Canada's wildfires could continue into fall, says government
Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 7.8 million hectares already burned, and the fires could persist for weeks, accordin...
China’s manufacturing sector expanded in June for the first time in three months, according to a private-sector survey released Tuesday, signaling a modest recovery in domestic demand even as export pressures persist.
The Caixin/S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50.4 in June from 48.3 in May, exceeding expectations in a Reuters poll and surpassing the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction.
The upbeat Caixin reading stands in contrast to the official government PMI released a day earlier, which showed manufacturing activity shrinking for the third consecutive month. The divergence suggests a mixed recovery, with private firms potentially seeing stronger improvement than larger state-owned enterprises.
“Overall, manufacturing supply and demand recovered in June,” said Wang Zhe, senior economist at Caixin Insight Group. “However, the external environment remains severe and complex. The issue of insufficient effective demand at home has yet to be fundamentally resolved.”
The survey indicated that new domestic orders increased in June, buoying production to its highest level since November 2024. Factory executives cited improved trade conditions and marketing promotions as key factors driving the rebound.
However, export demand remained weak. New export orders contracted for a third straight month, reflecting global trade uncertainties and continued pressure on China’s outbound shipments. Rising shipping and logistics costs also pushed up export prices, even as domestic output charges fell at the fastest pace since January.
Employment within the manufacturing sector declined again in June, with firms reporting job cuts and resignations. Some small exporters resorted to selling at a loss or cutting wages to survive.
Despite the uptick in activity, business confidence dipped compared to May and remained below long-term averages. Economists caution that the recovery is fragile and uneven, with structural challenges such as overcapacity and soft consumer demand still weighing on the sector.
Goldman Sachs analysts noted that major stimulus is unlikely from the upcoming July Politburo meeting, suggesting that policymakers may remain cautious amid signs of gradual improvement in overall economic performance.
The Caixin data follows recent positive developments in U.S.-China trade ties. Last week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the two countries had resolved disputes over the shipment of Chinese rare earth minerals, a key sticking point in bilateral trade negotiations. China’s Commerce Ministry said export license applications for controlled items will be processed in accordance with existing laws.
While domestic factory momentum shows signs of life, external demand and weak global trade conditions continue to pose significant risks to China's industrial recovery in the second half of 2025.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel that would see half of the hostages in Gaza freed in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, an Egyptian official said on Monday.
On Monday, Russian drones deliberately struck a SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine's southern Odesa region for the second time in two weeks, according to Ukrainian officials.
Afghanistan's growing flour industry now supplies more than half the country's annual demand, with domestic mills producing 3.5 million tons out of the 6 million-ton national requirement.
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has arrived in Beirut for his fourth visit since June, seeking to reinforce a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, days after the Cabinet backed a plan to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state groups.
Since January, more than 1.7 million Afghan citizens have returned from Iran and Pakistan, the United Nations said on Friday, warning of mounting humanitarian pressures.
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