Breaking News: Asia

• Iran briefly closes airspace as U.S. tensions rise, flights rerouted across region - Iran temporarily closed most of its airspace late Wednesday, forcing airlines to reroute flights as tensions with the United States escalated.
• China's December exports sharply beat estimates, imports also top expectations - China's exports growth in December sharply beat expectations, catapulting the annual trade surplus to a record high.
• Japan's Nikkei 225 set to hit another high as Asia markets look past geopolitical worries - This comes as Japan's ruling LDP under new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to call an election likely in February.
• China inflation hits near three-year high in December as full-year CPI misses target - China's consumer inflation accelerated in December to the fastest pace in more than two years, while factory-gate deflation extended for over three years.
• Asia-Pacific markets set to start 2026 on a mixed note - Some Asian markets are still closed for the holidays, including Japan and mainland China.
• China manufacturing activity expands for the first time since March, beating expectations - China’s economy ended the year on a slightly less gloomy note as manufacturing, services and construction activity all improved in December.
• Softbank has fully funded $40 billion investment in OpenAI, sources tell CNBC - TechSoftbank has fully funded $40 billion investment in OpenAI, sources tell CNBCPublished Tue, Dec 30 20259:10 AM ESTUpdated 2 Min AgoSamantha Subin@samantha_s
• Asia-Pacific markets set to open mostly lower on penultimate day of the year - Investors will be focused on China's military exercises around Taiwan today, after it announced new drills surrounding the island Monday.
• Asia-Pacific markets mostly climb after AI trade lifts Wall Street overnight - Investors in Asia will watch out for AI-related plays in the region, as well as inflation reading out of Singapore.
• China keeps benchmark lending rates steady for a seventh straight month despite weak economic data - The People's Bank of China kept its 1-year and 5-year loan prime rates unchanged at 3% and 3.5% respectively, holding them for a seventh straight meeting.