It finally happened. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, China invested US$1.03 trillion in research and development in 2024—surpassing the United States’ […]
Category: Asia
News from Asia
All AI, all the time
But before I do that, here’s a roundup full of short takes and stories about AI. First, though, an episode of Econ 102! Officially, the […]
The Philippines: Who’s Who in ’28?
By: Tita Valderama Image from Rappler With two years to go before the 2028 presidential sweepstakes and the ground stirring under eager hoofs, Philippine Vice […]
Leadership stability takes priority in Asia-Pacific as CHRO and COO turnover declines
Leadership transitions across Asia-Pacific are taking on a more measured and strategic tone, as organisations place a premium on continuity, internal talent, and first-time executives […]
Cautious optimism marks Singapore’s workforce plans for early 2026
Employers in Singapore are entering 2026 with cautious optimism as economic uncertainty continues to shape hiring strategies, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest Employment Outlook Survey. While […]
Japan Focus: Kirin’s growth plans, food allergen controls, ginger for wellness, and more
In this edition, we explore Kirin’s R&D strategies, Japan’s move to tighten food allergen controls, Okinawan ginger syrup for health, and more…See More
White House pushed satellite firm to withhold images of Iran war
The satellite firm Planet Labs told customers, including major news outlets, that it was acting on the Trump administration’s request as it announced it was implementing “an […]
Employees in Singapore increasingly taking “snooze days” as sleep gap widens
A widening gap between the recognition of sleep’s importance and the actions taken to improve sleep health is a key finding from the sixth annual […]
Singapore sees rising demand for digital-ESG talent as workforce expectations evolve
Asia-Pacific’s talent landscape is undergoing a profound shift, with new data showing that employees across the region now value flexibility, purpose and long-term growth more […]
Salarymen, specialists, startups and the AI future of work
In the medium to long term, AI may replace all human jobs (or maybe not). But in the short term, AI doesn’t seem to be doing […]
China cranks South China Sea buildup while Iran consumes US
China’s renewed land reclamation at Antelope Reef comes as the ongoing US-Israel-Iran War draws significant US military assets into the Middle East, raising questions over […]
Trump lit the Mideast fire – now he wants the world to put it out
There is a peculiar logic at work in the Trump administration’s approach to the Iran war — one that would be almost admirable in its […]
Bangladesh: ‘Hasina question’ haunts and nettles new PM Rahman
The letter landed within Dhaka’s already charged political atmosphere. Writing from abroad, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made her first formal appeal to Bangladesh’s International […]
3 key lessons for food brands targeting the ‘Future Consumer’
The ‘Future Consumer’ is here, and food brands need to stay ahead of their evolving tastes and expectations…See More
The new talent architecture: Balancing rapid AI adoption with human-centric leadership
The traditional architecture of the global workforce is undergoing a profound and permanent restructuring. As AI moves from the periphery of corporate experimentation to the […]
Singapore salaries set to rise 4% in 2026, but real wage growth remains subdued: Mercer
Employees in Singapore are expected to see an average salary increase of 4% in 2026, closely aligned with the 4.1% growth recorded in 2025, according […]
Hormuz blockade driving a Gulf logistics revolution
As I prepared the March issue of the Gulf Economic Diplomacy Update for the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, I was reminded of […]
Defenses not ‘annihilated,’ Iran reportedly downs two US planes
Two days after President Donald Trump declared that Iran was “no longer a threat” and that its air defense had been “annihilated,” Iranian forces reportedly struck down […]
AI’s fluency in other languages hides Western worldview
A friend in Indonesia recently told me about a conversation he had with ChatGPT. He had typed a question in Bahasa Indonesia about how to […]
$1.5 trillion Pentagon budget would explode US debt by $7 trillion
The budget document that President Donald Trump’s White House is set to release Friday calls for $1.5 trillion in military spending for the coming fiscal year, an unprecedented sum that—if approved […]