TOP NEWS UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines, removes country from Air Safety ListGroup of Indian pilots expressed “serious” concern on initial findings, public discourse surrounding Air India crashPower struggle over reforms rattles South Korea’s financial agenciesMORE HEADLINES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Philippine Daily InquirerASEAN CEOs seen to pour more investments in AI China DailyChinese foreign language majors face uncertain future as AI replaces basic skills China DailyAI tops the agenda in ASEAN media workshop The StarMalaysia tightens export controls on US-origin AI chips The Korea HeraldIn test-obsessed Korea, AI boom arrives in exams, ahead of the technology itself The Straits TimesTough questions lie ahead as Singapore accelerates push for driverless vehicles The Straits TimesAI cannot supplant learning; it must enable it: Singapore education minister The Korea HeraldAI takes centre stage as Bucheon Film Festival explores cinema’s future The Straits TimesElderly duo travel across Malaysia for cable car ride seen in clip – only to find out it was all AI China DailyAI-powered virtual idols raise ethical hazards The NationAI-driven human trafficking scams from Southeast Asia spreading globally The Korea HeraldNo camera, just a prompt: South Korean AI video creators are taking over social media The Straits TimesIs AI cheating on the rise? Few cases reported by Singapore universities, but experts warn of risks The Straits TimesSelf-driving public shuttles to hit roads in Singapore’s Punggol by fourth quarter The Daily StarEdtech platform Shikho partners with Meta to launch AI literacy course in Bangladesh The Korea HeraldPresident Lee turns to technocrats as South Korea pushes for AI leadershipVIEW ALL COMBATING INFLATION The NationThai food prices surge 106.5% in 13 years, cost of living soars amid rising rent and inflation The Daily StarMiddlemen, extortion push up vegetable prices in Bangladesh: report DawnAnalysis: The bitter reality driving Pakistan’s sugar prices higher The StatesmanHome-cooked vegetarian, non-vegetarian thali prices in India fall 8% and 6% YoY in June: Report The NationThailand concerned over rising costs as Vietnam secures 20% US import tariff deal Philippine Daily InquirerInflation, job security temper Filipinos’ optimism about 2026 The StarBrace for price hikes across the board, Malaysian consumers told The Kathmandu PostRains, rice planting send vegetable prices soaring in Nepal The Jakarta PostIndonesia’s June inflation ticks up as food prices climb The StarMany Malaysians using less electricity as new tariffs loom The Straits TimesSingapore electricity, gas prices to decrease from July to September due to lower energy and fuel costs Vientiane TimesLao government eyes measures to ease effects of electricity price hike Philippine Daily InquirerPrices of basic goods in the Philippines remain stable amid global risks The StarPrice pressures expected to inch up in Malaysia The Kathmandu PostConflict threatens Nepal’s economy as remittance, inflation risks grow Philippine Daily InquirerPhilippine government preparing fuel subsidy amid Middle East conflict: Transportation departmentVIEW ALL TECHNOLOGY VIEW MORE Based on a study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, about 2,000 CEOs in the global market, including 210 CEOs in ASEAN, see AI investments to “more than double in the next two years.” Around Asia, BUSINESS, China, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, Technology, Technology RightChina vows to bolster support for scientific, technological innovation ... Around Asia, BUSINESS, Daily Digest, Home Page, India, Technology, Technology RightPresident, PM congratulate Shubhanshu Shukla for becoming first Indian to go to ISS ... BUSINESS, Daily Digest, Home Page, Technology, Technology RightJapan to lead charge on international rules for space debris removal ...ECONOMIC AFFAIRS VIEW MORE According to Nepali officials privy to the matter, the official launch of QR-code-based payments in India has been delayed due to reluctance on the Indian side. Five different versions of the pro-labor union bill have been submitted to parliament. The Environment and Labor Committee is expected to review all proposals, identify key provisions and negotiate to create a single, united draft for the plenary session to vote on.CORPORATE BUZZ VIEW MORE The news follows a series of visits this month by Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang to both Washington and Beijing, where he highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for businesses and society worldwide. The companies are aiming to improve their operations and create new businesses by leveraging the expertise of “outside” people who are familiar with the company culture. SPECIAL REPORTSVIEW ALL MORE HEADLINESBangladesh push-ins: India ignoring established protocol ...Philippine Senate bill filed limiting social media use for minors ...Japanese PM Ishiba likely to meet with US Treasury Secretary Bessent in Tokyo this week ...Bengali film director Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home being demolished for new building ...Malaysian Chinese will only make up 14.8 % of national population by 2060 ...Singapore intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed ...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 Concerns raised over potential demands for similar concessions from other trading partners like China and the need for careful execution to maximise benefits and avoid fiscal strain. Bank of Korea seeks greater authority over macrofinancial policy, stoking tensions with regulators.POLICY MATTERSVIEW MORE The current high tax burden discourages investors, especially large shareholders, many of whom are also company insiders or top executives, from accepting dividend payouts. This contributes to the persistent low dividend payout ratios that leave Korea’s stock market undervalued relative to global peers. The lawsuit claims StanChart facilitated over 100 intrabank transfers that concealed stolen funds and ignored red flags, violating Singaporean regulations. StanChart denies the claims, stating the transactions occurred in 2010, were reported, and they cooperated with authorities, adding MAS found no "pervasive control weaknesses".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 The NationLow-cost Myanmar rare earths feed China as border mines pollute Thailand Vientiane TimesLao villages inundated as heavy rain lashes provinces The Kathmandu PostNepal’s prized fungus collectors face mounting dangers and dwindling income The StarCalls grow for Malaysian government to rethink handling wildlife beyond translocation Viet Nam NewsVietnam faces menace of waste from cheap “green technology” devices China DailyHeat wave sweeping across China could be unprecedented KuenselRising temperatures, rising toll: Drownings spike along Bhutan’s Punakha rivers The Korea HeraldSeoul’s summer too hot to handle — even for mosquitoes DawnPakistan’s Karachi experiences sweltering conditions under record-breaking heat The StarIndustries in Malaysia that emit significant greenhouse gases to be obligated to lower emissions The Jakarta PostThe long, suspenseful journey to Indonesia’s nickel ‘paradise’ The Kathmandu PostErratic monsoon frustrates Nepal’s forecasters and farmers alike The Phnom Penh PostCambodia’s dolphin guards request more equipment as illegal fishing persists The Straits TimesSingapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific The Kathmandu PostSearch continues for 19 missing after flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa, nine confirmed dead The Daily StarVegetable growers fear losses as rain floods fields in BangladeshVIEW ALL AGRICULTUREVIEW MORE With no effective policy cohesion and regulatory oversight, the burden continues to fall on ordinary citizens who are forced to absorb rising costs amid persistent market volatility. Earlier forecasts predicted above-normal rainfall, but the Met department now expects below-average rains in the Tarai.TRANSPORTATIONVIEW MORE The development comes after a team from the UK Department for Transport concluded an aviation security inspection at Islamabad International Airport on Thursday, declaring Pakistan’s security arrangements “satisfactory and in line with international standards." The Federation of Indian Pilots claimed the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau lacked comprehensive data and appeared to rely selectively on paraphrased cockpit voice recordings to suggest pilot error.ENERGYVIEW MORE The comprehensive revision is seen as vital to ensuring the safe and sustainable development of the country’s atomic energy sector in line with international standards. Mindanao Goes Solar spearheads awareness and experiential campaigns in the major Philippine island group with the lowest electrification rate.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 China DailyFrom ink to sole: Chinese tradition woven into sneakers The Kathmandu PostNepal’s prized fungus collectors face mounting dangers and dwindling income The StatesmanTraditional drum makers in Indian village struggle for survival The Straits TimesAncient traditions grow new roots: Monks in Thailand bring faith to fight against deforestation The Straits TimesHeirlooms in newsprint: Singapore couple safeguard copies of The Straits Times from 1950s The Japan NewsArtisans in Japan’s Saitama pass on traditions with Chichibu Meisen silks The Straits TimesWhat’s in a name? Local author traces the evolution of Singaporean Chinese names The Daily StarBangladesh puppet theatre uses fun to teach kids real-life lessons Viet Nam NewsNatural dyes help elevate ancient Vietnam’s Ma Chau silk brand The Japan NewsParticipants in Japanese tradition of ‘waterfall meditation’ find sense of fulfillment, emotional release The Phnom Penh PostCambodian culinary talent shines in international Michelin kitchens China DailyFirefly season draws nocturnal nature lovers to China’s Fujian The StarA century of Dr. M: Malaysian former PM Mahathir Mohamad celebrates 100th birthday The Japan NewsTokyo library with Ukrainian books for evacuees established by Ukraine woman DawnPakistani writer Dur e Aziz’s ‘A Splintering’ is a rare novel that dares to ask, what if women wanted more? The Korea HeraldWhere did Korea’s city cars go? Find out in 2 minutesVIEW ALL GO DEEPER WITH ANNANN NewsletterSign up hereTHE ANN DISPATCHANN LIFETHE ANN DISPATCHANN LIFEFollow us: