ASEAN Countries

As her landmark trial continues in Los Angeles, a California woman will?testify in court? on Thursday about the harm that?using Google's YouTube and?Meta Platforms’ Instagram as a child caused her mental health. Kaley G.M. In court, Kaley G.M. Her lawyers claim that the companies wanted to make money 'by hooking children onto their services, despite their knowledge of how social media can harm their mental health. Kaley G.M. Kaley G.M. This case is part of a global backlash against social-media companies for alleged harms caused to children and teenagers. Australia has banned children under 16 from using such platforms. Other...

The chief of Indonesia's sovereign fund, 'Danantara Indonesia,' announced that the fund launched six projects worth $7 billion in the 'natural resources processing' sector, including an energy refinery for green energy by Pertamina. Rosan Roeslani, CEO of the company, stated that other projects include construction of aluminum and alumina smelters as well as an ethanol plant. These projects are part of the '18 priority projects for the sector of natural resources processing that the government will launch this year, with a total investment amounting to 618 trillion Rupiah (US$36.7 billion). Roeslani stated during the launch that "the president stressed the...

Trafigura, a global energy trading company, has a plan to restore African woodlands. It has selected its first four projects for carbon removal and plans to invest at least $1 billion in each project over. The projects are part of the Miombo Restoration Alliance - a public-private partnership with 11 governments in central and southern Africa. They cover over 675,000 acres and aim to restore forests that will remove more than 50 million tons climate-damaging gasses. The alliance, which will be launched at New York Climate week?2024, aims to restore Miombo Woodlands, an eco-system that supports more than 300 million...

Donald Trump's Greenland trade threat and U-turn may have marked a turning point for "middle power" countries around the world. They now see a much more realistic chance of rebooting globalization, with or without Washington. In this?year the U.S. President has moved from using tariffs as a tool of territorial and militaristic leverage to using them to air longstanding trade grievances. For the first time ever, this strategy was met with retaliation and a credible resistance, which forced a retreat. Europe, Canada, and other economies continue to pursue their own trade liberalisation, even as the U.S. retreats towards protectionism and...

Trafigura, a trading house, has sold its first shipment of Venezuelan crude oil, as part of an agreement between Caracas, Venezuela, and Washington for the supply of 50 million barrels of oil. The Spanish refiner Repsol is expected to receive a shipment of this quantity. Two sources stated that the cargo should be delivered to Repsol by mid-February. Trafigura and Repsol have declined to comment. The agreement would be one of the first to sell Venezuelan oil in Europe since the United States captured Venezuela's leader at the beginning of this month, and struck an agreement with Caracas for the...

Trafigura, a trading house, sold a 'cargo' of Venezuelan oil, to a Spanish refiner. Vitol, a rival, was preparing to export Venezuelan fuel as shipments from the OPEC nation accelerated, according to oil industry sources. U.S. officials reported that Vitol, Trafigura and other companies obtained their first U.S. licensing to load and export Venezuelan crude oil earlier this month. Initial sales reached $500 million or approximately 11 million barrels last week, they said. U.S. officials said that other companies, such as U.S. giant Chevron, were waiting for Washington's exemptions from U.S. sanctions against Venezuela before expanding exports. According to industry...

Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Malaysia's national energy company On 'Monday, it filed a motion with the top court of the country to clarify the legal and regulatory framework governing its operations in Sarawak. The filing comes after negotiations between Petronas, a Sarawak-based energy company, and Petros about gas distribution in the State stalled. The talks have been in a deadlock since 2024 due to competing regulatory claims. Petronas stated in a press release that it was requesting a Federal Court determination on the legal position?applicable for its Sarawak operations so as to ensure compliance with relevant laws?and governance framework. The statement...

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated on Monday the $7.4-billion?upgrade to Pertamina’s Balikpapan Refinery. This upgrade increased the facility’s capacity for refining from 260,000 barrels per day to 360,000, making it the largest refinery in the country. Pertamina, Indonesia's state-owned energy company, has spent years improving its refinery capacity and efficiency to meet the rising demand for energy in the country. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia stated that the upgrade would enable the refinery's production to increase of 92-octane and 95-octane?and 98?octane?gasoline. He said that private retailers will buy local products made by Pertamina. He did not give a timeframe. Bahlil stated...

Commodities trading houses Trafigura &?Vitol agreed to provide marketing and logistical services for the sale of Venezuelan oil, at the request of?U.S. A Trafigura spokesperson confirmed this via email. First reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the discussions, that both companies were in negotiations with the U.S. Government for such deals. They were in competition with U.S. producers of oil and other commodities traders for lucrative deals to export Venezuelan oil. U.S. officials have said that they want to control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely After the U.S. captured South American country's president Nicolas Maduro Saturday. Richard Holtum, the Chief...

The Vietnamese parliament approved on Thursday a revised bill that limits the exports of?rare earths refined and reaffirms an ore -export ban. This is in an effort to support a domestic industry that has been struggling for years to extract its significant reserves. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Vietnam has one of the largest reserves of rare earths in the world. However, earlier this year, the government agency significantly reduced its estimate of the?reserves of the country to 3.5 millions metric tons from 22 million tonnes. The new law states that "deep processing must be associated with building...

The authorities battling the floods that hit Sumatra, an island in Indonesia, this week and killed around 800 people have asked for additional central government assistance to address shortages of food, fuel and funds. According to updated government figures, 463 people are missing in West Sumatra (North Sumatra), Aceh and West Sumatra. Local officials say that the lack of power and roads is preventing aid from reaching those who need it. Iskandar Al-Farlaky, the chief of East Aceh, stated that fuel had been limited in East Aceh for days and that aid was delivered by boat. Some people who lived...

The authorities battling the floods that hit Indonesia's Sumatra island this week, which killed 804 people, have asked for more help from the central government to address shortages in funds, fuel and food. Local government officials say that landslides and floods caused by cyclones have led to 634 deaths in the three provinces West Sumatra (North Sumatra), Aceh and West Sumatra. They also claim that power lines and roads were cut, preventing aid from reaching those who needed it. Teuku Raja Keumangan told Kompas TV that "people are getting sick" in Aceh where flooding has affected 25,000 people. Haili Yogi,...

Aluminum?prices jumped to their highest level?in over a month?on Monday, after U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran fueled concerns about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Iran is a major producer. Benchmark aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange were up 3.1% to $3,236 per metric ton by 1050 GMT, after reaching $3,254 at its highest level since January 29. Investors closely monitor developments in the Strait o'Hormuz. This important trade route for commodities was disrupted when Iran attacked U.S. bases in the region. Neil Welsh, Britannia Global Markets said: "Base metals have risen this morning on the back of concerns...

Malaysia has renewed Lynas Rare Earths’ operating license?for ten?more?years?to 'import raw material containing natural radioactive materials and process rare Earths,' the Australian miner announced on Monday. By 0131 GMT the shares of Lynas had risen as much as 7 % to A$20.30, their highest level since October 21, 2025. The benchmark ASX 200 index was down around 0.5%. Lynas, who is the Malaysian Department for Atomic Energy, said that they are expected to issue a?formal license soon. The Southeast Asian country raised concerns about the radiation levels?from the cracking and leaching process, raising fears that Lynas?license would not be renewed....

Prices of copper hit a 4-week high on Friday and are on course for a 7th consecutive monthly gain. Demand optimism has outweighed worries about stocks piling up in warehouses registered at major exchanges. The benchmark three-month copper price on the 'London Metal Exchange' rose by 1.3% in open-outcry official trading to $13,482 per metric ton after reaching $13,527, its highest level since January 30. After a wave speculative purchases, the metal used for power and construction reached a record high on January 29, reaching $14,527.50. One metals trader stated that base metals were also supported by the?investment need for...

The price of copper fell on Thursday, after reaching a two-week high in the previous session. A stronger dollar and rising inventories dampened expectations about a recovery in demand from China, the top consumer of the metal in the world. In official open outcry, the benchmark?three-month?copper price on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.3% to $13,286 a metric ton. The metal had reached $13,350 during the previous session. This was the highest level since February 11. Shanghai Futures Exchange also saw a similar high overnight. The Chinese have returned to the market since the first day of the Lunar New...

The copper price rose to a two-week high on Wednesday, as growth and demand optimism dominated. This was after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump could not impose sweeping'reciprocal tariffs. At 1706 GMT, benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was?up 1.1% to $13,318 per metric ton after reaching $13,335 in the previous session. This is the highest level since February 11. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down last week tariffs that Trump imposed under a law intended for use during?national emergency'. David Wilson, BNP Paribas commodities analyst, said that the Asian markets benefitted from the Supreme...

China's dominance in critical mineral supply chain is not as absolute it might appear. Cobalt is a good example. According to the International Energy Agency, China will account for 78% global refined production of battery metal by 2024. It lacks significant mining capacity and is therefore highly dependent on imported raw materials. The export controls of the Democratic Republic of Congo have exposed this vulnerability. This is the biggest source of cobalt products for Chinese processors. Congo suspended exports of cobalt in February and implemented a quota-based system in October. The fourth quarter of the year saw a near-standstill in...

The copper price rose on Tuesday to its highest level in more than a month, fueled by a positive mood and a stronger demand from China, the world's largest metal consumer, after markets reopened following a holiday. Benchmark?copper for three months on the London Metal Exchange?had gained 2.4% by 1700 GMT to $13,182 per metric ton after reaching its highest price of $13,196 since February 12. LME copper fell 0.7% on Sunday, but has gained 22.5% over the last three months. However, it is still well below its record high of $14,527.50, set on January 29. Alastair Munro is a...

Prices of copper fell on Monday as inventories continued to rise. Investors were also unsure about the future of U.S. Tariffs and Chinese Trading ahead of reopening following a holiday. Benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.9% to $12,843 per metric tonne by 1700 GMT. It had earlier reached a session high of more than $13,050. LME copper is up about 3% in the last four sessions but still far below its record high of $14,57.50 on January 29, which was reached. The fact that there is more inventory outside the U.S. may be a little dampener...

According to an IDX official and an analysis of publicly available data, nearly one third of the companies listed on 'the Indonesia Stock Exchange', including its largest listings, could be affected by capital markets reforms promised by Jakarta. This could potentially unleash over $11 billion of new share supply. Indonesia has announced a number of capital market reforms after index provider MSCI warned in late January that the country could be downgraded to frontier status by May due to the opacity on the market, which'may have enabled price manipulation. The plan includes a key component of raising the minimum level...

The prices of copper, aluminium, and other base metals rose on Friday as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned sweeping tariffs that were imposed by President Donald Trump in accordance with a law meant to address national emergencies. London?Metal Exchange benchmark 3-month copper increased 0.8% to $12,917 per metric ton at 1720 GMT. It had previously reached $12,985.50, its highest level in a week. Aluminium also rose 1.2% to $3103.50. The ruling is "constructive" for base metals, as it reduces the near-term risk to global trade flows and demand. The upside will likely be limited, however, given that some sector-specific duties...

The price of copper rose on Wednesday after a drop to a low that was more than a week old. Investors bought the dip, and industrial metals prices followed a rebound in tech stocks. As of 1700 GMT the benchmark?copper price on?the London Metal Exchange had risen 2.2% to $12,893 per metric ton, having earlier climbed to $12,941. The metal fell 1.8% Tuesday, reaching its lowest level since February 6. Due to the Lunar New Year, traders in China, a major metals consumer, were mostly absent. Tom Price, a Panmure Liberum analyst, stated that traders "rarely leave significant capital on...

The price of copper fell on Tuesday due to a'stronger dollar' and a rise in inventories at London Metal Exchange-registered storage facilities, as well as low trading volumes because of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. Benchmark three-month "copper" on the London Metal Exchange fell 1.8% to $12,619 per metric ton at 1702 GMT, after reaching its lowest level since February 6 (12,586). Metal, which is used for power and construction, has fallen 13% since a record high was reached on January 29,?on the back of a wave speculative purchases, encouraged by expectations that demand would be strong. The high...