Andrew Hammond

The 2026 Davos theme is “a spirit of dialogue” addressing issues from responsible innovation to investing in people in the age of AI.

World Economic Forum 2026: Hope for ‘multi-bilateralism’

As the world fragments towards multiple poles, Davos holds out for a possible yet fragile new global economic order

Exporters of high-carbon industrial products such as steel, iron, aluminium (above), cement and fertilisers will be most affected.

Can the EU withstand the pushback against its carbon levy?

Brussels must defend its climate goals and prove its policy is the future of trade

Greenland, which is currently about 80 per cent ice-capped, is almost 2.17 million sq km in size. It boasts the world’s northernmost territory, the closest land to the North Pole.

Geoeconomics, not just geopolitics, fuels the Greenland dispute

With mineral reserves valued at around US$186 billion, the island offers more than a security buffer

Trump has become the proverbial fox in the henhouse at WEF with his “America First” mantra.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Tariffs, geopolitical tension and a US$800 billion deal: World Economic Forum 2026

Businesses batten down at Davos as global policy uncertainty reaches two-decade high

Downtown Jakarta (above). The city already faces traffic congestion and air pollution, and is sinking at the rate of 20 to 25 cm a year in some areas.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Jakarta is now the world’s largest city, but it isn’t ready for the challenges

A new UN report highlights the rise of Asia’s megacities and the urgent need for them to have the infrastructure for climate...

Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs Sayyid Shihab Tariq Al Said welcoming India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Muscat, Oman, on Dec 17, 2025.

India trade pivot accelerated by Trump tariffs

It is moving towards trade deals with richer nations so Indian companies can find their niche in global supply chains

After January 1, a levy equivalent to the emissions produced in the manufacturing process of the imported products will be required in the form of purchasing CBAM certificates.

New EU measure reshapes global decarbonisation landscape

It is the first time that the price of carbon in a defined jurisdiction will be externalised beyond borders

For Australia’s neighbours in Asean, the Bondi incident is a stark reminder that the region’s shared security bubble remains fragile.

Bondi attack: A grim reminder for security across Australia and Asia

The concern for security agencies is the potential for radicalisation to fester undetected within family units

Beijing has now surpassed Washington as the world’s largest economy by purchasing power parity.

What 2026 holds for Asean on the US-China fault line

The new year could be defined by more disruptive Chinese exports, rising competition and the necessity of difficult balancing acts

Western powers, especially the US, have stepped up attempts in 2025 to prise apart Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Putin’s productive Asia trip gives boost to business ties with India

Warmth of Modi-Putin relationship worries some of the West’s Asian allies, including those in Asean