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05/12/2025

Malaysia’s Cashless Shift: How E-Wallets Became the Core of Consumer Life.

Malaysians now make more than 400 e-payments a year, positioning the country among the world’s fastest adopters of digital wallets. Popular players such as Touch ’n Go, GrabPay, ShopeePay, Boost, BigPay, MAE, and Wise have rapidly expanded beyond payments to offer insurance, investments, microloans, and lifestyle rewards. This ubiquity has reshaped how brands compete for visibility in daily consumer routines.

Shom Mabaquiao, APAC insights editor at Canvas8, notes that wallets have become “default companions,” turning the challenge from driving adoption to sustaining top-of-mind presence. As adoption widens, marketers no longer rely on aggressive cashback promotions but instead aim to embed touchpoints into natural spending behaviors.

05/12/2025

Quantum Leap in Singapore: Horizon Quantum Launches First Commercial System.

Singapore-based Horizon Quantum announced that its quantum computer is officially operational, making it the first private company in the city-state to deploy such a system for commercial applications. The startup, founded in 2018 by quantum researcher Joe Fitzsimons, integrated components from Maybell Quantum, Quantum Machines, and Rigetti Computing to build the machine.

Fitzsimons emphasized that owning its own hardware gives the company a strategic edge in understanding the full technological stack. He noted that while the firm is focused on quantum software tools and developer infrastructure, firsthand hardware experience is essential for real-world implementation.

05/12/2025

Indonesia’s Energy Shift: PGE’s Geothermal Projects Secure Blue Book Status.

Four geothermal initiatives operated by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy have been included in the Ministry of National Development Planning’s 2025–2029 Blue Book, a key document identifying nationally strategic projects eligible for international financing. The combined funding potential reaches up to US$613 million, or around Rp10 trillion, marking one of Indonesia’s strongest pushes toward geothermal expansion.

These projects are expected to generate an estimated value of US$1.09 billion while adding 215 MW of low-emission electricity to the national grid. According to PGE Director Edwil Suzandi, their development is positioned to advance Indonesia’s renewable capacity and support regional communities through job creation and economic uplift.

04/12/2025

Laos–Singapore Labor Ties: New Employment Pathways for Lao Workers.

A new bilateral push between Laos and Singapore is opening the door to more secure and long-term employment opportunities for Lao workers. The initiative marks a strategic effort to align Lao labor standards with Singapore’s regulated workforce needs.

Strengthening a Bilateral Workforce Pipeline
Laos and Singapore have officially agreed to expand labor cooperation following a working visit from 20 to 26 November by representatives of the Lao Employment Business Association under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and Singapore’s Association of Employment Agencies. The two sides met in Singapore to align on recruitment standards and outline future collaboration.

04/12/2025

Singapore’s Digital Security Push: Apple and Google Ordered to Block Government ID Spoofing.

Under the Online Criminal Harms Act, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued directives requiring Apple and Google to prevent users and group chats from spoofing “gov.sg” and the names of government agencies. These measures must be in place by November 30, closing loopholes that previously allowed fraudsters to mimic official IDs on iMessage and Google Messages.

Government agencies have used the “gov.sg” sender ID since July 2024 on SMS. However, the ID has not been protected on data-based platforms, leading to cases where scammers exploited the look-alike format to mislead users. Authorities stressed that messages appearing to come from this ID within iMessage or Google Messages are not legitimate and must be filtered out.

04/12/2025

Malaysia’s New ETS: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur in 3.5 Hours by Year-End.

Malaysia is preparing to transform long-distance travel with the introduction of its Electric Train Service, which officially begins operation on December 12, 2025. The new service will reduce the Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur train journey to just 3.5 hours, cutting current diesel train or bus travel times by nearly half. The improved speed and convenience signal a new era for both domestic commuters and international travelers.

02/12/2025

Singapore Red Cross Support: Regional Relief for Monsoon Disasters.

Extreme weather has battered Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, triggering deadly floods, mass displacement and widespread infrastructure damage. In response, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is activating regional support to help frontline agencies deliver urgent relief and keep communities safe.

The Singapore Red Cross announced on December 1 that it is channeling $250,000 to five partner national societies responding to climate-driven disasters. Each partner—Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam—will receive $50,000 to strengthen frontline rescue, relief and recovery operations.

02/12/2025

UAE–Indonesia Ties: Strategic Growth Meets Shifting Middle-Class Behavior.

The UAE has invested more than US$14 billion (Rp233 trillion) in Indonesia, reflecting a strategic push that has also boosted bilateral trade by 20 percent to US$5.5 billion (Rp91.5 trillion). Development cooperation between the two countries has reached US$260 million, marking one of Southeast Asia’s most robust partnerships.
UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem Al Dhaheri emphasized that cooperation is expanding rapidly across politics, trade, and development. Speaking at the UAE’s 54th National Day celebration in Jakarta on November 27, 2025, he highlighted the UAE’s rapid progress in innovation-based industries including artificial intelligence, clean energy, and high-tech manufacturing.

02/12/2025

Singapore-Malaysia Retreat: Road Closures and Air Restrictions Announced for Dec 4.

The 12th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat will take place on December 4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. The annual retreat is a longstanding mechanism for both governments to resolve bilateral issues and identify new areas of cooperation. Earlier this year on January 6 and 7, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya to advance discussions on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

01/12/2025

Thailand Flood Tragedy: Daughter Forced to Store Mother’s Body in Refrigerator to Prevent It From Drifting Away.

Severe flooding struck Songkhla and Hat Yai starting November 21 after continuous heavy rainfall submerged entire neighborhoods. Water levels in some areas rose to around 1.8 meters, leaving families trapped inside their homes with little chance of escape. Elderly residents were particularly vulnerable as strong currents swept through the submerged communities.

01/12/2025

Rising Tides in Kepri: BMKG Warns of Coastal Flooding Risk in December 2025.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has issued an early warning for potential coastal flooding across the Riau Islands as astronomical factors intensify sea levels in early December.

01/12/2025

Singapore’s Economic Strain: Massive Restaurant Closures and Rising Layoffs.

Singapore’s once-resilient dining scene is now hit by a record number of closures, with an estimated 320 eateries shutting down every month. Reports across CNA, NHK, and regional outlets highlight a combination of economic challenges that have deeply eroded profitability.

A strengthened Singapore dollar has unexpectedly reduced local consumption. According to CNA, the stronger currency has encouraged residents to spend abroad, causing domestic food outlets to lose foot traffic and revenue.

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