Category: Asia Focus

Malaysia’s palm oil research agency is advancing a bio-based immersion coolant for data centres as the country searches for ways to curb the heavy water and electricity demands created by its fast-growing artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board has developed Sawit EcoTherm, a non-conductive dielectric fluid made largely from palm-derived materials that allows servers and other computing components to be immersed directly in coolant. The technology eliminates the need for conventional evaporative cooling towers and is being positioned for

President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in US military exercises with South Korea, linking the decision to Seoul’s refusal to support Washington’s campaign against Iran and his effort to preserve diplomatic space with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to scale down the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just hours before the drills were due to begin on Monday. The 11-day exercise, involving about 18,000 South Korean troops, nevertheless started as scheduled as

China’s yuan is facing stronger appreciation pressure after coordinated US-Japan action lifted the yen and rippled through Asian currency markets, complicating Beijing’s efforts to support an economy where export strength contrasts with weak domestic demand.

The yuan has gained about 3.6 per cent against the dollar this year, making it one of Asia’s strongest-performing currencies. The advance has persisted despite falling Chinese government bond yields and a widening yield disadvantage against US Treasuries, conditions that would normally encourage capital to

Nintendo will begin officially selling the Nintendo Switch 2 and original Switch in Indonesia in December, giving the Japanese games company its first direct hardware presence in Southeast Asia’s largest economy while leaving a significant gap in its digital offering.

The December 2026 launch was announced by Nintendo executive officer Juro Takeuchi at a business conference in Jakarta. Distribution will be handled by PT Nusantara Interactive Niaga, part of the Salim Group, with Nintendo’s Singapore operation involved in the market

Taiwan’s cabinet is preparing to raise defence spending by about 16 per cent in 2027, pushing total security-related expenditure above NT$1 trillion for the first time as Taipei accelerates military modernisation amid sustained pressure from Beijing.

The proposed allocation is expected to exceed NT$1.1 trillion, or roughly US$34 billion, when broader defence-related spending is included. The package is due to be unveiled on August 20 and will cover the armed forces as well as expenditure linked to the coast guard,

SK Hynix shares briefly plunged by the daily limit in pre-market trading on Thursday, marking the chipmaker’s second near-30% flash crash on Nextrade within about ten days and intensifying scrutiny of thin liquidity on South Korea’s alternative stock exchange.

Eleven shares changed hands at 1.168 million won each at 8 am Seoul time on August 6, about 30% below the previous Korea Exchange closing price. The stock quickly recovered most of the loss and ended Nextrade’s 50-minute pre-market session down roughly

Chinese optical-component shares fell sharply on Wednesday after reports that Washington is preparing restrictions on data-centre equipment from China, raising fresh concerns over access to the world’s largest artificial intelligence infrastructure market.

Zhongji Innolight dropped about 10% in both Shanghai and Hong Kong, while Eoptolink Technology also lost 10%. Suzhou TFC Optical Communication declined roughly 6%. The CSI 300 Telecommunication Services Index fell as much as 9% during early trading before trimming some losses.

The sell-off followed disclosures that the administration of

Singapore’s government has defended plans to develop housing at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks while assuring lawmakers that the proposed layouts remain open to changes aimed at protecting greenery, wildlife corridors and heritage buildings.

The debate in Parliament on Tuesday followed public opposition to proposals that could involve clearing about 15 hectares of Maju Forest at Sunset Way and at least 10 hectares of forest around Gillman Barracks. Eighteen parliamentary questions were raised, with lawmakers pressing the government on alternative sites,

Hong Kong is heading towards its wettest July since 1997 after weeks of persistent downpours, tropical cyclone activity and unstable low-pressure systems pushed rainfall far above the long-term average.

Rain measured at the Hong Kong Observatory’s headquarters had already exceeded the normal July total before the final third of the month. Further heavy showers linked to Typhoon Noul and moist south-westerly air lifted the cumulative figure closer to levels last recorded nearly three decades ago.

The territory received 474.7 millimetres of rain

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell sharply on Wednesday as investors cut exposure to semiconductor and artificial intelligence-linked shares, extending a technology sell-off that swept through major Asian markets.

The benchmark closed at 61,434.19, down 930.73 points, or 1.49%, after briefly dropping to 60,448.90. The index moved through a range of almost 2,700 points, having reached a session high of 63,138.04 during early trading.

The intraday slide from the high exceeded 1,700 points, reflecting unusually volatile trading rather than a fall of that size

Singapore’s central bank has warned that any sharp pullback in artificial intelligence investment could weaken global growth, disrupt semiconductor demand and trigger turbulence across financial markets.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore said uncertainty over whether companies can sustain vast spending on data centres, advanced chips and computing infrastructure has become a significant risk to the economic outlook. The warning reflects growing scrutiny of whether revenue generated by AI services can justify the scale of capital committed by technology groups.

MAS Managing Director

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s falling public support is sharpening investor concern that her government may respond with tax cuts and heavier spending, adding pressure on the yen and Japan’s government bond market.

A July poll showed approval for Takaichi’s Cabinet dropping to 57% from 69% in June, as households grew more dissatisfied with rising living costs. Other surveys have also pointed to weakening support, though the level varies considerably among polling organisations.

The decline has placed greater scrutiny on the government’s economic

Chou Tien-chen became the oldest player to win a BWF World Tour Super 1000 title after overcoming France’s Toma Junior Popov in a demanding three-game China Open final in Changzhou.

The 36-year-old from Taiwan secured the men’s singles championship 21-15, 7-21, 21-13 on Sunday, combining controlled aggression with the stamina that has sustained his career among badminton’s leading players for more than a decade.

Chou recovered from a one-sided second game to regain command in the decider. He slowed Popov’s attacking rhythm,

Chinese refiners are securing Russian crude weeks ahead of normal purchasing schedules as threats to Middle Eastern supply routes intensify, pushing buyers towards oil shipped from Russia’s Pacific coast.

September-loading cargoes of ESPO Blend, Russia’s flagship Far Eastern crude grade, have attracted brisk demand from state-owned and independent refiners despite shrinking discounts. Buyers that would normally enter the market closer to loading dates are moving early to lock in supplies and reduce exposure to possible shipping delays across the Gulf and

Saudia and Garuda Indonesia have agreed to pursue a joint business partnership aimed at expanding passenger connectivity between Southeast Asia, Saudi Arabia and destinations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The airlines signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a framework for negotiating a future joint business agreement. The proposed arrangement would deepen their existing codeshare relationship and could allow closer coordination across schedules, sales, network planning and passenger services.

The partnership is expected to explore single-ticket journeys across the two

VinFast has partnered with Bespoke Logistics to create a dedicated processing and service facility for electric motorcycles in the Philippines, strengthening the infrastructure behind its planned expansion in one of Southeast Asia’s largest two-wheeler markets.

The agreement gives Bespoke Logistics responsibility for warehousing, vehicle inspection, technical preparation, stockyard management and transportation before motorcycles are delivered to customers. The company will also operate a VinFast-authorised service workshop at the site.

The 20,000-square-metre facility is located in Carmona City in Cavite province, south of

Shein Global Holdings is preparing to raise as much as $3 billion through a Hong Kong initial public offering that could begin as early as August, after securing a long-awaited clearance from China’s securities regulator.

The online fashion retailer is considering an offer of between $2 billion and $3 billion, although the final size will depend on its valuation, investor demand and prevailing market conditions. The timetable could also change as the company completes the remaining stages of Hong Kong’s listing

Samsung Group and SK hynix have laid out investment plans worth about $174 billion for South Korea’s Chungcheong region, expanding the country’s drive to secure a stronger position in artificial intelligence chips, advanced packaging, displays and next-generation battery materials.

The commitments, unveiled at a government-backed industrial development event in Asan, place Chungcheong at the centre of a broader strategy to spread high-technology manufacturing beyond the Seoul metropolitan area and existing semiconductor clusters. President Lee Jae Myung praised the companies’ “bold decision”

Twenty Saudi university students are undergoing artificial intelligence training at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen under a Mawhiba-Huawei programme designed to build specialist digital skills among high-performing young talent.

The training, announced on July 6, brings together the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, and Huawei as Saudi Arabia expands its pipeline of students capable of working across artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data and telecommunications. The initiative forms part of a wider partnership that

China has offered fresh channels for easing trade tensions with the European Union after Foreign Minister Wang Yi completed a four-country Nordic tour aimed at rebuilding confidence with some of Europe’s most security-conscious governments.

Wang’s 2-8 July visit to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway came as Brussels and Beijing try to prevent a deepening dispute over industrial subsidies, electric vehicles, market access, export controls and critical minerals from turning into a broader trade confrontation. The trip placed trade, green technology, shipping,

Temasek’s portfolio value climbed to a record S$518 billion, or about $400 billion, as the Singapore state investment company sharpened its push into artificial intelligence and reported stronger returns after two years of portfolio recalibration.

The latest figure, based on a mark-to-market valuation of listed and unlisted holdings, showed a S$49 billion rise for the financial year ended 31 March 2026. The increase reflected stronger performance from Singapore-based portfolio companies, gains from divestments and a broader recovery in public market valuations.

A UAE-based company has moved to bring Korean manufacturing into Abu Dhabi through a proposed industrial zone that could host more than 25 factories in its first phase and attract investments exceeding $1 billion.

AG Company signed a strategic partnership with Akbar Investment Company of the Republic of Korea to study the establishment of a zone dedicated to Korean industries, with Al Ain identified as the proposed location. The initiative comes as the UAE and Korea deepen economic ties under a

Singapore has set out a two-decade plan to reshape Sentosa and neighbouring Brani into a larger leisure and lifestyle district, with new attractions, hotels, beaches, transport links and coastal protection works expected to open in phases from the early 2030s.

The Greater Sentosa Master Plan brings the 120-hectare Brani under Sentosa’s development framework, creating a larger tourism precinct at a time when Singapore is refreshing its visitor economy and preparing for stronger regional competition in leisure, hospitality and events. The project

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 has ended in Kuala Lumpur with automakers, dealers, digital platforms and content creators positioning online engagement, localisation and electrification as the next drivers of Malaysia’s automotive growth.

The forum, held on June 30 at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur, marked BitAuto Malaysia’s first large-scale industry showcase. Hosted by BitAuto Tengyi Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the event brought together GWM Malaysia, Chery Corporate Malaysia, Proton New Energy, SGMW, JoyStar Dealer Group, TQ Wuling Manufacturing, Beritarian and representatives from Zeekr,