BEIJING: China will step up financing support for private micro and small enterprises, its central bank said on Wednesday (Mar 15), as the country aims to build on a recovery from COVID-19 disruptions while facing weaker demand abroad and a domestic property downturn. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) willContinue Reading
Manufacturing has been a declining activity in the US for decades. As a result, the country has become largely dependent on foreign sources for many critical technology products that underlie industrial and military systems. Semiconductors (chips) are among these key products. During this period of decline, US domestic production of semiconductors has dropped to less than 10% […]Continue Reading
‘The Middle East has oil, and China has rare earths,’ Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping noted in 1987 Rare earth elements are a class of 17 metals essential to the technology, transportation, energy, defense, and aerospace industries. These are used for high-powered magnets and precision parts in devices ranging from batteries, solar panels and wind turbines […]Continue Reading
The National-Anti Corruption Commission (NACC) has found former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda guilty of procurement irregularities in relation to the acquisition of 260 smart patrol cars worth more than 900 million baht.Continue Reading
Beijing has reacted with anger to the details of a UK, US and Australia defence pact known as Aukus.Continue Reading
The cabinet approved a raft of proposals in what’s likely to be its last meeting before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolves parliament to pave way for a general election.Continue Reading
Fitch Rating’s Janice Chong discusses the parts of the Chinese economy that are most likely to rebound as the country reopens and addresses the impact on its property market.Continue Reading
MOM stated on its website that the services provided under the scheme are intended to cater to households that “intermittently need additional help” with basic child and elder care. Households that require a higher level of care should approach specialised caregiving companies, such as home nursing or home medical services. Continue Reading
Even as Russia struggles to achieve military and political success in Ukraine, its leaders have turned their attention to another regional objective: restarting business in the “graveyard of empires.” Six months ago, Moscow inked a deal with the Taliban to supply gasoline, oil and wheat to Afghanistan. Some of those commodities are now arriving by road and rail from […]Continue Reading
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Japan to reevaluate its energy strategy once again. A sharp rise in the price of LNG, a lack of energy alternatives to reduce reliance on Russian LNG imports and Tokyo’s commitment to phasing out Russian coal and oil imports — all while ensuring Japan’s energy security — are making this reevaluation […]Continue Reading