Singapore

Office workers are seen in a largely empty central business district of Singapore on Sept. 27, as much of the city returns to working from home to combat COVID-19.
Politics

Singapore's foreign population dips 10.7% on COVID restrictions

Government wants to open doors while managing locals' anxieties about immigrants

28 September 2021
A startup incubation facility in Singapore: A new program by Monk's Hill Ventures locates and funds next-generation entrepreneurs. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Startups

Singapore VC joins entrepreneurs in hunt for next Grab or Gojek

Monk's Hill backs veterans to find gifted startups in booming ASEAN tech sector

28 September 2021
Panasonic's announcement that it would shed 700 workers in Singapore was followed the next day by the news that more than 1,000 workers had applied for its early retirement program in Japan.
Electronics

Panasonic to cut 1,700-plus jobs in Japan and Singapore

Ax comes down as technology group logs operating margin below 4%

28 September 2021
Ninja Van's network spans Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Ninja Van) 
Business deals

Alibaba backs Singapore's Ninja Van in $578 million fundraising

Logistics startup to invest in Southeast Asia infrastructure, technology systems

27 September 2021
Singapore is attempting to curb a rapid rise in COVID-19 infections with booster shots and renewed rules.
COVID vaccines

Singapore to expand booster shots after COVID cases hit record

Dining and gathering rules tighten as city juggles risk, goal of 'living with' virus

24 September 2021
Singapore is positioning itself as a neutral forum for resolving international business disputes, and is lobbying peers to ratify a U.N. mediation treaty that bears its name.
International relations

U.S. and China keep Singapore waiting on business mediation treaty

U.N. pact led by city-state gains little ratification traction amid COVID

23 September 2021
Human rights and environmental activists are stepping up pressure on food producers in Southeast Asia to pursue responsible and sustainable business practices. 
Agriculture

ASEAN food makers look to correct labor abuses in supply chains

Thai Union pledges monitoring across suppliers' tuna fleets to catch violations

23 September 2021
SoftBank Robotics and Keenon Robotics are keen to roll out their service bots to the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. (Photo by Mayuko Tani)
Technology

SoftBank-powered robots to help Grab with meal deliveries

Singapore and Japan to use the droids jointly developed by China's Keenon

21 September 2021
A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine: A pact that will hand Australia the technology for such vessels has raised concerns in Southeast Asia.
Indo-Pacific

Australia seeks to calm ASEAN nerves over AUKUS, nuclear weapons

Ambassador vows pact won't affect bloc's 'centrality' in regional architecture

21 September 2021
Some Southeast Asian countries have set ambitious targets for EV adoption, but they still have a ways to go to convince consumers.
Asia Insight

Slow charge: ASEAN aims to bring lofty EV goals within range

Uneven policies leave drivers wary as COP26 turns spotlight on green transport

21 September 2021
Joe Biden will give his first U.N. General Assembly speech as U.S. president on September 21, followed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines via video.
Your Week in Asia

Quad summit, Evergrande bond deadline and UNGA opening

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

19 September 2021
The Singapore Exchange cut the required market cap for SPACs by half after consultation revealed that stakeholders found the previous level prohibitively high.
Markets

Temasek unit to supercharge anemic Singapore Exchange tech listings

As SPACs beckon, city-state unveils plan to draw likes of high-growth startups

17 September 2021
Wages in Singapore are expected to rise 3.8% this year, according to advisory firm Willis Towers Watson.
Coronavirus

Singapore surge tests 'live with COVID' strategy: 5 things to know

City faces 'crucial period' as cases top 900 despite 80% vaccination rate

17 September 2021
A dried-up rice field north of Manila in 2018: 90% of survey respondents from the Philippines were worried about food security.
Climate Change

Climate change stokes ASEAN food supply fears: regional survey

Only 21% of respondents say governments have safeguard policies

16 September 2021
"If you look at the competitive landscape, Asia has become an important growth area," Viu CEO Janice Lee said. (Photo courtesy of Viu)
Interview

Hong Kong's Viu focuses on Southeast Asia, fends off Netflix

PCCW unit relies on local content and makes pricing flexible to draw users

16 September 2021
Singapore's seniors and immunocompromised individuals can make an appointment for a third COVID-19 shot if they completed the second dose at least six months ago.
COVID vaccines

Singapore starts booster shots as COVID cases hit 1-year high

South Korea and Thailand also eye third doses in October as WHO warns on supplies

14 September 2021
Grab says it remains on track to complete its merger with a blank check company and list in the U.S. by the end of the year. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups

Grab lowers 2021 earnings projection as COVID hobbles ASEAN

Singapore 'super app' gains 62% in GMV as net loss widens to $815 million in Q2

14 September 2021
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels on May 5.
Indo-Pacific

EU pushes for deeper Indo-Pacific ties in face of China concerns

Draft document shows bloc is seeking closer trade, investment ties with Taiwan

14 September 2021
Shopee's office in Singapore: The platform has brought to Latin America the strategies that made it Southeast Asia's top online retailer.
Retail

Singapore e-tailer Shopee takes Latin America by storm

Sales and games vault Sea brand to top of Brazil app stores in just 2 years

12 September 2021
SPH's radical restructuring plan gained support from 97.55% of the votes cast at an extraordinary general meeting, held virtually on September 10. (Source photos from Getty Images and Singapore Press Holdings' website)
Business deals

Singapore Press shareholders approve media spinoff plan

Straits Times and other publications to be transferred to nonprofit entity

10 September 2021
The fundraising deal comes as Sea expands outside Southeast Asia, including into Latin America.
Finance

Singapore's Sea to raise $6bn in push to expand outside ASEAN

New York-listed tech group counters growing rivals in massive funding deal

9 September 2021
Singapore edges ahead of regional peers in drawing private equity and venture capital to the country. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Business trends

Singapore is top in luring ASEAN-focused fund managers

Welcoming policies in tax and corporate structure draw in venture capital

9 September 2021
Singapore's Changi Airport: Singapore on Wednesday opened a new travel corridor that allows people fully vaccinated people to enter the country without quarantining.
Coronavirus

Singapore's 'vaccinated travel lane' opens despite rise in COVID

New daily cases hit 13-month high, topping Indonesia on per-person basis

8 September 2021
Chope could help Ant establish relationships with thousands of restaurateurs as the Chinese fintech giant prepares to open a digital bank in Singapore. (Source photo by Reuters; screenshot from Chope's website) 
China tech

Ant forays into 5,000 Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok eateries

Alipay operator invests in Chope app as it looks beyond ASEAN payments market

8 September 2021
GIC is one of the world's biggest institutional investors. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
Interview

Singapore's GIC keen on companies with potential to improve ESG

State fund says sustainability is 'top management priority'

6 September 2021