Author: Chad Merchant
Chad Merchant
As TEG Media’s Group Editor, Chad manages the editorial team and has been heading up the myriad publications and platforms of the company since joining in February 2012. He also writes for the various magazines and websites. A lifelong writer and English language enthusiast, Chad's background is primarily in business management, though he majored in education at Auburn University, and held jobs with editorial responsibility in his home country of the United States. Chad's interests extend to photography, travel, and a passion for good food and wine, along with a love of whisky, which has led to him serving as the Event Director for TEG Media’s popular WhiskyPLUS event, held annually since 2018.
After 14 years of anticipation, Timor-Leste has officially become ASEAN’s 11th member state, marking a historic milestone for both the young nation and the regional bloc. Tears, cheers, and heartfelt embraces filled the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025, as Timor-Leste was officially welcomed into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), becoming its 11th member state. The moment, sealed during the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit, marked the culmination of a 14-year journey that began with the country’s formal application for membership in 2011. As Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the 2025 ASEAN…
The Official Beer Partner of Manchester United is giving Red Devils fans in Malaysia a chance to share their stories, celebrate their passion, and even win an unforgettable trip to the Theatre of Dreams. Tiger Beer is calling on Manchester United supporters across Malaysia to raise their voices – and their glasses – through a bold new campaign celebrating the loyalty that has united generations of fans. As part of its Roar United initiative, the brand is transforming the shared spirit of football into something lasting: a collection of stories and experiences that will travel all the way to Old Trafford itself.…
A cargo aircraft overshot the runway at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, crashing into the sea and colliding with a patrol vehicle, leaving two airport staff dead and four crew members injured. A cargo aircraft operated by Turkish carrier ACT Airlines crashed into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in the early hours of Monday, killing two airport security personnel after colliding with their patrol vehicle on the runway. The Boeing 747 freighter had arrived from Dubai and was attempting to land on the airport’s north runway when it skidded off course at around 3:50 a.m. local…
Fresh off its third consecutive international win, Malaysia’s homegrown craft brewery PaperKite is redefining what “Made in Malaysia” means, teaming up with Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur to showcase local excellence in world-class style. When PaperKite was founded in 2022, few could have predicted how far a small Malaysian brewery could go in a country more famous for its vibrant food culture than its beer scene. Yet in just three short years, this proudly local craft brand has managed to do what once seemed out of reach: win international beer awards three years in a row and forge a partnership with…
Once home to nutmeg plantations and quiet rural lanes, Orchard Road has transformed into one of the world’s most well-known shopping boulevards. Its journey from farmland to fashion capital mirrors Singapore’s own remarkable development, and still stands strong among Asia’s most vibrant retail destinations. Typically when I visit Singapore, I tend to stay in either the Marina Bay or Downtown area. It’s been several years since I booked a hotel along the city’s most renowned boulevard – all but indisputably Singapore’s heart of shopping, dining, and people-watching. Beverly Hills has Rodeo Drive, London has Oxford Street, but in Singapore, it’s…
What began as a social experiment in Iceland has evolved into a blueprint for a healthier, more balanced way of working that validates Generation Z’s push for meaningful reform in modern workplaces worldwide. When Iceland launched its first large-scale trial of a shortened work week in 2015, many saw it as an ambitious, if idealistic, experiment. Skeptics doubted that fewer working hours could sustain productivity, let alone improve it. Some wrote it off as a passing novelty, or a doomed pursuit, before it was even implemented. Well, a decade later, the results speak for themselves. The country’s transformation has not…
With energy demand in Southeast Asia projected to surge by 25% by 2035, the region faces a defining challenge — and opportunity. Southeast Asia’s growing economies are on the cusp of an energy transformation. The region is forecast to account for a quarter of the world’s total increase in energy demand by 2035, a rise driven by accelerating urbanization, industrial expansion, and population growth. Yet with this momentum comes a clear mandate: to ensure that development aligns with sustainability. From Indonesia’s geothermal reserves to Vietnam’s offshore wind farms, ASEAN countries are looking to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on…
The World Bank has challenged the Malaysian government’s projected RM2.5 billion annual savings from its new petrol subsidy scheme, calling for greater transparency and cautioning that foreigner consumption is unlikely to deliver such large gains. The Malaysian government is facing fresh scrutiny over its headline claim that the new Budi95 petrol subsidy scheme will save RM2.5 billion annually. The World Bank has urged officials to reveal the underlying assumptions behind that figure and questioned whether the exclusion of non-citizens could truly produce such sweeping savings. The World Bank comments were recently published by The Edge. Dr Apurva Sanghi, the World Bank’s…
A powerful 7.4-magnitude quake jolted southeastern Mindanao on October 10, followed by a string of aftershocks and another quake farther south. That tremor is the latest in a spate of seismic events, coming just days after the deadly 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province. The Philippine archipelago, perched on the restless Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has long faced earthquakes as part of daily life. In October 2025, however, seismic activity has surged. On October 10, a powerful magnitude 7.4 quake struck off the coast of Manay, Davao Oriental in Mindanao. Eleven hours later, a magnitude 6.7 tremor rattled the same fault…
As the global aviation industry faces uncertainty, Southeast Asia is emerging as one of the world’s most resilient and rapidly recovering travel regions — powered by strong regional connections, growing low-cost networks, and renewed confidence in cross-border tourism. In 2025, Southeast Asia’s skies are busier than they have been in years. While many parts of the world continue to struggle with post-pandemic slowdowns, rising costs, and geopolitical tensions, the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — are charting a path of…