In the Philippines, geography has long stood between rural communities and the digital economy. Made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has had difficulty remaining fully connected in an i…
Nepal enters global top 20 in outsourcing competitiveness index
Nepal has ranked 19th globally in outsourcing competitiveness, driven largely by low labour costs and strong English proficiency, according to the Global Outsourcing Talent Index 2026 report published…
How a China-backed highway may turn landlocked Laos into a trade gateway
China has moved early to help Laos plan its longest highway, the latest project in Beijing’s push to expand transport connectivity in Southeast Asia. The initiative underscores Beijing’s broader effor…
Cambodia Urges Singapore to Boost Investment in the Halal Food Sector
Cambodia has urged Singapore to increase investment, particularly in halal food processing, as Singapore ranked as the Kingdom’s fourth-largest investor in the first quarter of 2026 and bilateral trad…
India calls on citizens to stop buying gold as Asia scrambles for energy amid Iran war
In short: India has urged a spate of measures from fuel conservation to work from home and limits on imports. India is one of many Asian countries battling a surge in global energy prices putting pres…
Innovation and the Energy Crisis
The energy landscape is being radically reshaped by war in the Middle East. Spiking prices are prompting emergency measures in much of the world. They should also reinvigorate energy innovation policy…
Palm oil rally seen continuing on biodiesel demand boost, analyst Mistry says
Malaysian palm oil prices are likely to rise about 12% to 5,200 ringgit ($1,316) a metric ton by mid-July, as higher energy prices from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran boost biodiesel demand and tighten…
A new B50 fuel is about to hit the market, and the 50% palm-oil diesel mix could shake engines, imports, and global prices
Indonesia says it will begin rolling out a mandatory B50 biodiesel blend on July 1, 2026, pushing diesel fuel toward a 50% palm oil-based mix. Officials say the shift could save up to Rp157.28 trillio…
Advancing Bangladesh’s energy sovereignty for a resilient future
Over more than five decades, Bangladesh has progressed reasonably well in socioeconomic terms compared to many of its peers among the least developed and developing countries. Strong economic growth o…
Advancing China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market In Evolving Global Economic And Geopolitical Landscape – OpEd
Building a China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market is not merely economic in nature but also strategic, developmental, and deeply geopolitical as it deals with how to shape the future of Asia and the w…