Singapore’s core inflation holds steady at 5.1% in November; set to stay elevated for next few quarters
Services inflation eased to 3.6 per cent in November from 3.9 per cent the preceding month, mainly on account of a smaller increase in airfares. Electricity and gas inflation fell to 16.7 per cent in November from 19 per cent in October, partly due to the higher base a yearContinue Reading
Bangladesh faces balance of payments vulnerabilities
Bangladesh’s trade trajectories are frequently praised because of the phenomenal growth in export profits from the ready-made garments (RMG) sector. In fiscal year 2021-22, export revenues hit a record high of US$52 billion. During the same fiscal, exports of woven garments increased by 33.82% to $19.40 billion, while knitwear garment exports increased by 36.88% year […]Continue Reading
Selangor, Sarawak latest to be hit by flood; number of evacuees drop in the east coast
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian states of Selangor and Sarawak are the latest to be hit by flash floods, with five relief centres opened across the two states as of Friday (Dec 23). In Selangor, the Secretariat for the State Disaster Management Committee said that two flood relief centres were openedContinue Reading
Thailand saw 10.9 million tourist arrivals so far this year: Official
BANGKOK: Thailand saw 10.9 million arrivals between January and Dec 20 this year, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Yuthasak Supasor told an online briefing on Friday (Dec 23). “The top markets were Malaysia, India and Laos,” he said, adding that arrivals could exceed 11.5 million arrivals for the full year.Continue Reading
India grapples with lack of cybersecurity amid investigation into China link to hospital hack
According to data from cybersecurity company Surfshark, India ranks sixth globally in terms of digital attacks.Continue Reading
Covid-19: PM Modi cautions India amid China coronavirus surge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting amid a surge in cases in China which has put India on alert.Continue Reading
Hong Kong business start-up scene buzzing, but short of talent and support
Hong Kong has no shortage of tech entrepreneurs with ideas, but investors are slow to put money into projects.Continue Reading
China authorities take over medical supplies production as COVID-19 surges
The eastern city of Hangzhou on Thursday urged citizens to place medicine orders “rationally” based on their needs. “Do not blindly hoard medicines … Leave them to the people who really need them,” read a notice from the city’s market supervisory administration. One expert told AFP the bottleneck in suppliesContinue Reading
Singapore’s Sea to freeze salaries, slash bonuses amid ‘worsening economic environment’
SINGAPORE: Local e-commerce giant Sea will freeze salaries for most employees and pay out lower bonuses this year as part of measures to prepare for a “worsening global economic environment” in 2023, according to Bloomberg on Thursday (Dec 22). Sea is the parent company of gaming unit Garena and e-commerceContinue Reading
Middle East needs a more nuanced Taiwan policy
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the response from the Middle East was mixed. Turkey opposed the incursion, Qatar fretted about replacing Russian gas, while Saudi Arabia offered to mediate. Taken together, it was a balanced approach between not antagonizing Moscow and standing with Kiev. Yet six months later, when Taiwan found itself in the crosshairs of another authoritarian […]Continue Reading