TOP NEWS Six major financial institutions roped in to support investment growth in Johor-Singapore SEZChina’s industrial sector posts steady growthJapan poll reveals discontent over US tariffs, rice prices; nearly half favour opposition-led governmentMORE HEADLINES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The Korea HeraldIn South Korea, AI-generated images depicting prostitution circulate online The Straits TimesSingapore’s homegrown LLM Sea-Lion to offer new features as more SE Asian firms use it The Jakarta PostAI adoption for work safety faces challenges in Indonesia The Japan NewsJapan’s health ministry to start testing AI in safety checks on meat The StarNews organisations in Asia Pacific embrace AI innovations The Korea HeraldGo big or go home: South Korea’s presidential hopefuls pledge mega AI investments China DailyBeijing’s robot half-marathon puts innovations to the test KuenselBhutan police to install AI-powered number plate recognition cameras to enhance public safety The StarMalaysia signs MoU with China to strengthen AI and digital economy The Straits TimesLaw banning deepfakes of candidates in place for first time in Singapore elections, among other guidelines The Korea HeraldDeepfakes cast shadow over South Korea’s presidential election China DailyAI wave reshaping China’s job market landscape KuenselNew AI guidelines for Bhutan’s civil servants The Jakarta PostAuthors hold protest against Meta for ‘stealing’ work to train AI China DailyAI aids in reconstruction of China’s unidentified revolutionary martyrs’ faces KuenselStudents and teachers in Bhutan weigh the use of AI in educationVIEW ALL COMBATING INFLATION Philippine Daily InquirerFilipinos still spending less in small neighbourhood stores–study Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippines scraps maximum suggested retail price for pork The StarMalaysian consumers switch to budget-friendly alternatives The Japan NewsRice prices in Japan dip for first time in 18 weeks as government stockpiles reach supermarket The Kathmandu PostChicken and egg prices surge in Nepal The Japan NewsJapanese consumers turn to rice alternatives amid price surge The StarMalaysia’s bakers, hawkers say won’t crack under pressure without egg subsidy The StarNo plan to raise food prices despite end of egg subsidy, say eateries in Malaysia’s Johor The Japan NewsBank of Japan keeps lowers growth forecasts, inflation rate projections amid US tariff uncertainty The StarPrices of everyday foods in Malaysia have almost doubled in 13 years, says Statistics Department The Korea HeraldInflation understanding falls sharply among South Koreans as financial literacy slips The Daily StarWhy gold costs more in Bangladesh than in India, Dubai The Daily StarWhy are onion prices rising abruptly in Bangladesh? The Kathmandu PostStronger dollar, customs duty push up prices of summer apparel and accessories in Nepal KuenselADB projects Bhutan’s inflation to moderate at 4.2 percent in 2025 The Daily StarSoybean, palm oil prices spike in BangladeshVIEW ALL TECHNOLOGY VIEW MORE A successful attack will allow cybercriminals to illegally obtain user credentials and other sensitive data. Artificial Intelligece, BUSINESS, Home Page, Technology, Technology Right, TOP NEWS, Top NewsJack Ma-backed Ant touts AI breakthrough built on Chinese chips ... Around Asia, Artificial Intelligece, BUSINESS, Home Page, National Affair Right, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, Technology, Technology RightVietnam accelerates AI adoption in public sector with strategic policy push ... BUSINESS, Technology, Technology RightMass production of Rapidus advanced semiconductors in Japan to begin from 2027 ...ECONOMIC AFFAIRS VIEW MORE Garment export volume to the destination also rose by a strong 24.64 per cent, along with a 3.55 per cent increase in unit price, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. While it had opened positively, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) settled at 6,454.84 by the closing bell, down 0.17 percent, or 10.69 points. Juan Paolo Colet, managing director at investment bank China Bank Capital Corp., said the decline reflected “the market’s tepid reaction” to the credit rating downgrade.CORPORATE BUZZ VIEW MORE According to the investigators, the first malware was found to have been installed on June 15, 2022. Questions remain over whether the company has the liquidity to pursue large-scale deals, as a significant portion of its cash reserves remains tied up in overseas subsidiaries. SPECIAL REPORTSVIEW ALL MORE HEADLINESIsrael will take all of Gaza: PM Netanyahu ...ICC prosecution requests deadline extension for disclosure of witnesses in Duterte case ...Slow and costly: Nepal’s ‘fast track’ passport service lets down applicants ...Southeast Asia e-commerce sales projected to more than double by 2030: report ...Thai government scraps 10,000-baht handout, redirects budget to new economic stimulus plan ...Cambodia, China begin largest-ever joint military drills that will run till May 28 ...CHINA AND ASEAN The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China planning sixth military drills The Straits TimesSingapore, Shanghai ink record 15 MOUs as bilateral trade grows The Japan NewsU.S., Australia to counter China’s ‘destabilizing military activities’ China DailyAsean-Plus defence ministers agree to improve defence collaboration The Jakarta PostChina and Asean join hands to bring the ‘Asian moment’ in global governance China DailyRCEP shows strength and resilience of regional trade liberalization The NationThailand and China ink 5 agreements to boost trade, regional security The Jakarta PostIndonesia, China to resume joint-military training exercises, strengthen military cooperation China DailyXi, Widodo vow to take ties to new level The Jakarta PostIndonesia-China ink $2.6 billion crude palm oil, fishery trade deals The Straits TimesOutcome of China’s application to join CPTPP trade pact not yet known: S’pore PM The Phnom Penh PostCambodia, China sign $1.6 billion deal for second expressway The Jakarta PostAs Xi visit draws near, delays haunt Jakarta-Bandung rail project The Jakarta PostWhat does the 20th CCP National Congress mean for Indonesia? Viet Nam NewsVietnamese, Chinese Party leaders stress peace at sea, resumption of flights in talks Viet Nam NewsVietnam, China sign 13 cooperation documents in Party leader’s visitVIEW ALL BIG PICTURE VIEW MORE An updated regulation, set to take effect on July 22, does not apply "foreign investment" provisions to Korean-registered private equity firms, even if they are effectively controlled by foreign nationals. 'Young rich' under 50 show strong appetite for virtual assets, overseas stocks.POLICY MATTERSVIEW MORE During the meeting, durian growers urged the government to support both Thai and foreign traders to maintain a stable export base and avoid price suppression as fruit production is expected to increase in the coming years. In explaining the reasons behind the decision, the company reportedly said that optimizing administrative expenses is becoming extremely important amid the increasingly difficult business environment brought about by U.S. President Trump’s tariff measures and other novel factors.MORE HEADLINESNepal’s federalism on a bumpy road ...40 litterbugs caught in Brunei ...Indonesia should be more active in foreign policy, former ministers say President Moon meets BTS, officially appoints them as special diplomatic envoy Russia’s Putin, PM Imran discuss Afghanistan, bilateral ties in 2nd call in a month Asean is China’s largest trading partner with US$685b trade CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT Viet Nam NewsAt least nine dead as heavy rain, landslides batter Vietnam’s northern provinces Dawn1 child dead, 11 injured in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to strong winds, storms The Kathmandu PostExperts witness climate toll on Himalayas from mountain flight The Straits TimesMicroplastics found in marine animals in Singapore’s coral reefs, mangroves: Study KuenselWater outage leaves Bhutanese town parched The Daily StarBangladesh bans plantation, sale of eucalyptus, akashmoni The Kathmandu PostWoman swept away in pre-monsoon flood in Nepal. Experts call it a wake-up call for preparedness The NationThailand’s Royal Irrigation Department, UNDP boost Yom-Nan climate resilience efforts The Korea HeraldIn South Korea, summer to be hotter, wetter than last year Viet Nam NewsInvestment in green growth gains momentum in Southeast Asia The StarCalls for more wildlife protection measures after elephant tragedy in Malaysia The Daily StarDhaka’s birds are disappearing — should we be worried? The StarGrowing amount of e-waste in Malaysia alarming The Kathmandu PostIllegal mining of riverbed materials threatens over 70 households in Nepali district The Japan NewsJapan to enhance surveying to preserve remote islands; erosion could diminish EEZ DawnClimate disasters increasing risks of death, disease amongst children and elderly in Pakistan: AmnestyVIEW ALL AGRICULTUREVIEW MORE An official said these rumours have caused confusion and concern among consumers and had a negative impact on the domestic poultry egg industry. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel explained that production challenges caused by the African swine fever, coupled with strong consumer demand, made it challenging to lower pork prices at the retail level.TRANSPORTATIONVIEW MORE The convoy carries a range of cargo including electronic components, fresh vegetables, and general merchandise. The vehicles are expected to arrive in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, today, May 15. National carrier Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot will consolidate their operations under one roof at T5 when the terminal opens in the mid-2030s.ENERGYVIEW MORE The signing was suspended after a regional court granted a preliminary injunction at the request of France’s EDF, the losing bidder in the tender. Green investment in the SEA-6 reached US$8 billion in 2024, a 43 percent increase year-on-year.MORE HEADLINESJapan to establish ¥500 billion fund to reinforce economic security ...China to include sex education in primary school text books ...Indonesian migrant worker’s ‘7 conditions’ for job search sparks debate ...Livelihoods hinge on green recovery ...Energy minister tells petroleum dealers ‘legitimate’ demands will be met, urges them to reconsider strike ...Japan cultural agency to earmark ¥6.5 billion to preserve local festivals ...Marijuana legal in Thailand from Dec 9, but ‘doobies’ still not allowed ...Covid-19 shots alone don’t ensure 100 percent safety, continued caution needed, experts say ...SPOTLIGHT ON ASIA The Kathmandu PostArt of transhumance: The intertwined lives of sheep and their Himalayan herders The Jakarta Post‘Sunting’: A tribute to the women who shaped Indonesia The Japan NewsOld tofu shop in Tokyo makes presence felt in business district The NationBangkok’s Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine: A sacred sanctuary facing modern threats The Kathmandu PostSmuggled Chinese motorbikes power life in remote Nepal village The Japan NewsIs Japanese really needed for doing business in Japan? KuenselBhutanese village comes alive as pilgrims pass through for major offering ceremony DawnAfter India’s Karachi Bakery vandalised, Pakistanis are showing love for Hyderabad’s Bombay Bakery China DailyCeramic works echo Chinese emperor’s aesthetics The Korea HeraldIn every trendsetter’s make-up bag, K-beauty brand 3CE is taking on world The StarMalaysian son learns cherished family recipes from mother The Kathmandu PostBuddha Jayanti celebrated at UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu China DailyExhibit in China’s Hangzhou allows visitors to step into the mythical world of Wukong The Korea HeraldK-pop, K-drama ― and K-housing? Philippine Daily InquirerWill the ‘real’ Filipino please stand up? The StarMalaysian couple redefines senior living by climbing mountains, running marathonsVIEW ALL GO DEEPER WITH ANNComing SoonANN NewsletterSign up hereFollow us: