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Asia-pacific

iPhone 15 Pro

China bans iPhone use by government employees, Apple stocks in freefall

China is Apple’s third-largest market and accounted for 18 per cent of its total revenue in 2022

China bans seafood from Japan

China bans seafood from Japan, restaurants brace for cost jump

Beijing curbs food imports from multiple prefectures in Japan as Tokyo begins to release wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

The science behind Japan’s plan to empty Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater into Pacific

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed the process will start on August 24 after a meeting of a cabinet panel

Mukesh Ambani Jio Financial Services

Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Financial makes disappointing debut on BSE, NSE

Jio Financial plans to digitally deliver a range of products in the non-banking financial consumer market in India

China Evergrande Group files bankruptcy

China Evergrande files Chapter 15 bankruptcy in New York

The Chinese builder has been working for months to finalise an offshore debt restructuring plan

India marks its 77th independence day

India at 77: A rising economic force

With 6-6.5 per cent GDP growth expected in 2023-24, India is set to enter the league of three largest economies before 2030

rice price

Soaring rice prices stretch budgets for billions in Asia, Africa

Rice contributes as much as 60 per cent of total calorie intake for people in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa

China'es economy enters a delation period

China slides into deflation as consumer, producer prices decline

A prolonged property market slump, plunging demand for exports and subdued consumer spending are weighing on the economy’s recovery

Gautam adani

Bain to buy majority stake in Adani Capital, Adani Housing

The sale of Adani Capital will help Gautam Adani cut liabilities on his conglomerate’s balance sheet as it focuses on its infrastructure development businesses

US Treasuries

Here are the Asia bank earnings to watch after Wall Street results fuel optimism

Wall Street behemoths such as Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup beat analysts’ expectations in the second quarter, sparking anticipation about a similar upswing in Asia

Malaysia

MDEC: $2.8tn ripe for digitalisation in global Islamic economy

Muslims worldwide estimated to spend $2.8tn by 2025 on Islamic faith-inspired consumption needs – and Malaysia looks to capture digitalisation opportunities in the sector through MDEC

Islamic Digital Economy

Startups injecting fresh innovations to Malaysia’s Islamic Digital Economy

The ASEAN nation continues to be an excellent market for Islamic fintech players to make a mark in the region

Investcorp Tokyo Japan

Bahrain’s Investcorp launches presence in Japan

The firm has appointed Professor Heizo Takenaka as the chairman of Investcorp Japan

Tajikistan-China

Magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes Tajikistan-China border

It occurred near the border between the northwestern Chinese Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan

Qatar

Qatar Airways Cargo resumes passenger freighter service to Penang

The service will recommence from February 2, 2023

Mashreq acquires digital banking license to commence operations in Pakistan

Mashreq acquires digital banking licence to commence operations in Pakistan

The lender aims to invest in the country’s rural infrastructure, including microfinance institutions

Apple

Key Apple partners plan expansion in Southeast Asia in 2023

In addition to producing iPhones in China, Foxconn and Pegatron now make some of Apple’s iconic handsets in India

Emirates to resume passenger services to Shanghai, Beijing

Dubai’s Emirates to resume passenger services to Shanghai, Beijing

The carrier’s four weekly flights to Guangzhou will also increase to a daily service from February 1

UAE, Japan to sign MoU on establishing joint business council

The formation of the council is aimed at developing joint projects and exchange expertise

codeshare agreement

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, Garuda Indonesia expand codeshare agreement

The expansion of the agreement will strengthen both airlines’ networks beyond Abu Dhabi and Jakarta hubs

Japan

Emiratis can travel to Japan without a visa from November 1

The decision coincides with the launch of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the UAE and Japan

Dubai’s Emirates A380 touches down in Bengaluru

The special service arrived on October 14, ahead of scheduled A380 operations which will commence on October 30

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE

Non-oil trade between UAE, China crosses Dhs1.72tn in 10 years

Non-oil trade between the two countries in the first half of 2022 amounted to Dhs118.4bn

Indian exports to GCC rise 44% to $43.9bn in FY 2021-22: FIEO

FIEO officials said paper and allied products exports to the GCC touched $638m in 2021 with the UAE taking a major share in the trade at $386m

Samsung

Samsung warns chip industry is headed for tough close to 2022

Samsung announced plans for an advanced $17bn chip plant in Taylor, Texas, with construction slated to start later this year

Whatsapp

WhatsApp rolls out in-app shopping product with India’s JioMart

The new feature lets users in India shop for products from JioMart, and pay for them directly within the app

IPOs

Here are Asia’s biggest IPOs to watch for the second half

Share sales globally plummeted some 70 per cent from a year ago in the first half, to levels not seen in almost two decades

UAE, Indonesia sign agreement

UAE, Indonesia sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement

The pact will help increase annual bilateral trade to $10bn within five years by removing trade barriers on a range of goods and services

UAE President receives Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the UAE President and the people on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Mukesh Ambani resigns, son Akash Ambani succeeds as chairman

Mukesh Ambani resigns, son Akash Ambani succeeds as chairman

Mukesh will continue to be the chairman of Jio Platforms Ltd, the flagship company that owns all Jio digital services brands