Philippine President Marcos studying extension of USD 0.81/kilo price cap on imported rice
The recommendation remains under review by the President for approval as the administration weighs the expected wet season harvest by September.
Inflation
‘Malaysians were shielded against inflation’ says economy minister
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said based on global readings, global inflation was projected at around 4.3%, which has a significant impact on consumers in terms of…
Electricity tariff for Singapore households to rise by 17%, gas tariff by 7.1% for next quarter
An Energy Market Authority (EMA) spokesperson told The Straits Times that the increases will raise the tariffs to their highest levels to date.
The hidden tax on Bangladesh’s diaspora
For a worker bound abroad, the all-in cost runs into several thousand dollars, and most of this is borrowed, often at usurious rates. The worker spends the first six to 12 months…
Motorists in Indonesia switch fuels, queue longer amid fuel price hike
Motorists’ massive shift from nonsubsidised to subsidised fuels is inevitable after the recent significant price hike.
Why inflation in Bangladesh remains stubborn despite tighter monetary policy
Recently, the central bank attributed persistently high inflation to a combination of factors – the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, a more than 40 percent…
Weak transparency threatens Indonesia’s economic ambitions: Watchdogs
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher said President Prabowo Subianto’s administration had become “increasingly opaque” with government processes appearing “designed…
Tax on grocery shops to match taxpayers’ capacity: Bangladesh planning minister
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki assures parliament that the expanded tax net will initially use a logical flat-rate system.
Will Japanese government push through tax cut without considering concerns?: The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Yomiuri Shimbun's editorial team highlights that if Japan's consumption tax cut is implemented, it would be the first such reduction since the policy was first introduced in…
Lower-income seniors can get milk, eggs, under Singapore’s expanded fresh protein initiative
Singapore's FairPrice's Protein Pledge was launched in 2025 to distribute nearly USD800,000 worth of fresh protein to vulnerable communities by 2030. It began with distributing…