The world’s rich are relocating at a pace unseen in history — where are they ...
Friday, February 13,2026,05:59
The movement of the world's richest families across borders is accelerating into what some are calling the most significant private wealth migration. .. read more..
Singapore launches AI support measures, tax breaks in 2026 Budget
Friday, February 13,2026,05:58
Support measures and tax breaks were announced for firms using AI to transform their businesses. .. read more..
How India’s US$40 billion order for French Rafales will help local fighter je...
Friday, February 13,2026,05:49
India’s approval for a 3.6 trillion rupee (US$40 billion) purchase of defence equipment on Thursday – including 114 Rafale French fighter jets – will significantly boost the capabilities of the country’s armed forces amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, analysts say. The decision comes at a time when the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter squadron strength has shrunk to 29, well below the 42 considered essential in the event of a simultaneous war with Pakistan and China. French President... .. read more..
Asia stock markets track losses on Wall Street as AI fears hit sentiment
Friday, February 13,2026,05:37
Shares of office real estate and logistics firms sank after the release of AI tools that could replicate their businesses — or eat into their profit margins. .. read more..
Why Did Mint Incorporation (MIMI) Stock Shoot Up 97% After Hours
Friday, February 13,2026,05:19
Mint Incorporation Ltd. (NASDAQ: MIMI ) jumped 96.93% to $0.55 in the after-hours session on Thursday. According to Benzinga Pro data, the stock closed regular trading at $0.28, down 10.66%. Strategic Joint Venture Targets Asian Market On Tuesday, the Hong Kong-based company announced a strategic robotics partnership with Rice Robotics Holdings Limited, a developer of fully autonomous indoor delivery and service robots, to develop physical AI solutions across Asia. The company’s subsidiary, Aspiration X , signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Rice Robotics to form a joint venture, according to Mint Incorporation’s statement. Mint noted that it will provide an i... .. read more..
Taiwan to lift import caps on U.S.-spec vehicles, remove tariffs on U.S. cars
Friday, February 13,2026,05:13
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan will lift its quotas on vehicles manufactured in accordance with U.S. regulations and will eliminate tariffs on sedans imported from the United States, under the terms of a bilateral trade deal signed in Washington on Thursday. .. read more..
U.S.–China proxy battle over Panama Canal ports set to intensify as CK Hutchi...
Friday, February 13,2026,04:54
The simmering dispute has become a geopolitical flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, with Panama caught in the crossfires. .. read more..
North Korea threatens dire consequences if Seoul doesn’t stop drone incursions
Friday, February 13,2026,04:40
North Korea on Friday threatened a “terrible response” if it detects any more drones buzzing across the border from the South. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang. But North Korea said it shot down a surveillance drone just last month, an incident which threatens to blight Lee’s efforts to patch things up. Kim Yo-jong, the... .. read more..
India approves Rafale jet purchase in $40 billion defense package ahead of Ma...
Friday, February 13,2026,04:35
This is part of New Delhi's 3.6 trillion rupee defence spending plans announced on Thursday, .. read more..
Indian Shares Deep In Red; IT Stocks And Oil Companies Succumb To Heavy Selling
Friday, February 13,2026,04:30
Indian shares were deep in the red on Friday, mirroring weak cues from global markets as investors fretted about the impact AI could have on revenues and profit margins of financial, transportation and logistics and even commercial real estate companies. .. read more..
Trade deal with U.S. secures best tariff rates, safeguards local sectors: Tai...
Friday, February 13,2026,04:29
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan has secured highly favorable tariff treatment while protecting key domestic industries under its newly signed reciprocal trade agreement with the United States, the Cabinet said Thursday, at the conclusion of a 10‑month negotiation process on the deal. .. read more..
Why Indonesia’s Muslim groups are revisiting Palestinian issue, ‘Board of Peace’
Friday, February 13,2026,04:00
Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisations appear to be recalibrating their stance on Palestine by softening earlier criticisms of President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, in what analysts describe as a shift from prioritising Palestinian independence to broader security issues. The adjustment, which followed a closed-door meeting at the presidential palace earlier this month, has fuelled a debate on whether major Muslim bodies are being nudged... .. read more..
Father, son arrested in Malaysia after woman’s dismembered remains found at l...
Friday, February 13,2026,03:36
Jealousy has been identified as the main motive behind the brutal murder of a woman found dismembered in Indah Permai, Malaysia’s Sabah state, following the arrest of two suspects. The suspects, a father and his son, were held to facilitate investigations just hours after body parts were found in several dump sites in Indah Permai near Kota Kinabalu on Thursday. The main suspect, a 70-year-old, was first arrested in the city at around 5pm while his son, in his 20s, was caught about 11pm from a... .. read more..
Australian Market Extends Early Strong Losses In Mid-market
Friday, February 13,2026,03:09
The Australian stock market is extending its early strong losses in mid-market moves on Friday, reversing the gains in the previous two sessions, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling well below the 8,950 level, with weakness across all segments led by technology and mining stocks. .. read more..
Asian Markets Track Wall Street Lower
Friday, February 13,2026,02:59
Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Friday, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight, hurt by tumbling technology stocks that mirror their peers on the tech-heavy Nasdaq amid fresh concerns about artificial intelligence disruptions to traditional business models weighing on several sectors, such as financial, transportation and commercial real estate companies. .. read more..
Taiwan signs trade deal with U.S. to cut tariffs, open markets (update)
Friday, February 13,2026,02:57
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington on Thursday, capping U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and granting preferential market access for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports, including automobiles, beef, and pork. .. read more..
Indian Shares Set To Follow Wall Street Lower On AI Jitters
Friday, February 13,2026,02:32
Indian shares look set to open lower on Friday as worries about artificial-intelligence disruption engulfed industries from logistics to commercial real estate. .. read more..
U.S. dollar up in Taipei trading
Friday, February 13,2026,02:29
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) The U.S. dollar was traded at NT$31.465 at 10 a.m. Friday on the Taipei Foreign Exchange, up NT$0.005 from the previous close. .. read more..
U.S. signs trade deal with Taiwan, lowering tariffs to 15%, while Taipei to b...
Friday, February 13,2026,02:21
Taiwan has also committed to purchase over $84 billion of U.S. goods, including energy and aviation products .. read more..
Meet the high-profile Emirati business leader lawmakers are linking to Epstei...
Friday, February 13,2026,02:20
U.S. officials have identified DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem as the recipient of a 2009 email from Jeffrey Epstein regarding a supposed "torture video." .. read more..
Taiwan headline news
Friday, February 13,2026,02:15
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) The lead stories in major Taiwan dailies on Friday are as follows: .. read more..
Profit Taking Anticipated For Thai Stock Market
Friday, February 13,2026,02:03
The Thai stock market has moved higher in five straight sessions, improving more than 90 points or 6.5 percent along the way. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now rests just above the 1,440-point plateau although it's overdue for consolidation on Friday. .. read more..
Michelle Yeoh’s tearful tribute to parents at Berlin Film Festival: ‘I carry ...
Friday, February 13,2026,01:34
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh was visibly moved when she was honoured for her lifetime achievement during the opening of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Thursday evening. “Please allow me this one personal moment,” the 63-year-old, who won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023, told the audience in the German capital as she collected the festival’s Honorary Golden Bear award. “A part of me is still that young girl who simply wanted to make her parents proud,”... .. read more..
Indonesia Bourse May Extend Thursday's Losses
Friday, February 13,2026,01:33
The Indonesia stock market on Thursday ended the three-day winning streak in which it had rallied almost 360 points or 4.5 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now sits just above the 8,265-point plateau and the losses may accelerate on Friday. .. read more..
‘Becoming Chinese’ memes reflect a world shaped by China’s ascent
Friday, February 13,2026,01:30
Across social media, a curious phrase has been circulating: “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” It appears under videos of hotpot dinners, DHGate hauls, Chinese streetwear fits and users joking about switching their phone interfaces into Chinese “for the aesthetic”. It has even spawned an ecosystem of spin-offs: “Chinamaxxing”, “you will turn Chinese tomorrow” and countless posts where people half-joke about becoming “more Chinese” by the day. But beneath the humour of what looks... .. read more..
'Impossible': Taiwan pushes back against Washington’s 40% chip supply relocat...
Friday, February 13,2026,01:28
Taiwan has told Washington that its proposal to move 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain is "impossible," according to Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun. .. read more..
Japanese Market Sharply Lower
Friday, February 13,2026,01:18
The Japanese market is sharply lower on Friday, extending the slight losses in the previous session, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight. The Nikkei 225 is falling well below the 56,850 level, with weakness in index heavyweights, exporters and financial stocks. .. read more..
Lower Open Called For Hong Kong Stock Market
Friday, February 13,2026,01:18
The Hong Kong stock market on Thursday snapped the three-day winning streak in which it had jumped more than 620 points or 2.3 percent. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 27,030-point plateau and it's likely to open under pressure again on Friday. .. read more..
Win Streak May End For China Stock Market
Friday, February 13,2026,01:03
The China stock market has finished higher in four straight sessions, collecting almost 80 points or 2 percent along the way. The Shanghai Composite Index now sits just above the 4,130-point plateau although it may run out of steam on Friday. .. read more..
A year into Trump tariffs, Chinese factories and ports are buzzing with activity
Friday, February 13,2026,00:52
A year after Trump's tariffs spooked manufacturers and customers, Chinese factories and ports were humming unfethered ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. .. read more..
Australian Market Significantly Lower
Friday, February 13,2026,00:44
The Australian stock market is trading significantly lower on Friday, reversing the gains in the previous two sessions, following the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling below the 8,950 level, with weakness across all segments led by technology and mining stocks. .. read more..
Singapore Shares Tipped To Open In The Red On Friday
Friday, February 13,2026,00:33
The Singapore stock market has moved higher in four straight sessions, gathering more than 80 points or 1.8 percent along the way. Now at a fresh record closing high, the Straits Times Index sits just above the 5,015-point plateau although investors are likely to cash in on Friday. .. read more..
Malaysia Bourse May Extend Thursday's Losses
Friday, February 13,2026,00:03
The Malaysia stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the two-day winning streak in which it had risen more than 20 points or 1.2 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just above the 1,750-point plateau and it's tipped to open under water again on Friday. .. read more..
Why Takaichi’s Japan election victory has sparked North Korea’s ‘childish’ fury
Friday, February 13,2026,00:00
North Korea’s claim that Japan has breached a diplomatic “red line” by deepening security partnerships is less about Tokyo’s defence moves than about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive victory at the polls, analysts say, as a weaker mandate could have pushed her to negotiate with Pyongyang. With a commanding majority secured in Sunday’s election, Takaichi now faces fewer domestic constraints as she signals plans to expand Japan’s defence cooperation with Western partners and potentially... .. read more..
Taiwan signs trade deal with U.S. to cut tariffs, open markets
Thursday, February 12,2026,23:34
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement on Thursday (U.S. time) that caps U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and provides preferential market access for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports, including autos, beef and pork products. .. read more..
Losses May Accelerate For Japan Stock Market
Thursday, February 12,2026,23:28
The Japan stock market on Thursday wrote a finish to the three-day winning streak in which it had surged almost 3,800 points or 6.8 percent to a record closing high. The Nikkei 225 now sits just beneath the 57,640-point plateau and it may take further damage on Friday. .. read more..
KOSPI Overdue For Profit Taking On Friday
Thursday, February 12,2026,23:22
The South Korea stock market has moved higher in four straight sessions, collecting more than 430 points or 8.2 percent in that span. Now at a fresh record closing high, the KOSPI sits just above the 5,520-point plateau although investors figure to lock in gains on Friday. .. read more..
Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat off Nagasaki, arrests skipper
Thursday, February 12,2026,20:56
Japanese authorities have seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper for allegedly defying an order to stop while within Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, the Fisheries Agency said early on Friday. The incident marks the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat. The vessel is also the first foreign fishing boat seized by the agency this year. The skipper, a 47-year-old Chinese national, was arrested on Thursday and stands accused... .. read more..
Sri Lanka launched a new digital nomad visa—find out if you qualify and how t...
Thursday, February 12,2026,20:12
As of February 2026, Sri Lanka offers a year-long digital nomad visa to individuals aged 18 or older who earn at least $2,000 per month. .. read more..
EXCLUSIVE: US–India Trade Deal To 'Tilt The Spreadsheet' As Firms Rethink Chi...
Thursday, February 12,2026,17:01
The new U.S.–India trade deal won't trigger an immediate supply-chain overhaul, but it will "tilt the spreadsheet" for U.S. multinationals weighing China alternatives, one strategist said. The closely watched agreement , announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month, marks a significant shift in a key bilateral relationship. As one of America's most important trading partners, India is poised to play a larger role in U.S. supply chains, with implications extending beyond tariffs. Divakar Vijayasarathy , founder and CEO of DVS Advisory Group , told Benzinga that the deal signals a gradual, more durable shift rather than a sudden sourcing reset. "The tariff cut doesn'... .. read more..
After weeks of tension, Trump is still talking tough on Iran. Here's what cou...
Thursday, February 12,2026,15:17
.. read more..
Mercedes hit by $1.2 billion in tariff costs as full-year earnings more than ...
Thursday, February 12,2026,13:27
German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Group on Thursday reported a steep drop in full-year profit and warned of challenging times ahead. .. read more..
Russia Sidesteps Ukraine Sanctions As Thousands Of Western Cars Enter Via Chi...
Thursday, February 12,2026,13:18
Thousands of foreign vehicles, including luxury German models and popular Japanese brands, are reportedly finding their way into Russia through Chinese intermediaries, sidestepping international sanctions and automakers’ pledges to exit the market. The surge comes after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which led Western and Asian governments to restrict high-end and hybrid vehicle sales to Russia. Dealers in Russia are increasingly relying on informal networks to acquire vehicles, often classifying brand-new cars as "used" to bypass manufacturer controls, according to a Reuters report on Thursday, citing registration data and interviews with five people involved in the trade. M... .. read more..
More Southeast Asian human trafficking gangs use crypto to move illegal funds
Thursday, February 12,2026,13:00
Human trafficking syndicates operating across Southeast Asia are increasingly laundering their profits through cryptocurrency, a shift that reflects how swiftly these networks are scaling up and exploiting the ease of moving funds across borders, according to findings by a US blockchain analysis firm. Crypto transactions linked to suspected trafficking operations surged 85 per cent in 2025 to US$260 million, Chainalysis said in its 2026 report on crypto crimes, which tracked illicit activity on... .. read more..
How a site of White Terror persecution became a human rights venue
Thursday, February 12,2026,12:24
The transformation of a dark remnant of Taiwan's authoritarian past into a venue for human rights education began in 2009, with the discovery of dozens of formalin jars containing human body parts inside an abandoned building in New Taipei's Xindian district. .. read more..
Waymo's Chinese Rival WeRide Aims To Double Its Robotaxi Fleet This Year, CEO...
Thursday, February 12,2026,12:24
Chinese robotaxi operator WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD ) aims to at least double its fleet this year, leveraging artificial intelligence to cut costs and move closer to profitability, Chief Executive Officer Tony Han told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The Guangzhou-based company has reduced data collection and training expenses by 75% with an AI-powered testing platform developed in-house, according to Han. The move positions WeRide alongside global rivals using AI to improve autonomous driving efficiency and safety. AI Platform Accelerates Robotaxi Development WeRide's AI simulator, known as Genesis , trains its autonomous vehicles to navigate real-world scenarios such as heavy traff... .. read more..
Warm weekend ahead before cooler, wetter weather from Monday
Thursday, February 12,2026,12:17
Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Warm to slightly hot weather is forecast across Taiwan through the weekend, with daytime highs in the western half of the country approaching 30 degrees Celsius, before wetter and cooler conditions arrive from Lunar New Year's Eve on Monday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said Thursday. .. read more..
SoftBank books $4.2 billion gain on OpenAI bet, boosting its Vision Fund
Thursday, February 12,2026,12:12
SoftBank posted a $2.4 billion gain at its Vision Fund as a jump in the value of its OpenAI investment helped offset losses in some of its other bets. .. read more..
Supreme Court upholds jail terms in junior high school murder case
Thursday, February 12,2026,12:07
Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld prison sentences of more than 10 years handed down by the Taiwan High Court to two New Taipei junior high school students convicted of murder, finalizing a case that occurred more than two years ago. .. read more..
Taiwanese cellist Fan Tsung-pei dies at 65
Thursday, February 12,2026,11:40
Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) Award-winning cellist Fan Tsung-pei (范宗沛), 65, died of a myocardial infarction at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on Thursday. .. read more..