Developments across China, Japan, Korea, India, and the Pacific
China is accelerating the deployment of humanoid robots and embodied artificial intelligence into industrial applications under a nationwide program.
UniIC, a smaller rival to CXMT, is pushing for an initial public offering on mainland China amid a memory supercycle.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1% in early trading, standing at 8,566.80 points.
The Japanese TOPIX index fell further, extending its losses to 1.7% at 3,783.49.
Australia's Westpac reports a 10% decline in mortgage demand over three weeks following the government's tax changes.
Japan's Nikkei stock index deepened its downturn, falling 2% amid continued selling pressure.
Japan's Nikkei stock index fell below 63,000, hitting its lowest level since May 22.
India has summoned the US envoy over an attack on a ship carrying Indian sailors off the coast of Oman.
Japan's weekly portfolio flow data for the week excluding June 5 shows Japanese investors bought ¥197.5 billion in foreign bonds (previous -¥184.8B) and sold ¥943.6 billion in foreign stocks (previous -¥1,072.0B). Foreign investors sold ¥1,038.5 billion in Japanese bonds (previous +¥1,245.8B) and sold ¥701.0 billion in Japanese stocks (previous -¥491.2B).
Japan's BSI Large All Industry index for Q2 fell to -0.5% quarter-on-quarter, down from a previous reading of 4.4%. BSI Large Manufacturing also declined to -1.8% from 3.8%.
Japan's weekly portfolio flow data for the week ending June 5 shows Japanese investors bought ¥197.5 billion in foreign bonds (vs -¥184.8B prior) and sold ¥943.6 billion in foreign stocks (vs -¥1,072.0B prior). Foreign investors sold ¥1,038.5 billion in Japanese bonds (vs +¥1,245.8B prior) and sold ¥701.0 billion in Japanese stocks (vs -¥491.2B prior).
Westpac mortgage applications are heading for the worst quarter in a year as tax changes for property investors weaken demand for real estate.
India waives excise duty on petrol with higher ethanol content.
An American diplomat was found dead in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, according to the U.S. State Department. A Thai woman has been detained by police in connection with the investigation, diplomatic sources in Yangon say.
Chinese companies are implementing 'quiet' AI-driven layoffs to avoid labor laws that require government approval for job cuts exceeding 10% of a workforce, according to Reuters.
India has summoned a senior US diplomat and lodged a strong protest following a strike on a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman that sent three Indian crewmembers missing.
China remained the world's leading contributor to high-quality scientific research, according to the Nature Index 2026 Research Leaders rankings released on Wednesday. China's research output increased by 22.4 percent between 2024 and 2025, making it the only country among the global top 10 to achieve double-digit growth.
Japan enters the 2026 World Cup as Asia's top-ranked team, raising hopes the Samurai Blue can finally reach the quarterfinals and boost shares of streaming, food and beverage companies.
A baby giant panda weighing 171 grams has been born at a South Korean zoo. The female cub is the offspring of Ai Bao and Le Bao, two pandas on loan from China's Sichuan Province since 2016.
Pakistan says all aboard a military helicopter were killed in a crash in Pakistani Kashmir.
Japanese robot software developer Mujin plans to go public by 2030, building up funds and momentum to capture fast-growing demand for factory-use AI.
China on Tuesday successfully launched two more satellites into orbit with a Zhuque-2E Y6 (ZQ-2E Y6) carrier rocket. The carrier rocket successfully carried the Qianfan DTC-01 satellite and China Mobile-02 satellite into their designated orbit, marking the eighth mission.
Taiwan test-fires a U.S.-made rocket system for the first time, with the projectile directed toward the Chinese mainland.
Chinese scientists have discovered a massive whale graveyard of around 500 skeletons, some dating back more than 5 million years, at the bottom of the Indian Ocean west of Australia, according to research published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
Mukesh Ambani's digital empire is heading for an initial public offering just as investors flee India, writes @andymukherjee70. Strong global demand and an influx of diaspora cash might help push it through (via @opinion).
A study has found that four days of extreme rain in Indonesia killed 7% of the world's rarest great apes.
Pakistan launched new airstrikes in Afghanistan after months of fighting between the two neighbors that killed hundreds.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, causing buildings to collapse and knocking out power in a key coastal city.
Al Jazeera English reports that Indonesia has jailed four military officers for an acid attack on a rights activist.
India's government has extended the validity of its credit guarantee scheme for microfinance institutions until August 31, according to a notification.