Category: Asia Focus

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has publicly praised the company’s Chinese developers and manufacturing partners, signalling a measured response as regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical tensions weigh on one of its most critical markets.

Speaking during engagements in China, Cook highlighted the “extraordinary” role of local developers in Apple’s ecosystem and emphasised the company’s long-standing collaboration with suppliers and technology partners across the country. The remarks came at a time when Beijing has intensified oversight of foreign technology firms and promoted domestic

Phuket is consolidating its reputation as a stable and secure residential destination for international families, driven by rising long-haul connectivity, sustained property demand, and the continued expansion of integrated communities such as Laguna Phuket.

Developers and market observers point to a steady influx of buyers from Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia, many seeking second homes or relocation options that combine lifestyle appeal with perceived safety and infrastructure reliability. The island’s

Asian equities fell sharply while oil prices surged beyond $111 a barrel, intensifying concerns over inflationary pressures and slowing global growth as Wall Street extended its decline.

Trading across major Asian markets reflected a cautious tone, with benchmark indices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai posting losses amid persistent volatility in energy markets. Investors reacted to the sustained rise in crude prices, which has added to worries about input costs, supply disruptions and the potential for central banks to maintain

China is preparing to draw on its extensive commercial crude stockpiles as instability linked to Iran threatens to tighten global supply, signalling a shift in how the world’s largest oil importer manages energy security under geopolitical strain.

Energy consultancy FGE NexantECA indicates that Beijing is nearing a decision to utilise privately held and state-influenced reserves to cushion domestic markets against potential disruptions from escalating conflict in the Middle East. The move reflects growing concern that sustained tensions involving Iran could constrain

VinFast plans to restart construction of its electric vehicle manufacturing complex in North Carolina this year, even as the Vietnamese automaker reported a deeper quarterly loss driven by rising costs tied to expansion, marketing and production ramp-ups.

The company said the project in Chatham County will move forward after earlier delays tied to supply-chain adjustments and financing decisions. The facility, once completed, is expected to anchor VinFast’s ambitions in the United States market, producing

China’s industrial sector expanded at a faster pace during the opening months of 2026, offering a lift to the world’s second-largest economy as policymakers balance external uncertainties and fragile domestic demand.

Official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed value-added industrial output rose 6.3 per cent year on year during January and February combined. The figure marked an acceleration from the 5.2 per cent growth recorded in December and exceeded forecasts by economists who had anticipated a more modest

Rising oil prices linked to the war involving Iran are creating fresh economic strain for Indonesia just as millions prepare for the annual Eid al-Fitr travel surge, placing President Prabowo Subianto’s administration under mounting pressure to shield consumers from higher fuel costs.

Energy markets have been rattled by escalating conflict across the Persian Gulf, where attacks on shipping routes and oil infrastructure have disrupted global crude supplies. A large share of the world’s petroleum

Authorities in Hong Kong have launched one of the most sweeping investigations into the territory’s financial industry in nearly a decade, placing hedge fund Infini Capital Management at the centre of a widening insider-trading probe that has rattled brokers, banks and investors across Asia’s leading financial hub.

The investigation, conducted jointly by the Securities and Futures Commission and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, has led to the arrest of eight people and the

Japan’s stock market volatility has surged to levels not seen since the global pandemic turmoil of 2020 as a sharp jump in crude oil prices shakes confidence in the country’s economic outlook and disrupts what had been a strong equity rally.

Measures of market anxiety tied to Japanese equities climbed sharply as investors reacted to the sudden rise in global energy prices and mounting geopolitical tensions affecting oil supply routes. The spike in volatility coincided with a steep sell-off in Tokyo’s

Japan will release crude from its strategic petroleum reserves in a unilateral move aimed at cushioning energy markets as the Middle East conflict disrupts global oil supplies, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, signalling one of the earliest national responses to the escalating crisis.

Tokyo plans to release about 80 million barrels from its emergency stockpiles, equivalent to roughly 45 days of domestic consumption, according to government officials. The decision is designed to stabilise fuel supplies and dampen price pressures as shipping

South Korea’s overseas shipments rose sharply during the first 10 days of March, reflecting strong global appetite for semiconductors and signalling renewed momentum in the country’s export-driven economy.

Preliminary customs data released in Seoul showed exports climbed 55.6 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier. The jump was led primarily by robust semiconductor demand, reinforcing the technology sector’s role as the backbone of the country’s trade performance and a key

More than 10,000 citizens of the People’s Republic of China have returned safely from several West Asian countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, highlighting coordinated efforts by diplomatic missions and local authorities to assist travellers during a period of heightened regional uncertainty.

Officials stated that consular teams across multiple countries worked closely with airlines, airport authorities and host governments to organise departures and ensure that

Scorching temperatures across Southeast Asia are expected to intensify electricity demand just as geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East disrupts global fuel supply, raising concern among policymakers and utilities about potential power shortages and higher costs across the region.

Meteorological agencies across several ASEAN countries warn that the coming early-summer period is likely to be warmer than the seasonal average, a pattern linked to persistent climate warming and regional weather anomalies. Rising temperatures typically

Global Hotel Alliance has strengthened its footprint in East Asia after signing a partnership with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, bringing a major Japanese hospitality operator into the alliance’s loyalty and distribution network and marking a significant expansion into one of the world’s most established travel markets.

The agreement integrates Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, which manages the TOKYU HOTELS chain and several affiliated brands across Japan, into Global Hotel Alliance’s GHA DISCOVERY loyalty ecosystem.

China’s currency regained ground against the US dollar after the central bank delivered a stronger-than-expected official guidance rate, halting a short period of losses and signalling policymakers’ intent to stabilise foreign-exchange markets amid global volatility.

The yuan rebounded in both onshore and offshore trading after the People’s Bank of China lifted its daily midpoint setting by the largest margin in more than six months. The central bank fixed the yuan at 6.9088 per dollar, roughly 148 pips firmer than the

Tokyo’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has publicly disavowed any connection to a Solana-based meme cryptocurrency that suffered a dramatic collapse in value, asserting she and her office were unaware of its creation or trading activity. The digital token, which briefly had an eye-catching market cap in the tens of millions of dollars, has lost significant ground following her statement, underscoring the tangled dynamics between high-profile political figures and speculative crypto markets.

Takaichi took to her official social media account to

South Korea has approved the export of high-precision digital map data to Google, reversing a stance that had restricted full functionality of Google Maps for nearly two decades and placing strict security conditions on how the information can be used.

The decision, confirmed by government officials in Seoul, means that Google will be able to access detailed geospatial data that had until now been kept on domestic servers. For years, South Korea was

Producer prices in the Republic of Korea rose for a fifth straight month in January, driven by firmer semiconductor prices and higher agricultural costs, according to central bank data that point to lingering pipeline inflation pressures in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Figures released by the Bank of Korea showed the producer price index increased on both a monthly and annual basis, extending a run of gains that began in early autumn. Officials attributed the

China’s electric vehicle industry has recorded more than 146,000 battery swaps in a single day, marking a milestone for a technology long promoted as a faster alternative to conventional charging. The figure, disclosed by industry participants, underscores the scale at which battery-swapping networks are now operating across major cities and highways, led by companies including Nio and battery giant CATL.

Battery swapping allows drivers to exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged one in a matter of minutes at automated

Singapore’s drive to harness artificial intelligence as an engine of economic growth is entering a decisive phase marked by abundant ambition and clear signs of strain across company ranks. Government fiscal policy and private-sector deployment are converging on AI, but weak data infrastructure, skills gaps and uneven returns are tempering expectations even as enterprises escalate investments and policy support grows.

Last week, the nation’s Budget for the 2026 fiscal year unveiled a suite

China’s Z. ai has propelled its artificial intelligence ambitions into the global spotlight with the launch of GLM-5, a 744-billion-parameter open-source large language model that stands toe-to-toe with leading Western counterparts and underscores Beijing’s drive for technological self-sufficiency. Released on 11 February by the company formerly known as Zhipu AI, GLM-5 combines advanced architecture with broad hardware compatibility and permissive licensing, signalling a shift in the global AI landscape.

The GLM-5 model, built on

Tokyo set a fresh milestone on Thursday as the Nikkei 225 Index briefly breached the 58,000 mark, propelled by confidence in a bold economic agenda from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government. Yet while equities and the yen have rallied, a sharper debate is unfolding across Japan’s financial markets over the sustainability of fiscal policy amid expansive spending commitments and tax relief measures that lack clearly defined funding sources.

Equity markets have responded robustly since Takaichi’s emphatic landslide in the general election

Gold purchases across Hong Kong have gathered pace as households and small investors stock up on bullion and coins ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations, with dealers reporting brisk trade while global prices hover close to historic highs.

Retail counters in districts such as Sheung Wan, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay have seen steady queues for small bars and commemorative coins traditionally exchanged as gifts during the festive season. Traders say customers are