake in MS&AD while Berkshire invests in Tokio Marine Japan must not let Putin use the Northern Territories as leverage Tokyo should keep channels with Moscow without softening sanctions over Ukraine Mitsubishi Logistics to build 2 distribution centers in US for $40m Japanese company to pursue asset turnover business abroad Why open-weight AI is the new frontier in the US-China tech race Nvidia, Meta release open models to challenge Chinese offerings Hong Kong population up 20,000 on influx from mainland China Immigrants with one-way permits help city buck demographic trends Japan middle class loses spending power despite years of pay raises Real take-home pay slides 10% post-COVID as tax code fails to factor in inflation Pocari Sweat maker views US, Europe heat waves as way to expand Japan's Otsuka has world leaders Gatorade and Powerade in its sights LG Energy Solution opens US battery hub serving Toyota and Tesla $2bn Michigan plant pivots toward storage systems as EV growth slows Takaichi's BOJ appointments in 2027 loom over pace of rate hikes Observers see central bank wrapping up rate tightening by July next year Laos accelerates shift to EVs, fueled by hydropower Oil shortages spur import pause for gas-fueled cars, goal of 30% electric fleet by 2030 Alibaba, ByteDance trim gaming and retail to invest in AI Chinese tech giants sell off units in noncore businesses to investment funds Japan braces for Trump demands on defense, yen ahead of US midterms US president seeks quick diplomatic wins as Republicans try to keep control of Congress China tightens border crossings after Meta's play for AI startup Manus Beijing aims to protect tech, data with regulations on people and capital