SEA’s tech ecosystem gains momentum with US$99.5M raised in March

US President Donald Trump failed to finalize a deal to sell Chinese-owned TikTok to American investors and issued an executive order extending the deadline by 75 days to keep the app operational. Trump stated in a Truth Social post that more work is needed for necessary approvals, expressing hope to reach an agreement with China despite tensions over tariffs. The US Supreme Court upheld a TikTok ban, leaving the app's fate uncertain as it faces...

Margaret Key, CEO of MSL APAC, has had a successful career in global communications, notably becoming the first female CEO of Burson-Marsteller Asia-Pacific in 2015. Under her leadership, MSL APAC has achieved double-digit profit margins, top-line growth, and greater market diversification for top clients. Key's commitment to sustainability, inclusive leadership, and women's empowerment has positioned MSL as a thought leader in the region, exemplified by initiatives like the Women's Forum Asia Barometer, which aims to...

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been ousted from office by the Constitutional Court for violating the constitution and declaring martial law, becoming the second president to be impeached, with the court ruling his actions as an attempt to seize emergency power. The country remains in a political crisis, exacerbated by US President Trump's tariffs on South Korean exports, with efforts to address the economic impact and prepare for new elections in June to...

C2X secures $100m investment from A.P. Møller Holding, A.P. Møller – Mærsk, and ENEOS to fund the final development phase of the BLRE project in Louisiana, producing green methanol for Maersk and other customers. The project will use SunGas’ gasification system to convert biomass into low-carbon methanol, with construction starting in the second half of 2026. The investment will also advance C2X’s other projects in Spain, Egypt, and the US, with ENEOS joining as a...

Authorities in South Korea are bracing for tens of thousands of protesters in central Seoul as the Constitutional Court deliberates President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate, with 14,000 police deployed, drones banned, and businesses closed. Protests are set to begin ahead of the court's decision on Yoon's removal from office, following his impeachment and detention on insurrection charges, raising fears of clashes between supporters and opponents. A fortresslike environment has been created around the court to...

On April 3, US stocks plummeted in response to Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs, resulting in the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 4.0% to 40,545.93 and the S&P 500 closing down 4.8% at 5,396.52 - its worst day since June 2020. The Nasdaq Composite also saw a significant decline, falling 6.0% to 16,550.60, marking its largest one-day drop since March 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Article