HONG KONG -- Chinese officials addressed Hong Kong lawmakers at the city's legislature for the first time on Monday, lecturing them about priorities as the country moves into a new five-year economic plan.

Beijing officials usually invite Hong Kong legislators to meet with them in Shenzhen or other mainland cities, in a nod to the "one country, two systems" framework under which China promised autonomy to the territory when it regained control over Hong Kong from Britain in 1997. But many such taboos have given

LONDON/TOKYO -- The Taliban will not extend the Aug. 31 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, fueling concerns of further disruptions in rescue efforts out of the country.

A failure by foreign forces to leave by their previously announced deadlines would be a "clear violation" and trigger "consequences," a Taliban spokesman said, according to reports by the BBC and other outlets.

Efforts to evacuate foreign nationals as well as Afghans who assisted foreign forces have been delayed, and many analysts believe they may

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated Monday that he intends to seek reelection as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party despite growing concerns about the LDP's election prospects under Suga following a defeat in the Yokohama mayoral race.

"I have told you that I would, of course, run when the time comes," Suga told reporters at his official residence. "My thinking has not changed."

But a post-mortem political recalibration has already begun within the LDP, as many members want a "

GUANGZHOU -- Honor Device, the Chinese smartphone brand that was spun off from Huawei Technologies to evade sanctions on using U.S. chips and operating systems, has rebounded strongly in the domestic market after a rough start.

Driving the recovery is an aggressive push to develop new models, such as the latest Magic3 series. A sales outlet located in Guangzhou was packed with customers on Friday, with the biggest draw being the most expensive device in the series, which sells for 7,999 yuan ($

TOKYO -- Multiple backup mechanisms failed to activate during Mizuho Financial Group's widespread system crash last week, Nikkei has found, with a reliance on numerous outside vendors complicating system management.

The crash was the group's fifth in 2021. Japan's Financial Services Agency is extending its on-site inspections as last week's incident raised the possibility of fundamental problems with the banking system.

Mizuho's accounts system was developed by Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM Japan and NTT Data. But subsidiaries

TOKYO -- A former R&D executive at the world's top drone manufacturer has applied his expertise to hair dryers.

Hong Kong-based startup Fresh & Clean Technology -- launched by Wang Mingyu, previously vice president of research and development at China's DJI -- is set to roll out the new Zuvi Halo dryer in Japan, the U.S. and China next month. Priced at around $500, the Halo takes aim at the high-end segment occupied by the likes

Dr. Lauren A. Johnston is visiting senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide. She is founder and managing director of New South Economics.

The Africa Singapore Business Forum being hosted by Singapore this week has gathered more than 2,000 business and government leaders from 30 countries in Asia and Africa to explore partnerships between the two regions.

Organized by Enterprise Singapore, the city-state's national champion for enterprise development in capabilities, innovation and internationalization, ASBF 2021 will serve as a virtual

HONG KONG -- When the COVID-19 pandemic shrank Papua New Guinea's economy, the country looked to what one top official branded the "devil" for answers.

In April, the PNG government reversed its long-running efforts to stop Canadian conglomerate Barrick Gold and Chinese partner Zijin Mining from running the Porgera gold mine in the highlands. It opted instead to renew its partnership with the companies and end its legal dispute with them.

"Though Barrick has taken us to court, we work in harmony.

TOKYO -- Luxury brand houses like Hermes and Louis Vuitton have enjoyed an incredible run in China, supported in part by Deng Xiaoping's "get rich first" policy.

But this is to be no more. Chinese President Xi Jinping has stepped up his call for "common prosperity," sending shudders through luxury goods vendors, which worry that China's rich will not be able to splurge on $3,000 bags.

The fear was palpable on the stock market last week. Shares of Paris