Author: WWC NEWSDESK

China

China–Taiwan Tensions Spill Into South Korea’s Art World as Gwangju Biennale Faces Boycott Threat

A diplomatic dispute over a two-word name — “Taiwan Pavilion” — has erupted into a major controversy at South Korea’s Gwangju Biennale, with China’s participation now hanging in the balance just days before the prestigious exhibition opens. The dispute began after organizers initially changed the name of Taiwan’s exhibition from “Taiwan Pavilion” to “NTMoFA Pavilion,” referring to Taiwan’s National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Taiwan’s Culture Ministry and participating artists objected, saying

September 3, 2026

Entertainment

Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay for Singaporeans to 30 Days Under New Travel Rules

BANGKOK — Singaporeans planning extended holidays in Thailand will soon face shorter visa-free stays after Thai authorities moved to reduce the maximum permitted duration from 60 days to 30 days. The revised rules are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, 2026, according to reports by AsiaOne and other regional media, affecting passport holders from 60 countries and territories, including Singapore. The policy marks a significant reversal from Thailand's expanded visa-exemption scheme introduc

September 3, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Landlady Says Japanese Tenant Left With Just S$15 — Then a Debt Collector Allegedly Showed Up at Her Door

A Singapore landlady says a Japanese tenant who had rented her HDB flat in Bukit Merah for about four years left the country after telling her he had “lost everything” — including his money, business and marriage. What happened next left the landlady facing an unexpected problem of her own: a debt collector allegedly turning up at her home. According to AsiaOne, the tenant had also operated an F&B business in Singapore. The landlady, identified only as Ms Hong, said the business had struggled

September 3, 2026

Business

Thai Jewellers Push India to Lift Import Curbs — A Trade Fight Is Growing Behind the Glitter

Thailand’s jewellery industry is pressing India to reconsider restrictions on precious-metal jewellery imports, warning that tighter trade rules could disrupt a long-standing commercial relationship between the two countries. The dispute comes after India introduced tighter controls on jewellery imports in 2026, particularly products covered by ASEAN trade arrangements. The measures require importers of covered jewellery to obtain government authorization, while exemptions remain for certain ex

September 2, 2026

Uncategorized

Singapore’s Springleaf Tower Puts Two Office Floors Up for Sale at S$54.15 Million

Two full office floors at Springleaf Tower in Tanjong Pagar have been put on the market with a combined guide price of S$54.15 million, according to Singapore Business Review. The two floors span about 20,645 sq ft in total, translating to roughly S$2,623 per sq ft (psf). Buyers can purchase the floors individually or together, with the lower floor carrying a guide price starting at S$25.65 million. The sale is being jointly marketed by CBRE and Sakal Real Estate, with the expression-of-intere

September 2, 2026

Business

NIO Narrows Q2 Loss by 89% as EV Sales Surge, Signaling Major Turnaround for Chinese EV Maker

SHANGHAI — Chinese electric vehicle maker NIO dramatically narrowed its second-quarter net loss by nearly 90% from a year earlier, fueled by surging vehicle sales, stronger revenue and improving margins. NIO reported a net loss of 528 million yuan (US$77.8 million) for the second quarter of 2026, an 89.4% improvement from the 4.99 billion yuan loss recorded a year earlier. However, the quarterly loss widened 59% from the first quarter, highlighting that the company's path toward sustained profi

September 2, 2026

Business

Aster Expands Singapore Crude Storage by 1.3 Million Barrels in Major Energy Hub Push

SINGAPORE — Aster is expanding Singapore's crude oil storage capacity by more than 1.3 million barrels, marking a significant new investment in the city-state's energy infrastructure and reinforcing its position as one of Asia's most important oil trading hubs. The expansion comes with the launch of Aster Port & Terminals (APT), a new storage and logistics business that will consolidate the company's marine, terminal and storage infrastructure into a commercial platform serving both Aster and t

September 2, 2026

Vietnam

Vietnam’s Development Boom Is Putting Land Rights Under Pressure — And Thousands of Families Face an Uncertain Future

HANOI — Vietnam’s rapid push to transform its cities, expand infrastructure and accelerate economic growth is creating a difficult question: how much should communities have to give up for development? A new investigation by The Diplomat examines the human cost of Vietnam’s accelerating development drive, focusing on residents in Hanoi and elsewhere who are being displaced as land is cleared for major infrastructure and urban projects. The issue is becoming increasingly important as the govern

September 2, 2026

Business

Singapore Firms Face Growing Payment Delays as Customer Defaults Rise

Singapore’s businesses are facing a worrying deterioration in payment discipline, with nearly half reporting that customers are taking longer to pay—raising fresh concerns about cash flow and credit risk even as the economy continues to grow. According to Coface’s APAC Payment Survey 2026, 49% of Singapore respondents said payment delays became more frequent over the past year, more than twice the 21% who reported an improvement. Another 42% said delays had become more severe. The survey, cond

September 2, 2026

Business

Chevron Makes US$7 Billion Bet on Venezuela Oil as US Pushes Major Energy Expansion

CARACAS, Venezuela — US energy giant Chevron is making a major new bet on Venezuela, announcing plans to invest more than US$7 billion over the next five years to dramatically expand oil production in a country sitting on some of the world's largest petroleum reserves. The ambitious plan aims to more than double Chevron's Venezuelan production to approximately 600,000 barrels per day, marking one of the most significant investments yet in the country's struggling energy industry. Chevron said

September 2, 2026