Developing nations face ‘tidal wave’ of China debt: report
China's Belt and Road Initiative lending spree of the 2010s has paid for shipping ports, railways, roads and more from the deserts of Africa to the tropical South Pacific.
Finance
Latest data points to China’s economic resilience despite trade headwinds
Officials and economists said the positive trends underscore the effectiveness of stimulus policy measures in cushioning the impact of the United States' tariff hikes and…
Bhutanese government proposes sweeping tax reforms
If passed, the new Income Tax Bill will cost the government Nu 5.5 billion (US$64 million) in revenue loss.
South Korean won hits 7-month high, paving way for Bank of Korea rate cut
The won’s recent appreciation provides the BOK with more room to cut its base rate by a quarter percentage point, as it currently stands at 2.75 percent.
Electricity prices surge in Laos amid rising demand and weakened kip
On social media, many Lao citizens have shared photos of their monthly electricity bills, expressing shock at how much the costs have risen.
When is foreign too foreign? Korea’s takeover tensions
An updated regulation, set to take effect on July 22, does not apply "foreign investment" provisions to Korean-registered private equity firms, even if they are effectively…
Korean crypto CEO to join US President Trump’s inner circle of ‘meme coin’ millionaires
Oh Sang-rok is the CEO of Hyperithm, a Seoul- and Tokyo-based firm which manages digital assets for institutional investors in Asia.
South Korea’s per capita GDP set to fall below 2022 levels: IMF
Asia's fourth-largest economy on track to be surpassed by Taiwan next year.
Sales and Service Tax expansion postponed, says Malaysian Finance Ministry
Budget 2025 revealed the expansion of service tax from the current 6% to 8%, covering new taxable services, including business-to-business commercial transactions.
More scam victims in Singapore in debt; rise in cases seen by credit counselling agencies
Scam victims in Singapore lost a record $1.1 billion in 2024.