<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>JAKARTA (July 15): Indonesian state coal miner PT Bukit Asam and state research agency BRIN launched a pilot project on Monday to convert coal into artificial graphite and anode sheet, components used to make lithium-ion batteries.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The resources-rich Indonesia aims to become a production hub for batteries and electric vehicles, mainly from its abundant nickel reserves <span jsslot=""><span>—</span></span> the biggest in the world.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>"The implementation of an anode sheet made from coal is the first in the world, so it could be an important breakthrough in coal processing," Bukit Asam chief executive Arsal Ismail said in a statement.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The technology could be implemented in EV batteries as well as other energy storage technology and electronics, the company said, adding commercial viability of the project may require further assessment.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><i>Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja</i></p></div>


Indonesian state coal miner PT Bukit Asam and state research agency BRIN launched a pilot project on Monday to convert coal into artificial graphite and anode sheet, components used to make lithium-ion batteries.

Indonesia's Bukit Asam launches pilot project to convert coal into battery parts

Oil prices, which were little changed in early Asian trade on Friday, were on track to end higher for a second straight week following a large cut in US interest rates and declining global stockpiles.

Oil prices set to end week higher after US rate cut

Japan's core consumer inflation accelerated for the fourth straight month in August and tracked comfortably above the central bank's 2% target, data showed on Friday, keeping alive expectations for further interest rate hikes.

Japan's core inflation accelerates for fourth month in August

Social media companies collect, share and process vast troves of information about their users while offering little transparency or control, including over how it is used by systems incorporating artificial intelligence, the US Federal Trade Commission said in a report released on Thursday.

Social media users lack control over data used by AI, US FTC says

Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Philippines are expected to boost coal trade and consumption this decade, industry officials say, even as demand from top consumer China approaches its peak.

Southeast Asia expected to boost coal trade as China approaches peak

Thailand’s baht is on course for its biggest quarterly gain since the Asian financial crisis, threatening to derail a recovery in the nation’s key tourism and export industries.

Baht’s biggest rally since 1998 threatens Thailand’s tourism, exports

Asia was set to extend a rally that pushed global stocks to fresh highs as jobs data supported the view the Federal Reserve (Fed) can engineer a soft landing for the US economy. The yen was steady as traders prepare for inflation data and an interest rate decision in Japan.

Asian markets set to extend rally as global stocks soar to new highs

Wall Street traders betting the Federal Reserve (Fed) will be able to engineer a soft landing spurred a rally in riskier corners of the market, with stocks hitting all-time highs.

S&P 500 hits record high buoyed by economic hopes

Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) is exploring the use of advanced water treatment technologies through artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor, predict and detect the quality of raw water from Selangor’s rivers before it is treated at the state’s 34 water treatment plants.

Air Selangor looking into AI solutions to better manage water pollution

Wheat fell as weak demand and improving weather in the US overshadowed an outsized interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve.
 
Futures in Chicago dipped as much as 1.8%, extending losses this week amid weaker exports for European Union soft wheat and better conditions for US winter wheat planting.

Wheat drops as weak demand, better US weather outweigh Fed cut

Europe's incoming antitrust chief Teresa Ribera plans to loosen the bloc's competition rules to strengthen European industries and speed up regulatory scrutiny of merger deals, according to an interview in Spanish newspaper El Pais on Thursday.

Incoming EU antitrust chief Ribera plans to ease antitrust rules, says El Pais

<p>The 50-basis-point (bps) policy rate cut by the US Federal Reserve early on Wednesday is expected to stimulate domestic consumption in the US and keep its economy from slowing too rapidly.</p>


US Fed rate cut fuels optimism for sustained Malaysian export recovery after August growth beats

<p>The US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) recent interest rate cut is expected to ease capital inflows into Malaysia, boosting the ringgit and supporting local equities, according to economists and market analysts.</p>


US Fed's 50-bp rate cut seen unleashing funds into Malaysian assets 

<p>The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped to a four-month low last week, pointing to solid job growth in September and offering confirmation that the economy continued to expand in the third quarter.</p>


US weekly jobless claims drop to four-month low

<p>Asia was set to extend a rally that pushed global stocks to fresh highs as jobs data supported the view the Federal Reserve (Fed) can engineer a soft landing for the US economy. The yen was steady as traders prepare for inflation data and an interest rate decision in Japan.</p>


<p>Sales of existing US homes fell in August to a 10-month low on persistent affordability challenges ahead of a recent decline in mortgage rates.</p>

<p>Contract closings decreased 2.5% from a month earlier to a 3.86 million annualised rate, according to figures released on Thursday from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).</p>


US existing-home sales drop to lowest level since October

<p>KESM Industries Bhd (KL:KESM) slipped into the red in its fourth quarter ended July 31, 2024 (4QFY2024) with a net loss of RM977,000 versus a net profit of RM316,000 a year ago, as revenue fell amid lower sales from automotive chip processing.</p>


KESM slips into the red in 4Q as revenue from automotive chip processing drops

<p>Thailand’s baht is on course for its biggest quarterly gain since the Asian financial crisis, threatening to derail a recovery in the nation’s key tourism and export industries.</p>


<p>Wall Street rallied on Thursday with the S&amp;P 500 hitting another intraday record high after the Federal Reserve kicked off its easing cycle with half-a-percentage point reduction and forecast more cuts were on the horizon.</p>


Wall Street jumps with tech stocks in the lead after Fed kicks off easing cycle

<p>Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Philippines are expected to boost coal trade and consumption this decade, industry officials say, even as demand from top consumer China approaches its peak.</p>


<p>Wall Street traders betting the Federal Reserve (Fed) will be able to engineer a soft landing spurred a rally in riskier corners of the market, with stocks hitting all-time highs.</p>


<p>Japan's core consumer inflation accelerated for the fourth straight month in August and tracked comfortably above the central bank's 2% target, data showed on Friday, keeping alive expectations for further interest rate hikes.</p>


<p>Social media companies collect, share and process vast troves of information about their users while offering little transparency or control, including over how it is used by systems incorporating artificial intelligence, the US Federal Trade Commission said in a report released on Thursday.</p>


<p>Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) is exploring the use of advanced water treatment technologies through artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor, predict and detect the quality of raw water from Selangor’s rivers before it is treated at the state’s 34 water treatment plants.</p>
