Leaders and senior officials of IP offices from Southeast Asian and Latin American countries held a meeting on the sidelines of the 65th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of WIPO Member States in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (July 15, 2024). (Photo: ANTARA/HO-DJKI Kemenkumham RI)

U.S Dollar banknotes (Photo : Matatelinga) - 

VOInews, Singapore : The dollar was poised to snap a two-week losing streak on Friday as traders pondered the U.S. rates outlook, while the yen was steady after inflation in Japan accelerated for second month in a row, keeping the prospect of a rate hike there on the table.

The U.S. dollar was on the front foot in Asian hours after a stormy week that saw the yen, euro and sterling make significant gains against the greenback as investors fully price in a rate cut from the Federal Reserve as soon as September.

The yen was at 157.35 per dollar after touching a six-week high of 155.375 on Thursday in the wake of suspected interventions by Tokyo last week that could total nearly 6 trillion yen ($38.14 billion), according to data from the Bank of Japan.

VOInews, Jakarta:  Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn considered the views and recommendations of the Federation of Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) important to improve industry in Southeast Asia.

Japan's recommendations are important because the Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry operate throughout the ASEAN region and experience ASEAN business operations firsthand, Kao said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/7).

"It is important for us to listen to the issues and concerns that have been raised and formulate them into policy recommendations," Kao said.

The ASEAN Secretary-General continued that the recommendations would be shared with ASEAN member countries and would continue to ensure that the organization would address existing problems at a practical level.

Kao argued that Southeast Asia has so far been the main investment destination for various parties, for that ASEAN needs to ensure that the region remains attractive to foreign investors.

"Japan is one of our main partners who wants to see investment continue," he said.

In addition, Kao argued that Japan has a great interest in the digital economy.

He added that Japan and ASEAN need to focus on training because someone needs to have digital skills to improve the skills of the ASEAN community.

Kao emphasized that the energy transition and circular economy are also top priorities for ASEAN in addition to the digital economy, green economy and blue economy.

"We hope that Japan will continue to make ASEAN a priority for the entry of PMA (Foreign Direct Investment)," said Kao.

Source: Antaranews

Ilustration of Factory (Photo by: Pexels.com)

VOINews, Jakarta: As part of the Tiongkok Atomic Energy Authority's (CAEA) nuclear industry development plan, the natural uranium project is being developed by the Tiongkok National Nuclear Corporation. This project aims to establish a top-tier natural uranium production base, prioritizing environmentally friendly, economical, intelligent, and efficient operations.

The project will employ an advanced mining process utilizing carbon dioxide and oxygen leaching. Unlike conventional underground mining methods, this technique can extract uranium through a closed-loop circulation of uranium solution without bringing ore to the surface for processing.

With this method, natural uranium production can achieve zero emissions of wastewater, gas, and solid waste, thus promoting sustainable operations with low carbon emissions.

The project will also integrate various advanced technologies such as automation, remote and centralized control, and big data analysis to achieve intelligent operational analysis and precision mining.

Upon completion, the project will significantly enhance Tiongkok's capacity for natural uranium supply and bolster the independent innovation capabilities and international competitiveness of the natural uranium industry, according to CAEA.

Natural uranium is the foundational material for the development of Tiongkok's nuclear industry and is a critical strategic resource and energy mineral essential for national security.

In 2023, nuclear power plants in Mainland Tiongkok generated 440,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, accounting for nearly 5 percent of the total national electricity output. The country has established an independent and comprehensive nuclear industry chain system, ensuring a safe and stable supply of nuclear fuel./Antara/VOI

Children relax in a fountain in Los Angeles, California, United States (July 5, 2024). ANTARA/Xinhua/Zeng Hui/aa.

VOINews, Jakarta: A severe heatwave has gripped a significant portion of the United States this summer, with large areas of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah under extreme heat warnings, according to official data and media reports.

As quoted by Antara on Saturday, more than 60 million U.S. residents have received heatwave warnings from the National Weather Service. Summer temperatures in these areas often range between 10 and 30 degrees above average, as reported by The New York Times on Friday (July 12).

"The consequences are increasingly evident in emergency rooms across the country. Medical workers are facing patients suffering from heatstroke, with body temperatures soaring to potentially fatal levels if not treated promptly," said The New York Times.

Approximately 2,300 people died from heat-related illnesses in the U.S. in 2023, a threefold increase from the annual average between 2004 and 2018. In the same year, nearly 120,000 emergency room visits related to heat were recorded nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention./Antara/VOI

VOInews, Singapore: Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, was awarded the Singapore Meritorious Service Medal by the Singapore Government during a working visit to Singapore to protect national interests through military diplomacy, at the Singapore Ministry of Defence office here on Thursday (11/07/2024).

"I am very proud and feel it is an honour for me and my family to receive this award," the TNI Commander said during a meeting with Singapore's Minister for Defence DR Ng Eng Hen.

According to tni.mil.id, the TNI Commander was presented with Singapore's prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera), by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam through Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence office in Singapore.

"The award is in recognition of his contribution in strengthening the close defence relationship and cooperation between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff (KASAD)," Puspen TNI wrote. 

Under the leadership of General Agus Subiyanto, the two armed forces expanded professional interactions and people-to-people relations through regular high-level visits, courses, professional exchanges and bilateral and multilateral exercises. These interactions have enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding between the personnel of the two armed forces.

Beginning with a meeting with the Chief of the Singapore Armed Forces (CDF SAF) Vice Admiral Aaron Beng to discuss future cooperation between the TNI and the SAF, the TNI Commander then held a CC with Singapore's Minister of Defence, a CC with Singapore's Prime Minister and continued with the co-chairmanship of the 25th Indonesia-Singapore High Level Committee. 

Source: tni.mil.id

File photo of the central business district (CBD) in Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari) -

VOInews, Singapore : Singapore's economy grew 2.9 per cent in the second quarter of the year compared with the same period a year ago, according to advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Friday (Jul 12).

This was slightly slower than the 3 per cent growth recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted basis, Singapore's economy expanded 0.4 per cent in the April to June period, slightly faster than the 0.3 per cent reported in the first quarter.

Advance gross domestic product estimates are computed largely from data gathered in the first two months of the quarter.

They are intended as an early indicator of GDP growth for the quarter and may be revised when more comprehensive data is available, the ministry said. The advance estimate for GDP in the first quarter was 2.7 per cent, but was revised to 3.0 per cent.

The manufacturing sector grew 0.5 per cent in the second quarter compared with a year ago, reversing a contraction of 1.7 per cent in the first quarter. 

"Growth in the sector was supported by output expansions across all manufacturing clusters, except for the biomedical manufacturing and precision engineering clusters," MTI said in its release.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted basis, the sector expanded by 0.6 per cent, compared with the 5.3 per cent contraction of the first three months of the year.

The group of sectors comprising the information and communications, finance and insurance and professional services sectors recorded the biggest growth of 5.6 per cent in the second quarter, though it was a slight moderation from the 5.7 per cent expansion in the previous quarter.

In the information and communications sector, growth was supported by continued strong demand for IT and digital solutions. For the finance and insurance sector, activities supplementary to financial services, banking and fund management segments supported growth.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the group of sectors grew 1.4 per cent. It shrank 2.8 per cent in the previous quarter.

The construction sector extended growth, expanding by 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, versus 4.1 per cent in the first quarter. The growth was boosted by an increase in public sector construction output.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the construction sector was back in the black at 2.4 per cent, compared with a contraction of 1.9 per cent in the first quarter.

The group comprising accommodation and food services, real estate, administrative and support services and other services grew 1.9 per cent in the second quarter, down from 3 per cent in the first quarter.

Besides the real estate and food services sectors, all other sectors in the group expanded.

"In particular, growth in the accommodation and administrative & support services sectors was supported by the sustained recovery in international visitor arrivals," MTI said.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted basis, the sectors in the group collectively contracted by 0.5 per cent, a pullback from the 2.3 per cent growth in the first quarter. A slew of concerts in the first three months of the year was said to have boosted consumer-facing industries that quarter.

The wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and storage sectors collectively expanded by 2.5 per cent from a year ago, moderating from the 3.9 per cent growth in the first quarter.

All sectors in the group recorded growth except for retail trade, which shrank because of a decline in sales volumes of wearing apparel and footwear, watches and jewellery and optical goods and books.

Growth in the transportation and storage sector was mainly supported by water and air transport, while wholesale trade growth was driven by machinery, equipment and supplies, and other segments.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the sectors expanded 0.7 per cent as a group, down from 2.7 per cent in the first quarter//CNA - VOI

Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Peggy the dog attend a 'Deadpool & Wolverine' UK sneak peek event in London, Britain, July 11, 2024. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska - 

VOInews, London;Britain : The global promotional tour for Deadpool & Wolverine touched down in London on Thursday (Jul 11), with stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman bringing their bromance to the movie's UK sneak peek event.

The two have entertained fans with their humorous, high-energy appearances at previous stops in Shanghai, Seoul and Berlin.

The third installment in the Deadpool movie franchise sees Jackman's Wolverine return from retirement to help wise-cracking Deadpool (Reynolds) save his world.

"It's about friendship, and friendship is another version of a love story," said Reynolds, who also co-wrote and produced the film.

"There's so many moments in the movie where it's hard to tell if Deadpool's talking to Wolverine, Wolverine talking to Deadpool, or it's Hugh and Ryan talking to each other. And I'm really proud of those moments."

Jackman had not planned to reprise the role of the gruff, clawed X-Man Wolverine. But the Australian actor said his mind started changing after he watched the first Deadpool film.

"It was something in here," he said, pointing at his heart. "I really thought I was done. And then, five or six years later, I was driving and I just knew in my bones I wanted to do that."

Secrecy surrounds the film's plot details. Respecting the characters and their legacy was at the heart of the writing process, said director and co-writer Shawn Levy.

"But then we pushed them into areas that other movies haven't," he said. "I think you're going to see some aspects to both their performances that are quite different than what we've seen in their prior films."

The only Marvel-Disney movie released this year, Deadpool & Wolverine is expected to be a box office hit when it begins its global cinematic rollout on Jul 24. It opens in Singapore on Jul 25. 

"I focus on the opportunity, not the expectation. The creative opportunity to connect with a huge global audience in a new way, in a surprising and fresh way, that was delicious," he said.

For Reynolds, 47, releasing the film to the world comes with other concerns//Reuters-VOI