The Taiwanese government was quick to deny that trade negotiations with the United States include moving to the US half of its microprocessor production for the US market. The opposition Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party attack the government, warning that an agreement would “hollow out” the country’s tech sector. TMSC’s investments in new 1.4-nanometer chips are also at stake.
The military supply sector is growing and thriving with a continuous flow of resources, raw materials, finance and technology. Small and medium-sized enterprises and the consumer sector are having to contend with restrictions due to sanctions, tax increases and limited access to capital. Moscow's economy has already taken root in a model that will not be easy to change in the future.
A price cap on the retail price of rice has triggered economic instability, causing supply shortages. Government moves have failed to solve the crisis. The Consumer Protection Authority has reported difficulties in monitoring and frequent limited results.
A UN report reveals that renewable energy capacity in the region tripled between 2013 and 2023, led by China, India, Vietnam, and Laos. But as an overall percentage, this share is stagnant at 16 per cent, held back by rising consumption, biomass decline, and continuous dependence on fossil fuels.
Despite announcements, Beijing continues to delay the construction of the gas pipeline that would represent a lifeline for Gazprom. Political and financial considerations are complicating the agreement on the terms of the contract to be concluded. Meanwhile, China is also looking to other suppliers to meet its needs, which are set to grow after 2030.
The latest data from the International Energy Agency confirm the sharp decline in Moscow's revenues from gas and oil sales, due to the effect of heavy discounts imposed by China and India. According to economist Michael Bernstam, ‘the market is proving more effective than sanctions’.
The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has allocated more than billion to five credit institutions. The funds will be provided through a ‘demand deposit’ scheme and will also apply to Islamic finance. Scepticism and doubts about the real effectiveness, the logic of the measure and the real impact on the economy.
In the Holy Year of Hope, such a deed is designed to provide relief and comfort to the many families experiencing financial hardship. This crisis has been ongoing for some time, partly due to Israeli government cuts, and exacerbated by the recent years of war. For Cardinal Pizzaballa, “This was not an easy decision” because it means loss of revenues, but it is a sign of “grace” in “a context of violence”.
While the clash between pro-Russian and pro-European forces continues in the country, the government has committed to guaranteeing the purchase of all grapes that are not bought by the private sector. But according to local winemakers, this policy, a legacy of the Soviet era, does not contribute to improving the quality of production.
Gazprom's CEO announced a “legally binding agreement" with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The pipeline, which Russia has been pushing for years, could supply up to 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year to China over 30 years. For Russia, it would be vital to offset lost markets in Europe. Chinese media have been silent on the details that have blocked the agreement so far.
This is done for the first time since 1971, when the country gained independence through war. The agreement, which will last for five years and follows a meeting of senior Pakistani government ministers visiting Bangladesh, reflects a new balance of power following Sheikh Hasina's flight a year ago. In addition to visas, the two countries sign cooperation agreements in education, media, and trade.
Indonesians are shocked and astonished by the possible move by the Prabowo administration, which is seeking a 51 per cent stake in the country’s largest private financial institution. Industry experts say plans appear to be ready. The institution offers a wide range of services for individuals and institutions. The news quickly shook the stock market.
More than 12 million people, or 14 per cent of the population, live in extreme poverty. The number of children at risk of removal from their families due to financial difficulties is up. The birth rate is dropping, raising concerns about the country's future demographic balance. One in four citizens is expected to be over 65 by 2080.
In 2024, a record number of Indian fishermen were arrested, over 500 in one year. The problem has grown since the end of the internal conflict in 2009. The people of the north, already scarred by war, are paying the price. Calls for the application of international standards in the sector.
The Global Times reports news of seizures of fake versions of the Chjinese pop dolls that are trending worldwide. The same techniques that have been targeting major Western brands for years are being used on domestic products. The manufacturer is also studying countermeasures to combat this parallel market, in a general context that sees the growth of Chinese brands.
Although it has not yet achieved full political recognition from Moscow, Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with the Taliban for an important railway line. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are also promoting agreements with Beijing's blessing. The only exception remains Tajikistan, where the issue of discrimination against the Tajik minority in Afghanistan still weighs heavily.
Cotton remains one of the country's main exports, but earnings are steadily declining. The problem stems from the large increase in cotton production in other countries, such as the United States and India, where stocks are at historic highs. And China, by turning to countries that offer the cheapest raw materials, is contributing to global price tensions.
At least four people are reported dead in the attack that saw the Yemeni group resume hostilities against maritime trade in the Red Sea in retaliation for the war in Gaza. Ten have been rescued, but the rest of the crew, mostly Filipinos, are still missing. Stella Maris appeals to the Manila government: ‘The safety of seafarers must be protected.’ Sunday is the day when the Church focuses on workers at sea.
In Thailand, the lucrative coconut market relies on the exploitation of more than 3,000 specially trained monkeys of endangered species. An international boycott campaign against the mistreatment of these animals is driving producers to adopt new systems.
In the second quarter of 2025, Vietnam's GDP grew by 7.96 per cent thanks to booming exports. The new trade agreement with the US has improved the climate of confidence, but transhipped goods from China risk affecting the entire regional production chain.
The largest foreign investment in the history of Sri Lanka has been on hold since the start of the year. Differences between the government over local market share have stopped the Sinopec project in Hambantota. The economic recovery plan has raised fears that it will damage the country’s oil sector and energy security.
According to data from the International Energy Agency, ASEAN countries will have 300 million units installed in 2040, compared to 37 million today. Meanwhile, India is set to overtake China as the world's largest consumer of air conditioning. The challenge of sustainability lies in renewable energy sources, but also in new systems such as the “cold coils” being tested in Singapore.
Gold smuggling is on the rise along the border with China as a means of earning money in one of the poorest areas of the Russian Federation. No licences are required in the People's Republic: any citizen can sell the extracted material to banks in any form, receiving more than double the price quoted in Moscow.
Kazakhstan will sign an agreement with Moscow by the end of the year for the construction of its first nuclear power plant, but it already has plans for a second one to be built together with the Chiona National Nuclear Corporation, which could be completed more quickly. And Tokaert is also leaving the door open to Western consortia for a third plant.
Faced with tensions in the Middle East, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is exploring the possibility of sourcing African crude, while Russia has also come forward. Meanwhile, a decline in agricultural production is pushing up food prices again.
The St Petersburg International Economic Forum, personally conceived by Vladimir Putin, was the usual arena for proclaiming the “bright future” of the Russian economy. Alongside Kremlin bureaucrats, this year's event was notable for the presence of Putin's daughters and other relatives, as well as other high-ranking officials. Rather than heirs to top positions, they appeared to be influencers for the younger audience.
The report drafted for the late pope by a group of economists led by Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz has been released. The study calls for a new global initiative for the most indebted poor countries but also lays out the rules for fairer finance to avoid perpetuating the same problem.
The Middle East accounts for 25% of total tea exports. And 60% of private remittances come from the 1.5 million migrants working in the region. A 5% drop in orders could cost up to million a year. Attention is focused on the Strait of Hormuz for possible blockades by Tehran.
Illegal sand mining, mineral extraction, and large wind power plants are perceived as a danger to the delicate biodiversity of the island. Many do not see these projects as development, but rather as causing even greater damage than war.
At a meeting on relations between Central Asia and China, the Astana government praised the rapprochement between the ‘two lungs of Asia’, which is advancing in step with the internal transformations initiated by Tokaev. Despite protests from some opponents and activists, the president wants to project an image of ‘inclusive democracy’ by leaving the limelight to some of his collaborators.
