Alibaba, the e-commerce giant, has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense after being placed on a blacklist that identifies companies with connections to the Chinese military. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions between the US and China regarding trade and national security issues.

Iran has initiated discussions with Japanese companies regarding oil sales, facilitated by a US sanctions waiver that permits the resumption of such transactions. Sources indicate that buyers are seeking an extension of the sanctions waiver to continue these dealings.

Japan is contemplating the deployment of its navy to assist in demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that follows a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, according to Al Jazeera.

Asian shares rose on Thursday, driven by gains in the technology sector, particularly in Japan and South Korea, following positive earnings reports from U.S. companies like Qualcomm and Micron Technology. Meanwhile, oil prices decreased by over $1, nearing levels seen before the onset of the war with Iran. Qualcomm's stock experienced a 12% increase in after-hours trading after announcing a raise in its earnings forecast.

Kenya is actively seeking to enhance its local industrial production by courting Chinese manufacturers, as stated by Zhang Dong, President of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce (Shandong). The recent exhibition aims to strengthen commercial ties between businesses in Kenya and China.

Asian shares experienced mixed trading on June 23, 2026, as caution prevailed due to ongoing uncertainty regarding the war in Iran. Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell by 0.9% to 71,681.29, reflecting a cooling off after a period of strong market performance. Neil Newman, Managing Director at Astris Advisory Japan, noted that the market had previously risen by about 12.5% over eight days before this decline.