Geopolitical tremors from Washington’s trade wars against its closest allies – the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Australia – might have convinced Beijing of an impending realignment. China has seized the moment with a charm offensive, urging pragmatic cooperation amid tariff spats.
Beijing rightly condemns Washington for shredding the very World Trade Organization rules and post-war liberal order it crafted, calling for collective action against US coercion. Yet despite the…
Straight outta Brickfields: how Malaysia gave the world Tamil rap
In a pink-lit car park outside a Colombo club, young Tamils cluster in loose groups. Laughter, the clink of glass bottles and the low throb of bass from the decks inside spill out into the warm night air.
Sri Lanka’s capital is home to hundreds of thousands of Tamils. But a Tamil nightclub is still rare – the sound of so many Tamil voices gathered together can still feel provocative in a country where memories of a long, bloody inter-ethnic civil war remain raw.
Inside the club, as British-Tamil…
South Korea’s Lee makes Japan first foreign visit before Trump summit
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung agreed on Saturday to closer security and economic ties ahead of Lee’s planned summit with US President Donald Trump on Monday.
On his first official visit since taking office in June, Lee met Ishiba at the premier’s residence in Tokyo to discuss bilateral ties between the East Asian neighbours, including closer security coordination with the United States under a trilateral pact signed by their predecessors.
“As the…
How Asia’s ‘coolcation’ spots are reshaping global tourism amid climate change
Record heatwaves, blazing wildfires and oppressive humidity are transforming the world’s tourism industry as holidaymakers struggle to deal with the havoc wrought by climate change.
A growing number of travellers are seeking “coolcations” – destinations with milder climates – looking beyond traditional hotspots like Greece and Portugal, according to luxury travel advisers who say their clients are altering plans due to climate change.
Heatwaves in Europe saw tourist sites including the Acropolis…
As US retreats from clean energy race, Chinese firms push into emerging markets
As America retreats from clean energy investment around the world, with US President Donald Trump labelling wind and solar power “the scam of the century” on Wednesday, Chinese “cleantech” firms have been striding into emerging markets in Southeast and Central Asia and Latin America.
Mabill Technologies, a Malaysian cleantech start-up developing a predictive AI algorithm that will connect energy efficiency analytics and sustainable cooling solutions, said Chinese investors had been showing…
IPOI report highlights Ireland’s strength in innovation
The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) has released its annual report for 2024. The statistics outlined in the report demonstrate Ireland’s continued importance as a hub for innovation and creativity, with both patent and trade mark filings on the rise.
JPMorgan settles 1MDB scandal claims with Malaysia for US$330 million
JPMorgan Chase will pay the Malaysian government US$330 million as part of a settlement to resolve all matters related to its role in the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, both parties said on Friday.
Malaysian and US investigators say at least US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in a globe-spanning scheme between 2009 and 2014.
In 2021, 1MDB sued a unit of JPMorgan, along with those of Deutsche Bank and Coutts & Co, to recover alleged losses from the…
Employment Rights Bill: the timeline from autumn 2025 onwards
The Employment Rights Bill is nearing the final stages of the UK parliamentary process, meaning significant changes to employment law in England, Scotland and Wales are close to being enacted.
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board proposes major overhaul of rules
Proposed changes to the rules of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) will bring the institution in line with other major arbitral institutions in Asia and internationally.
India to ban ‘harmful’ online money games, threatening US$3.6 billion industry
India’s parliament on Thursday passed a bill to ban online games played with money in a move that threatens the survival of the popular fantasy gaming sector, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government flagged the high risk of financial harm.
The sudden ban has shocked an industry backed by venture capital firms like Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners and which was set to be worth US$3.6 billion in India by 2029.
Executives fear imminent job losses and a complete shutdown of many app-based…