“We want to beat Disney in family animation,” then Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in an interview in September 2020. At the time, anyone would say that was a tall order. Disney has almost a century of experience of producing animated films, dating back to 1937’s “Snow White.” Since then,…
Asia News
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Japan’s GDP expands more than expected in second quarter as tariffs take hold
The Tokyo Tower stands amid buildings at dusk in Tokyo, Japan. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan’s economy expanded 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 from the previous first three months, outpacing forecasts despite tariff headwinds out of the United States. This was compared to the revised 0.1%…
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China’s growth stumbles in July as retail sales, industrial output miss forecasts
SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 14, 2025 – Tourists are visiting the Bund in Shanghai, China on August 14, 2025. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images China’s economy lost momentum in July, with growth faltering across the board, as weak domestic demand persisted and Beijing intensified efforts to curb excess…
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Why a landmark ICJ ruling puts financial markets on notice
Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu (C) delivers a speech as he attends a demonstration ahead of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) session tasked with issuing the first Advisory Opinion (AO) on States’ legal obligations to address climate change, in The Hague on July 23, 2025. John Thys |…
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China not welcoming Nvidia back with open arms even if H20 curbs eased
Nvidia secured what was seen as a major win last month when the U.S. government announced it would allow it to resume sales of its made-for-China H20 chip. But it has since become clear that Beijing wont be rolling out the red carpet. Despite the U.S. softening on chip export…
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Is it here to stay or just a fad?
Bubble tea may have started as a playful drink, but it has grown into an industry worth billions. The global bubble tea market size will grow from $2.83 billion in 2025 to $4.78 billion by 2032, according to a report from Fortune Business Insights. This year, three Chinese bubble tea…
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Trump warned by Senate Democrats to rethink chip sales to China
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, right, speaks alongside President Donald Trump about investing in America, at the White House in Washington, on April 30, 2025. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Six Senate Democrats on Friday released an open letter asking President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to allow…
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U.S. delegation’s India visit called off as trade tensions simmer
Students from Gurukul School of Art, carry a poster of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump on India outside their school. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India along with penalties for buying oil and military equipments from Russia. Sopa Images |…
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Big oil bets big on LNG, shrugging off peak gas predictions
Oil majors are betting big on liquified natural gas (LNG), throwing down the gauntlet to predictions of peak gas by the end of the decade. Britain’s Shell , a leading player in the global LNG market, has identified the super-cooled commodity as a primary focus amid the energy transition. France’s…
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Pop Mart’s Labubus boost China’s soft power as its brands find global appeal
For years, China had an image problem it couldn’t shake off — synonymous with cheap exports, heavy censorship, and a state shrouded in secrecy and scandal. That has been changing as the country strives to burnish its image, rising in soft power rankings, with domestic businesses helping Beijing secure a…