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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds a press conference during the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting at the State Department in February. Photo: Reuters
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue

Past failures haunt the Quad’s US$20 billion critical minerals push

The initiative aims to break China’s near-monopoly, but private-sector caution and a history of unfulfilled pledges stand in the way.

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Artificial intelligence

Most Asia-Pacific firms use AI for tasks without cutting jobs: survey

India

Is US wielding new tariff threat to secure big bargain in India trade talks?

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Middle East

Asia-Pacific to lead global retail sales, weather Middle East conflict

The region is projected to contribute to two-thirds of global new retail sales over the next five years, fuelled by e-commerce.

Customers check out products at a retail store in Kochi, India. Photo: Reuters
Customers check out products at a retail store in Kochi, India. Photo: Reuters
India

As India rises in critical minerals race, can it dent China’s dominance?

While India could become a valuable part of an alternative supply chain, analysts say it is unlikely to replace China any time soon.

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Thailand

‘Lowest point’: Thai shrimp industry reels from Malaysia import ban

The ban comes as Thailand’s embattled fisheries sector faces increased competition, tariffs, shrimp disease, rising costs and reduced catch.

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Malaysia

Malaysia taps Hong Kong battery firm to power ambitions for electricity grid

The deal will help tackle solar storage challenges and comes as Malaysia prepares to roll out its first major grid-scale battery procurement.

Syed Mohd Hafiz Syed Mohd of Mikro MSC Berhad (left) shakes hands with William Wang, vice-president of Hong Kong Cospower Technology, in the presence of Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof during the signing of a strategic partnership to support Malaysia’s energy transition on Wednesday. Photo: Handout
Syed Mohd Hafiz Syed Mohd of Mikro MSC Berhad (left) shakes hands with William Wang, vice-president of Hong Kong Cospower Technology, in the presence of Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof during the signing of a strategic partnership to support Malaysia’s energy transition on Wednesday. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Why oil-hungry Asia ignores risks linked to Russia’s ‘dark fleet’

Asia prioritises fuel needs over security risks from Russian oil to survive the energy crisis, despite sanctions and diplomatic dilemmas.

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Energy

Oil prices rally on Hormuz talks but will Asia’s energy woes ease?

Analysts say recovery ‘will take a far longer time’, with ship backlogs and damaged facilities weighing on Asia’s energy importers.

Indonesia

Chasing billions: Indonesia’s commodity export crackdown sows confusion

New export rules promise billions in recovered revenue, but analysts warn the ensuing chaos could cost more than the gains.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speaks at the parliament complex in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 20. Photo: Xinhua
Singapore

Rising costs in Singapore spur business migration as regional alternatives rise

Analysts say the economic gains could come with trade-offs, such as increasing income inequality between skilled and unskilled workers.

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The Kuala Lumpur city skyline in Malaysia. Analysts say Kuala Lumpur is a “highly complementary partner” to Singapore. Photo: Shutterstock
The Kuala Lumpur city skyline in Malaysia. Analysts say Kuala Lumpur is a “highly complementary partner” to Singapore. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Asia faces ‘costly paradox’ over divergent AI rules in US and EU

Regional countries are adapting either the US or EU legal framework, while Asian tech firms risk incurring a ‘regulatory fragmentation tax’.

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Singapore

US price-fixing probe on Singaporean tycoon signals consistent legal approach

Teo Siong Seng, CEO of a major container manufacturer, is named by the US as one of shipping executives allegedly involved in price-fixing.

South Korea

‘Transitory euphoria’: South Korea’s strong economic outlook masks key hurdles

The surge in demand for semiconductors is cyclical, while other sectors in the country are lagging, analysts say.

Containers awaiting export stacked at a pier in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. The Bank of Korea has raised the country’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 2.6 per cent. Photo: EPA
Japan

Japan Airlines wants to blast human culture into space and land it on the moon

The carrier is selling payload space to preserve Earth’s heritage from climate change and war, but sceptics dismiss it as a PR stunt.

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An illustration of Japan Airlines’ lunar transportation container. Photo: Handout
An illustration of Japan Airlines’ lunar transportation container. Photo: Handout
Singapore

Failed M1-Simba merger prolongs Singapore’s cutthroat telco price war

With a major merger scuppered by an official investigation, four telcos remain locked in a costly war to win over local customers.

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United States

Trump’s overseas application for US green card rule unnerves Asian workers

Hundreds of thousands of families and individuals in the US, particularly those from India and the Philippines, could be affected.

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The Philippines

US tech supply chain hub tackling China hits Philippine sovereignty wall

Manila pushes back against reports that a US-backed AI industrial hub will come under US laws and diplomatic protections.

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Tugboats assist a container ship as it prepares to dock at the Manila International Container Terminal on April 8. Photo: AP
Tugboats assist a container ship as it prepares to dock at the Manila International Container Terminal on April 8. Photo: AP
Singapore

Why Singapore wants to become the world’s ‘living lab’ for physical AI

These machines are set to complement humans in the workplace, but safety should be a priority for their deployment, analysts say.

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Cathay Pacific

Singapore Airlines faces narrow window to gain market share from Gulf rivals

SIA can capture more Asia-Europe traffic due to its strong oil hedging strategy and balance sheet, and the Iran war’s impact, analysts say.

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Singapore

Singapore’s AI-job cuts debate flares over ‘lower-value human capital’ remark

Economists say the challenge faced by Singapore is whether AI training can keep pace with job losses and work redesign.

Office workers at the Raffles Place financial business district. Singapore has unveiled various measures to help workers cope with AI disruption. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Prabowo tightens state grip on palm oil, coal amid monopolistic fears

A state agency will handle exports of palm oil, coal and ferroalloys to stem revenue loss and under-invoicing, the president says.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech to lawmakers as Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka looks on at the parliament building in Jakarta on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech to lawmakers as Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka looks on at the parliament building in Jakarta on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Aluminium supply crunch threatens Asia’s clean energy push amid Iran war

Key Gulf plants have been hit by Iranian missiles, causing a drop in output of the metal used in making solar panels and wind turbines.

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Indonesia

Indonesia’s rupiah sinks to record low as Prabowo shrugs off rout fears

Critics reject claims that ordinary Indonesians will not suffer, pointing to a heavy dependence on imports for daily necessities.

South Korea

South Korea weighs the cost of stepping into Samsung’s US$400,000 bonus row

Seoul is considering using a rarely used emergency power to halt a strike that could cost the economy US$67 billion.

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Members of Samsung Electronics’ largest labour union chant slogans during a protest against the company’s compensation levels in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, last month. Photo: Reuters
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