China trying to develop world ‘built on censorship and surveillance’ China is exporting its model of digital authoritarianism abroad with the help of its far-reaching tech industry and massive infrastructure projects, offering a blueprint of “best practices” to nei... (photo: AP / Andy Wong) Al Jazeera China Democracy Human Rights Photos Yen’s plunge raises specter of new Asia currency crisis TOKYO — The Japanese yen’s 12% plunge this year has traders wondering if the Group of Seven might have a currency crisis within their ranks. | The good news: not yet. The bad news, though, is that... (photo: Creative Commons) Asiatimes Economy Global Trading Japan Photos Top Stories Malaysia’s Anwar unveils record public pay hike amid ringgit’s slide Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced a record hike in civil servants’ pay of more than 13 percent, amid rising prices and a weakening local currency. | ... (photo: Creative Commons / udeyismail https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en) Al Jazeera Anwar Ibrahim Economy Malaysia Photos Hong Kong kicks off Bitcoin ETF trading The brand-new investment vehicle has gained global attention and has a profound influence on the broader cryptocurrency sector, especially in the Chinese geographic lands... (photo: Creative Commons / Marco Verch) CryptoNewsZ Bitcoin Global Trading Hong Kong Photos Why is Japan’s yen so weak against the US dollar? The weakness of the Japanese yen is in the spotlight again after its latest tumble. | On Monday, the currency sank to 160.17 against the US dollar, its lowest since April... (photo: Creative Commons / Japanexperterna.se) Al Jazeera Business Global Trading Japan Photos Australia’s foreign influence curbs an ‘abject failure’ Foreign interference in Australian democracy poses a growing risk to our national sovereignty. | It refers to coercive, corrupt or deceptive activities by or on behalf of... (photo: Creative Commons / Kgbo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en) Asiatimes Australia Democracy Disinformation Photos Microsoft will invest $1.7 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure in Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Microsoft will invest $1.7 billion over the next four years in new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Indonesia — the singl... (photo: AP / Thibault Camus) Springfield News-Sun Artificial intelligence Indonesia Microsoft Photos Philippines and China in new confrontation at Scarborough Shoal The Philippines has accused China of “dangerous maneuvers and obstruction” and reinstalling a barrier at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing blockaded and s... (photo: AP / Renato Etac via AP, File) Al Jazeera China Philippines Photos South China Sea