Doha Talks Show Progress, South Korean Chips Rattle Markets and Singapore's 1MDB Case Goes to Trial 

Headline news for July 2, 2026: Qatar reports positive progress in indirect US-Iran talks in Doha  but the Strait of Hormuz remains designated a war zone under international shipping agreements until at least July 9. South Korea's market falls more than 5 per cent as a chipmaker selloff rattles Asi…

South Korea Smashes Export Records, Iran Snubs US Envoys and HDB Prices Fall Again

Headline news for July 1, 2026: South Korea's exports surpass one hundred billion US dollars for the first time ever in June, up 70.9 per cent on AI-driven chip demand. Iran refuses to meet US envoys in Doha saying ceasefire terms must be resolved first. Singapore's HDB resale prices fall for a sec…

Supreme Court Shields Fed, Delegations Head to Doha and Indonesia's Nadiem Verdict Today 

Headline news for June 30, 2026: The U.S. Supreme Court blocks President Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook while dramatically expanding his power to fire all other independent agency heads. Iran and the US send delegations to Doha this week but Tehran says the two sides are not a…

Iran and the US Stand Down, South Korea Unveils a Chip Mega-Hub

Headline news for June 29, 2026: Iran fires on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain over the weekend before both sides agree to stand down and resume talks in Qatar on Tuesday. South Korea is set to unveil a semiconductor mega-hub that could attract hundreds of billions in Samsung and SK investment. Vene…

UN Pauses Hormuz Evacuation, Taiwan Shuts Down and Oil Slides 

Headline news for June 26, 2026: The UN pauses its Strait of Hormuz evacuation operation after a cargo vessel is struck near Oman,  two U.S. officials say Iran fired the projectile, even as overall tanker traffic hits its highest daily flow since the war began. Five million people in southern Taiwa…

ICC Judges Sue Trump, Japan Hit by Earthquake and Oil Falls 

Headline news for June 25, 2026: Three International Criminal Court judges sue President Trump in Manhattan, calling his sanctions a financial death penalty. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes northern Japan this morning with no casualties reported but Shinkansen services suspended. Oil falls to it…

Has the Singapore dream become harder to reach?

By many measures, Singapore continues to perform strongly economically. Yet some Singaporeans feel their personal aspirations are becoming more difficult to realise. In this episode of Lens on Singapore, Claressa Monteiro speaks with Professor Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, director of Social Sciences at A*S…

Congress Rebukes Trump on Iran, Peace Talks Story Unravels and Asian Markets Bounce Back

Headline news for June 24, 2026: Both chambers of Congress have passed a war powers resolution directing President Trump to end the Iran war though it carries no binding legal force. The US and Iran offer conflicting accounts of what was agreed in Switzerland, casting doubt on the peace framework. …

Iran Sanctions Waived, SpaceX Loses US$6 Billion in Three Days and Malaysia's Rulers Meeting Is Called Off 

Headline news for June 23, 2026: The US formally waives Iran sanctions as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumes but full oil flow recovery could take until December. SpaceX shares fall sixteen per cent in a single session, wiping out more than six hundred billion US dollars over three…

Fragile Diplomacy, Nervous Markets, and Fresh Investment in Singapore

Headline news for June 22, 2026: As US-Iran peace talks enter a critical phase, investors remain wary of the risks to global energy supplies and economic stability. Closer to home, Singapore's currency outlook remains resilient, while AI firm Databricks signals continued confidence in the Republic …