Asia Times

Norman Solomon questions Karl Marx's view on the role of individuals in history, using Donald Trump as an example of someone who transformed power relations and the political landscape. Marx responds by emphasizing that power relations are rooted in class and that Trump did not act alone.

Japan's yen has fallen to its weakest level since 1986, 162 yen per dollar, reversing from its 1995 peak. This decline is seen as beneficial for Southeast Asia's economy.

NASA is planning a nuclear-powered mission to Mars, the Space Reactor-1 Freedom, set for launch by December 2028. The mission is described as the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft.

The article discusses increased defense spending and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, noting that international law may seem secondary to military power. It references the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award.

China is making AI advancements with breakthroughs in models, benchmarks, and smart factories, cities, and supply chains, attributed to factors like more engineers, factories, and state support.

The Ukrainian strike campaign against Russian oil production is escalating, with analysis suggesting potential financial crisis for Russia's war economy if no countermeasures are implemented. The article highlights June's reported damage to Russian oil output as a critical factor.

Trump administration officials believed Israel plotted to assassinate Iran's top negotiators, including foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to sabotage US-Iran peace talks. The New York Times reported these concerns about the targeting of Iranian officials during diplomatic efforts.

Japan's corporate sector remains resilient despite a 40-year low in the yen, rising bond yields, and geopolitical challenges. Strong business confidence and record foreign investment are highlighted as key factors supporting this resilience.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the 14th Amendment grants automatic citizenship to anyone born in the US, including children of illegal immigrants and temporary visa holders. The Trump administration had sought to exclude these groups, but rightists criticized the ruling as part of a culture war undermining responses to demographic decline.

Indonesia, one of the world’s largest coal producers, faced rolling blackouts in mid-2026 due to insufficient fuel for its power plants. The outages affected the Java-Bali grid, including areas like South Tangerang and Depok.

Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure are causing fuel shortages and creating problems. The situation has led to an emergency in Crimea.

The article discusses the Philippines' emphasis on the West Philippine Sea for sovereignty and resource access but highlights a gap between these goals and the strategies employed. It suggests the need for more effective approaches beyond current optics.

China’s home prices and sales volumes continued to decline in the first half of 2026 as buyers delayed purchases, expecting further price drops. Analysts indicate no immediate recovery in the housing market, with data from the China Index Academy showing falling secondary-market home prices in 100 major Chinese cities.

The article argues that China's electric vehicle (EV) fleet is an underestimated asset in artificial intelligence (AI), comparing its potential impact to past innovations like the shipping container and mobile phone. It suggests that this development is quietly transformative, similar to those historical examples.

The article references Stephen Stedman's analysis on spoilers in peace processes, noting that leaders and parties may use violence to undermine negotiations if they perceive peace as a threat to their interests. The focus is on the US-Iran peace process.

President Donald Trump's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget proposes cutting the Fulbright Program by nearly 80%, a program founded by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. The cut occurs during the program's 80th anniversary.

China's currency stance and a growing trade surplus may lead to economic and political challenges, risking friction with other nations. The situation could harm China over the next few years.

Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical addresses theological and humanistic insights into artificial intelligence's impact on human dignity, advocating for global collaboration between the Catholic Church, nations, and institutions to shape a 'dream of a new modernity.' The article highlights the encyclical's focus on balancing AI's potential and risks.

The article discusses concerns about declining business dynamism in the U.S. before the pandemic, where Americans were starting fewer companies, and explores whether AI will lead to increased or decreased outsourcing.

Wall Street's assumption that China aims to become a global reserve currency with deep capital markets is flawed, according to the article. The analysis suggests Beijing's financial goals may differ significantly from Washington's, challenging long-held investor expectations.

South Asia, home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, remains one of the least connected regions for cross-border movement despite shared history and culture. Barriers like visas, political tensions, and diplomatic uncertainty hinder regional integration.

A quantum computer named Helios, using 98 atoms suspended in a Colorado lab, achieves high accuracy in quantum information processing. The system employs electric fields and near-absolute-zero cooling to manipulate atomic states.

The article discusses the challenges of a potential US-Iran peace deal, comparing current negotiations to historical conflicts between Rome and Persia. It notes that making peace with Iran may be as difficult as winning a war, as highlighted by a CNN report, and references a scholar of ancient Persia analyzing the situation.

India's pharmaceutical industry produces 20% of the world’s generic drugs and supports global vaccine efforts, but faces vulnerabilities highlighted by a 2026 NITI Aayog report. The article questions the authenticity of 'Made in India' labels in the sector, suggesting reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

China's temporary floating platform at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has highlighted its strategy to assert control, while Manila seeks support beyond the US amid renewed international attention.

U.S. and Chinese rivalry in quantum technology is prompting companies to reposition by building domestic manufacturing bases and creating independent units for non-Western markets. Physicists are working to achieve entanglement, a key quantum phenomenon.

The article discusses how AI can assist foreign ministries by summarizing documents, tracking political sentiment, detecting crises, analyzing sanctions, dissecting trade flows, and monitoring military movements. However, it argues that AI will never fully master diplomacy despite these capabilities.

Jeon Seung-il, a former art student, faces charges from an indictment first written in 1989 related to a political painting. The case remains ongoing 37 years later, with the charges unchanged since their initial filing.

The European Union hosted a Taliban delegation in Brussels on June 23, with officials stating the talks were technical and did not imply diplomatic recognition. This marked the first EU-hosted engagement with the Taliban representatives.

The article discusses the decline of free trade support in Washington, which previously promoted free trade agreements benefiting sectors like agriculture. Current support is undermined by losses, making a return to past policies unlikely.

The article claims Israel is out of control, not just due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It references his 2024 visit to Washington during the waning days of the Biden administration.

Japan is marketing its advanced Mogami-class frigates to international buyers while rolling back restrictions on lethal exports. This move is part of a broader effort to build an Indo-Pacific security architecture amid China's rise and uncertainty in US leadership.

The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the G7 summit on June 17, aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease sanctions, and initiate a 60-day negotiation process. The agreement was described as a diplomatic breakthrough and a positive step toward de-escalating tensions.

The article discusses how concepts like Silicon shock, token inequality, and techflation are now influencing global economic policy and political decisions. It references a January prediction about Silicon shock as an era-defining event and highlights the unexpected impact of these theories.

China retaliated against Washington by banning government procurement from 46 US defense contractors and blacklisting 10 American companies from receiving Chinese dual-use exports. The Ministry of Finance announced the restrictions, targeting firms in defense and rare earth sectors.

A businessman with ties to Chinese military contractors and an entity linked to the Qatari royal family acquired stakes in SpaceX while it was still a private company before its IPO. The information was revealed through a report by ProPublica and published by Asia Times.

The article discusses the US-Israel-Iran conflict, noting that all parties have suffered losses but Iran less severely. It highlights a peace memorandum between Iran and the US and suggests the Middle East will increasingly align with China.

The article claims mainstream media consistently estimates death tolls in conflicts like Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, and Iran but avoids assessing Israel's civilian casualties in Gaza, which it describes as a 'defenseless population of 2.3 million.' It accuses media editors of withholding investigative efforts on Gaza's 'mass murder.'

China arrested US scholar Min Zin in Kunming, Yunnan province, to protect access to the Strait of Malacca and appease Myanmar. The scholar was wrongfully detained and is a specialist in China-Myanmar relations.

The United States' 2026 war aimed at weakening Iran's regional power instead resulted in Iran becoming the Gulf's dominant force. The article highlights this unintended consequence as part of a historical pattern, referencing a post from Asia Times.