Axera Debuts on Hong Kong Exchange Chinese edge AI chipmaker Axera officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming one of the first specialized edge AI chip firms in China to go public. Shares were priced at HK$28.2, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately HK$16.58 billion. The listing marks a milestone not
White House Announces Major Climate Rollback President Donald Trump is preparing to formally repeal the 2009 endangerment finding that underpins most federal climate regulations. The move, confirmed by White House officials, would mark one of the most sweeping environmental reversals in modern US history. The repeal effort is being led alongside Lee Zeldin, head of
Holiday Spending Ends the Year on a Weak Note Retail sales in the United States were unexpectedly flat in December, signaling a slowdown during what is typically the strongest shopping period of the year. The data, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, marked a break from months of relatively resilient consumer activity. After a
China Takes the Helm of APEC 2026 China is preparing to host the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026, positioning the event as a platform to reinforce regional stability and growth. Senior officials describe the gathering as an opportunity to project confidence at a time of global economic fragmentation. The meeting will
A Bridge Once Praised Now Under Fire President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Canada by threatening to block the opening of a major cross-border bridge linking the United States and Canada. The move stunned policymakers because Trump publicly supported the same project during his first term. The bridge, designed to ease congestion and strengthen
Tourism Becomes a Central Economic Engine The Philippines has officially emerged as the largest tourism economy in ASEAN, according to new regional data. The milestone reflects years of recovery efforts, infrastructure investment, and rising domestic and international travel demand. Tourism leaders say the ranking highlights not only visitor numbers, but the sector’s growing economic weight.
Climate Adaptation Is Now an Urgent Global Priority As climate impacts intensify, adaptation has moved from a long-term concern to an immediate necessity. Even with aggressive emissions cuts, rising temperatures and extreme weather will persist for decades. Governments and communities are increasingly turning to technology to manage these risks. From early warning systems to artificial
A Second Term Focused on Power, Speed, and Leverage Donald Trump’s second presidential term has moved faster and more aggressively than his first, particularly in foreign policy. Having already tested the limits of executive authority during his earlier presidency, Trump returned to office with fewer restraints and a clearer sense of leverage. Rather than gradual
Liquidity Surges While Productive Investment Stalls China’s financial markets are witnessing a powerful rally in metals prices, even as the real economy continues to struggle. With limited opportunities in property, equities, and consumer spending, surplus liquidity is flowing into commodities instead of productive investment. Copper, gold, and silver have all surged to record or near-record
Russia Launches Coordinated Attacks on Energy Infrastructure Russia has carried out one of its largest coordinated assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks, triggering widespread power outages. Ukrainian officials said drone and missile strikes targeted power plants, substations, and transmission networks across multiple regions. The attacks underline Moscow’s continued reliance on infrastructure warfare as