Economics

The city state’s stability, location and world-class infrastructure help draw top stars to its shores. But tickets can be hard to find, and overnight stays aren’t cheap.

The mammoth deal – which surprised many – makes sense amid growing global tension in the critical semiconductor sector, with other similar agreements likely, analysts say.

The cash-strapped South Asian nation is closing its banks from Thursday to begin a restructuring process linked to the US$2.9 billion loan it received from the IMF earlier this year.

Many of Australia’s biggest investors lack exposure and presence in the region, say experts at the Australia-Asean Business Forum in Sydney.

The ban is part of Indonesia’s ‘downstreaming policy’ to boost revenue from raw materials by requiring miners and producers to build onshore refining facilities.

As Britain prepares to host a global summit on AI safety, analysts caution that there is ‘no one-size-fits-all approach’ to regulating the technology – and say what might be right for the UK ‘is not necessarily right for Hong Kong and Singapore’.

Businesses rushing to find alternative manufacturing hubs outside China and maturing of Asean economies could change Australian mindsets, former trade chief Andrew Robb says.

IndiGo and Air India’s massive plane orders come ahead of India’s plans to open Asia’s largest airport next year as part of its regional connectivity scheme.

Philanthropy can help plug gaps exacerbated by the pandemic, with the younger generation more socially conscious about being part of the solution.

‘Extravagant growth’ pursued by firms including Grab in the pre-pandemic era is unlikely to replicated in the current economic climate, say analysts.

As Penang officials focus on the level of two dams, partly to supply the semiconductor industry, experts say ‘we have to be prepared for the worst’ and everyone must conserve water.

The crackdown could devastate Indonesia’s informal gig sector, which accounts for around 60 per cent of the country’s economy according to the World Bank.

There are reports that the Belt and Road project – originally due to begin operating in November 2022 and postponed again since then – could now be delayed until 2024, amid issues including incomplete testing and unfinished stations.

The UAE’s trade minister has said the country is ‘building a corridor of opportunity’ between the Gulf and Southeast Asia to eliminate barriers to trade, and create new avenues for strategic investment.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister asked citizens to change their mindset of being goal oriented or focusing on traditional ‘prestigious’ jobs such as banking, and to instead consider ‘the journey’ as a wider measure of success.

Activists and coastal dwellers warn that restarting sea-sand exports threatens fishermen’s livelihoods and could hasten the loss of Indonesia’s many small islands.

Unlike Singapore and Hong Kong, the US does not have comprehensive regulations for crypto and blockchain firms to operate without fear of regulatory action.