Business

• The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026 recognized 69 ESG champions on July 2, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for their commitment to sustainable and inclusive business practices. • Key awardees include Osotspa Public Company Limited and Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad for Green Leadership, alongside Panasonic Holdings Corporation and Cathay United Bank for Social Empowerment. • The awards highlight how regional leaders are utilizing digital transformation and innovation to drive environmental regeneration and social impact across Asia.

• Head coach Hong Myung-bo and nine players of the South Korean national soccer team returned to Incheon International Airport on the morning of June 30. • The team's return follows their elimination from the group stage of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. • Upon arrival, the team was met with hostility, including boos and shouts from disappointed fans.

• On July 1, 2026, Mizuho released an investment analysis focusing on Meta's (META) business outlook and the potential of its aMetacompute division. • The report suggests that while the aMetacompute division presents significant growth opportunities, there are inherent risks and challenges associated with its implementation. • This analysis matters as it provides institutional guidance on whether Meta's pivot toward advanced computing infrastructure will drive long-term shareholder value.

• Factory activity in several Asian emerging economies, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, expanded or remained steady in June. • Specific data shows the Philippines' activity index held at 50.9, while Malaysia's rose to 50.7 from 49.9 in May. • This growth is driven by a global surge in AI demand, which is helping export-reliant economies offset economic pain caused by ongoing wars.

• London-based Tapestry VC has launched Fund III with a total of €70 million ($80 million), co-anchored by the British Business Bank. • The new fund aims to double the firm's scale and specifically target repeat founders at the Seed and pre-Seed stages in Europe. • This strategy follows a 100% "graduation" rate for recent serial founder bets, with companies like Sunrise Robotics, Maze AI, Tracebit, and Requesty AI securing €100 million Series A rounds or acquisition offers.

• Global investors poured US$8.2 billion into bonds across Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia in June, marking a peak in inflows for over two years. • This surge in funding occurs despite ongoing market concerns regarding potential interest rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve. • Investors are now awaiting upcoming inflation data from China, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines to determine if price pressures are stabilizing.

• The ASIFMA 2026 Asia-Pacific Capital Markets Survey has identified the top eight markets in the APAC region for ease of doing business. • Leading jurisdictions include Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, India, Taiwan, China Mainland, and South Korea. • The survey highlights 11 key product and service lines targeted for expansion, led by Equities, Fixed Income, FX, Asset Management, and ESG & Sustainability.

• India is facing a significant AI talent crisis in 2024, with only 420,000 professionals available against an industry requirement of 600,000. • This gap represents a talent shortfall of nearly 50%, creating a critical bottleneck for businesses attempting to integrate artificial intelligence. • The shortage is described as a growing business crisis that could hinder India's ability to maintain its competitive edge in the global tech landscape.

Yorgen Fenech, heir to property empire, on trial for alleged involvement in murder of journalist in 2017One of Malta’s wealthiest businessmen plotted to kill the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, paying €150,000 (£130,000) for three hitmen to carry out the murder, a jury has heard.Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes the Hilton Malta hotel and casino, is on trial for the 2017 murder. Continue reading...

• Europe holds €37 trillion in savings, yet a significant portion fails to reach businesses due to a lack of integrated capital markets. • EU leadership views a comprehensive Capital Markets Union (CMU) as essential for competing with the US in strategic sectors, specifically AI and defense. • Despite this priority, member states remain reluctant to deepen integration, hindering the creation of a unified financial system.