Taiwan wraps up its largest annual military exercises
Taiwan has concluded its 42nd annual Han Kuang military exercises, incorporating lessons from global conflicts to strengthen its defenses against increasing pressure from China.
US semiconductor equipment firm Lam Research to add 200 jobs in Singapore amid AI boom
Lam Research is hiring 200 specialized engineering and technical staff in Singapore to support rising demand for AI-driven chipmaking technologies, primarily targeting local talent to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem.
Singapore bankers, China-linked clients gear up for Beijing’s scrutiny of offshore trusts
China’s new tax rules on offshore trusts increase scrutiny for wealthy Chinese clients. Singaporean bankers are now advising clients to ensure compliance and navigate complex tax liabilities under these stricter regulations.
North Korea may increase western Russia deployment to 50,000 troops
Russia and North Korea plan to increase North Korean troop deployments to 50,000 by November to support Russia’s offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Russia’s Putin visits Japan-claimed islands for first time; Tokyo protests
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Japan-claimed Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting a formal protest from Tokyo over the long-standing territorial dispute.
DeepSeek publicises efforts to challenge Anthropic’s Claude code
DeepSeek is recruiting a specialized team to develop AI agent software, aiming to compete with Anthropic’s Claude Code and expand its presence in the automated business tools market.
Singtel Q1 profit falls 71% in absence of Airtel stake sale, with weaker Singapore business
Singtel’s Q1 net profit dropped 71% due to missing one-off divestment gains. Despite weaker Singapore performance, underlying profit rose 21% on strong regional associate contributions and growth in Digital InfraCo.
In the AI Race, Export Controls Are Dividing the Global Compute Ecosystem
Global export controls on AI chips are fragmenting the tech ecosystem into rival compute blocs. This geopolitical divide threatens to slow innovation, increase costs, and destabilize international relations over semiconductor supply chains.
Commentary: Complacency is the hidden risk in Singapore’s success
Singapore’s long-term peace and prosperity have fostered dangerous complacency. Experts warn this mindset threatens national security and economic resilience, necessitating greater public vigilance and transparent communication to navigate future global uncertainties.
Wall Street ends down as US-Iran peace optimism fades
Wall Street fell as fading optimism regarding a US-Iran peace deal and inflation concerns dampened investor sentiment, despite gains in the energy sector and select asset management firms.
AI’s Economic Winners
AI’s economic winners will not just be development leaders like the U.S. and China, but also nations mastering AI diffusion, supply-chain chokepoints, and labor-market integration to drive productivity and growth.
Singapore raises 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.5%-5.5%; economy grew 5.9% in Q2
Singapore raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.5%–5.5% following a 5.9% expansion in Q2, driven by robust global AI-related demand and improved economic conditions.