Southeast Asia

Catch up with China 1. Two influential Chinese bloggers in exile have been sharing uncensored news about the country on overseas social media. Now the police are tracking down their followers in China, one by one. (Associated Press) “Teacher Li,” one of the bloggers, rose to prominence in late 2022 when he tirelessly collected and shared information on the White Paper protests in China. I talked to him at the time about the toll the work had taken on him. (MIT Technology Review) 2. Leaked internal documents from…

Uber Technologies Inc. wants to quicken an expansion into the cheaper but potentially larger market for two- and three-wheeled rides in India, extending a long-running rivalry with local provider Ola.Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi on Thursday talked about how Uber was trying out services from scooters to motorbikes in what he called his “toughest market,” providing a model for expansion in other countries. The CEO also broached the idea of bus services during an onstage conversation in Bangalore with Nandan…

A growing roster of vertical AI startups is emerging in Southeast Asia to serve sectors ranging from seafood to finance. Singapore-based venture capital firm Antler recently made a bet on 37 of them, investing $5.1 million in total for pre-seed deals. This included a strategic partnership with Khazanah, Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, which invested into seven startups. “If you look at the rest of the world, there’s lots of horizontal AI and it’s becoming insanely competitive,” Antler co-founder and managing…

Peak XV, the venture capital firm that split from Sequoia Capital last year, is taking its portfolio companies from India, Southeast Asia and Australia on an “immersion” trip to Silicon Valley this week to meet several industry titans, the latest in the venture firm’s broadening offerings and networking flex. About 60 founders, many backed by Peak XV’s powerfully influential program Surge, will join partners from the firm on the trip to meet industry leaders and visit AI research centers,…

Sunspot AR3575 has been spewing out large amounts of solar material lately, with multiple coronal mass ejections and solar flares originating from this source. On February 6, this sunspot hurled out a dangerous M-class solar flare that caused blackouts in several regions around the world. Solar activity has been on a dangerous rise in the last few months, and it is expected to increase as we approach solar maximum. Know all about the strong M-class solar flare that impacted Earth in the last few days.M-class solar…

Akasa Air Orders 150 Boeing Jets To Expand Its Presence In The Indian Aviation Market. (Photo: Akasa Air)Akasa Air elevates its game with a bold move, ordering 150 Boeing jets at 'Wings India' air show. Aiming high in Indian aviation, plans for global expansion.At WINGS India 2024, Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, has solidified its position in the aviation industry with a firm order of 150 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.The order, comprising 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets, signifies a significant…

In the middle of a long funding winter, AC Ventures’ latest news will give Southeast Asian startups hope. The Jakarta, Indonesia–based venture firm announced today it has raised $210 million, finishing the final close on its fifth fund, called ACV Fund V. Limited partners include the World’s Bank’s IFC and investors from the United States, the Middle East and North Asia. More than 50% of the fund came from returning LPs and institutional capital makes up over 90% of its total. AC Ventures has already started…

Updated Jan. 10, 2024 1:29 am ETFrasers Property’s majority owners could sell the company or some of its assets as part of a strategic review, people familiar with the situation said.One of the people said the review is in its initial stages and there is no assurance of any outcome.Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 Updated Jan. 10, 2024 1:29 am ETFrasers Property’s majority owners could sell the company or some of its assets as part of a strategic…

Updated Dec. 11, 2023 12:13 am ETHAIPHONG, Vietnam—When electric-car startup VinFast Auto was looking to build a factory in the U.S., one state caught its attention in particular: North Carolina. For years, officials there had been trying to get an automobile manufacturer to set up shop in rural Chatham County. More than a billion dollars of incentives got them the Vietnamese upstart with huge ambitions but a limited record.Copyright ©2023Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8…

Updated Dec. 11, 2023 4:29 am ETBytedance’s TikTok will invest more than $1.5 billion in a deal with GoTo Group that will allow the Chinese video-sharing app to resume retail operations in Indonesia, one of its most successful e-commerce markets.The companies said Monday that TikTok Shop Indonesia and GoTo’s Tokopedia e-commerce platform will be combined under the existing Tokopedia entity, with TikTok taking a 75% controlling stake.Copyright ©2023Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.…