Author: Amelia Bennett

[Written in partnership with UMW Toyota, but the editorial team had full control over the content.] Stroll round any car parking zone within the Klang Valley at this time and also you’re positive to identify an excellent handful of sensible vehicles like BYDs, Zeekrs, and Teslas.  The variety of electrical automobiles (EVs) possible received’t decelerate anytime quickly, particularly with Malaysia’s Budget 2026 putting a robust emphasis on electrification. Regardless of all of the hype round EVs although, hybrid automobiles stay surprisingly resilient. From Toyota’s ever-popular Corolla Cross Hybrid to its Prius, these fashions proceed to steadily roll out of dealerships.…

In a undertaking launched in cooperation with Singapore’s Nationwide Youth Council, KPMG has just announced it should provide 10,000 hours of mentoring, job shadowing, and studying exchanges for younger Singaporeans. The programme “Uncover. Expertise. Allow.” is designed to organize them for future jobs in a inexperienced and digital age, with a give attention to high-growth international sectors akin to AI, decarbonisation, and sustainable influence. It can run all through 2026 and be supplied by KPMG’s professionals to college students and younger graduates aged 19 to twenty-eight: “The initiative goals to show these youths with the human expertise that AI can…

You could find nearly anything in vending machines today—connoisseur espresso, contemporary salads, tech devices, and even medicines. These machines have clearly developed past providing simply comfort objects. You possibly can even consider them as micro-retail hubs, small, automated storefronts that deliver a variety of merchandise on to customers. And so they’re all over the place. You possibly can spot them in malls, workplace buildings, and even tucked proper exterior your HDB block. In reality, statistics reported by CNA present that merchandising machine gross sales in Singapore went up for 4 consecutive years between 2020 and 2024, from S$85.7 million to…

[This is a sponsored article with IMDA.] World commerce hit a record US$33 trillion in 2024. That very same 12 months, Singapore, one of many world’s largest buying and selling hubs, noticed over 130,000 vessels calling at its ports, with complete merchandise commerce reaching S$1,285.9 billion. It’s clear that world commerce is now transferring sooner than ever, but a shocking bottleneck stays: nearly all of commerce paperwork are nonetheless paper-based. This consists of Payments of Lading (BLs): important paperwork that show possession of products, permit shipments to be financed, and function the authorized receipt for cargo. BLs require a number of…

Koh Pei Li is a self-taught artist who creates elaborate paper flower installations When you’ve noticed large, intricate floral installations at Gardens by the Bay, Paragon, and even throughout Singapore’s public areas lately, chances are high you’ve encountered the work of Koh Pei Li.  One in every of Singapore’s few paper artists, Pei Li has carved out a particular path as a self-taught inventive, managing a rising portfolio of commissions whereas operating her personal artwork faculty. Her husband, Symond Lim, oversees operations and funds, releasing her to focus fully on her craft. We spoke with the couple to be taught…

AI is a robust software, however integration requires a broad rethinking, says Christopher Cai Disclaimer: Except in any other case said, any opinions expressed beneath belong to the creator. AI adoption in Singapore has seen vital development lately. In accordance with the 2025 Singapore Digital Economy (SGDE) Report, AI adoption amongst SMEs tripled in 2024, rising from 4.2% to 14.5%. Bigger corporations are additionally on board, with 62.5% already integrating AI into their operations. Nonetheless, many startups are nonetheless struggling to leverage AI’s potential effectively. In my expertise with SMEs and startups, I typically see them rush to implement AI…

Homegrown F&B group Artistic Eateries has been acquired by Asia White Knight Group, an funding and operations group within the franchise sector. The deal had been within the works for a few 12 months, although monetary particulars weren’t disclosed. A staple in Singapore’s restaurant scene for over 30 years, Artistic Eateries is behind widespread manufacturers like Bangkok Jam, Suki-Ya, Storm Café, Winery at HortPark, and Tanglin Cookhouse, providing a variety of eating experiences throughout the island. The acquisition, introduced right now (Nov 17), will see Artistic Eateries usher in a brand new CEO and administration group, whereas preserving all current employees.…

Kopi is turning into dearer, so that they turned to merchandising machines to make it extra accessible Singapore has a wealthy and saturated espresso scene, from heritage manufacturers like Killiney to native aesthetic cafes. However for Leow Jun Heng and Loh Jian Yuan, the nice ol’ common cup of kopi is their go-to caffeine repair. The duo first met in early 2024 by widespread associates and bonded over their love for the beverage, however quickly got here to grasp how the COVID-19 pandemic had elevated the working prices of companies, together with Singapore’s kopitiams, making a great cup of kopi…

Talks of a possible merger between Southeast Asia’s two largest tech super-apps, Seize and GoTo, have as soon as once more captured the area’s consideration. The 2 corporations—long-time rivals in ride-hailing, meals supply, and digital funds—have held on-and-off talks since early 2024, however this time, momentum seems to be constructing with the Indonesian authorities’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, stepping in to facilitate talks aimed toward making a regional tech big. If the merger goes forward, Danantara might obtain a minority stake within the mixed entity, together with particular rights over its Indonesian operations. However behind the headlines lies an even bigger query: has…

These professions are dealing with acute shortages of certified employees Disclaimer: Until in any other case said, any opinions expressed beneath belong to the writer. The record comes from the Nov 2025 replace of the scarcity occupation record by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower. Yearly in Nov, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) updates its Shortage Occupation List, which is part of its Complementarity Evaluation Framework (COMPASS) used to guage expert overseas candidates towards the wants of Singapore’s labour market. These are the strategically essential jobs for which Singapore has an acute lack of expertise, and expatriates can obtain bonus factors on…