20 h. ago In Japan, fears of China’s antibiotics dominance spur calls for self

Medical professionals in Japan are concerned that China could dramatically ramp up trade pressure on Tokyo by adding antibiotics and ingredients for medicines to its list of exports subject to restrictions. Despite efforts over the last three years to increase domestic production of a range of commonly used medicines in Japan, the domestic medical sector still relies heavily on imports from China and restricting or halting imports would cause “huge trouble”, according to the experts. “Japan...

Politics

21 h. ago Vietnam’s To Lam eyes supreme power, seeks presidency at party congress

Vietnam’s leaders convene next week for a once-every-five-years congress, where General Secretary To Lam is looking to cement control over the Communist Party ruling one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. The nation of 100 million people is both a repressive one-party state and a regional economic bright spot, with the party seeking to deliver rapid expansion to underpin its claim to legitimacy. But its leaders face challenges from tensions between its main trading partners, the United States...

Politics

37 h. ago China’s Xi seeks ‘global solidarity, cooperation’ amid US, Iran tensions

China’s Xi seeks ‘global solidarity, cooperation’ amid US, Iran tensions  Anadolu Ajansı

Events

60 h. ago India’s aim to diversify trade via Iran faces US tariff threat

US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on countries that do business with Iran has dented India’s ambition for the strategic Chabahar port and affected Delhi’s trade with Tehran. Trump’s latest threat could curtail shipments of Indian basmati rice to Iran, but is likely to have a limited impact on India’s trade competitiveness since Iran accounts for about 0.3 per cent of its overall exports, according to analysts. Shipments of the rice, one of India’s biggest exports...

Events

3 d. ago India proposes reopening government bidding to Chinese firms as ties thaw

India plans to lift long-standing restrictions on Chinese companies bidding for government contracts, a move officials say is aimed at easing shortages and project delays as relations with Beijing show tentative signs of stabilising. The proposal, first reported by Reuters, would roll back curbs, imposed after the two countries’ deadly 2020 border clash in the Galwan Valley, that effectively shut Chinese firms out of a vast segment of India’s public procurement market. In October 2024, India and...

Politics

4 d. ago Singapore urged to expand Johor SEZ to Indonesia to deepen Asean integration

A special economic zone between Singapore and the Malaysian state of Johor (JS-SEZ) should include Indonesia’s Riau Islands to ramp up the region’s allure to global investors, an apex business chamber and leading accounting firm have said, ahead of the city state’s budget address next month. As part of its 18 top recommendations, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), which has more than 32,000 members, and PwC Singapore on Monday said expanding the zone to include the Indonesian islands of...

Politics

5 d. ago Gig workers’ strike in India spurs debate on human cost of delivery race

A New Year’s Eve flash strike by gig workers in India who provide commerce connectivity, such as through 10-minute doorstep deliveries, has drawn attention to their welfare, including the risk of accidents amid physical exhaustion. More than 200,000 gig workers staged protests across major Indian cities during the peak delivery period to highlight their demands for legislative protection, social security benefits and better wages, according to the Indian Federation of App Based Transport...

Economics

5 d. ago South Koreans see joy in parenthood but fear economic strain, study reveals

Young people in South Korea are more likely than their peers in Germany, Japan, France and Sweden to agree that having children would bring great joy, but they also express far stronger concerns about the economic burden of childbirth, a study found. The findings, drawn from a survey of 2,500 adults aged 20 to 49 in each of the five countries, were published in a report titled “A Study on International Cases of Population Policies” by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on...

Economics

6 d. ago India’s Modi to host German leader to bolster trade, defence ties

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left for India on Sunday for a visit to bolster economic and security ties between the top EU economy and the Asian population giant. Both Berlin and New Delhi face a turbulent world order and a set of economic and geopolitical challenges from the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China. Merz’s visit from Monday – his first to an Asian country since he took office last May – comes two weeks ahead of a planned EU-India summit and as India and...

Politics

6 d. ago Mark Carney seeks a reset with China amid Donald Trump’s chaos and global tensions. Can he succeed where others have failed?

Mark Carney seeks a reset with China amid Donald Trump’s chaos and global tensions. Can he succeed where others have failed?  Toronto Star

Events

6 d. ago Singapore businesses list rising costs and tariffs as their biggest challenges

For businesses in Singapore, such as skincare chain Kskin, the global trade environment has become more challenging in recent years as a result of hurdles ranging from rising costs and US tariffs to fast-changing regulations. Kskin began venturing overseas in 2023 and has opened outlets in Malaysia, the Philippines and the US. Due to the tariffs, the costs of Kskin’s equipment and products have risen in recent months. Brian Ng, the firm’s director, told This Week in Asia: “Our margins [at...

Economics

7 d. ago India overtakes Japan in economic size, but prosperity trails far behind

India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. The achievement unleashed a wave of national pride in New Delhi and among business leaders, but behind the celebrations lingers a question: can the world’s fastest-growing economy turn rapid growth into widespread prosperity? Economists warn that GDP figures alone cannot create jobs, lift incomes or bridge yawning inequality in a nation...

Economics

7 d. ago As India overtakes Japan in economic size, prosperity lags far behind

India ushered in the new year with a symbolic triumph as its economy edged past Japan’s to become the world’s fourth largest by nominal gross domestic product. The achievement unleashed a wave of national pride in New Delhi and among business leaders, but behind the celebrations lingers a question: can the world’s fastest-growing economy turn rapid growth into widespread prosperity? Economists warn that GDP figures alone cannot create jobs, lift incomes or bridge yawning inequality in a nation...

Economics

8 d. ago China to Cut Export Tax Rebates to Ease Global Trade Tensions

China to Cut Export Tax Rebates to Ease Global Trade Tensions  Bloomberg.com

Events

9 d. ago How Malaysia’s military tender scandal is bringing ‘opaque’ defence deals to light

Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency is pushing deeper into one of the country’s most opaque corners, the defence procurement system, in a widening investigation into allegations of cartel-like tender fixing, bribery and unexplained cash movements. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has in recent weeks expanded its investigation into the Defence Ministry following a whistle-blower’s claim that documents showed large monthly deposits into accounts linked to a senior military officer and...

Events

9 d. ago Malaysia turns to ‘honest, reliable’ Turkey for stability amid rising US aggression

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s latest outreach to Turkey indicates a growing urgency among developing nations to close ranks with like-minded partners, experts say, amid uncertainty caused by US tariffs and mounting military aggression. Malaysia and Turkey on Wednesday agreed to elevate diplomatic and economic ties by establishing a High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Chaired by the leaders of both nations, the council will oversee development across trade and investments in...

Politics

9 d. ago Why investors are looking to Southeast Asia’s economies amid global tensions

Foreign money is flowing back into Southeast Asia, and analysts expect the region to remain a draw for global investors even as geopolitical tensions and domestic political risks cloud the outlook. Emerging Southeast Asian markets recorded US$337 million of equity inflow in December last year, the highest monthly figure since September 2024, according to a Bloomberg report. These economies include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Analysts say the rebound points to...

Economics

1 week ago Canada’s Carney to visit China, as Trump tariffs hurt US ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney will make an official visit to China next week as his government tries to rebuild relations with the Asian superpower and reduce Canada’s economic reliance on the US. Carney is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visit and will have discussions on trade, energy, agriculture and international security, his office said Wednesday. It will be the first trip to China by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade, after a diplomatic row was sparked by...

Politics

1 week ago Canada’s Carney to meet Xi in China, as Trump tariffs hurt US ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will make an official visit to China next week as his government tries to rebuild relations with the Asian superpower and reduce Canada’s economic reliance on the US. Carney is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visit and will have discussions on trade, energy, agriculture and international security, his office said Wednesday. It will be the first trip to China by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade, after a diplomatic row was...

Politics

1 week ago Asian economies to face volatile oil prices over Venezuela, US plans for Caracas

Asian economies face the risk of renewed volatility in oil prices this year as analysts say the US capture of Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro and uncertainty over Washington’s plans for the oil-rich South American country may unsettle investor sentiment. On Monday morning, Benchmark Brent crude opened about 1.2 per cent lower near US$61 a barrel, before falling further to US$60.54 in the early afternoon, while US West Texas Intermediate crude declined by 0.5 per cent to US$57.04 a barrel. The...

Economics