The U.S. may need to re-think its current North Korea strategy of asking China to step up efforts to rein in an increasingly-aggressive Pyongyang as it attempts to become a nuclear power, experts said on Wednesday. That followed another missile launch by the North on Tuesday, which the U.S. confirmed to be an intercontinental ballistic […]
Read moreEven as Singapore faces brighter economic prospects this year, one sector could remain a sticking point for the export-reliant country. Citi pointed the finger at oil and gas in a research note published on Tuesday. The Southeast Asian city-state is home to the world’s largest offshore rig builders, Keppel Corporation and Sembcorp Marine, who had […]
Read moreChina shouldn’t squander a major opportunity to lead artificial intelligence development in the world, top Baidu executives said in Beijing on Wednesday. The world’s second-largest economy must seize on this “historic opportunity,” said Baidu COO Lu Qi in a speech at a company conference for developers. China was well-positioned to influence the development as its […]
Read moreGeely-owned Volvo Car Group said on Wednesday all new models launched from 2019 will be fully electric or hybrids, spelling the eventual end to nearly a century of Volvos powered solely by the internal combustion engine. The Gothenburg-based company will continue to produce pure combustion-engine Volvos from models launched before that date, but said it […]
Read moreFinland’s Nokia and Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi announced an agreement on Wednesday to cross-license patents from each other, which will help both companies develop new products. The deal will see both companies license so-called standard essential patents — patents which are essential to allow products to comply with an industry standard — from each other. […]
Read moreCurrency, United States Finance
French prime minister taunts Trump as ‘scared of the future’ and compares him to an ostrich
France’s newly-installed Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has used his first address to Parliament to make a subtle rebuke at President Donald Trump, saying that anybody who refused to sign the Paris climate agreement was not only selfish but “scared of the future.” In outlining his government’s reform agenda Tuesday, the 46-year-old lawyer turned politician reiterated […]
Read moreAs China expands its influence into Southeast Asia, Malaysia has emerged as one of the biggest winners, with its port and railway projects expected to receive as much as 400 billion ringgit ($93 billion) from the world’s second largest economy, Citi Research said in a Tuesday note. But questions have persisted over the commercial viability […]
Read moreThe Chinese government’s efforts to clean up air quality are bearing fruit as use of dirty coal has likely dropped 40 percent over the last five years, said Wood Mackenzie. According to data from the consultancy, the use of low-quality or dirty coal, known as sanmei, will fall to 469 million tons this year from […]
Read moreCurrency, United States Finance
'Best time in history' for China-Russia relationship: Xi and Putin boost ties
Strategic ties between Russia and China were appraised in glowing terms as Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up a two-day state visit to Russia, concluding with at least $10 billion in agreements. Xi, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the trip, told Russian media that relations between the two countries were currently at […]
Read moreNorth Korea’s latest missile launch indicates the reclusive regime is trying to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea, a former U.S. ambassador to that country said Wednesday. Christopher Hill, who was ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2004 to 2005, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that the North Korean regime believes […]
Read more