5 books about AI to get you caught up in 2025
The AI landscape is evolving rapidly and it’s important to keep up. No one can afford to stay out of the loop on AI, so here are five new books to fill you in on the latest updates,…
Section
Culture
Thailand central bank vows to step in if baht moves are unhinged
Thailand’s central bank is ready to tackle excessive baht volatility by managing any moves “unhinged” from its fundamentals, a deputy governor said, amid calls from local businesses to…
HDB US$1.5 billion India IPO sold out as wealthy investors pile in
The offering received bids for 242.8 million shares as of Friday (Jun 27) afternoon in Mumbai, versus the 130.4 million shares offered Financial Services’ US$1.5 billion…
‘Pawternity’ leave, unlimited ice cream, and more: 5 offbeat company benefits
Employees are in a burnout crisis. A 2023 Mercer report found that 82% of workers were at risk of burnout. Overworked employees say they need time off, work-life balance, and flexibility.…
Japan’s NTT files billion-dollar Reit listing with MAS; IPO set to be SGX’s biggest in four years
Japanese telco Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) is spinning off some of its data centres into a Singapore-listed real estate investment trust, or S-Reit, marking what is likely to be…
Info-Tech Systems launches IPO at S$0.87 apiece, marks SGX’s first mainboard listing in two years
Software services firm Info-Tech Systems has launched its initial public offering (IPO) of 24,856,000 shares at S$0.87 each, in conjunction with its mainboard listing on the Singapore…
AEM, UMS, Frencken lead semiconductor stock surge; robust weekly gains ride on domestic, global tailwinds
Semiconductor listcos were trading higher on Friday (Jun 27), notching double-digit gains over the week as a slew of domestic and global developments spelt potential tailwinds for the chip…
SoftBank aims to become leading ‘artificial super intelligence’ platform provider
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son on Friday said he wants the Japanese technology investment group to become the biggest platform provider for “artificial super intelligence” within the…
Masayoshi Son hints at succession plan while chasing AI ambition
Masayoshi Son acknowledged the outlines of a succession plan, addressing what may be the single biggest concern among investors, and name-checked the head of SoftBank Group’s telecom unit…
This battery recycling company is now cleaning up AI data centers
The event marked the launch of the company’s new business line, Redwood Energy, which will initially repurpose (rather than recycle) batteries with years of remaining life to create…
Gold heads for second weekly loss, investors eye US inflation data
prices fell on Friday, poised for a second consecutive weekly loss as a slight uptick in the dollar pressured bullion while markets awaited US inflation data for signals on…
IHH Healthcare unveils S$5 million programme to fund healthcare research and pilot projects
Integrated healthcare provider IHH Healthcare on Friday (Jun 27) announced the launch of a S$5 million programme to fund clinical research and pilot projects across its network. Funds…
US says deal with Beijing will expedite rare earth exports from China
The United States has reached an agreement with China on how to expedite rare earth shipments to the US, a White House official said on Thursday, amid efforts to end a trade war between…
India oil law revamp unlikely to draw foreign drillers amid red tape and weak incentives
India’s first rewrite of its 77-year-old oilfield rules kicked in on Apr 15, with New Delhi hoping it’ll help turn around a decade of sluggish output and and ease its growing reliance on…
Legacy companies with rich data are transformed by AI
When people think about artificial intelligence, they often picture sleek start-ups or futuristic labs. But what happens when AI meets a company that has been innovating for over 100…
Hong Kong’s equity capital markets bounce back in first half, as Shein IPO looms
HONG Kong’s equity capital markets activity roared back to life in the first half of 2025, driven by global investors sharpening focus on China as the city awaits the possible Shein…
People-first leadership in a performance-driven world
In a world where leadership is often mistakenly understood as a position of control, I’ve found that true impact comes from service—leading not from above, but alongside your team to…
Trump seizes momentum from ceasefire deal to expand peace in Middle East
Three days after announcing a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, the Trump administration is working to broaden a sustainable peace in the region, including an end to the war in Gaza.…
Enterprises can’t overlook security when embracing AI
Amara’s Law, coined by the American scientist and futurist Roy Amara, says humans “tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long…
‘Long overdue’: Experts welcome advisory against private-sector use of NRIC numbers for authentication
Urging the private sector to stop using NRIC numbers for authentication is a timely and pragmatic move to strengthen data security, industry players told The Business Times. On Thursday…
Decision on naming next Fed chair not ‘imminent’: White House
The White House said on Thursday no decision is imminent on naming a successor to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, after a report suggested the president could do so this summer.…
Trump gathers cross-section of Americans at the White House to extoll the benefits of his big bill
President Trump on Thursday called on Congress to pass his One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying it would stave off the "largest tax hike in history" and deliver an economic boon for…
'He needs to be deported': Tennessee Congressman calls for DOJ probe into Mamdani's naturalization
Rep. Andy Ogles, Tennessee Republican, urged the Justice Department to open an investigation into New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, saying that he may have violated the terms…
Senate briefing still leaves Democrats questioning 'total obliteration' of Iran's nuclear abilities
Top national security officials briefed senators Thursday about the bombings on three of Iran's key nuclear facilities, but it did little to settle the debate over just how successful the…